[YEA]  10/05/2011: Katie from Northport, New York: "My 8 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was diagnosed with a Grade 2 heart murmur in January of this year. After researching Mitral Valve Disease (which runs in this breed) and Congestive Heart Failure, I immediately started him on Ubiquinol, liquid magnesium, liquid carnitine, ribose and vitamin C. In addition I also give him colostrum.

I just took him back to the cardiologist to be reexamined and was told that his heart murmur is gone and that everything is within normal range. Thank God. I will keep him on these supplements for life!

Unfortunately, my first Cavalier died of congestive heart failure (which started as a Grade 2 murmur and then progressed to CHF in about 2-1/2 years). I had no experience with heart disease at the time and didn't know how to treat him. I wish I knew then what I know now. If I did, I believe my dog would still be here with me.

FYI, these are the dosages I am giving to my 25 lb. Dog:

Ubiquinol - 50 mg. TWICE daily

Liquid Magnesium - 1/2 tsp in the a.m.

Liquid Carnitine (1000 mg) - 1/2 tsp TWICE daily

Ribose - 850 mg. TWICE daily

Vitamin C - 250 mg TWICE daily

Colostrum - 1/4 tsp TWICE daily"

10/27/2012: Katie from Northport, New York: "Yes I have heard of Thorne Biocardio - and I would not recommend it. I had both of my cavaliers on this supplement for a couple of years prior to them developing mitral valve disease and it did nothing to stop or reverse the disease in either of them.

FYI, I brought my dog to his internist about a month ago and she told me that his murmur has lessened and that his borderline high blood pressure (which was 155/110) is now normal (135/65). She told me that that means his heart is working with less effort and his kidneys are starting to work more efficiently.

However, I want to confirm her findings with another echo. I was told by a cardiologist that murmurs can be subjective to Grade 4 and that the only way you can really confirm what's going on is with an echo. So I am planning to bring him to a cardiac health clinic in January for another echo."

10/27/2012: Suji from Kochi, Kerala, India: "Hi Katie from Newport, is there anyway for me to contact you? pls can you pm me. I have started my spitz on the initial set of supplementations you had recommended about 15 days ago. Can I continue with it?"

10/27/2012: Katie from Northport, New York: "Suji, what supplements do you have your dog on? The only way you would be able to contact me is by publishing your email address on this post -- and I don't think that is a good idea."

10/27/2012: Suji from Kochi, India: "Hi Katie, Thank you so very much for writing back to me in detail. I would very much love to communicate with you directly.

Right now he is on: L-carnitine, D-ribose, ubiquinol, vitmain C and magnesium. The news about homeopathy is bad because I was hoping it will fix it, thanks for letting me know. He is wheezing and coughing off and on, this is a real concern for me, I am having sleepless nights with all the stress. My email id is ge. Ha. Sam(at)gmail.com Please email me."

11/25/2012: Katie from Northport, NY: "Kendra, I don't know if your dog is holding onto fluids in his lungs or abdomen, but I wanted to mention that Standard Process makes a supplement called AC Carbamide which is a natural diuretic. Thought you might want to look into this if that is the case with your dog. I have not used this product but it is mentioned on the cavalierhealth.org website as a natural alternative diuretic. I also know that Dr. West uses AC Carbamide if there is edema in CHF."

02/09/2013: Katie from Northport, New York: "UPDATE 2/9/13. My dog just had his follow-up echo last month. The cardiologist said he is doing real good - he said his heart is pumping strong and his heart is now working at 100%.... And he said there was no heart enlargement. He said he still has a grade 2 murmur due to his mitral valve issue but he said my dog was doing really well despite it. It is very interesting.... When the cardiologist went to take his heart measurements he seemed a little perplexed for a moment.... Then he mumbled that he must have taken the wrong measurements on the echo that was done a year earlier because my dog's numbers/measurements improved. His LA Diameter (left atrium diameter) improved by decreasing from 2.4 cm to 2.0 cm and his LA/AO ratio (left atrium to aortic root ratio) improved by decreasing from 1.21 to 1.02. Note: I read that this LA/AO measurement is a sensitive indicator of heart enlargement. So, even though my dog's LA/AO ratio was considered within the "normal" range last year with a reading of 1.21, it has decreased to 1.02 which is right in line with what I read a normal, healthy Cavalier should be. (This measurement is adjusted for different breeds). I read that the range for healthy Cavaliers should be 1.03 + 09 (or 0.94 - 1.12).

My holistic vet told me that my dog no longer needs all the supplements I had him on for the past year. So we have just lowered his supplements to only CardioPlus (3 tabs/day) and Canine Whole Body Support (1/4 tsp. Twice daily) and we'll continue to monitor his progress. Note that Canine Whole Body Support is dosed based on weight - and that this supplement contains most of the other supplements which I was originally giving my dog, only in a smaller proportion (e.g. , Calcium Lactate, Organically Bound Minerals).

In summary, I would highly recommend this protocol to anyone who has a dog with a heart condition. I believe that even if your dog has mitral valve disease, like mine does, this will help to strengthen his heart which will help it to move that regurgitated blood out of the heart (note the reductions in the size of my dog's left atrium size). Without heart support such as this, the heart will continue to weaken and the left atrium and left ventricle will continue to enlarge which could eventually lead to CHF, as it did with my first dog. However, I would make the following adjustments to the protocol I was using for my 25 lb. Dog. I would recommend the following:

CardioPlus - 4 tabs/day
Cataplex B - 2 tabs/day
Cataplex F - 2 tabs/day
Organically Bound Minerals - 1 tab/day
Calcium Lactate - 2 tabs/day
Flax Oil - I would lower this. I think 1 TBS was too much. I would only give 1 tsp/day for every 25 lbs. For dog's less than that, I would halve the dose.

We are going to continue to monitor my dog for any future improvements and will post here with any updates. His next echo won't be for another 6 to 12 months from now."

03/16/2013: Brian from Tarbert, Argyll, Scotland: "Hi Katie from Northport! I have just read your post with great interest and wonder if you could advise me. I have a 7yr old Golden Retriever who was diagnosed about 4yrs ago with a "suspected heart murmur. " This has now been confirmed, and last year he had a blood test done with the results being "inconclusive. " As the murmur this year is more apparent he had another blood test done which showed he was in the mid-range. He is showing no symptoms and is still acting like a puppy! The vet has suggested starting him on Vetmedin, and seeing how he does. However I feel that it will be difficult to judge any improvement as he displays no symptoms at present. As I live in a rural area of Scotland there is no holistic vet in the area. I could get the Standard Process products that you eventually settled on using at the end of your post, from Amazon in the USA, so wondered if you would advise this rather than the individual supplements that you used initially? Could you suggest a dosage ( his weight is 70lbs. ) and would you wait to see how this works before trying the Vetmedin?

Many thanks for any advice you can give me, and really appreciate you sharing all this information."

03/17/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Brian, I would suggest that you give your dog only the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support. My holistic vet seems to think that this is all that is needed. Based on your dog's weight (70 lbs) the recommended dosage of Canine Whole Body Support would be 3/4 tsp. twice a day and I would probably suggest 6-9 tabs of Cardio-Plus initially (at least for the first 6 months or so) and then possibly lowering the dosage based on his progress. I would also suggest that if it's possible, I would divide the Cardio-Plus dosage and give 3 times a day, rather than 2 times a day to keep the nutrition steadily in his bloodstream. (My vet initially cut my dog's Cardio-Plus back to 3 a day but has since decided to keep him at a maintenance dose of 4 a day and - he's only 25 lbs).

Note: My vet told me that dogs metabolize these supplements differently than humans (I think she said it had something to do with the fact that they have shorter intestinal tracts than humans) which is why the dosage is higher.

Regarding Vetmedin, this medication scares me. My dog was on it and I believe it seriously weakened his heart. Please read up on it. There is some excellent information on it – and its dangers on the cavalierhealth.org website."

03/17/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Brian, In rethinking my recommendation of Cardio-Plus for your dog, I think I would give him between 9-12 tabs of CardioPlus a day, rather than 6-9 tabs (based on his weight of 70 lbs)at least initially. This dosage could always be lowered later on as he improves. As I mentioned, my 25 lb dog is on a maintenance dose of 4 tabs a day."

03/17/2013: Brian from Tarbert, Argyll: "Katie, thank you so much for your prompt and very helpful reply. The info on Vetmedin was very enlightening and in fact confirmed my "gut feeling. " As I would like to ask you a related question, but would rather do so by email, I wondered if you could possibly contact me? My email is, smitbd at gmail dot com. Again, many thanks."

05/24/2013: Rustydusty from Wantage, Nj, Usa: "Katie, Could you clarify your supplement protocol for heart issues? There have been so many posts I am a bit confused.

Is it just the CardioPlus and Canine Whole Body Support?

Is it no longer :

Cardio-Plus - (2 tabs TWICE daily)

Cataplex B - (2 tabs TWICE daily)

Cataplex F - (2 tabs TWICE daily)

Calcium Lactate - (2 tabs TWICE daily)

Organically Bound Minerals - (1 tab TWICE daily)

Cold Pressed Flax Oil (I use Barleans) - (1 tsp TWICE daily)

Or these?:

Canine Cardiac Support (1/4 tsp. TWICE daily). I thought a little extra heart support wouldn't hurt.

Canine Whole Body Support (1/4 tsp. TWICE daily). This is the equivalent of a multi-vitamin, which supports all the organs in the body.

Immuplex (1 capsule TWICE daily). I added this because of his periodontal disease.

OR

four supplements (ubiquinol, magnesium, carnitine and ribose) as "The Awesome Foursome"

I was actually going to purchase all the following as suggested by another poster but it seems like an awful lot of supplements at high doses - although she says she has had great success with it.

D-Ribose - By Doctor' Best. 1 heaping scoop, (twice a day sprinkle on food).

Ubiquinol QH-absorb (CoQ10) - By Jarrow Formulas 200mg, (1 pill twice a day)

Propionyl-L-Carnitine HCI – By Jarrow Formulas 750 mg, (1 pill twice a day)

Magnesium Taurate By Cardiovascular Research -125 mg, (1 pill a day)

Mega Red Extra Strength Krill Oil, - By Schiff, 500mg (1 pill twice a day)

L-Arginine - By Jarrow Formulas, 1000 mg (1 pill a day)

Colon Green Fiber Supplement with Probiotics and Enzymes, - By Futurebiotics (Sprinkle 2 pills twice a day)

Esther C Vegetarian Capsules, - By American Health 500mg (1 pill twice a day)

Milk Thistle, 200mg (1 pill twice a day)

Senior Vitality Multi Vitamin, - By Optimal Pet (1 pill a day)

My dog is an 18 lb Boston Terrier in advanced stages of CHF. My goal is to make her breathing less labored. She is on max dose of Furosamide and Enapril. Tried the Spironolactone but it didn't seem to help her bloating and seemed to make her extra tired. So we took her off that. She is almost 15 - I just want to make her quality of life as good as possible. Wish I had found this site sooner.

Thank you so much!"

[YEA]  08/11/2011: Christy from Fair Oaks, Ca: "I just wanted to say that I have a shit-zu that I got when she was 1&1/2.she was surrenderd due to allergies. Thoughout the years I tried EVERYTHING... Every quality food and even things made with a novel protien source like kangaroo and bush baby. she would either have a reaction within a few hours or be ok for a couple days then really react bad. I have even made her food myself from things like goat. Like most others here docs always just said its allergies. So we do the whole protocal of meds. Allergies would always come back.

I think she has been doing the yougert/probiotic and Apple Cider Vinegar spray on her coat for a week now and shes a different dog. Shes ALWAYS had hot spots and flaky skin with sores on it. And her skin was always red like a tomato and hot, now it alsmost as pale as mine!!! No flakes, no sores. I have her on nonstarchy veggies & olive oil right now with calcium added and in another week I will try a high quality single source food and see how she does. Its such a relief to see her enjoy her life and not just itch/scratch and chew herself raw. I AM SO ANGRY THAT NO VET EVER KNEW ABOUT YEAST!!!

I am going to print out the info here and take her to see her vet to get groomed in a few weeks and show them how great she looks. She has almost died twice from alleregy meds like atopica and ketochenazole(spelled phoneticly) and to think it was all needless. I aslo soak her feet in epsom salts and baking soda mix every other day for 10 min. I thought id do this since her feet were always the worst. Then I spray the acv/h2o mixture on her and just rub it in. Aslo im bathing her in tea tree shampoo since its anti fungal(once a week bath).

Oh and that site the great dane lady has a homemade remedy for ear that sounds great and I will be using that soon. Just google great dane lady and you will find her. She has a whole protocal for the yeast thing and tells you what veggies and meats are ok to use and which ones arent. She also says the thyroid need to be tested since they cant get over the yeast if their thyriod messed up. I am sooo greatful for this site. My molly has suffered all her life-shes 14 now, and now she can have some itch free years. She seems perkier and more spunky too after staring this protocal. Darn those vets who just take our money over and over, .... I mean if I was a vet and I had dogs who just were on this merrygoround, I would certinly spend time doing research to see what else I could offer my clients, wouldnt you?but I guess its like ppl docs, they only know what theyve been taught and who sponsers med schools? big pharma. So they only learn wha the drug pushers only want them to know. Thank goddess for the internet.... thank you earth clinic...."

05/24/2013: Kelly from Josephine County Oregon: "Try the remedy for Mites."

[YEA]  06/06/2011: Sally from Baton Rouge, La.: "I fought conjunctivitus for 3 cats for about a year with eye sav and Lysine orally. I found that feeding them corn free food has cleared it up. I don't know why the vets never suggested it. They said (told by 3 vets) that they would always have it, that there was no cure!"

05/24/2013: Joan from Florida,usa: "Did u crush lysine tablets in your pets food? I have a cocker spaniel with constant eye infections. Using antibiotic ointment indefinitely"

[YEA]  05/07/2012: Nicky from Saint Charles, Il: "Pure, unsweetened coconut oil works great for yeast infection, parasites, fungal infections, cysts, cuts, and many other ailments for dogs. I have 2 Saint Bernard puppies, one is 100lbs and has a yeast infection. The doctor gave him ear drops, which made him go temporarily deaf (hearing came back). I started to give him coconut oil in his food (I worked it up to 2-3 tbsp a day, no more. Less for smaller dogs, but look up amount on Internet). I give him shredded, unsweetened coconut as well and rub a little of the oil in his ear. It cleared up the infection in 2-3 days. Even though the infection showed in his ear, you have to treat it internally. It comes from inside. Coconut oil is now a regular part of their meals as they love the taste and it has so many health benefits for them (also for us). It has also made their coats incredibly soft and full."

05/24/2013: Aileen from Northern Ireland: "I was wondering if anyone could recommend one or two good brands of pure unsweetened coconut oil? When I googled it there were so many. I'm finally on the road to recovery thanks to this website. My poor dog has been suffering for almost a year now with horrible yeast in her ears and paws. Many thanks!"

02/12/2012: Jeff from Ballstonspa, Ny: "hi my name is jeff and we have the same breed dog and I am nervous that it might burn or bother him he is always licking and biting himself and wears the fur off in spots. Will it sting him or anything like that?"

EC: Hi Jeff,

Apple cider vinegar must ALWAYS be well diluted with water: 1 part acv to at least 3 parts water. Never apply straight as it can cause a very painful sting.

05/23/2013: Mugsy from Ny, Usa: "My poor pup literally has a crazed look in his face he's so uncomfortable, scratching non stop! I'm going to try the ACV. I used to work in a high end salon that used a lot of natural and organic products. They sold ACV with a top name on the bottle for $16 a bottle $8 a treatment!! Using it for when a customer had a bad reaction to color and there scalp was burning or itching. I had a bad chemical reaction one time and they poured it over my head and instant relief! So I believe it will work for the pup! Thank you."

[WARNING!]  09/01/2012: Destingirl54 from Fort Walton Beach, Fl: "I thought my cat had sores on her neck but they were ticks and the coconut oil being on her neck just attracted more ticks! I felt so sorry for her I had to bathe her and get them off. Was it the sweetness of the coconut oil that attracted them to her skin? It really made me upset because I thought coconut oil on a cats skin was healthy!! Please can someone reply to this. I still give her a bit to eat she loves it but I feel so guilty putting it on her neck thinking she had sores and they were ticks from the coconut oil!!"

09/03/2012: Destingirl54 from Fort Walton Beach, Fl: "BIG MISTAKE it wasnt ticks it was burrowing mites. They traveled from her ear on her body. So will continue with coconut oil because this is totally safe and non toxic and will smother the mites and cure the mange. I have no idea how she got these she never goes outside. I guess they were in her ear for a while, also put a bit in her ears and already her ears are alot better, also treated all 3 cats with frontline. Am keeping her separated from other cats. I read online that someone used coconut oil for mange and it cured it within 2 days. She also loves to eat it, so will continue this treatment. Sorry for big mistake in saying it attracted ticks. IT DOESNT. it was burrowing mites."

09/08/2012: Angela from Seminole, Fl: "Does coconut oil kill ticks on a dog? I found a 3-4 month old puppy with hundreds of ticks. I've been removing them by the head, but this will take me weeks. Any advice?"

09/18/2012: Debbie from Brighton, Uk: "Hi, Don't pull them off. This can leave some of the tick in, which could then become infected. You can smother them in vaseline, they then suffocate and fall off. You can also feed the puppy some DE food grade. Diatomaceous Earth. Mixed in with food."

05/23/2013: Cherieb. from Pembroke Township, Illinois: "To remove ticks, heat the tip of a needle with a lighter, touch the tick and it will bring it's head up and let go."

[YEA]  01/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "My 12 lb. Pekingnese recently went through some very frightening and life-threatening health issues related to his heart. He is doing terrific now, however I want to share a bit about what symptoms were manifesting and how we've managed to stop them.

In September of 2011, our sweet dog Mocha began having something akin to night screams/seizures. In the middle of the night, normally between 1 - 3am, he would wake from sleep with a horrific scream, then go immediately into a seizure. In all of our years with him he had never shown anything like this. His seizure would then last 7 -8 minutes. It was a terrible scene to witness and watch him endure. It happened again a month later, and as we began the process of veterinary visits, tests, etc. and were coming up with no answers. The veterinarian said these were not epileptic seizures, but he did not know what they were or where they were coming from. From his model of medicine he only had Phenobarbital to offer as a means to get control of the seizures. Although we took the advice at the time, my family and I all felt this was still an undiagnosed condition and the Pheno would at best offer us some time to get things figured out. We had to bring these episodes to a halt as soon as possible as each episode seemed to erode his overall health. We were watching our beloved pup drift away from us with each episode.

As we began our research, I started online with researching 'dog screams'. Although the veterinarian said perhaps this was a dream, or anxiety, he didn't feel the dog was in pain at the time of his episodes. We wholeheartedly disagreed. Although Mocha may not have felt pain during the actual seizure, the scream occurred just before and was absolutely horrifying. It was CLEAR that he was in wrenching pain before falling into a seizure. I was amazed to find online assorted threads of pet owner conversations on the topic of dog screams... Most of which indeed were followed by seizure activity, involuntary defecation, etc. In almost each case, the dogs in question were small dog breeds, just like Mocha. Also in each case, the owner knew the dog had a diagnosed heart murmur, as we did with Mocha.

Following this thread, I started to research heart remedies for dogs. Some were specific to murmurs, others were more generalized and in each small dog case, there was also an issue with keeping blood sugar balanced. We began putting together a small grouping of supplements to put Mocha on based on the information we were finding online.

At the same time that we were doing this research, we were giving Mocha the Phenobarbital. He had a terrible time adapting to it. Aside from being basically unconscious 90 minutes after the dose for approximately 9 hours, he was starting to urinate excessively and also to pant exactly 90 minutes after each dose. Sometimes the panting was excessive and frightening. We brought all of these topics up to the veterinarian who said that small dogs tend to adapt the least to this medication, and that whatever adaptation was going to happen would happen within the first two weeks. We were a month into it at this point and becoming very concerned. In addition, it was not stopping entirely his concerning episodes. We had his blood tested to see if he was at 'therapeutic levels' of the Phenobarbital and he was not. The veterinarian wanted us to go up in dose, but our instincts told us 'no'. This dog was losing quality of life on the dose he was already on, and we felt certain that increasing his dose would decrease his life expectancy and quality of remaining life. We decided at that point to trust our instincts and begin tending specifically to his heart.

I am happy to report that since we began adding in his natural heart and blood sugar supports, there have been no screaming/seizure episodes (6 weeks now). This is SIGNIFICANT, as Mocha had gotten to the point where he was screaming/seizing several times per day before beginning his holistic treatment. We have also decreased his Phenobarbital very slowly and safely and this, also, has improved his overall health and vitality. At this point we know we are substantially below 'therapeutic levels' and that the medication is doing next to nothing for him. We are taking him off slowly simply to be safe and gentle with is system. He should be off it entirely over the next week.

I am sharing this information because I know there are others out there who may have dogs with heart murmurs, small dogs, screaming/seizure dogs and the like. I was amazed at how frequent this problem presents based on what I found online, and yet could find NONE of this information via veterinarians or veterinary sites. It all came from pet owners who have had to research and address the issues themselves based on what others were doing. Thank goodness for sites like this one... I truly have no idea what Mocha's future would have been without them.

As for what supplements we have found which address his issues:

Hearty Heart (liquid drops) from Pet Wellbeing: Dosage is determined by pet's weight. This product has been developed by holistic veterinarians and veterinary herbalists. It is absolutely fantastic and useful for dogs and cats. Our 14 year-old cat has Cardiomyopathy and this has helped him so very much as well. Can't recommend it highly enough.

L-Carnitine (liquid) from Pet's Choice Pharmaceuticals: An essential amino acid designed to assist both the heart and blood sugar levels. Very helpful in healing the heart after functional disturbances and preventing future problems. Especially recommended for small breeds. Dosage determined by pet's weight.

FortiFlora (powder) from Purina Veterinary Diets: Probiotic supplement with beneficial strains of good bacteria designed to balance the digestive system and strengthen immunity. Excellent for blood sugar issues, allergies, skin and coat issues, etc. Mocha has been on this for years, as he has a long history of highly reactive/allergic skin, itching, blood sugar issues, etc. As a 12 lb dog, we give Mocha half a packet twice per day with his meals.

Magnesium mixed with Vitamin C: Both of these nutrients are excellent for the heart and safe for dogs. We buy tablets and then powder them together in our mortar and pestle. This allows us to sprinkle them onto his food. Again because Mocha is small, he only get 2 pinches of this mixture once per day. The ratio of his Magnesium to Vitamin C is 2:1. The dose, ratio, form of the nutrient may be specific dog to dog but there is helpful information online about dosing them.

Ubiqinone (CoQ10): An important antioxidant which helps with energy and heart function. It is potent so again, read up on dosage for your pet or consult with a holistic veterinarian. For Mocha, he only takes 1 drop from a 30mg capsule. Any more than that is too much, but we notice a difference when he doesn't have it at all.

D-Ribose: This is a metabolic sugar which is found within the body, but can also be supplemented. It is excellent for the heart, for recovery of the heart and for energy production... Of of which Mocha needed. Because of his small size he only takes 200 - 300 mg day. This product can be found in most healthfood stores.

So there you are. I hope you find this information helpful if you are searching for help for your dog. Most important lessons we have learned from the experince are 1) trust your instincts and 2) do your homework. If something doesn't sound right to you in terms of diagnosis, treatment, etc. , or if you simply feel you have not gotten sufficient answers, trust your instincts. There is an abundance of information available on the web today and tho, yes, sometimes that can be misleading, when you read over and over from owners about what works/doesn't work, TRUST it. In our case we were not able to get any answers from the veterinary community (in person or online) and ALL of Mocha's help came from dog owners like you. And, do your homework... Research what is going on with your pet, what others are doing for the same issues, safe dosage amounts, etc. Take charge of what is going on, have confidence in yourself and your instincts and take one step at a time. Don't wait passively for answers and don't continue with anything that just feels wrong or is causing clear harm... Even if that information comes from the medical community. They, like us, are all still learning but sometimes the life of a patient (human or animal) can't wait and you must strike out on your own. Work closely with professionals when and how you can, but don't linger with anyone who isn't providing help or cooperating with your desire to work holistically. Put your pet and his/her life first.

Good luck to you and I hope some little puppy dog and his family out there can be helped just like we have been. We are tremendously grateful to have been steered by others to the help Mocha needed and are enjoying seeing our sweet pup return to us in every way.

Blessings,

Deborah, Mocha and family...."

01/24/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Deborah, thanks for this detailed and informative post; and congrats on Mocha's recovery. If I might add the importance of omega 3 fatty acids like Flax and Fish oils for health of every cell in prevention and recovery of illness."

01/27/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Thanks Tim, indeed. We did have Mocha on fish oil at different time periods... Sometimes he did well with it, other times not so much. We switched his diet to a more fish-rich diet (fresh cooked fish) and that seemed to do the trick. Flax oil makes him itch terribly so we avoid that in his case. But excellent advice to others who may be researching for their own pets."

02/23/2012: Kickdiver from Wilmington, Nc: "Thank you for the detailed info. I have a 12 year old Great Dane on various heart meds due to near Heart Failure and enlarged heart with atrial fib/dilated cardio myopathy. He's on Vetmed, Diltiazem, Benazepril and Digoxin, since our emergency visit at the Cardiology Clinic, where his heart beat was measured 250 bpm.... He is stabilized now, and I also give him Omega 3 fish oils, CQ10, and looking into carnitine and taurine, and I did come across the site for Hearty Heart, but it says NOT to give this natural remedy WHILE on heart meds.

But... How can I stop the heart meds, when they just now kicked in after 2 days of horrible heart racing and my poor dog being miserable? Can I trust the reviews on line? They all seem great , but... One never knows if they are just bloggers paid by the company... Anyhow.. I'm willing to give it a try, yet, I cannot take him off the heart meds right now... I'd rather give him half a dose of the Hearty Heart along WITH the meds and then slowly go down with the dosage..

Worst of all, I am supposed to move to the Middle East with my 3 beloved K9s in April, how in the world am I going to get my boy there in this condition? I cannot leave this companion behind, he's my kiddo! I know his heart situation is a serious thing, but apart from that he has NO health issues, all blood work was good and all organs perfectly intact, as a matter of fact, the Vets at the clinic told me that he was the healthiest and oldest Dane they have seen!!! (thanks to Raw Diet and NO vaccines, I guess... ) I do have a professional pet handling company hired, still... My holistic vet said St John's Word could help him as well. I have a few more weeks to see how he develops, in the interim, any input helps.. I'd love to give Hearty Heart a try, but.. There is NO way I can stop the meds right now... What to do??"

02/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi Kickdiver, thank you for your post. How great that your Great Dane is so healthy at the age of 12! You've obviously done so much to get him there.

I totally understand your concern about mixing the HH supplement with the heart meds. This is indeed a conundrum and I don't know the answer for you. This has to be an individual decision. I personally would not mix them as the HH is developed by holistic veterinarians and they so strongly advise against it.

I know in our situation, we had to make the difficult choice between medications vs. Supplements. It's so much easier when one can blend both and not make such a difficult and scary decision, but sometimes this is just not safe. So what we did was begin with supplements that did not have contraindications with the medication we used at the time. The HH came in toward the end of that supplement list, as we did everything else first to stabilize him supplement-wise. As Mocha grew more and more stable on the supplements, we gradually began moving him down on his medication dose AND began putting the HH in separate feedings from his medication. So breakfast/dinner had medication, lunch snack and evening snack (9pm) had HH. This worked for him but we were ever so careful. The medication he was on could not safely be stopped abruptly, so we had to wean him down on it while slowly adding in the supplements where we could. This took time, patience, faith and much care to get right but like for you, he is our 'kiddo' and we just wanted him better. However he was not on heart meds, he was on Phenobarbital and that is a big difference between your picture and mine. Had Mocha been on heart meds, I'm not sure if we would have gone forward with the HH in this way. Like you, we would have had to sit with the different choices in front of us and find the safest, best long-term plan for our pup.

So for now, since your pup is newly on all of these meds and just coming out of an acute situation you may want to continue as you are doing. Simply add safe supplements with no contraindications. If I were you, I would add the L-Carn as that has profoundly good impact on heart function and in general is very safe. Not sure the Taurine is a fit or a priority in your pup's case.

As for the HH, I recommended it because I use it for my pup and it works brilliantly. It is also safe for cats, and we gave it to our 14-year old cat who was having wobbly, at times screeching, seizures and who had previously been diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. Since starting him on the HH, no wobbling, no screaming, no seizures. I don't work for the company, am not a paid blogger, etc. I'm a user and this product is the real deal in my experience. Is it the best fit for your sweet Dane? I don't know. But it was the fit for our Pekingese and tabby.

Seems the safest short-term approach would be to find the combination of supplements (and possibly meds) that work for your Dane and then move in whatever direction you can from there for a long-term plan. Most important is to a) stabilize acute symptoms and then b) find long-term solutions which often need to be at least partially natural so as to 'do no harm'. If some meds need to be part of that picture for your Dane going forward, so be it. Most important is to keep him healthy, happy and strong for the longest amount of time you can. We HAD to move our pup off of meds because they were doing more harm then good, far more so. With that, we still had to do it gradually to keep him safe. If the meds had been significantly helping with no serious side effects, I may have considered keeping him on them along with supplements but that was not what was happening.

So, you have a bit of a process in front of you but I know you will find the right solutions for him. Just please don't mix HH with meds if you have been outright cautioned against doing so by the product maker. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to our sweet animal friends' lives, I know you agree."

06/11/2012: Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, Fl: "Yogi, is 1/2 st bernard 1/2 golden retriever, 9 yrs old. As a result of elective surgery gone bad he developed seizures which he is taking phenabarbital. 30 mg. 1 1/2 in pm. Helping. From onset of seizures causing anxiety vet told me he has enlarged heart. Beats so fast his chest beating with it. Dr. not familar with heart. Not taking meds for that. Afraid he will have heart attack!!! Comes to us when this starts to happen, drooling all over himself. Please help. Been to so many drs. Can't afford anymore."

06/18/2012: Nh Gardener from Sanbornton, Nh, Usa: "For Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, FL for dog Yogi--Please give him food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in his food dampened with raw apple cider vinegar, starting with 1 tsp. DE once a day, increasing gradually to heaping tsp. 2 X/day. Also add gently melted coconut oil to his food, starting with 1 tsp. Once a day, increasing gradually to 2 or 3 tsps. 2 X/day. I've seen testimonials that seizures have decreased or disappeared with both these supplements. His heart racing may normalize with the ACV. Also give him 1 kelp tablet, crushed, in his food, said to strengthen heart. One site that sells DE has esp. Good human and pet testimonials. Check Coconut Research Center.org for seizure info. Bach Flower Remedies may help racing heart also. All good wishes for dear Yogi."

10/27/2012: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Suji, I just noticed your post today. You placed your post under someone else's post, not mine, which is why I didn't see it. The reason I stopped the magnesium, carnitine, ribose and CoQ-10 was because I started to worry that it might have stopped working for my dog. I kept my dog on these supplements for a year and my dog was examined by 2 cardiologists in that time and they both confirmed that he had no murmur. However on the last visit, the third cardiologist told me he had a grade 1 murmur. This really concerned me --- so I started to research more and found out that taking "isolated" supplements such as the above can cause imbalances in the body. I found out that calcium is equally necessary to the heart (along with magnesium and many other nutrients, including omega 3s), but that they must be in balance with each other and in a form that the body can utilize. Too much calcium can cause a magnesium imbalance and too much magnesium can cause a calcium imbalance, etc. These minerals and vitamins must also come along with all their cofactors, enzymes and other things that appear naturally in nature in order to really work.

I also noticed that my dog appeared to start having some bone issues. I wondered if I was creating a calcium deficiency in him, by giving him the magnesium. Now the bone issues may be completely unrelated and just purely coincidental..... I just don't know. But, that was enough for me... I felt that I needed to look into this a little further and that's when I started him on the phytonutrients.

You mentioned homeopathy and I'd like to tell you my experience with it with my now deceased dog. I consulted with a vet who I believed was also knowledgeable homeopath and she recommended remedies for him, which I gave to him (away from meds) but they did not work. I now know the reason they did not work -- and a true homeopath will tell you this --- is because the drugs are so strong that they will cancel out the effects of the homeopathy.

Unfortunately, I realized this too late because I trusted this doctor. I have since found out that this vet was not an accredited classical homeopath and did not have the in-depth training and knowledge and experience with homeopathy - rather, I believe she only took a weekend course and claimed to be one.

Thankfully I have found a "real" classical homeopath who is wonderful and I use him for many things (mostly short term illnesses and other problems) --- but I WILL NOT use him for my dog's heart problem. I have learned that you MUST address the underlying nutritional problems in any longstanding chronic condition first. If you don't, I believe you will not get the results you are looking for. This is why he is on the phytonutrients.

You asked if there is a way that we can speak directly but that would require that we would have to post our email addresses here -- and I'm not sure that I am comfortable with that."

05/03/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Hi Katie! I have just read all of your posts on supplements and feel that the Universe brought me to this site after hours of crying and pleading! I have three Chihuahuas (my babies) since they were pups and are now 6 years old. Candy (the brightest and most inquisitive) was diagnosed with a grade 2 heart murmur 2 years ago. The vet put her on 1/4 pill of Enalapril twice a day and she had been doing fine. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that her heart was beating unusually hard (I could hear it from a few feet away) and sometimes feels sluggish in the mornings with a lack of appetite. No other symptoms yet thank God. I took her back to the vet today and she says that the murmur has escalated to a grade 5. She recommended a cardiologist. We have an appointment next Tuesday. I switched my dogs' diet to raw a couple of years ago and have been giving them Dr. Becker's supplements (digestive enzymes, probiotics, Krill oil, Spirulina, Ubiquinol) as well as bone meal, glands powder and coconut oil.

I am devastated about my baby's prognosis, as the vet says her condition will get worse, her heart is working very hard and there is no surgery or cure. She is 6, beautiful, smart, funny and a great loving doggy! I refuse to think that there is nothing that I can do for her. I am so sad and helpless. Candy is only 5 pounds and I don't know if some of the supplements will benefit her or what dosage I should use. I beg you to please help me come up with a good alternative option for her. I don't care if I have to go to the end of the world and back, if it means a long, happy and healthy life for her. Thank you so much!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, Do not give up hope on your dog. I would start your dog on the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support immediately. I would give these supplements away from the Enalapril. (Note: Do not stop the Enalapril immediately - your dog will need to be slowly weaned off of it once her heart starts to get stronger. Stopping this drug immediately can cause a setback. ) I would recommend that you stop all of the other supplements though- and I don't even think that the ubiquinol is necessary as the Cardio-Plus contains about 25 mg. of natural CoQ10 per tab.

The Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support are the only supplements that my dog is currently on. And, as you will see from my previous posts, my dog's heart is strong now and is pumping at 100% - and his heart shrunk back to the size of a what a normal, healthy Cavalier should be. The reason why my dog still has a murmur right now is only because his valves are still a little leaky, but my vet feels that they will also improve, if not heal themselves too, in the near future. I am planning another echo at the end of the summer.

As far as dosages go, I would probably recommend 2 to 4 tabs a day of the Cardio-Plus, at least initially (because of the severity of your dog's heart issue). If possible, I would try to give the Cardio-Plus throughout the day (away from the Enalapril, though) in order to keep the nutrition consistently in his system. Then, as the heart improves, I would probably cut back to 2 tabs a day. The Canine Whole Body Support is dosed by weight, so for a 10 lb. dog the dosage would be 1/8 tsp once a day.

I would also recommend that you find a good holistic vet who can help work with you and monitor your dog and his progress and then help you get him safely off the Enalapril as her heart starts to improve."

05/04/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Thank you Katie for your concerned and quick response. You are definitely an angel from Heaven! I will order these supplements today and start her on them. When you say "away from the Enalapril", do you mean I should administer them at a different time of day? I give her the Enalapril with each meal (am/pm) so as to not upset her stomach. Is it ok to give her the Standard Process supplements on an empty stomach?

During our visit to the Cardiologist next Tuesday, I am sure that he will want to put her on additional meds (some I have heard from your followers are Vetmedin, Benazeprill and Furosemide). Shoud I refuse?

Katie, you have no idea how much we appreciate your kindness, support and knowledge. It is people like you that makes me not give up on "two-legged animals."!!!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Yes, give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at a different time from your dog's meds so they don't compete. I would continue giving the Enalapril with his meals, and would give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at any other point during the day – but, I would want to space them out. If you choose to give closer to mealtime, I would allow at 1 or 2 hours before a meal or 2 to 3 hours after a meal. Also, these phytonutrients don't need to be given with food.

Most likely, your vet is going to want to put your dog on additional meds (as they did with my dog). In my experience, I found that every time they added another drug, his heart issue became more dire and his heart continued to weaken further and faster. These drugs created all types of terrible problems with my dog. And, it ultimately became more and more complicated to try to wean my dog off of his meds after being on so many of them (he was on 6 or 7 meds in the end). So, my advice would be to try to keep him off the additional meds, if possible, and give these supplements a chance to start working. However, if it's unavoidable, try to get her off of them ASAP, once the heart strengthens.

By the way, you might also want to keep some magnesium on hand (only in the beginning though). Once, when my dog was very sick, his heart was beating out of his chest and I was rushing him to the cardiologist. Before I left the house I gave him a small spoonful of the liquid magnesium, and in less than 5 minutes his heartbeat returned to normal again. Now, I wouldn't recommend the magnesium long term (or as a regular supplement anymore) because it is an "isolated" supplement --- but you might want to keep some on hand just in case…in an emergency."

05/06/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Got it! Thanks Katie! I will post an update as soon as Candy and I visit the cardiologist tomorrow. Please everyone, keep her in your prayers!"

05/07/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie. Candy and I are back from the Cardiologist. $1000 later, she has been diagnosed with Myxomatous Mitral and Triscuspid Valve Degeneration. Left atrial and ventricular dialation. Mild left-sided congestive heart failure. She said the condition is moderate and that the prognosis is 1 to 2 years. They performed an echo, electro and blood panel and prescribed Lasix and Vetmedin (which I bought). She wants to see her again in a week to determine if her body is accepting the meds with more lab work and another electro.

Katie, I am so confused! Candy seems to be doing better and only coughing a little bit at night. Her heart beat is still elevated and very loud but other than that her appetite is good and so is her energy level.

Should I start her on the meds (I know you hate Vetmedin and I did read about it) or should I not? I have order the supplements (the isolated as well as the Standard Process ones) but have not received them yet. So far I have spent over $1500. When the supplements arrive and I get her on them, how will I know if she gets better that it was the supplements and not the meds or the other way around?And if I don't start her on the meds, what if she gets worse? I very much want to do what is best for Candy and I don't know what that is. I am heartbroken, nervous and very confused.

I would really appreciate your input! Please help me!!!!!"

05/07/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Did the cardiologist mention if Candy's heart is enlarged (cardiomegaly), and if so, did he mention if is it mild, moderate or severe? Or if she had any fluid in her lungs? Or, if she has any pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)? Also, do you know what her heart rate is? Did he mention what grade her murmur was -- or anything about her mitral regurgitation? (Murmurs are graded from 1-6 and regurgitation is graded from is 0-4. ) Also, what were the recommended dosages of each of her meds?

Also, when do you expect to receive the SP supplements?"

05/08/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie, I feel like I did not ask the right questions. She did say that her heart was enlarged but only the left side and moderately. She did have fluid in her lungs (thus the Lasix) but she did not mention heart rate or pulmonary hypertension. She explained that the top part of her left valve is not closing properly any more. The murmur is a grade 5 but do not know the regurgitation grade. I am expecting the supplements around the 14th. I just measured her heart rate myself and counted 67 beats per minute (very loud beating). What do you think?

Her medications are: Enalapril 2. 5 mg. - 1/4 tablet twice a day. Lasix 12. 5 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day and Vetmedin 1. 25 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day. She has been taking the Enalapril for two years now."

05/08/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, can you give me your e-mail address so we can speak directly."

05/23/2013: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi all,

Just wanted to send an update our our Mocha. I had originally posted about him in January of 2012; we were in the process of bringing him back from a very difficult experience of heart-related 'seizure-like' episodes and I wrote at that time to share what we found to be working for him in terms of supplements.

Mocha is still with us (yay!) and doing well. As with any healing, it has been a journey. He did really well on the previous supplement schedule for some time, however he is in his later years and like any body - animal or human - it has its ups and downs. But dramatic decrease in the episodes we were so afraid would take his life. And after having so many of them, we were afraid he would not come all the way back.

He has recovered so well, and we continue to 'tweak' his supplements as Katie from Northport mentioned doing herself over time and with research. We also were blessed to have a wonderful holistic veterinarian move to our area so that we didn't have to figure so much out on our own.

Mocha is currently on:

1. Canine Cardiac Support by Standard Process. Great product, can't say enough about it.

2. CoQ10 for pets by Rx Vitamins - this is created exclusively for pets

3. Forti Flora by Purina - A probiotic supplement for dogs, and I believe they have a version for cats.

4. A Chinese herbal formula called Ding Xian Wan by Jing Tang to balance the liver, which in Chinese Medicine is responsible in part for keeping the heart balanced. This was very interesting to me, as Mocha had a long history of liver imbalance before his heart symptoms ever showed up.

5. CAS Options by Resources - this is an immune and antioxidant support.

All supplements were provided by our holistic vet, who also determined doses for our 9 lb boy.

We also give him 1 tsp of organic sweet potato baby food (great for easing constipation - also associated with the liver) and 1 tsp of fresh wheatgrass per meal which has really improved him overall. A bit of 'live food' in his baked chicken or white fish has made a lovely difference.

In his case, he did not do well on raw foods but as we've learned, there is no 'one size fits all' for people or for pets. This combination has been working beautifully for him and we are deeply grateful that he is here with us and has quality of life. He was, unfortunately, a 'puppy mill' puppy - something we weren't aware of until years later and with that, did not come from a healthy background. Health issues have surfaced throughout his life despite us giving the best care we could at the time, and in this way, his little body has been a great teacher to us.

Hope a bit of what we all have learned and shared here with one another continues to help other dear pets out there.

Best wishes,

Deborah"

05/03/2013: Ptbaker from Leesville, South Carolina: "Ted, I have read all the questions and answers on skin problems on dogs, and I have a question that I didn't see addressed. We put a small heater in our dogs house, along with hay for her to snuggle down into during the winter. In January we noticed her scratching a lot, and then her hair started coming out, from halfway down her back, and now affecting her tail. We first thought she may have been to close to the heater, and she got to hot, but it was cycling on and off. Nothing I am using seems to be working, Adams flea spray, and diamatacious earth on her. Cleaned out her d.h. last weekend, and washed it out, do you think the hay harbored some kind of insects, or maybe mites, in that warm moist environment? I am wondering if she has gotten the mange, or if it was something in the hay, it did smell bad, and the hay was moist when I cleaned it all out. None of our other dogs have been affectd by this, and we would have seen it by now. I will wait on your opinion before I start your remedy. Her skin doesn't look crusty, or scabby, or oozing, but I did feel bumps on her skin where there was no hair, some looked to be healed up, while some of the other bumps were red, where she was biting and scratching at. Thank you for any help you may have for us in getting some relief for her. She was a stray puppy that was put out in front of our house Ja. a year ago, and she is very loveable, looks to have a lot of bordie collie and sheltie in her."

05/11/2013: Ptbaker from Leesville, S.c. U.s.: "Did anyone have any suggestions for the hairloss problem caused by something that may have been gotten from the hay she was sleeping on. She is still itching and chewing her hair out."

05/12/2013: Jane from Asheville, Nc: "Hi, It sounds like an allergy to the hay or even pollen at this time of year, or an overgrowth of yeast issue from the food. When my dogs are chewing and scratching around their rear and there are no signs of fleas, I know it's a yeast issue. I would try a grain free dog food and see if that helps. Bathing might help too, but not too often as you don't want to dry out her fur. Another possibility is that she is stressed out and anxious. Are the other dogs nipping at her? If so, that might be causing the issues. A few possibilities I think and you will have to rule them out one by one. I'd start with a food allergy and go from there. Good luck and please update us on your beloved canine friend."

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "I would also like to throw out another suggestion. How much exercise does your dog get each day? If she is a high energy dog and not getting enough exercise through daily walks, this can lead to psychological issues, one of which might be manifesting with her pulling out her fur. Just a thought. Please let us know how she is doing."

05/23/2013: Louise from Leesville, South Carolina: "Can someone tell me if it is dangerous for the dogs health to continually use the peroxide/borax solution on the dog every week? I have been using it for 2 weeks now, twice a week, and the fleas don't seem to be as bad as they were. Her hair is coming back already, and I am not seeing her scratch nearly as much. I posted earlier about the dogs hairloss possibly caused by sleeping on the hay, and, do you'll use this spray on inside dogs as well, I am using the tip I read somewhere about putting dawn d/w liq. In a dish of warm water, and putting it under a nightlight, thats working good, so if its ok to spray my inside dogs, I think I can get the fleas under control again. Thanks for all the feedback on this. This is a very informative and fantastic site to refer to."

[YEA]  09/24/2008: Ann from Cranford, New Jersey: "I have an aging German Sheppard mix, about eleven years old. He was vomiting bile every night and ruined my kitchen cabinet with the stomach fluid that he was bringing up nightly. After trying many over the counter products, herbal supplements, food changes, feeding position changes etc. I was at my wits end. After receiving a suggestion from a friend, I decided to try splitting his food ration into two meals. Half in the morning and half at night. Lo n behold, it worked. I now can replace my kitchen cabinet and it will not be ruined by the critter leaving a puddle of bile next to it every night. He just could not eat that much in one feeding. Poor dog. It's a good thing his mom finally woke up n got his feeding right."

05/22/2013: Malinator from Palm Beach, Fl: "I just wanted to post up there for future searchers:

My Malinois did this too and was miserable most of the time. the same thing helped him. He would also scratch his body up against things after eating. After $$$ vet bills we know he has pancreas problems. Eating too much at one time (for his compromised organ) will cause lifesaving surgery or death. Glad you made the change to twice a day without spending thousands! The scratching indicated an allergy to something in the food. My guy is fine now!"

10/18/2010: Mindy from Pt Chester, USA: "I've been using Ted's Mange cure and am thrilled with the results. However my dogs are a deep liver color and due to the 1% peroxide they are turning orange (even after 1 or 2 applications). Someone wrote that you can substitute vinegar in place of the peroxide. Is the vinegar used straight or is it diluted?

Thank you, Mindy"

11/13/2010: Aj from Grants, Nm/us replies: "You said "do not wash", what about the rotten smell that comes with the infection"

11/14/2010: Guin from Cleveland, Texas replies: "What is the mixture of sodium perborate to water, as I found that all color bleach has it in it. It is made by everyday living, and has sodium carbonate, inorganic salts, sodium perborate or sodium percarbonate, enzymes, fragrance, fabric brightening agent, and colorant. Is there anything in this that is harmful??"

11/17/2010: Eve K from Houston, Tx replies: ""Mange" refers to two different types of mite infestation. It is important to know which type you are dealing with. Other skin conditions can also mimic mange. Get a scraping done at the vet to know which type of mange you are dealing with (if it is in fact mange). The vet will probably offer you two conventional treatment options; or you can proceed with a natural treatment. DEMODECTIC mange aka "red" mange (demodex mites):

1. Is NOT contagious--you do NOT need to "disinfect" your entire home or treat multiple pets (unless they are truly also suffering from it) or yourself.

2. Is a genetically inherited immune deficiency. Some dogs will only have outbreaks (flare ups) at certain times (coming into heat, for example). Dogs with demodectic mange should NOT BE BRED. This is a heritable immune defect. If your dog has demodectic mange, their parents and littermates had it too. All dogs have a few demodex mites but their immune system keeps the population under control. It is when there is a defect in the immune system that an overgrowth occurs and mange symptoms arise. I am posting this because there is a great deal of misunderstanding in the posts I have read. Sarcoptic mange (scabies) is another situation altogether. It is contagious and requires different treatment. Your vet will tell you which type you are dealing with."

12/19/2010: Stephanie from Spring, Texas replies: "I keep hearing this but I also hear others say it has nothing to do with the breeder. The breeder we bought both of our white german shepherd dogs from here in Dickinson, Texas. We have 2 of the 5 from the litter. We have the only female. About 2 months ago they went into heat, well he did forst, and he began to break out. We took him to the vet and the vet said it was a breeder issue. She claimed to know nothing about Demodex and said she had never had an issue with the puppies however others tell us it is definitely a breeder issue. How do you know and if it is an immune problem, we have since had them fixed, will it continue to get worse? He is worse, we have removed gluten form their diet and bedding, the water bottles they are chewing on etc. The only thing left is to give them bottled water! She claims nobody but us has complained so I am worried it may be us but one is also better than the other. The bigger one, a boy, is ten time worse than the female. Trying to find a vet familiar with german sheperds is really hard."

02/07/2011: Bgthomas from Houston, Tx replies: "To Stephanie of Spring, TX, demodex mange on 2 gsp dogs, litter mates, male and female. I have been told it is not cureable, but managable. Both of the dogs I own came from very reputable breeder/handler. It is a inmune system problem, been treating them with ivomec, imune powder and diet."

02/11/2011: Kate from Hanceville, Al replies: "I followed this regimen exactly for 5 weeks. Although my dog looked much better and started to regrow hair, her skin scrapings at the vet 2 days after a treatment revealed numerous demodex mites. I am returning to traditional treatment with possible use of the borax solution additionally."

03/18/2011: Jeff from Tampa, Florida replies: "I have used this treatment on my 60 pound dog with some success. I have not used it as often as I should because of a side effect that I have not seen mentioned in this blog. First, I wash the dog, then immediated soak her in the solution. Two minutes later she starts getting very nervous and starts shaking nervously. For about 15 to 20 minutes she is a nervous wreck. She gets so hyped up that she has scaled a 6 feet stockade fence around my backyard, which see never does otherwise. A few times she has vomited during that time period. She finally calms down. I would love to know if anyone has had the same experience. If Ted has an explaination I would be grateful. The solution helps her, but I don't have the heart to put her through that very often, so she still suffers with the mites."

03/26/2011: Mybuddy from Colden, Ny replies: "I had found Ted's solution over a year ago and successfully treated my dog's demodectic mange. His fur was falling out in clumps, his skin was red and turning black, he was constantly itching or licking and smelled funky. I spent a small fortune in prescription food, prescription shampoos, cortisone shots and mange treatments - the vet believed that it was allergies and not mange. I bathed my dog with an Oatmeal based shampoo, then applied the solution and let him dry per the instructions on this site. I did this every couple of days for two weeks, then weekly for a couple of weeks and then every month after that. I also have been giving him a multi-vitamin along with Brewer's Yeast/Garlic tablets. His skin had turned back to a healthy pink and his fur is thick and soft. Additional things I learned:

Cortisone will make the mange worse.

The mange tends to be worse during winter and generally in those dogs that may be immune challenged. (My dog did not require the treatments during the summer, but I saw a change once Fall started and resumed the monthly treatment.)

Dogs will throw up if they have consumed the solution, as the peroxide makes them vomit.

My dog wants to immediately roll on the ground to get the solution off of him - I keep him on the leash outside to go to the bathroom after the bath, then put him on his bed to dry.

My dog did not have food allergies - I have had him on the same food that the vet took him off of and he is fine.

Last note, at my dog's yearly vet visit, the vet could not believe how beautiful his coat was and had never seem him so healthy. I explained what I was doing with the treatment, but I think he doubted the mange and solution effectiveness. Either way, my dog's skin and coat have never been better and there are no harsh chemicals involved! Thank you Ted!"

04/02/2011: Diamond from Salisbury, Ma, USA replies: "All you folks are very lucky people, I have a mangy cat that is hard to tangle with, I try to be gentle because her immune system is way down and she's only a wee thin kitten, but she wants to fight for her life either way. Try picturing a kitten getting a bath (chuckles) Thanks every one for this great site ;o)"

04/16/2011: Totos.tribe from Victoria, Bc, Canada replies: "Hi There: I have a question for Ted regarding his "mange cure"

I have been treating a mixed breed spayed female. She has had demodicosis since birth. I "cured" her once using traditional vet treatments of Amitraz etc. Then the mange reoccurred. So I tried your "mange cure". It immediately started to work. Her skin started looking pink and healthy, her hair has grown back almost everywhere except for her hind quarters. However, after six weeks, the dog is developing a problem around the base of her tail and she is once again biting at herself and the skin is becoming infected and obviously has mange.

My question; I am currently in Mexico and the only source of Borax purchase is in the local hardware store. It is packaged by them and the word Borax is written on the package. Is there a way I can test it or tell if it is really Borax? The first time I purchased the powder would dissolve and then leave some crystals in the bottom of the pail. This time, it is in a different package (new shipment) and when I mixed the Borax into the hydrogen peroxide/water solution it formed a hard salt like crystal on the bottom. So I'm not sure I've actually got real Borax and am looking for a simple way to test it or tell if it is real Borax. It is the only source of Borax I have been able to find here.

Your cure worked so well, that my vet now wants me to do applications on his other clients who have the same issue. I would like to know that I'm using the right product.

Also, my girl was doing so well. Can you give me any advice as to what is happening around the base of her tail? I am returning to Canada soon and would like to take her home with me. But I will not be able to if she does not heal. I am going to put the "cone" back on her today so that she cannot bit herself and continue to treat her. Looking for any advice you can give.

Many thanks, Osa the dog's person"

05/15/2011: Concerned Mommy from St.louis, Mo replies: "will adding borax to my dogs drinking water kill them? has mange bad and we are treating her accordingly. Her ears seems to be the big issue. Another issue is do I need to treat my carpet and furniture and places where she sleeps?"

01/06/2012: Laurie from Charles Town, Wv: "Someone asked quite a long time ago whether the cider vinegar was to be used full strength or diluted (when substituting it for the peroxide), but there was never an answer to that question. Does anyone (including Ted) have an answer? I prefer to use cider vinegar rather than peroxide. Thanks in advance if anyone can help!"

03/17/2012: Linda from La Cruz De Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mx: "Ted, What would be the recipe using DMSO? I have Borax, H202, ACV, and some DMSO. Would using the DMSO be the most effective choice?"

04/07/2012: Sammi from Bixby, Oklahoma: "@Jen from Phoenix. Could you possibly send me some pics of your dog's Mange? We have a blue pitbull that started with a spot on her head that seems to itch & cause her pain. Over a few weeks a spot the size of a dime showed up on both her front & back leg. After taking her to the vet today I feel like we got no where. She did a skin scraping but saw nothing. She recommend using a neosporin/benadryl mixture & said it's probably allergies but could be mange. I'm just very worried about her & want to be sure we are getting her the best treatment we can. Thanks so much! My email address is sammibyrne [at}yahoo (dot) com."

07/22/2012: Jade from Orlando, Florida: "Thank you for this remedy. I will try it as my pom has sores & I have cut all his fur off to treat better. Hydrocortizone cream seems to help him not itch but I need something I trust to be safe to rulle out and/or treat for mange. These sores are big. I nned to treat the cause. Our lake at our apartments in the city is infested with fleas from a "dog friendly apartment complex". It could be infested with mange as all the dogs walk the same path around the lake & there are unhealthy outdoor cats that seem ferrel. You would think "dog friendly" would mean people treat thier dog's bug problems quickly as they hurt the dogs. I posted that Borax is in the laundry detergent isle so people can find it. :("

05/21/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "I would just like to add to all of these posts that many remedies obtained from pharmaceutical sources are very dangerous to say the least.

Ivermectin is cancer causing according to a homeopathic vet who wrote about dog/cat treatment. ANTIBIOTICS are a sledge hammer method that reduce the immune system and many animals never regain their proper state of health again. This is also my experience. Vaccinations reduce life span and do irreparable damage. I have heard of cats not only contracting the disease vaccinated for but also had personality changes, etc. afterwards. Blood must be kept clean, not poisoned. I think antibiotics are largely responsible for Candida outbreaks. A vet told me years ago that cortisone reduces ones life span. Not to speak about side effects. It boils down to the fact that recovery is unrealistic when the body gets exposed to these. These days the above treatments are becoming common usage as vets only know about pharmaceuticals which they are supposed to use.

Use your common sense in all these issues. The resonable priced items such as h202 and borax may be more difficult to obtain in the near future so a supply of these should be kept on hand. In reviewing the misleading and blatantly false statements on some of these such as borax and h202 one may understand the real reason behind it and it is commerce. Again, ask yourself why?? God has given us our immune system. Now why slam it down with dangerous drugs? It is totally contrary to common sense. Healing is an art. Each individual needs to find out what works and find out what else can be done before the bodily system gets damaged beyond recovery. Health has become a business so let the buyer beware.

I am so grateful I found this site as in all the years of rescue I lost a lot of animals I could have saved , and it set me on the right track. Read up on Chinese and Ayurvedic remedies just to see what healing is all about.

The good news is in the NEAR future the world will have an entirely new system for health and healing affordable for all. Meanwhile just like myself, I am amazed how far I have come in understanding the principle of regaining health. It is not about "managing" but about curing, healing.

Peace to all wonderful posters and their critters and a big thank you for all EC staff. Om"

[YEA]  02/08/2013: Domdom from Albuquerque, Nm: "To whom it may concern,

I have some awesome pictures of my puppy before and after the borax/peroxide treatment. Like most, I was skeptical whether or not this cure would work, but I am truly amazed with the results thus far. Let me know if I can give you these pics to use on your website."

EC: Yes, we would love to post them! Please email them to: staff {at} earthclinic [dot] com. Thanks.

05/09/2013: Watchmom3 from Abilene, Texas: "Just wondering if you have any experience with a lime/sulfur dip for mange? I am having trouble with mites and am not positive it is mange, as I can see the mites easily, and they are about the size of a coffee ground with a nasty bite. I have dogs, cats, goats and chickens, not to mention wild things, like coyotes and bobcats. Suggestions? I tried the borax and H202 and still am plagued. Thanks for any advice."

05/21/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "Watchmom3 from abilene, texas: years ago I was infected with scabies twice. I took three little globules of PSORINUM 30C homeopathic remedy and within thirty minutes all was gone. Cost about ten bucks.

Beware of allopathic remedies: expensive and very toxic. Hope this helps. Om"

[YEA]  06/05/2012: Courtney from Bradford, Ontario: "My 9 month old dog was diagnosed with parvo on Sunday night. His symptoms started on Friday, when we came home from work and found he had vomited every where. He continued to vomit periodically throughout Friday evening. On Saturday, he did not vomit, but did have some diarrhea (no blood), however by this time he would not eat or drink anything (not even table scraps! ), which is completely out of character. Also at 9 months, he is almost always full of energy and life, so when he started sleeping constantly, and acting depressed, we knew something was up.

On Sunday during the day, he vomited up some grass, and he had diarrhea (still no blood). By Sunday evening, he was so lethargic however he would not even move. He would barely even lift his head and I worried he would not make it through the night so I took him to an emergency vet clinic. It cost me $250 for the vet to test his feces, and tell me he was positive for parvo. She gave me two options. He could stay the rest of the night, at a cost of $1200.00 and they would treat him with IV and blood tests and we would have to pick him up in the morning and take him to another clinic, or we could put him to sleep.

Prior to taking him to the vet, I did not know what parvo was, but I googled his symptoms and ended up at this site. I had a pretty good idea my dog had parvo. I had read about this charcoal thing and tried unsuccessfully to find it at Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart, or any health food store. But when our only options were to fork out thousands of dollars or put him to sleep, we just paid the $250 for the visit, and brought him home against medical advice.

I stayed up most of Sunday evening trying to get my dog to drink water, and around 2:30 in the morning, he started to swallow instead of spit it out. I woke up at 5 in the morning, and he was still alive. I continued to push fluids on him and throughout the day, after drinking, he was able to eat a little bit without vomiting it up.

Because we couldn't find any charcoal, my boyfriend bought Active Carbon, which is supposedly the same thing as Charcoal, from Walmart in the Aquarium Section! It is used to clean fish tanks. It cost him 4 dollars. We bought some Gatorade and made a mixture of Gatorade, Water, and Charcoal, and used a syringe to get him to swallow this at first. Within a half an hour, his appetite was in full force, and so was his energy level. We continued to feed him this gatorade, water, charcoal mix throughout the night, and today - Tuesday - he is nearly 100%. While he is still laying down relaxing more than he typically would, he is wide awake, fully alert, and eating anything and everything we will let him (we are going easy as he hadn't ate in so long and don't want to upset his stomach). He is chasing the cat, playing, and running around like a lunatic (like he normally does).

About an hour ago, Animal Control showed up at my house. The vet had called them on us because we had gone against medical advice, and if he was not treated, he would "suffer". One knock on the door, and my dog booked it to the door barking and wagging his tail at Animal Control. The lady at the door was baffled. "This is the dog that was diagnosed with Parvo on Sunday evening?" I told her yes, and she said he seemed fine. She said it was incredibly rare for him to bounce back like this, and most puppies are dead within 24 hours of diagnosis. And of course, she let me keep my dog, because it is very clear he is not suffering.

So THANK YOU so, so much for writing about this remedy. A treatment that was going to cost us thousands of dollars ended up costing us about 10 in total, aside from the initial vet visit, and if we didn't see this site, we probably would have had to put him down because we couldn't afford the treatment. While our dog can drive us crazy with his hyperactivity and spunk some days, we have never been happier to see him acting so nuts. Something tells me our boy is going to be getting extra spoiled for a long time, we are so grateful and happy that he made it through."

05/19/2013: Koni from Texas: "How much do u mix?"

[QUESTION]  09/15/2010: Cheryl from St. marys, Wva Pleasants: "My vet said, dogs rarely get earmites. Is this true?"

05/19/2013: Andrenyc from New York, Ny, Usa: "For ear mites (dogs or cats, in my case, cat) I found Ted's mange cure very effective. Look up Ted's mange cure for more info: http://earthclinic.com/Pets/dog_mange_cure.html#TEDS"

09/23/2008: Leta from Sierra Madre, CA: "I am fortunate to have a vet who respects my dislike of anti-bio-tics. She ran tests on my 18 year old cat's urine to find which specific bacteria/crystals caused his distress. She suggested I buy Trader Joe's Cranberry extract, and give my cat a half a tablet crushed up food mornings and a half in evenings. One week later, his urinary pH was back to normal, without bacteria, and no crystals. I'm assuming this would work only for certain kinds of distress, and DEFINATELY not if there's already a blockage....I also would not continue the cranberry full time, as it affects acid-alkaline balance."

05/19/2013: Rosanne from Sierra Madre, Ca: "Who is your vet in Sierra Madre? We just moved here this weekend and having blockage problems in my male cat."

05/19/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "I have heard that the tap water that cats drink in certain cities causes crystals and blockages. One of the first things I would do is have your cat drink only purified water. This may prevent future issues. Maybe the city water in Sierra Madre is problematic. My pets only drink purified spring water. I don't trust LA water!!"

05/08/2013: Celine from Nottingham, NH: "I just brought my 3 year old pug to get her Lyme Booster and every time she breaths she shakes, She is very tired and not moving is this normal?"

05/19/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "Be very careful with vaccination of any sort and do research first. Some vets admit the lyme vacc. Is not working. But it can kill. Clean your dog of this poison. One suggestion is Essiac.

You can dillute ACV with some water and spray your dog before going out. A friend of mine has done it with good results. His dog had no more ticks on him after a hike. But because his dog had been hit by ticks many times , though they were removed promptly, his dog has now signs of ill health. My friend is now using MMS to reverse the bad effects, such as low energy, etc.

Vaccines are business. And very lucrative too. Observe cats/dogs eyes closely after vaccination and you may see a faint ring indicating the nervous system is hit. Again I cannot warn enough about vaccs. A homeopathic vet told that from allopathic training he changed to homeopathy when he discovered (among other things) that there are vaccines waiting for a disease). Some holistic vets agree as to the deleterious effects of vaccinations. Be alert and only trust yourself. "Health" is a businesss. Om"

09/23/2008: Leta from Sierra Madre, CA: "I am fortunate to have a vet who respects my dislike of anti-bio-tics. She ran tests on my 18 year old cat's urine to find which specific bacteria/crystals caused his distress. She suggested I buy Trader Joe's Cranberry extract, and give my cat a half a tablet crushed up food mornings and a half in evenings. One week later, his urinary pH was back to normal, without bacteria, and no crystals. I'm assuming this would work only for certain kinds of distress, and DEFINATELY not if there's already a blockage....I also would not continue the cranberry full time, as it affects acid-alkaline balance."

05/19/2013: Rosanne from Sierra Madre, Ca: "Who is your vet in Sierra Madre? We just moved here this weekend and having blockage problems in my male cat."

05/19/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "I have heard that the tap water that cats drink in certain cities causes crystals and blockages. One of the first things I would do is have your cat drink only purified water. This may prevent future issues. Maybe the city water in Sierra Madre is problematic. My pets only drink purified spring water. I don't trust LA water!!"

05/15/2013: Cc from Phoenix, Arizona: "Does anyone know if Colloidal Silver can help beat Parvo? If so do you know how much to give a 5mo old Chihuahua that weighs about 2lbs?"

05/18/2013: Om from Hope, Bc, Canada: "People have cured their dog with MMS when down with parvo. Google MMS and use one half drop only. Instructions are there. The people at Real Raw Foods have cured their dog. Meanwhile use colloidal silver and take great care with the MMS protocol. They tell you how to give one half drop. Om"

05/17/2013: Tigerbear17 from Cheektowaga, New York, Usa: "My cat has Ringworm. I have been treating him for a week with Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and Extra Virgin Coconut oil. He has it over his eye between the eye and the ear. I have also been spraying my entire house down daily with a 50/50 mix of ACV and water. Is there anything else I can do ??? The skin is red and inflamed and there is a smaller patch of BLACK scabby stuff near the larger red spot. He is a long haired cat so I clipped the hair to get to the spot. I have 2 other cats who seem to not be infected.... I also spray all the cats daily with the 50/50 mix. Any advise ???? Thanks, Karen"

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "If the ACV isn't helping, I would then try the remedy on this site for mange, which is peroxide and borax. You should read up on the feedback on that page first to see how many people have used it on their cats as it is a dog remedy from the few posts that I have read. The vet should be able to give you an anti-fungal remedy. If you can't afford it, see what Over the Counter meds people are using on cats with ringworm. Not sure this helps, but please let me know how it goes."

05/18/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "Turmeric works like a charm. Apply dry, do not wet. I have used it for years and maybe one needs to follow up, depending on the individual animal. If they lick it, it will benefit the liver. Very cost effective. It is being used now in a local shelter with great success. If an animal is full of ringworm, put the kitty in a small box and work the powder into the fur after which keep it caged so the powder is not spread everywhere. This should cost you pennies. Love, Om"

[YEA]  03/11/2013: Steve from Labelle, Florida: "Apple Cider Vinegar works for me! My Chow mix has had "flea allergy" ??? for years. Two vets, same thing, try benedril, etc. etc. I've tried everything you could think of, nothing worked. Constant scratching, sore on leg that won't heal. Bald spots by tail that come and go. Couldn't find the organic ACV at w-dixie, but got a bottle of "natural" ACV. Everything they have on the shelf is "filtered". But mixed some up 1/2 and 1/2. Poured it on her, and I could tell a difference RIGHT AWAY! Dabbed some more on her leg sore, and her belly this morning, and what a difference! Thank you all for this information."

05/18/2013: Diane Peace from Hudson Oaks, Yexas: "How often do I have to spray my dog?"

05/03/2013: Ptbaker from Leesville, South Carolina: "Ted, I have read all the questions and answers on skin problems on dogs, and I have a question that I didn't see addressed. We put a small heater in our dogs house, along with hay for her to snuggle down into during the winter. In January we noticed her scratching a lot, and then her hair started coming out, from halfway down her back, and now affecting her tail. We first thought she may have been to close to the heater, and she got to hot, but it was cycling on and off. Nothing I am using seems to be working, Adams flea spray, and diamatacious earth on her. Cleaned out her d.h. last weekend, and washed it out, do you think the hay harbored some kind of insects, or maybe mites, in that warm moist environment? I am wondering if she has gotten the mange, or if it was something in the hay, it did smell bad, and the hay was moist when I cleaned it all out. None of our other dogs have been affectd by this, and we would have seen it by now. I will wait on your opinion before I start your remedy. Her skin doesn't look crusty, or scabby, or oozing, but I did feel bumps on her skin where there was no hair, some looked to be healed up, while some of the other bumps were red, where she was biting and scratching at. Thank you for any help you may have for us in getting some relief for her. She was a stray puppy that was put out in front of our house Ja. a year ago, and she is very loveable, looks to have a lot of bordie collie and sheltie in her."

05/11/2013: Ptbaker from Leesville, S.c. U.s.: "Did anyone have any suggestions for the hairloss problem caused by something that may have been gotten from the hay she was sleeping on. She is still itching and chewing her hair out."

05/12/2013: Jane from Asheville, Nc: "Hi, It sounds like an allergy to the hay or even pollen at this time of year, or an overgrowth of yeast issue from the food. When my dogs are chewing and scratching around their rear and there are no signs of fleas, I know it's a yeast issue. I would try a grain free dog food and see if that helps. Bathing might help too, but not too often as you don't want to dry out her fur. Another possibility is that she is stressed out and anxious. Are the other dogs nipping at her? If so, that might be causing the issues. A few possibilities I think and you will have to rule them out one by one. I'd start with a food allergy and go from there. Good luck and please update us on your beloved canine friend."

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "I would also like to throw out another suggestion. How much exercise does your dog get each day? If she is a high energy dog and not getting enough exercise through daily walks, this can lead to psychological issues, one of which might be manifesting with her pulling out her fur. Just a thought. Please let us know how she is doing."

05/23/2013: Louise from Leesville, South Carolina: "Can someone tell me if it is dangerous for the dogs health to continually use the peroxide/borax solution on the dog every week? I have been using it for 2 weeks now, twice a week, and the fleas don't seem to be as bad as they were. Her hair is coming back already, and I am not seeing her scratch nearly as much. I posted earlier about the dogs hairloss possibly caused by sleeping on the hay, and, do you'll use this spray on inside dogs as well, I am using the tip I read somewhere about putting dawn d/w liq. In a dish of warm water, and putting it under a nightlight, thats working good, so if its ok to spray my inside dogs, I think I can get the fleas under control again. Thanks for all the feedback on this. This is a very informative and fantastic site to refer to."

09/24/2012: Dawn from Merseyside, United Kingdom: "A little background info - My boxer bitch is a rescue dog who came with little info beyond that she had come from a very good but divorcing home and no health or special care info beyond "she has a bath every saturday night".

I thought this just meant she had been a pampered pooch but as I believe bathing so often would strip her natural oils we didn't keep this up. Within months she was scratching, wriggling on her back, rubbing up against us and the furniture and took the best relief rubbing along some crappy woodchip paper we have in the hall!

I took to brushing her regularly, spraying her with various soothing oils, trying different foods etc. All of which seemed to ease what we thought was just an ongoing sensitive skin issue.

We've had humid weather which encouraged a nasty flea explosion and with having another boxer male and two cats you can imagine the sheer amount of flea treatments we've been through. My boxer male also had ear mites which were treated and cleared up without appearing to spread to the other animals but last week the bitch went downhill dramatically with hair falling out, hot spots and incessant itching and flaking skin.

I hit the internet and found this site. From all the info here - and the fact that none of the other animals are experiencing her particular problems - I've deduced that she definitely has a mite infestion of some kind if not demodectic mange.

Slathering her in mayonnaise resulted in tell-tale bumps and so I decided to try this cure. I got 200ml 6% Hydrogen Peroxide from the local pharmacy (99p) which I've reduced to a 1% solution - as per the pharmacist's instructions - by mixing 1 part peroxide to 3 parts distilled water. The distilled water I obtained from my condenser dryer (of all places) and 200ml of this solution added to 2 tablespoons of Borax - obtained on Ebay. Co.Uk (2kg for around £9 inc. postage) - gives me the right mix.

Mixing up 1 litre of the solutions therefore costs around £1.10 and - applied with a spray bottle to drench and spot treat my medium sized boxer - I reckon there is enough in that for 3 treatments.

I completely soaked her in the solution yesterday, she calmed down immediately and slept most of the day. The relief from the itching must have heavenly.

I've drenched her again today and intend to do this every day for a week then bathe her with Head & Shoulders dandruff shampoo and give a day off.

I've also taken photos to compare "before & after". As she's a brindle her coat makes getting a clear photo nigh on impossible but her belly - once covered with dark downy hair - is bald, sore, flaky and pink so will provide the best example.

I appreciate there are no guarantees but I'm encouraged by the testamonials here and curious to see how she goes. I will post back with an update next week.

Thank you to Ted for "The Cure" and to everyone who has posted with their personal experiences and examples of their own regimens. Your help in helping me to help my very much-loved dog is invaluable and very much appreciated."

05/17/2013: Tariq from Kashmir, Pakistan: "hi, I'm trying the borax h2o2 solution for about a week now. I'm doing the head and shoulder wash and rinse and then the borax h2o2 solution via spray not having much success. The only h2o2 available comes in 120ml bottle 20 volume, please could some1 tell me what % this is and how to dilute to 1%. I am using 4 h2o2 bottles + 20 ml to make 500 ml of h2o2 and then adding 2.5 lt of warm water and 10 tablespoons of borax and resting this mix for ten minutes. I leave this on the dog to dry overnight. Please help what am I doing wrong. Thanx"

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "Hi, have you checked your pharmacy or grocery store for 3% peroxide in the wound section? All stores here in the USA carry 3% so I am surprised to hear that you can only find 20%. What do people in Pakistan sterilize their wounds with? Your measurements sound right to me. Sorry, I do not know why it isn't working. Maybe someone else who has treated mange will know."

[YEA]  06/09/2012: Kim from Palisade, Colorado: "My English Staffordshires both developed diarrhea at the same time, nothing new to diet, no added stresses, usual routine. Not sure what caused this but after four days of it dicating every moment of me life for these poor "babies" I sought out the 'home' cures on line. Thank you so much for the reviews on Pumpkin!!!

I took my Staffies off their usual food (had already cut back) and put them on the rice/chicken/pumpkin. Within one whole day (24 hrs) they finally had a normal stool. They are back to their happy energetic selves. Now, in the evening, I'll give them each a small spoonful of pumpkin which they love. I'll do that for a few more days and ease them back to their regular diet.

Yes, you can feed pumpkin for diarrhea."

05/17/2013: Germaine Clemente from Bonita Springs Fl: "Hi after reading many posts I noticed everyone used a chicken and rice diet. I was told boiled beef and white rice. Am I missing something
Thanks"

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "I have only heard about boiled chicken and rice being great for dogs with diarrhea. Ground beef is high in fat, so I think that can aggravate diarrhea. I don't suggest it. Chicken is much easier to digest."

[YEA]  09/13/2009: Kimi from Alpine, Ca, Usa: "Cat Cystitis:

Hi! A sure-fire remedy for cat cystitis is unsweetened cranberry juice, fresh-squeezed lemon juice & water. 1 cup cranberry (unsweetened!!), 1 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice & one third cup water. I administered 1tsp. doses by syringe every half hour and Daisy-Mae was cured within 6 hours after battling cystitis for months!!! YEAH! She would allow the syringe "feedings" because she knew it was giving her almost instant relief. I had tried everything... ACV, antibiotics, etc. This recipe worked like a charm and it is all natural! Love it.

Kimi"

[YEA]  09/06/2010: Panda's Humans from Seattle, Washington, Usa: "We are so thankful for this website and for Kimi's post! On Saturday, 04 September, we noticed that our 2 year old cat, Panda was struggling to urinate. It was after hours, so we called an emergency clinic to ask for suggestions. All they told us was to bring her in. The following Sunday morning, I had my daughter go on-line to seek out natural remedies. She came across this site and Kimi's post. We made a mixture of water, lemon juice and cranberry powder from capsules. We administered 1 teaspoon every half hour for six hours. Oh my goodness, within hours, Panda was looking better, by the end of the six hours, she had urinated with zero struggle and was playing like her usual self. Thank you so much! "

05/04/2011: Miss Moo from Cookeville, Tennessee U.s.a: "My cat, Miss Moo (a 12 year-old Rumpy Cymric Manx), had been peeing blood and not using her litter box... And was using my kitchen floor as a new "pee spot. " When she urinated, she strained and there was very little urine. I tried the ACV with no luck in her, but ACV did help my male cat with gastrointestinal problems.

I used the fresh lemon juice and sugarless cranberry juice recipe you posted. I dosed kitty every 30 minutes for six entire hours. She was NOT happy about getting this. After 3 hours, she seemed stronger as she started to fight the doses. It's always been very hard to give her a pill or anything oral because she spits it out the sides of her mouth.

Anyhow, I placed some newspaper with a white paper towel on it in her pee spot so I could see the color of her urine. I woke this morning to see a LOT of urine. It was completely CLEAR! After trying antibiotic after antibiotic, ACV, and going CRAZY cleaning up pee and trying to help her as we couldn't afford to go to a vet because I live on a fixed income. This INDEED worked!!! I am VERY thankful to you for this recipe and posting the information on here! Bless you!

I placed a small litter box with her usual litter in her pee spot and am hoping that she will use that. This morning, after placing the small litter box there, she went to her usual litter box and peed. A blood-free, clear and a healthy amount came out with no straining or pain.

Again, thank you SO much! If ACV doesn't work for some... Please try this!!!"

05/17/2013: Brittany from Canada: "Just wondering if it has to be fresh lemon juice and if the bottled one is ok. Also wondering if the cranberry pills are ok?"

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "From what I have been reading on this site, Apple Cider Vinegar is the best remedy for cats with cystitis. You can dilute it and add it to the scruff on their necks and let them absorb it that way. I don't know about the other remedies you mention for cats, sorry."

05/17/2013: Tigerbear17 from Cheektowaga, New York, Usa: "My cat has Ringworm. I have been treating him for a week with Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and Extra Virgin Coconut oil. He has it over his eye between the eye and the ear. I have also been spraying my entire house down daily with a 50/50 mix of ACV and water. Is there anything else I can do ??? The skin is red and inflamed and there is a smaller patch of BLACK scabby stuff near the larger red spot. He is a long haired cat so I clipped the hair to get to the spot. I have 2 other cats who seem to not be infected.... I also spray all the cats daily with the 50/50 mix. Any advise ???? Thanks, Karen"

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "If the ACV isn't helping, I would then try the remedy on this site for mange, which is peroxide and borax. You should read up on the feedback on that page first to see how many people have used it on their cats as it is a dog remedy from the few posts that I have read. The vet should be able to give you an anti-fungal remedy. If you can't afford it, see what Over the Counter meds people are using on cats with ringworm. Not sure this helps, but please let me know how it goes."

05/18/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "Turmeric works like a charm. Apply dry, do not wet. I have used it for years and maybe one needs to follow up, depending on the individual animal. If they lick it, it will benefit the liver. Very cost effective. It is being used now in a local shelter with great success. If an animal is full of ringworm, put the kitty in a small box and work the powder into the fur after which keep it caged so the powder is not spread everywhere. This should cost you pennies. Love, Om"

[YEA]  10/03/2008: Deirdre from Atlanta, GA: "Just wanted to report that I am having great results on my 14+ year old german shephard mix who has arthritis (especially in the hips). I think that one of the most helpful and important things I'm doing is exercising him without fail every day. I take him on walks each day, usually about 3.5 miles total. Considering his age, he's in remarkably good shape and, except on steep hills, keeps up with our other 2 young dogs. We used to walk by a neighbor's golden retriever who was let outside in the front yard several times a day to do her thing. She hobbled around in obvious pain, barely able to walk. I never once saw the owners taking their sweet dog out for a walk. She was only about 10 years old when they put her to sleep. Just my opinion, but I think early deaths happen with some frequency to yard-only dogs. Exercise keeps those joints lubricated!

Supplements: I also recently started adding turmeric, msm and glucosamine to Max's food. Dosages: 1/4 teaspoon of powdered turmeric in his food in the morning, diluted with chicken broth. At night I crush a 1000 mg tablet of MSM and give him half of it (500 mg), plus a full capsule of glucosamine blend from Trader Joe's (glucosamine sulfate 750mg and glucosamine HCI 750 mg). My vet mentioned that she likes the combo of MSM and glucosamine for dogs with arthritis, which is why I started him on that a few weeks ago. The turmeric has helped heal up a benign cyst that had burst through the skin on his front paw. Very glad one of EC's readers reported a cure for dog cysts recently -- thanks! At any rate, Max seems to be doing better on the supplements -- walking faster, wrestling with the other dogs, less confusion at night when the lights go off. Yea, yea, yea."

09/29/2009: Janis from Palm Desert, Ca, Usa: "I have three dogs and I want to give them Turmeric but I need some idea of dose to weight. Thanks for your help."

05/18/2013: Kara from Eau Claire: "Can you please tell me what tumeric I can give my German shepherd? I have pills but they have a pepper added to them for absorption. Is that ok? My girl is almost 10 and her back legs just started failing her this week. Thanks so much."

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "Dear Kara, I was feeding my dogs powdered turmeric with a few grinds of black pepper and a splash of olive oil. It sounds like your dog will do fine with the capsule form but you can always buy turmeric powder at any grocery store in the spice section and mix it in with her food, along with black pepper and a little vegetable oil. I would soak it in her food along with plenty of water. One of my dogs only tolerated this for about a week and then started to throw up. I think the turmeric made him too acidic. If that's the case, you can do it a few days on, a few days off. Massage and acupuncture can help dogs tremendously with this issue as well. Good luck and many blessings."

05/18/2013: Rayrmjaj from Bancroft, Idaho: "My dog's yeast infection is in her vaginal area. And she has a lot of hair. I have never shaved a dog in that area. Where can I get some help on how to do this. I don't believe I can get the vinegar and water to where it needs to be unless I do this. Can you use people medicine on her for the same ailment? The dog food I feed her is low fat low ash "Pride"."

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "Hi, I would be careful shaving that area. Only a professional should do it. I think that if you bathed her first that would be sufficient. Make sure the ACV is well diluted... More than 50% water may be necessary. More important is to put ACV in her food, also mixed in with water. My dogs don't like ACV, but they will eat it after it's been mixed with water and soaked in their kibble for a few minutes. Probiotics may also help the dog's issue, but if it it is caused by the food, which it sounds like it might be, you will need to find another brand. Please let us know how she is doing!"

[YEA]  10/03/2008: Deirdre from Atlanta, GA: "Just wanted to report that I am having great results on my 14+ year old german shephard mix who has arthritis (especially in the hips). I think that one of the most helpful and important things I'm doing is exercising him without fail every day. I take him on walks each day, usually about 3.5 miles total. Considering his age, he's in remarkably good shape and, except on steep hills, keeps up with our other 2 young dogs. We used to walk by a neighbor's golden retriever who was let outside in the front yard several times a day to do her thing. She hobbled around in obvious pain, barely able to walk. I never once saw the owners taking their sweet dog out for a walk. She was only about 10 years old when they put her to sleep. Just my opinion, but I think early deaths happen with some frequency to yard-only dogs. Exercise keeps those joints lubricated!

Supplements: I also recently started adding turmeric, msm and glucosamine to Max's food. Dosages: 1/4 teaspoon of powdered turmeric in his food in the morning, diluted with chicken broth. At night I crush a 1000 mg tablet of MSM and give him half of it (500 mg), plus a full capsule of glucosamine blend from Trader Joe's (glucosamine sulfate 750mg and glucosamine HCI 750 mg). My vet mentioned that she likes the combo of MSM and glucosamine for dogs with arthritis, which is why I started him on that a few weeks ago. The turmeric has helped heal up a benign cyst that had burst through the skin on his front paw. Very glad one of EC's readers reported a cure for dog cysts recently -- thanks! At any rate, Max seems to be doing better on the supplements -- walking faster, wrestling with the other dogs, less confusion at night when the lights go off. Yea, yea, yea."

09/29/2009: Janis from Palm Desert, Ca, Usa: "I have three dogs and I want to give them Turmeric but I need some idea of dose to weight. Thanks for your help."

05/18/2013: Kara from Eau Claire: "Can you please tell me what tumeric I can give my German shepherd? I have pills but they have a pepper added to them for absorption. Is that ok? My girl is almost 10 and her back legs just started failing her this week. Thanks so much."

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "Dear Kara, I was feeding my dogs powdered turmeric with a few grinds of black pepper and a splash of olive oil. It sounds like your dog will do fine with the capsule form but you can always buy turmeric powder at any grocery store in the spice section and mix it in with her food, along with black pepper and a little vegetable oil. I would soak it in her food along with plenty of water. One of my dogs only tolerated this for about a week and then started to throw up. I think the turmeric made him too acidic. If that's the case, you can do it a few days on, a few days off. Massage and acupuncture can help dogs tremendously with this issue as well. Good luck and many blessings."

[YEA]  09/13/2009: Kimi from Alpine, Ca, Usa: "Cat Cystitis:

Hi! A sure-fire remedy for cat cystitis is unsweetened cranberry juice, fresh-squeezed lemon juice & water. 1 cup cranberry (unsweetened!!), 1 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice & one third cup water. I administered 1tsp. doses by syringe every half hour and Daisy-Mae was cured within 6 hours after battling cystitis for months!!! YEAH! She would allow the syringe "feedings" because she knew it was giving her almost instant relief. I had tried everything... ACV, antibiotics, etc. This recipe worked like a charm and it is all natural! Love it.

Kimi"

[YEA]  09/06/2010: Panda's Humans from Seattle, Washington, Usa: "We are so thankful for this website and for Kimi's post! On Saturday, 04 September, we noticed that our 2 year old cat, Panda was struggling to urinate. It was after hours, so we called an emergency clinic to ask for suggestions. All they told us was to bring her in. The following Sunday morning, I had my daughter go on-line to seek out natural remedies. She came across this site and Kimi's post. We made a mixture of water, lemon juice and cranberry powder from capsules. We administered 1 teaspoon every half hour for six hours. Oh my goodness, within hours, Panda was looking better, by the end of the six hours, she had urinated with zero struggle and was playing like her usual self. Thank you so much! "

05/04/2011: Miss Moo from Cookeville, Tennessee U.s.a: "My cat, Miss Moo (a 12 year-old Rumpy Cymric Manx), had been peeing blood and not using her litter box... And was using my kitchen floor as a new "pee spot. " When she urinated, she strained and there was very little urine. I tried the ACV with no luck in her, but ACV did help my male cat with gastrointestinal problems.

I used the fresh lemon juice and sugarless cranberry juice recipe you posted. I dosed kitty every 30 minutes for six entire hours. She was NOT happy about getting this. After 3 hours, she seemed stronger as she started to fight the doses. It's always been very hard to give her a pill or anything oral because she spits it out the sides of her mouth.

Anyhow, I placed some newspaper with a white paper towel on it in her pee spot so I could see the color of her urine. I woke this morning to see a LOT of urine. It was completely CLEAR! After trying antibiotic after antibiotic, ACV, and going CRAZY cleaning up pee and trying to help her as we couldn't afford to go to a vet because I live on a fixed income. This INDEED worked!!! I am VERY thankful to you for this recipe and posting the information on here! Bless you!

I placed a small litter box with her usual litter in her pee spot and am hoping that she will use that. This morning, after placing the small litter box there, she went to her usual litter box and peed. A blood-free, clear and a healthy amount came out with no straining or pain.

Again, thank you SO much! If ACV doesn't work for some... Please try this!!!"

05/17/2013: Brittany from Canada: "Just wondering if it has to be fresh lemon juice and if the bottled one is ok. Also wondering if the cranberry pills are ok?"

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "From what I have been reading on this site, Apple Cider Vinegar is the best remedy for cats with cystitis. You can dilute it and add it to the scruff on their necks and let them absorb it that way. I don't know about the other remedies you mention for cats, sorry."

[YEA]  06/09/2012: Kim from Palisade, Colorado: "My English Staffordshires both developed diarrhea at the same time, nothing new to diet, no added stresses, usual routine. Not sure what caused this but after four days of it dicating every moment of me life for these poor "babies" I sought out the 'home' cures on line. Thank you so much for the reviews on Pumpkin!!!

I took my Staffies off their usual food (had already cut back) and put them on the rice/chicken/pumpkin. Within one whole day (24 hrs) they finally had a normal stool. They are back to their happy energetic selves. Now, in the evening, I'll give them each a small spoonful of pumpkin which they love. I'll do that for a few more days and ease them back to their regular diet.

Yes, you can feed pumpkin for diarrhea."

05/17/2013: Germaine Clemente from Bonita Springs Fl: "Hi after reading many posts I noticed everyone used a chicken and rice diet. I was told boiled beef and white rice. Am I missing something
Thanks"

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "I have only heard about boiled chicken and rice being great for dogs with diarrhea. Ground beef is high in fat, so I think that can aggravate diarrhea. I don't suggest it. Chicken is much easier to digest."

09/24/2012: Dawn from Merseyside, United Kingdom: "A little background info - My boxer bitch is a rescue dog who came with little info beyond that she had come from a very good but divorcing home and no health or special care info beyond "she has a bath every saturday night".

I thought this just meant she had been a pampered pooch but as I believe bathing so often would strip her natural oils we didn't keep this up. Within months she was scratching, wriggling on her back, rubbing up against us and the furniture and took the best relief rubbing along some crappy woodchip paper we have in the hall!

I took to brushing her regularly, spraying her with various soothing oils, trying different foods etc. All of which seemed to ease what we thought was just an ongoing sensitive skin issue.

We've had humid weather which encouraged a nasty flea explosion and with having another boxer male and two cats you can imagine the sheer amount of flea treatments we've been through. My boxer male also had ear mites which were treated and cleared up without appearing to spread to the other animals but last week the bitch went downhill dramatically with hair falling out, hot spots and incessant itching and flaking skin.

I hit the internet and found this site. From all the info here - and the fact that none of the other animals are experiencing her particular problems - I've deduced that she definitely has a mite infestion of some kind if not demodectic mange.

Slathering her in mayonnaise resulted in tell-tale bumps and so I decided to try this cure. I got 200ml 6% Hydrogen Peroxide from the local pharmacy (99p) which I've reduced to a 1% solution - as per the pharmacist's instructions - by mixing 1 part peroxide to 3 parts distilled water. The distilled water I obtained from my condenser dryer (of all places) and 200ml of this solution added to 2 tablespoons of Borax - obtained on Ebay. Co.Uk (2kg for around £9 inc. postage) - gives me the right mix.

Mixing up 1 litre of the solutions therefore costs around £1.10 and - applied with a spray bottle to drench and spot treat my medium sized boxer - I reckon there is enough in that for 3 treatments.

I completely soaked her in the solution yesterday, she calmed down immediately and slept most of the day. The relief from the itching must have heavenly.

I've drenched her again today and intend to do this every day for a week then bathe her with Head & Shoulders dandruff shampoo and give a day off.

I've also taken photos to compare "before & after". As she's a brindle her coat makes getting a clear photo nigh on impossible but her belly - once covered with dark downy hair - is bald, sore, flaky and pink so will provide the best example.

I appreciate there are no guarantees but I'm encouraged by the testamonials here and curious to see how she goes. I will post back with an update next week.

Thank you to Ted for "The Cure" and to everyone who has posted with their personal experiences and examples of their own regimens. Your help in helping me to help my very much-loved dog is invaluable and very much appreciated."

05/17/2013: Tariq from Kashmir, Pakistan: "hi, I'm trying the borax h2o2 solution for about a week now. I'm doing the head and shoulder wash and rinse and then the borax h2o2 solution via spray not having much success. The only h2o2 available comes in 120ml bottle 20 volume, please could some1 tell me what % this is and how to dilute to 1%. I am using 4 h2o2 bottles + 20 ml to make 500 ml of h2o2 and then adding 2.5 lt of warm water and 10 tablespoons of borax and resting this mix for ten minutes. I leave this on the dog to dry overnight. Please help what am I doing wrong. Thanx"

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "Hi, have you checked your pharmacy or grocery store for 3% peroxide in the wound section? All stores here in the USA carry 3% so I am surprised to hear that you can only find 20%. What do people in Pakistan sterilize their wounds with? Your measurements sound right to me. Sorry, I do not know why it isn't working. Maybe someone else who has treated mange will know."

[YEA]  01/18/2009: Kelly from Nashville, TN: "I have a Jack Russell Terrier that was diagnosed with elevated liver enyzmes about 5 years ago. We go to a holistic vet who prescribed SamE for her. She has been on SamE daily (200mg) for years and her liver enzymes are now normal."

[NAY]  06/26/2009: Judy from Clearwater, FL: "My 8-yr old female Shih Tzu also was diagnosed with high liver count - over 1,000! My vet put her on SAMe (1/2 pill 2xday), her liver count went up after one month on the SAMe. Now, I'm looking for a natural cure."

05/16/2013: Sarah from La,ca: "How much does your dog weigh? Am trying to figure out dosage for a 5 lb. Dog, thnx"

07/02/2008: Kathleen from Vancouver, WA: "I have just adopted a male Basenji (Peyton) almost 3 weeks ago and am having behavioral problems. He is the sweetest boy with me every now and then would lash out at other dogs for no apparent reason. The breeder and I decided to talk to a Pet Communicator that I was skeptical of. Before I even asked the Pet Communicator questions she informed me that Peyton's liver needed to be cleansed of anesthesia from his neutering 3 weeks ago. She explained that the inbalance in the liver was affecting his odd behavior and when the liver is cleansed I will notice a difference in his behavior. I won't go into more detail of the visit I had with the Pet Communicator accept to say she knew things there is NO WAY she could have known about him!! I am now convinced and no longer a skeptic of pet communicators! Too the point..what she suggested to help clean his liver is to use Vitamin C in powder form and to give Peyton who is about 25 lbs 50-100 MG a day. She also suggested Milk Thistle and Dandelion. She said they usually come in 500 MG capsuls and to give him only 1/4 of the 500 MG. I would assume to get it in powder form as well. She said she uses it on her dogs (whoe are bigger then Peyton) and she gives them the same amount she suggested to me. I havn't tried it yet since I only found out last night, but I am going to. Hope this helps!"

05/16/2013: Sarah from La, Ca: "I would LOVE to know how to find that pet communicator u used?!! I havd tried a few but looking for a really good one. Thnx!"

[YEA]  02/19/2007: Cheryl from Greensburg, PA: "My 11 year old lab/springer mix was diagnosed with a failing liver and we were at the point where we might have to put her down. I was so upset and traditional medicines were not working. I then tried Milk Thistle, Burdock Root and Vitamin E. She is amazing. Even our Vet can not believe the difference in her. She went from unable to stand, severe confusion, not barking to happy, playful and barking at everything in sight. For us, this was truly a miracle. Her liver enzymes went from counts in the thousands back down to normal ranges."

03/27/2008: Carla from Orange Park, Florida: "I would like to find out what dosage you give regarding the burdock root, milk thistle and vitamin e for liver disease. Our 6.5 lb yorkie "Oliver" possibly ate something toxic... Hydrangea or Sago Palm and is not doing well. His liver count is high and the vet has given him Denosyn but I'd be willing to try anything to help him. Could you please let me know if you think it would help and how much to give. Is it the same stuff humans take or is it special for animals? Thank you in advance for your response."

09/16/2007: Jes from alloway, nj: "i have a question for CHERYL FROM GREENSBURG PA. i have a 10 year old boxer and his liver enzymes are way off the chart too and he also has some sort of tumor growth affecting the same area. i would like to start by helping his liver enzymes go back to normal range. other wise we are considering the same thing you would have had to do. HOW MUCH MILK THISTLE BURDOCK ROOT AND VITAMIN E DID YOU GIVE YOUR PET AND IN WHAT FORM? AND HAVE YOU RESEARCED ANY SIDE AFFECTS OF THESE "MEDICINES" ON DOGS? i really appreciate any response you can post as soon as possible. our dog is not doing so good."

03/06/2008: Lonnie from Kitchener, Canada: "I would like to find out what dosage you give regarding the burdock root, milk thistle and vitamin e for liver disease. I have a Maltese that is suffering and I am desperate. HELP ME PLEASE!!! The letter you published does not give any specifics. Thank you,"

07/02/2008: Kathleen from Vancouver, WA: "I have just adopted a male Basenji (Peyton) almost 3 weeks ago and am having behavioral problems. He is the sweetest boy with me every now and then would lash out at other dogs for no apparent reason. The breeder and I decided to talk to a Pet Communicator that I was skeptical of. Before I even asked the Pet Communicator questions she informed me that Peyton's liver needed to be cleansed of anesthesia from his neutering 3 weeks ago. She explained that the inbalance in the liver was affecting his odd behavior and when the liver is cleansed I will notice a difference in his behavior. I won't go into more detail of the visit I had with the Pet Communicator accept to say she knew things there is NO WAY she could have known about him!! I am now convinced and no longer a skeptic of pet communicators! Too the point..what she suggested to help clean his liver is to use Vitamin C in powder form and to give Peyton who is about 25 lbs 50-100 MG a day. She also suggested Milk Thistle and Dandelion. She said they usually come in 500 MG capsuls and to give him only 1/4 of the 500 MG. I would assume to get it in powder form as well. She said she uses it on her dogs (whoe are bigger then Peyton) and she gives them the same amount she suggested to me. I havn't tried it yet since I only found out last night, but I am going to. Hope this helps!"

05/16/2013: Sarah from La, Ca: "Hi!!! So happy ur dog is better- it gives me hope for my little chi diagnosed w liver shunts. (Shout out to Greensburg, btw- I went to Hempfield!! ) What were the dosages you gave your dog? I do a lot of naturopathy w my dog, but she only weighs 5 lbs. So I get nervous. Thnx"

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  06/01/2008: Sharon from South Hadley, MA: "I just got my June/July issue of Mother Earth News and in their reader-reported tips section, someone wrote in about an old-time remedy for ticks. Apparently if you drink a quart of buttermilk every day the ticks will leave you alone. The change in smell of perspiration repels them. Not sure how anyone would manage a quart of buttermilk a day, but perhaps a lesser amount would work. Maybe this is an effective remedy for the doggies in our lives too. Thought I would mention it for the folks in the Lyme disease areas."

06/02/2009: Mica from Cavite, Philippines: "what will happen to the ticks when they leave the dogs or us? do they die? i am afraid that it might roam around and find a better place...like other people? or our homes, carpets, etc?? sorry to ask, but i just need to be sure..."

05/16/2013: Yeszz from Saint George: "I already read about raw amber from Baltic area as a tick repellent, due to liberation of succinic acid and an electrostatic change of the fur. I will try instead of buttermilk that could block my heart's arteries"

12/09/2008: James Sesame from State College, PA: "this dog's gut functions/flora is destroyed by antibiotics. Use good therapeutic clay (Aztec Secret & others) or frest earth 1T in bowl of water & let dog drink daily until bowel flora is restored, then he/she will be well. Find good earth or clay or both for your dog. Either will kill unfriendly antibiotic resistant organisms (AROs, my term, like MRSA, PRSA, and many more to come) It will restore gut flora & that will do the rest.

All diseases originate in the gut. Hippocrates (460-370bc)

"The primary seat of insanity generally is in the region of the stomach & intestines." French psychiatrist & father of modern psychiatry, Phillipe Pinel (1745-1828)

And I would add, the gut is the primary seat of all acute & chronic physical diseases, including the so-called 'genetic' & those mysterious diseases like Autism that "always existed but are only now being diagnosed as such!" as the "experts" are now claiming (hogwash). Bowel flora is 85% of our brain & our immune system. When healthy it protects us against everything except industrial transfats (natural transfats, as in real butter, are healthy) Our bodies have no way to detect or protect against artificially hardened vegetable fats, transfats. Lard & coconut oil in the markets are now being hydrogenated, the Big Names do this. Big Food, Big Drug & Big Money - Big Gov. are not your best friends. Industrial Fake Fats become part of our structure, as in cell walls & inner structures, & these then malfunction, as in receptor sites & transmitter sites, & organelles. Trans fats started with margarine & Crisco, & are the biggest food nightmare & disease epidemic & plague ever to visit the human race. Then come antibiotics & birthcontrol pills & other drugs, which destroy gut flora, or allow gut flora destruction to proceed unchecked, while chasing symptoms around using natural or allopathic methods."

05/16/2013: Sarah from Los Angeles, Ca: "What do you mean by "good or fresh earth"? Is this a brand or do you mean get some dirt from outside? Also- anyone had bad reaction in their pet to clay? I tried it in myself once and got so ill for 24 hours have been afraid to use on myself or my dog."

12/05/2008: Deirdre from Newport, RI: "i have a four month old bernese mountain dog that won't eat a thing! we've even tried getting him to drink Ensure shakes, just to get some nourishment into him. the vet thinks it may be his liver; either and infection, malformation, shunt, etc. we just got him 2 weeks ago, and we've already spent twice what we paid for him in medical bills. My boyfriend and I are emotionally and financially exhausted, and desperate for help. Please, anyone... what do we do?"

[YEA]  12/06/2008: Jean from Cerritos, CA: "Our4 pound Yorkie after surgery wouldn't eat for days and the vet said we couldn't bring her home until she would eat. Our dear friend and Chiropractor told us to take to the vet equal amounts of ACV and water and give to her as he felt she might have streph throat. It worked right away and she ate all of the food I had in my hand and wanted more. Our vet said you never heard of streph stomach as it has the stomach acid in it. Hope this helps. Blessings. Jean"

12/08/2008: Deirdre from Newport, RI: "Jean from Cerritos - thank you so much for your prompt response, but i'm not sure i'm following you. did your dog have strep throat, or strep stomach? the vets think our pup may have a liver shunt. would apple cider vinegar help, and why? how much should i give him? we've been giving him antibiotics, supplements and appetite stimulants to no avail. he starts to take an interest in food; he comes, smells it, licks and then backs off, as if he's afraid of the food. i recently gotten him to eat baby food rice cereal. we're just worried because the next step is to see a specialist. they will perform another ultrasound and biopsy to hopefully determine once and for all what is wrong with him. if it does turn out to be a shunt, he's expected to be put on a special diet and medication. i'm interested in the ACV and any other homeopathic remedies that may help. thanks!"

12/09/2008: June from Wichita, KS: "to Deirdre: what brand of food are you feeding your dog? It might be one of the ingredients in the food that's turning him off. I would try either switching to another high grade food brand or giving him human food like boiled chicken and rice for a few days. If he eats the human food, then very possible it's something in the kibble that he doesn't like.

I had a dog who hardly ever ate as well... a malamute. I had to coax him every meal. He was a really finicky eater - the worst ever! I ended up doing Pat McKay's diet (reigning cats and dogs book). He wouldn't eat the raw stuff, but if I cooked it slightly he would eat it. I spent years working on this issue and my friends would laugh at me when they saw me putting food on a spoon to feed him. The thing is that he wouldn't eat and then he would throw up stomach acid all over the carpet. He lived to be 14 by the way.

Hopefully it's not a liver issue but a food one. Let us know how it goes."

12/09/2008: James Sesame from State College, PA: "this dog's gut functions/flora is destroyed by antibiotics. Use good therapeutic clay (Aztec Secret & others) or frest earth 1T in bowl of water & let dog drink daily until bowel flora is restored, then he/she will be well. Find good earth or clay or both for your dog. Either will kill unfriendly antibiotic resistant organisms (AROs, my term, like MRSA, PRSA, and many more to come) It will restore gut flora & that will do the rest.

All diseases originate in the gut. Hippocrates (460-370bc)

"The primary seat of insanity generally is in the region of the stomach & intestines." French psychiatrist & father of modern psychiatry, Phillipe Pinel (1745-1828)

And I would add, the gut is the primary seat of all acute & chronic physical diseases, including the so-called 'genetic' & those mysterious diseases like Autism that "always existed but are only now being diagnosed as such!" as the "experts" are now claiming (hogwash). Bowel flora is 85% of our brain & our immune system. When healthy it protects us against everything except industrial transfats (natural transfats, as in real butter, are healthy) Our bodies have no way to detect or protect against artificially hardened vegetable fats, transfats. Lard & coconut oil in the markets are now being hydrogenated, the Big Names do this. Big Food, Big Drug & Big Money - Big Gov. are not your best friends. Industrial Fake Fats become part of our structure, as in cell walls & inner structures, & these then malfunction, as in receptor sites & transmitter sites, & organelles. Trans fats started with margarine & Crisco, & are the biggest food nightmare & disease epidemic & plague ever to visit the human race. Then come antibiotics & birthcontrol pills & other drugs, which destroy gut flora, or allow gut flora destruction to proceed unchecked, while chasing symptoms around using natural or allopathic methods."

12/09/2008: Jean from Cerritos, CA: "Jean again. I'm sorry I didn't make myself very clear. Our Yorkie had surgery and afterwards wouldn't eat and the Vet would not let me bring her home until she ate. Our Chiropractor told me that sometimes that condition is due to streph throat. He said you never hear people having streph condition in their stomach as the stomach acid takes care of that.

He had me take equal amounts of AVC and water, give it to her from a syringe and immediately she ate everything I had and wanted more food.

Your condition might be far more serious than ours.

Last week another health issue and a large vet bill. Drainage from an ear infection irritated her throat to the point where she scratched it almost raw. ACV took care of that. I hope you find a solution from your questions as you seemed to get good advice. Blessings, Jean"

05/16/2013: Sarah from La, Ca: "Have you tried nutrical? You can get at Petco- out dog will lick this up even when ill- & it's high nutrient and high calorie. Have you treated for worms? Try diatomaceous earth- mixed in food or liquid if dog won't eat. Also have ur get checked for liver shunt."

[YEA]  03/02/2012: Tina from Kissimmee, Florida: "I just wanted to say thank you to everyone on this page for all the info. Posted. I have a Pitbull and was diagnosed with advanced heartworms. The vet wanted to put him on the arsenic treatment but I could not afford it, he also offered to put him down but I decided to give the black walnut and wormwood a try and its been two months now and he is doing great. My husband and I have been giving him a combination of the BW, the WW and Dandelion plus Vitamin B12, parsley water and since his platelets were very low we have been giving him raw eggs with honey and thank God he is doing awesome. I will keep him on this treatment for another month and then retest him and see what happens. I will keep everyone posted. Thank you again for all the feedback. Ps: we also give him raw garlic every day."

05/16/2013: Ari from Willemstad, Curacao. Caribbean: "hi, I suspect our dogs might have heartworm. Need to have it tested before I start treatment. One of the dogs had a severe reaction to Ivermectin so that's a big no no!! Reading the terrible side effects of arsenic, that's a no no as well. I would like to try the VRM2; our dogs range between 20 and 30 kg. What would be the dose?? As heart support we already give them ground flaxseed; heaped teaspoon daily and of course a heaped teaspoon of minced garlic."

[YEA]  01/01/2008: Colleen from Pinetown, South AFrica: "ACV CURED MY DOGS OF SCRATCHING THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for a wonderful site. I'm a Yorkie mom, who dreamed of having a Yorkie with a show coat. My two babies scratch so much that they have severly damaged their coats, and I'd all but given up on ever having long-haired Yorkies. That's till I doscovered this site. Last night, I bathed both my babies and used ACV in the final rinse water, and within 15 minutes I noticed a marked reduction in the scratching. Within the hour, the scratching had diminised by about 80%. Tonight I bathed they again, using ACV in the final rinse water, and the scratching has completely stopped. I was not sure what quantity to use, so I used 2 tot measures in about 2 litres of water. What a miracle find. By the way, the scratching was NOT as a result of fleas, as I spend a small fortune at the vet each month to keep the fleas under control, but if ACV helps with that too, then I'll be saving so much money. I've also read on your site that ACV promotes hair growth, so who knows, I may have a show-coat Yorkie after all. Furthermore, their coats are shining like mirrors!!! This truly is an amazing find, and I'm so grateful for your site and the information contained therrein. Thanks again for a wonderful site, and keep up the good work."

[WARNING!]  02/15/2009: Joyce from Brookings, OR: "My yorkie has been suffering with a skin condition since getting fleas about a year ago. She wakes us up almost every night moaning as she rubs her back against whatever she can rub it on until areas are sore or inflamed. I found this site last night while researching her condition and just a bit ago tried the ACV. I used a dilution of 1 part ACV to 3 parts water in a spray bottle and sprayed it on her after her bath ( I bathed her with Relief shampoo and let it sit about 5 minutes) as she has always had sensitive skin and reacts adversely to most shampoos. She had one area on her back in particular that she had rubbed until it was inflamed and had a few small sores, which is also why I used a 1:3 dilution. Anyway, I blotted off the excess water after her bath, but she was still quite wet, and started spraying her. Almost immediately she started trembling and I started to notice that a few of the worst spots in the inflamed area were exuding a white foam - similar to what an open sore looks like when you put hydrogen peroxide on it. I grew immediately concerned with the foaming and her (by this time) almost violent trembling, and quickly rinsed off the ACV mixture, blotted her wet coat with a towel and blew her dry. She did not stop trembling until I she was dry and I applied a Tea Tree and E Antispetic cream that i have been using with some success to treat open sores. itching. She seems fine now, and the reaction doesn't seem to have been allergenic, but the area is still somewhat inflamed. My concern is that the ACV, even with a 1:3 dilution, burned her skin. Before applying the cream, the skin in the inflamed area was clearly worse - course and puffy - so now I'm a little hestitant to use it again. In reading some of the other comments, it sounded like some people just spray it on their dogs when they are dry - and used it when their dogs had sores and inflamations...I really wanted - NEEDED - this to work but...does anyone have any insight to offer? Should I dilute it further next time? Should I have not allowed the shampoo to sit for 5 minutes (your supposed to leave it on for 10)? HELP!"

07/30/2009: genla from Baton Rouge, La: "Pls try for topical use on itchy paws or hot spots Burrows solution wish i could give the brand name.You can buy in the astringent section of your drug store. It is powder u mix with water. You can place paws in solution in bowl long enough to get wet or pour on hot spot or apply solution with saturated cotton ball. It doesn't sting!!! MIRACLE my vet gave me this cure about 14yrs ago (before anibiotics and steroids took over) for my Great Pyrenees that had a huge hot spot - dried it up in a day or so. Also great for people for poison ivy!"

EC: More info about Burrow's solution: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burow's_solution

10/29/2009: Megan from Warner Robins, Ga: "This message is for Joyce. If ACV will burn your stomach if you have an ulcer, I am sure it would burn an open sore on the skin, though I would not want to find out. Try healing the sores from the inside first by starting out with a very tiny amount either in their water or food, by tiny like 1/4 teaspoon for one or two days. Increase from there to what the recommended dose is. I am not sure but my dogs are 50 & 100lbs so I use 1 tablespoon/day with them. Smaller dogs I am sure do not need so much. Once the sores are healed on the skin then you can do the spray treatment if needed."

05/15/2013: Minpinlover from Chicago, Il Usa: "ACV is a mild antibiotic/antiseptic/antifungal solution. The foaming from your dogs sores was probably the ACV cleaning out the infection. ACV really helps when you are trying to fight off infection. Even in humans :)"

04/02/2013: Jeanine from Heavener, Ok Usa: "hi my 12 week old puppy started getting sick on Saturday. I thought maybe she had gotten in to something cause on sunday she acted just fine but today she could barely hold her head up so I took her to the vet she tested positive for parvo he gave her meds for vomiting and diarrea. She wasnt doing much better so I googled home remedies for parvo and I came to this site. I have started the charcoal remedy and praying for the best. Wish me luck. I will keep y'all informed."

04/02/2013: Ann from Olivehurst, Ca: "Please keeps us posted. My little 8 weeks puppy has the same thing, took him to the vet, they gave him antibiotic and shots for vomiting. Took home one bag of fluid to give to him via SC. He is mostly sleeping. I just found this website, and thinking about using these remedies. He is not drinking at all. He did at first when I brought him back from the vet. Then he stops drinking. I just forced about 7 cc pedialyte to him. Hope he is better. Please let me know your outcome. And how much should we give the puppy? does it go by the age of weight?"

04/03/2013: Jeanine from Heavener , Ok Usa: "Well, she is doing great she is eating and drinking on her own she is currently asleep on my chest. Me and her have become really close. I want to say thank you to everyone for all your help."

05/14/2013: Cc from Phoenix, Arizona: "Have already lost on puppy last Friday am working on saving the other. I am hoping the charcoal works. She is a 5mo old Chihuahua and the stronger of the two. Wish me luck."

[YEA]  07/16/2011: Jess from Palm Beach Gardens, Fl: "My Cairn has become obsessed with catching toads and has caught two of the poisonous Bufos. Both times were outside normal vet hours. The first time after washing out her mouth we rushed her to the emergency clinic on Northlake. The bill was almost $500. The second time we took her to the new clinic in the Publix plaza on Hood Road. The bill was over $900 this time for the same treatment. She now wears a "cage" muzzle any time she is in the yard and when we walk at night. I ordered the muzzle from Pet Supplies on Northlake. Cost was $15 and she got used to it after one walk. The muzzle is like a little catchers mask for dogs and there is plenty of room to pant but she cannot bite anything. It buckles behind her head and is designed to hook to her collar but I got a collar with a snap catch to hook permanently to the muzzle."

05/13/2013: Irina from Florida: "Smart solution, and nor even surprised with the fact that Publix' price is higher than at emergency vet's office."

[YEA]  09/06/2009: Linda from Bisbee, Arizona: "My ex, myself, and our magnificient and curious miniature australian shepherd were renting in what was "Dog Heaven". Acres and acres fenced to run in and a water reclamation system that included a series of sedimentary ponds, the largest and last full of Koi, pond vegation, and unbeknownst to us, bufos. We lived in the desert and water was scarce so even with fencing we dealt on a regular basis with mule deer (great sport for Roxy), along with vicious and deadly javelina. Needless to say she chased the deer off of the property gleefully, was not so gleefully ripped to pieces by a large javalina male and two females (treated that after throwing myself onto her and into the middle of the javelina's blood lust who would just as well kill a human as a dog (not smart). I got lucky making awful noises and they retreated. I treated this after carrying her into the house by filling and filling deep the gore holes that simply swallowed two bottles of the only thing on hand which was hydrogen peroxide and stuffed the wounds with dressing to put pressure inside hoping to stop the bleeding....yes, I know this is about bufos. The bleeding was totally stopped by morning and slowly she began to heal.

And now, the Bufo toads, One morning I went to drink my morning coffee with her while she took her morning swim, herding the koi from one end of the pond and back, something she did daily and for hours and I noticed a white film covering the enire pond. Then I looked at Roxy and could see her struggling to get on shore. By the time I had her in my arms she was convulsing with eyes rolled back. I checked her gum color for oxygen and they were very gray...all the meanwhile rubbing her everwhere trying to keep her blood flowing. Again, grabbed the only thing on hand which seemed close to appropriate, this time it was a full adult size benedryl pried her mouth open and opened the whole capsule in her mouth rubbing it into her tongue both top and bottom, on her gums thinking that from under the tongue on a human goes straight to the brain. Within just a few minutes her eyes began focusing and I began walking her just like a puppet thinking it might help keep her blood flow going, soon she began to try to walk on her own but needed help. She did show a rapid significant improvement with the benedryl, she weighs 29 to 34 lbs depending on how spoiled she is at the time. I am just sure the benedryl turned the tide. Roxy and I are moving back into this rental which was really paradise and peace for both of us so now I want to know....Exactly just how much benedryl I can give her at the max possible dosage, also does it come in a gel cap (haven't seen any) because in liquid form it would absorb much more quickly into her system.

I will definetely keep large amounts of vinegar for killing the toads and for her to drink and I very much appreaciate both this site and the information from all participants. I will also use the tub and light solution and lower the population. One more problem. It is my understanding that other frogs do not co-habitate with bufos so all of the guppies in differing stages are bufos. Roxy sticks her whole head into to the water trying to bite and catch them. Are they poisonous at this stage? During her second incident she crawled halfway from the pond headed towards the house when I found her. We went through the whole poisoning thing one more time and the benedryl once again brought her up quickly. Now I will use both prevention and cure. Bathub and lights and motor oil. I will make it my mission to lower the bufo toad population which it seems given the choices here will be a steady but doable new defense.

Thank you,
Linda A.
Bisbee, Arizona"

EC: Cross-posted to the Pets - Wounds Care page, thank you!

05/13/2013: Irina from Florida: "I am a little confused, you have mentioned your dog's pale gums, but as far as I know, bufo's poison irritates the gums, so they appear brick-red, which is a tell tale sign. Maybe your dog was getting into somerhing else, that she was allergic to?"

[YEA]  04/28/2007: Deborah from Swansea, SC: "I previously wrote some negative feedback about coconunt oil...but I now stand corrected. despite the bad side effects, the flu or food poison symptoms, and yep, I even gained weight at first. After suffering with IBS all my life, I have finally found a cure. I continued to take the VCO even after being sick with it and even gaining weight... I went to my Dr. this past Tuesday and told her I was on it. My blood pressure was a little high, but she told me the VCO was not causing it and she has never heard anything negative about it. she told me that my thyroid was enlarged, but I am sure it was like that before I took the VCO..I started on 2 capsuls today, after being on 1 for the last 3 weeks. my weight is starting to slim down some...my appetite has been cut in half...I have energy, the bumps on the back of my arms, are all but gone...my severely dry skin is now soft..my hair is better too. but the main thing is my IBS is cured...I have tried everything under the sun, and this is the only thing that has had this kind of results. and my large bulldog had severe hip problems, I give him 2 glucosomene and one coconut capsul every day. he is so much better..I took him walking today for the first time in a long time. we have always had him on glucosome but we have never had this kind of result, my dog also had bad side effects at first, and I stopped for a while, but he only got worse...he is just so much better now...its amazing. I don't know if coconut oil is for everyone, but I am a firm believer in it now, yes the side effects are bad at first, but be patient it gets better."

05/13/2013: Scott Krauss from Newman Lake, Wa: "I have not tried the EVCO on my dog but will from now on. My wife and I use it all the time. MSM is suppose to work on dogs as well and I hear that Magnesium Oil is very very good for the Hip Displasia. My dog is 11yrs and I hate to see him suffer, We have lots of stairs in our house, I try to limit him to only the shortest sets of stairs. Love this site, you all are awesome!"

05/03/2013: Ptbaker from Leesville, South Carolina: "Ted, I have read all the questions and answers on skin problems on dogs, and I have a question that I didn't see addressed. We put a small heater in our dogs house, along with hay for her to snuggle down into during the winter. In January we noticed her scratching a lot, and then her hair started coming out, from halfway down her back, and now affecting her tail. We first thought she may have been to close to the heater, and she got to hot, but it was cycling on and off. Nothing I am using seems to be working, Adams flea spray, and diamatacious earth on her. Cleaned out her d.h. last weekend, and washed it out, do you think the hay harbored some kind of insects, or maybe mites, in that warm moist environment? I am wondering if she has gotten the mange, or if it was something in the hay, it did smell bad, and the hay was moist when I cleaned it all out. None of our other dogs have been affectd by this, and we would have seen it by now. I will wait on your opinion before I start your remedy. Her skin doesn't look crusty, or scabby, or oozing, but I did feel bumps on her skin where there was no hair, some looked to be healed up, while some of the other bumps were red, where she was biting and scratching at. Thank you for any help you may have for us in getting some relief for her. She was a stray puppy that was put out in front of our house Ja. a year ago, and she is very loveable, looks to have a lot of bordie collie and sheltie in her."

05/11/2013: Ptbaker from Leesville, S.c. U.s.: "Did anyone have any suggestions for the hairloss problem caused by something that may have been gotten from the hay she was sleeping on. She is still itching and chewing her hair out."

05/12/2013: Jane from Asheville, Nc: "Hi, It sounds like an allergy to the hay or even pollen at this time of year, or an overgrowth of yeast issue from the food. When my dogs are chewing and scratching around their rear and there are no signs of fleas, I know it's a yeast issue. I would try a grain free dog food and see if that helps. Bathing might help too, but not too often as you don't want to dry out her fur. Another possibility is that she is stressed out and anxious. Are the other dogs nipping at her? If so, that might be causing the issues. A few possibilities I think and you will have to rule them out one by one. I'd start with a food allergy and go from there. Good luck and please update us on your beloved canine friend."

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "I would also like to throw out another suggestion. How much exercise does your dog get each day? If she is a high energy dog and not getting enough exercise through daily walks, this can lead to psychological issues, one of which might be manifesting with her pulling out her fur. Just a thought. Please let us know how she is doing."

05/23/2013: Louise from Leesville, South Carolina: "Can someone tell me if it is dangerous for the dogs health to continually use the peroxide/borax solution on the dog every week? I have been using it for 2 weeks now, twice a week, and the fleas don't seem to be as bad as they were. Her hair is coming back already, and I am not seeing her scratch nearly as much. I posted earlier about the dogs hairloss possibly caused by sleeping on the hay, and, do you'll use this spray on inside dogs as well, I am using the tip I read somewhere about putting dawn d/w liq. In a dish of warm water, and putting it under a nightlight, thats working good, so if its ok to spray my inside dogs, I think I can get the fleas under control again. Thanks for all the feedback on this. This is a very informative and fantastic site to refer to."

05/03/2013: Ptbaker from Leesville, South Carolina: "Ted, I have read all the questions and answers on skin problems on dogs, and I have a question that I didn't see addressed. We put a small heater in our dogs house, along with hay for her to snuggle down into during the winter. In January we noticed her scratching a lot, and then her hair started coming out, from halfway down her back, and now affecting her tail. We first thought she may have been to close to the heater, and she got to hot, but it was cycling on and off. Nothing I am using seems to be working, Adams flea spray, and diamatacious earth on her. Cleaned out her d.h. last weekend, and washed it out, do you think the hay harbored some kind of insects, or maybe mites, in that warm moist environment? I am wondering if she has gotten the mange, or if it was something in the hay, it did smell bad, and the hay was moist when I cleaned it all out. None of our other dogs have been affectd by this, and we would have seen it by now. I will wait on your opinion before I start your remedy. Her skin doesn't look crusty, or scabby, or oozing, but I did feel bumps on her skin where there was no hair, some looked to be healed up, while some of the other bumps were red, where she was biting and scratching at. Thank you for any help you may have for us in getting some relief for her. She was a stray puppy that was put out in front of our house Ja. a year ago, and she is very loveable, looks to have a lot of bordie collie and sheltie in her."

05/11/2013: Ptbaker from Leesville, S.c. U.s.: "Did anyone have any suggestions for the hairloss problem caused by something that may have been gotten from the hay she was sleeping on. She is still itching and chewing her hair out."

05/12/2013: Jane from Asheville, Nc: "Hi, It sounds like an allergy to the hay or even pollen at this time of year, or an overgrowth of yeast issue from the food. When my dogs are chewing and scratching around their rear and there are no signs of fleas, I know it's a yeast issue. I would try a grain free dog food and see if that helps. Bathing might help too, but not too often as you don't want to dry out her fur. Another possibility is that she is stressed out and anxious. Are the other dogs nipping at her? If so, that might be causing the issues. A few possibilities I think and you will have to rule them out one by one. I'd start with a food allergy and go from there. Good luck and please update us on your beloved canine friend."

05/18/2013: Gena from Pasadena, California: "I would also like to throw out another suggestion. How much exercise does your dog get each day? If she is a high energy dog and not getting enough exercise through daily walks, this can lead to psychological issues, one of which might be manifesting with her pulling out her fur. Just a thought. Please let us know how she is doing."

05/23/2013: Louise from Leesville, South Carolina: "Can someone tell me if it is dangerous for the dogs health to continually use the peroxide/borax solution on the dog every week? I have been using it for 2 weeks now, twice a week, and the fleas don't seem to be as bad as they were. Her hair is coming back already, and I am not seeing her scratch nearly as much. I posted earlier about the dogs hairloss possibly caused by sleeping on the hay, and, do you'll use this spray on inside dogs as well, I am using the tip I read somewhere about putting dawn d/w liq. In a dish of warm water, and putting it under a nightlight, thats working good, so if its ok to spray my inside dogs, I think I can get the fleas under control again. Thanks for all the feedback on this. This is a very informative and fantastic site to refer to."

09/18/2012: Carrie from Leichhardt, Qld/ipswich Australia: "Hi I was reading about giving my cat apple cider vinegar for uti and would like to add it to her water, but can not find how much to add, also will this hurt the other cats and the dog as they share the same water."

05/11/2013: Belil from Los Angeles, California: "The usual suggestion by most people seems to be 3 parts (Filtered) water to 1 part Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother).

BTW. If you're going to feed it to your pet in a dropper, then make sure the dropper was not used for medicine, any chemicals, residues of any kind. If you suspect the dropper was used for anything (even non chemicals such as food etc.) then wash inside the bottle & all parts of the items, rinse reallllllllllly well to make sure no soap, chemicals of any kind are left on it before use.

I would not suggest just using alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean but if you do, then make sure that is also rinsed really well with (filtered) water."

[YEA]  12/19/2011: Carol Ann from Sacramento, California: "Hi Teri- My 12 lb Cock-a-poo female (Sasha Marie) had terrible skin allergies. It got so bad that she scratched herself until she had bald spots. Thankfully her vet knew exactly what to do about it. I was instructed to add 1 tablespoon plain vegetable oil to her food at every feeding, until I noticed a difference. After that, I was to add the oil once per day. I was amazed at the results. Within two weeks she stopped scratching completely. Within a month her coat became soft and silky, and the bald spots were unnoticeable. This is a quick, cheap fix for a problem that can cause your pet a lot of discomfort, if left untreated.

Good luck, and Merry Christmas to all!!!

Carol Ann"

05/10/2013: Judy from San Jose, Caloforniaa: "Thank you sooo much. Exactly same thing happening to our new 6mo old Cockapoo. After many searches this seemed to fit!! I have to spend a fortune to bring her to vet we'd so he can tell me what chewing bald spots occurring making her beautiful fur disappear. I put neosporim and seemed to sooth but veg oil is the ticket we think. Thanks so much, Judy in San Jose, CA"

[YEA]  01/22/2012: Sue from San Rafael, California Usa: "Have any of you tried cedar oil for ticks? Last year, after tick collars and Frontline Plus stopped working, and I became concerned about the toxic effects of them anyway, I bought a cedar oil spray. I put it on them once a day when we we go hiking in the hills around our house, which are filled with ticks during the winter rainy season (backwards from the mid-west where I used to live). I spray them directly if it is not too windy and also spray it in my palm (I usually wear a surgical glove when I do this so my hands don't smell cedary) to rub around the face and tummy area. As long as I do this, they pick up very few ticks, and usually only on areas I forgot to cover well. Before, the lighter colored of my two dogs, who is a tick magnet, could come home with 30 or more ticks walking on him, even with the Frontline, and I routinely spent 40 minutes brushing him to get them out. You can also spread some of the oil on any imbedded ticks, and it will usually kill them in a few minutes, though they still have to be pulled out, but they come easier.

My dogs also seem not to get fleas on them since I have been using this oil. I assume it works similar to the other oils mentioned here and I might try these as well, plus the diatemaceus earth in my yard. Thanks for all the good advice by everyone here."

05/10/2013: Kayla from Missouri: "Where can u get the cedar oil?"

[YEA]  11/17/2010: Sonia Rivera from Orlando, Fl: "GOOD DAY EVERYBODY,
I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE OUT THERE THAT HAVE PETS AND NO MONEY TO TAKE THEM TO VETS. I HAVE 6 CATS I AM CRAZY ABOUT. ONE OF THEM CAUGHT A COLD AND GOT A STUFFY NOSE. I PUT MY ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR TO THE TEST AND IT PASSED WITH HIGH HONORS. I PUT A CAP OR 2 IN THE WATER BOWL. AFTER HE DRANK OUT OF IT HE WAS ABLE TO SLEEP MORE AT PEACE PER HE WAS BREATHING SO MUCH BETTER. BY MORNING HE WAS NOT STUFFY AT ALL. PRAISE GOD FOR THIS AMAZING PRODUCT. NOW, I JUST ADD IT TO THEIR WATER AS A SUPPLEMENT FOR PREVENTION OF ANYTHING. GOD BLESS AND BE HAPPY."

05/05/2013: Ian from Arizona: "Hey earthclinic peeps I have a Male orange tabby cat who keeps having trouble with urinating, he has been to the vet 2weeks twice and has had surgery twice. The docs said it was due to urethra blockage both times. His first surgery was in April 2012 and again in May of 2012 each surgery was over $2,400. I took him to a V.A.C animal hospital where both procedures were done. It's now one year later and he is having the same problems. I don't have that kind of cash to spend right otherwise I would, but I was wondering about ACV, does it really work? I need advice, he's my best friend and I'm scared to lose him. If this remedy does work can I put in his water? If so, how much? I can't get him to eat a thing and he is starting to drop weight.. He occasionally will take a few bites but I rather have him eat his normal about and I don't want to compromise. That with AVC please help."

05/09/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "Male tabby urinary issues.

In my experience, after caring for many rescue cats , these male cats need homemade food, raw but soaked meat in perox. Solution to prevent tapeworm. They need in addition dandelion tea which they like to slurp either in water and mixed into the food or given by syringe. Best to eliminate dry food. The tea gives them all the needed vitamins and some minerals. Just dig dandelions, wash them well using the entire plant, simmer in water til the plant is totally wilted, add a little more time for the roots. This herb attends to urinary issues, even healing severe kidney problems. In difficult cases you could look into MMS. Part of the urinary problem is often emotional, for example a cat wants to go outdoors but is an indoor cat or other emotional causes.

The dandelion water will have residue at the bottom but it can be poured off. It is an excellent remedy, also for people as I can well attest, especially diabetes. Give for about three weeks at a time and sporadically repeat. I hope all goes well. Keep your money for good food. God's pharmacy is not about extracting large sums, but service to fellow beings. Please stay away from polluted areas when collecting herbs.

Love Om"

04/15/2013: Clozano from Amarillo, Tx, Randall: "I have two 10 week old chihuahuas Tippy and Max, that came down with parvo a week ago. They were released from the vet after 3 days because he was doing better. The next day I stopped in to check on them during my lunch break and Max was limp, non-responsive and dehydrated. We quickly took him back to the vet were they immediately started an IV, placed him on oxygen and he was put into an incubator. I was concerned that letting him go early would have set him back or hurt him in some way. I read several articles on this website that advised giving Activated charcol. I did this and two days later Max was doing great. He was active, drinking on his own and eating on his own. I was over joyed to see he was acting like a normal puppy again last night. They removed the IV since he was eating and drinking and said that he may be coming home in the morning. Then this morning I stopped to see him at the Vet's office before heading into work myself and he was weak, vomiting and would not eat or drink. I gave him some more charcol mixed with water hoping that it would help him. I am just so frustared and concerned. I am not sure what to do anymore. Could have been because they stopped his IV fluids too soon? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. They have had their first round of shots and had just started the Parvo vaccines. Tippy is home and doing great and has had no other issues."

05/09/2013: Om from Hope, Bc, Canada: "Dogs with parvo. Please obtain MMS and follow instructions. The people at Real Raw Food cured their dog. Om"

[YEA]  02/08/2013: Domdom from Albuquerque, Nm: "To whom it may concern,

I have some awesome pictures of my puppy before and after the borax/peroxide treatment. Like most, I was skeptical whether or not this cure would work, but I am truly amazed with the results thus far. Let me know if I can give you these pics to use on your website."

EC: Yes, we would love to post them! Please email them to: staff {at} earthclinic [dot] com. Thanks.

05/09/2013: Watchmom3 from Abilene, Texas: "Just wondering if you have any experience with a lime/sulfur dip for mange? I am having trouble with mites and am not positive it is mange, as I can see the mites easily, and they are about the size of a coffee ground with a nasty bite. I have dogs, cats, goats and chickens, not to mention wild things, like coyotes and bobcats. Suggestions? I tried the borax and H202 and still am plagued. Thanks for any advice."

05/21/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "Watchmom3 from abilene, texas: years ago I was infected with scabies twice. I took three little globules of PSORINUM 30C homeopathic remedy and within thirty minutes all was gone. Cost about ten bucks.

Beware of allopathic remedies: expensive and very toxic. Hope this helps. Om"

[YEA]  01/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "My 12 lb. Pekingnese recently went through some very frightening and life-threatening health issues related to his heart. He is doing terrific now, however I want to share a bit about what symptoms were manifesting and how we've managed to stop them.

In September of 2011, our sweet dog Mocha began having something akin to night screams/seizures. In the middle of the night, normally between 1 - 3am, he would wake from sleep with a horrific scream, then go immediately into a seizure. In all of our years with him he had never shown anything like this. His seizure would then last 7 -8 minutes. It was a terrible scene to witness and watch him endure. It happened again a month later, and as we began the process of veterinary visits, tests, etc. and were coming up with no answers. The veterinarian said these were not epileptic seizures, but he did not know what they were or where they were coming from. From his model of medicine he only had Phenobarbital to offer as a means to get control of the seizures. Although we took the advice at the time, my family and I all felt this was still an undiagnosed condition and the Pheno would at best offer us some time to get things figured out. We had to bring these episodes to a halt as soon as possible as each episode seemed to erode his overall health. We were watching our beloved pup drift away from us with each episode.

As we began our research, I started online with researching 'dog screams'. Although the veterinarian said perhaps this was a dream, or anxiety, he didn't feel the dog was in pain at the time of his episodes. We wholeheartedly disagreed. Although Mocha may not have felt pain during the actual seizure, the scream occurred just before and was absolutely horrifying. It was CLEAR that he was in wrenching pain before falling into a seizure. I was amazed to find online assorted threads of pet owner conversations on the topic of dog screams... Most of which indeed were followed by seizure activity, involuntary defecation, etc. In almost each case, the dogs in question were small dog breeds, just like Mocha. Also in each case, the owner knew the dog had a diagnosed heart murmur, as we did with Mocha.

Following this thread, I started to research heart remedies for dogs. Some were specific to murmurs, others were more generalized and in each small dog case, there was also an issue with keeping blood sugar balanced. We began putting together a small grouping of supplements to put Mocha on based on the information we were finding online.

At the same time that we were doing this research, we were giving Mocha the Phenobarbital. He had a terrible time adapting to it. Aside from being basically unconscious 90 minutes after the dose for approximately 9 hours, he was starting to urinate excessively and also to pant exactly 90 minutes after each dose. Sometimes the panting was excessive and frightening. We brought all of these topics up to the veterinarian who said that small dogs tend to adapt the least to this medication, and that whatever adaptation was going to happen would happen within the first two weeks. We were a month into it at this point and becoming very concerned. In addition, it was not stopping entirely his concerning episodes. We had his blood tested to see if he was at 'therapeutic levels' of the Phenobarbital and he was not. The veterinarian wanted us to go up in dose, but our instincts told us 'no'. This dog was losing quality of life on the dose he was already on, and we felt certain that increasing his dose would decrease his life expectancy and quality of remaining life. We decided at that point to trust our instincts and begin tending specifically to his heart.

I am happy to report that since we began adding in his natural heart and blood sugar supports, there have been no screaming/seizure episodes (6 weeks now). This is SIGNIFICANT, as Mocha had gotten to the point where he was screaming/seizing several times per day before beginning his holistic treatment. We have also decreased his Phenobarbital very slowly and safely and this, also, has improved his overall health and vitality. At this point we know we are substantially below 'therapeutic levels' and that the medication is doing next to nothing for him. We are taking him off slowly simply to be safe and gentle with is system. He should be off it entirely over the next week.

I am sharing this information because I know there are others out there who may have dogs with heart murmurs, small dogs, screaming/seizure dogs and the like. I was amazed at how frequent this problem presents based on what I found online, and yet could find NONE of this information via veterinarians or veterinary sites. It all came from pet owners who have had to research and address the issues themselves based on what others were doing. Thank goodness for sites like this one... I truly have no idea what Mocha's future would have been without them.

As for what supplements we have found which address his issues:

Hearty Heart (liquid drops) from Pet Wellbeing: Dosage is determined by pet's weight. This product has been developed by holistic veterinarians and veterinary herbalists. It is absolutely fantastic and useful for dogs and cats. Our 14 year-old cat has Cardiomyopathy and this has helped him so very much as well. Can't recommend it highly enough.

L-Carnitine (liquid) from Pet's Choice Pharmaceuticals: An essential amino acid designed to assist both the heart and blood sugar levels. Very helpful in healing the heart after functional disturbances and preventing future problems. Especially recommended for small breeds. Dosage determined by pet's weight.

FortiFlora (powder) from Purina Veterinary Diets: Probiotic supplement with beneficial strains of good bacteria designed to balance the digestive system and strengthen immunity. Excellent for blood sugar issues, allergies, skin and coat issues, etc. Mocha has been on this for years, as he has a long history of highly reactive/allergic skin, itching, blood sugar issues, etc. As a 12 lb dog, we give Mocha half a packet twice per day with his meals.

Magnesium mixed with Vitamin C: Both of these nutrients are excellent for the heart and safe for dogs. We buy tablets and then powder them together in our mortar and pestle. This allows us to sprinkle them onto his food. Again because Mocha is small, he only get 2 pinches of this mixture once per day. The ratio of his Magnesium to Vitamin C is 2:1. The dose, ratio, form of the nutrient may be specific dog to dog but there is helpful information online about dosing them.

Ubiqinone (CoQ10): An important antioxidant which helps with energy and heart function. It is potent so again, read up on dosage for your pet or consult with a holistic veterinarian. For Mocha, he only takes 1 drop from a 30mg capsule. Any more than that is too much, but we notice a difference when he doesn't have it at all.

D-Ribose: This is a metabolic sugar which is found within the body, but can also be supplemented. It is excellent for the heart, for recovery of the heart and for energy production... Of of which Mocha needed. Because of his small size he only takes 200 - 300 mg day. This product can be found in most healthfood stores.

So there you are. I hope you find this information helpful if you are searching for help for your dog. Most important lessons we have learned from the experince are 1) trust your instincts and 2) do your homework. If something doesn't sound right to you in terms of diagnosis, treatment, etc. , or if you simply feel you have not gotten sufficient answers, trust your instincts. There is an abundance of information available on the web today and tho, yes, sometimes that can be misleading, when you read over and over from owners about what works/doesn't work, TRUST it. In our case we were not able to get any answers from the veterinary community (in person or online) and ALL of Mocha's help came from dog owners like you. And, do your homework... Research what is going on with your pet, what others are doing for the same issues, safe dosage amounts, etc. Take charge of what is going on, have confidence in yourself and your instincts and take one step at a time. Don't wait passively for answers and don't continue with anything that just feels wrong or is causing clear harm... Even if that information comes from the medical community. They, like us, are all still learning but sometimes the life of a patient (human or animal) can't wait and you must strike out on your own. Work closely with professionals when and how you can, but don't linger with anyone who isn't providing help or cooperating with your desire to work holistically. Put your pet and his/her life first.

Good luck to you and I hope some little puppy dog and his family out there can be helped just like we have been. We are tremendously grateful to have been steered by others to the help Mocha needed and are enjoying seeing our sweet pup return to us in every way.

Blessings,

Deborah, Mocha and family...."

01/24/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Deborah, thanks for this detailed and informative post; and congrats on Mocha's recovery. If I might add the importance of omega 3 fatty acids like Flax and Fish oils for health of every cell in prevention and recovery of illness."

01/27/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Thanks Tim, indeed. We did have Mocha on fish oil at different time periods... Sometimes he did well with it, other times not so much. We switched his diet to a more fish-rich diet (fresh cooked fish) and that seemed to do the trick. Flax oil makes him itch terribly so we avoid that in his case. But excellent advice to others who may be researching for their own pets."

02/23/2012: Kickdiver from Wilmington, Nc: "Thank you for the detailed info. I have a 12 year old Great Dane on various heart meds due to near Heart Failure and enlarged heart with atrial fib/dilated cardio myopathy. He's on Vetmed, Diltiazem, Benazepril and Digoxin, since our emergency visit at the Cardiology Clinic, where his heart beat was measured 250 bpm.... He is stabilized now, and I also give him Omega 3 fish oils, CQ10, and looking into carnitine and taurine, and I did come across the site for Hearty Heart, but it says NOT to give this natural remedy WHILE on heart meds.

But... How can I stop the heart meds, when they just now kicked in after 2 days of horrible heart racing and my poor dog being miserable? Can I trust the reviews on line? They all seem great , but... One never knows if they are just bloggers paid by the company... Anyhow.. I'm willing to give it a try, yet, I cannot take him off the heart meds right now... I'd rather give him half a dose of the Hearty Heart along WITH the meds and then slowly go down with the dosage..

Worst of all, I am supposed to move to the Middle East with my 3 beloved K9s in April, how in the world am I going to get my boy there in this condition? I cannot leave this companion behind, he's my kiddo! I know his heart situation is a serious thing, but apart from that he has NO health issues, all blood work was good and all organs perfectly intact, as a matter of fact, the Vets at the clinic told me that he was the healthiest and oldest Dane they have seen!!! (thanks to Raw Diet and NO vaccines, I guess... ) I do have a professional pet handling company hired, still... My holistic vet said St John's Word could help him as well. I have a few more weeks to see how he develops, in the interim, any input helps.. I'd love to give Hearty Heart a try, but.. There is NO way I can stop the meds right now... What to do??"

02/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi Kickdiver, thank you for your post. How great that your Great Dane is so healthy at the age of 12! You've obviously done so much to get him there.

I totally understand your concern about mixing the HH supplement with the heart meds. This is indeed a conundrum and I don't know the answer for you. This has to be an individual decision. I personally would not mix them as the HH is developed by holistic veterinarians and they so strongly advise against it.

I know in our situation, we had to make the difficult choice between medications vs. Supplements. It's so much easier when one can blend both and not make such a difficult and scary decision, but sometimes this is just not safe. So what we did was begin with supplements that did not have contraindications with the medication we used at the time. The HH came in toward the end of that supplement list, as we did everything else first to stabilize him supplement-wise. As Mocha grew more and more stable on the supplements, we gradually began moving him down on his medication dose AND began putting the HH in separate feedings from his medication. So breakfast/dinner had medication, lunch snack and evening snack (9pm) had HH. This worked for him but we were ever so careful. The medication he was on could not safely be stopped abruptly, so we had to wean him down on it while slowly adding in the supplements where we could. This took time, patience, faith and much care to get right but like for you, he is our 'kiddo' and we just wanted him better. However he was not on heart meds, he was on Phenobarbital and that is a big difference between your picture and mine. Had Mocha been on heart meds, I'm not sure if we would have gone forward with the HH in this way. Like you, we would have had to sit with the different choices in front of us and find the safest, best long-term plan for our pup.

So for now, since your pup is newly on all of these meds and just coming out of an acute situation you may want to continue as you are doing. Simply add safe supplements with no contraindications. If I were you, I would add the L-Carn as that has profoundly good impact on heart function and in general is very safe. Not sure the Taurine is a fit or a priority in your pup's case.

As for the HH, I recommended it because I use it for my pup and it works brilliantly. It is also safe for cats, and we gave it to our 14-year old cat who was having wobbly, at times screeching, seizures and who had previously been diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. Since starting him on the HH, no wobbling, no screaming, no seizures. I don't work for the company, am not a paid blogger, etc. I'm a user and this product is the real deal in my experience. Is it the best fit for your sweet Dane? I don't know. But it was the fit for our Pekingese and tabby.

Seems the safest short-term approach would be to find the combination of supplements (and possibly meds) that work for your Dane and then move in whatever direction you can from there for a long-term plan. Most important is to a) stabilize acute symptoms and then b) find long-term solutions which often need to be at least partially natural so as to 'do no harm'. If some meds need to be part of that picture for your Dane going forward, so be it. Most important is to keep him healthy, happy and strong for the longest amount of time you can. We HAD to move our pup off of meds because they were doing more harm then good, far more so. With that, we still had to do it gradually to keep him safe. If the meds had been significantly helping with no serious side effects, I may have considered keeping him on them along with supplements but that was not what was happening.

So, you have a bit of a process in front of you but I know you will find the right solutions for him. Just please don't mix HH with meds if you have been outright cautioned against doing so by the product maker. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to our sweet animal friends' lives, I know you agree."

06/11/2012: Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, Fl: "Yogi, is 1/2 st bernard 1/2 golden retriever, 9 yrs old. As a result of elective surgery gone bad he developed seizures which he is taking phenabarbital. 30 mg. 1 1/2 in pm. Helping. From onset of seizures causing anxiety vet told me he has enlarged heart. Beats so fast his chest beating with it. Dr. not familar with heart. Not taking meds for that. Afraid he will have heart attack!!! Comes to us when this starts to happen, drooling all over himself. Please help. Been to so many drs. Can't afford anymore."

06/18/2012: Nh Gardener from Sanbornton, Nh, Usa: "For Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, FL for dog Yogi--Please give him food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in his food dampened with raw apple cider vinegar, starting with 1 tsp. DE once a day, increasing gradually to heaping tsp. 2 X/day. Also add gently melted coconut oil to his food, starting with 1 tsp. Once a day, increasing gradually to 2 or 3 tsps. 2 X/day. I've seen testimonials that seizures have decreased or disappeared with both these supplements. His heart racing may normalize with the ACV. Also give him 1 kelp tablet, crushed, in his food, said to strengthen heart. One site that sells DE has esp. Good human and pet testimonials. Check Coconut Research Center.org for seizure info. Bach Flower Remedies may help racing heart also. All good wishes for dear Yogi."

10/27/2012: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Suji, I just noticed your post today. You placed your post under someone else's post, not mine, which is why I didn't see it. The reason I stopped the magnesium, carnitine, ribose and CoQ-10 was because I started to worry that it might have stopped working for my dog. I kept my dog on these supplements for a year and my dog was examined by 2 cardiologists in that time and they both confirmed that he had no murmur. However on the last visit, the third cardiologist told me he had a grade 1 murmur. This really concerned me --- so I started to research more and found out that taking "isolated" supplements such as the above can cause imbalances in the body. I found out that calcium is equally necessary to the heart (along with magnesium and many other nutrients, including omega 3s), but that they must be in balance with each other and in a form that the body can utilize. Too much calcium can cause a magnesium imbalance and too much magnesium can cause a calcium imbalance, etc. These minerals and vitamins must also come along with all their cofactors, enzymes and other things that appear naturally in nature in order to really work.

I also noticed that my dog appeared to start having some bone issues. I wondered if I was creating a calcium deficiency in him, by giving him the magnesium. Now the bone issues may be completely unrelated and just purely coincidental..... I just don't know. But, that was enough for me... I felt that I needed to look into this a little further and that's when I started him on the phytonutrients.

You mentioned homeopathy and I'd like to tell you my experience with it with my now deceased dog. I consulted with a vet who I believed was also knowledgeable homeopath and she recommended remedies for him, which I gave to him (away from meds) but they did not work. I now know the reason they did not work -- and a true homeopath will tell you this --- is because the drugs are so strong that they will cancel out the effects of the homeopathy.

Unfortunately, I realized this too late because I trusted this doctor. I have since found out that this vet was not an accredited classical homeopath and did not have the in-depth training and knowledge and experience with homeopathy - rather, I believe she only took a weekend course and claimed to be one.

Thankfully I have found a "real" classical homeopath who is wonderful and I use him for many things (mostly short term illnesses and other problems) --- but I WILL NOT use him for my dog's heart problem. I have learned that you MUST address the underlying nutritional problems in any longstanding chronic condition first. If you don't, I believe you will not get the results you are looking for. This is why he is on the phytonutrients.

You asked if there is a way that we can speak directly but that would require that we would have to post our email addresses here -- and I'm not sure that I am comfortable with that."

05/03/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Hi Katie! I have just read all of your posts on supplements and feel that the Universe brought me to this site after hours of crying and pleading! I have three Chihuahuas (my babies) since they were pups and are now 6 years old. Candy (the brightest and most inquisitive) was diagnosed with a grade 2 heart murmur 2 years ago. The vet put her on 1/4 pill of Enalapril twice a day and she had been doing fine. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that her heart was beating unusually hard (I could hear it from a few feet away) and sometimes feels sluggish in the mornings with a lack of appetite. No other symptoms yet thank God. I took her back to the vet today and she says that the murmur has escalated to a grade 5. She recommended a cardiologist. We have an appointment next Tuesday. I switched my dogs' diet to raw a couple of years ago and have been giving them Dr. Becker's supplements (digestive enzymes, probiotics, Krill oil, Spirulina, Ubiquinol) as well as bone meal, glands powder and coconut oil.

I am devastated about my baby's prognosis, as the vet says her condition will get worse, her heart is working very hard and there is no surgery or cure. She is 6, beautiful, smart, funny and a great loving doggy! I refuse to think that there is nothing that I can do for her. I am so sad and helpless. Candy is only 5 pounds and I don't know if some of the supplements will benefit her or what dosage I should use. I beg you to please help me come up with a good alternative option for her. I don't care if I have to go to the end of the world and back, if it means a long, happy and healthy life for her. Thank you so much!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, Do not give up hope on your dog. I would start your dog on the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support immediately. I would give these supplements away from the Enalapril. (Note: Do not stop the Enalapril immediately - your dog will need to be slowly weaned off of it once her heart starts to get stronger. Stopping this drug immediately can cause a setback. ) I would recommend that you stop all of the other supplements though- and I don't even think that the ubiquinol is necessary as the Cardio-Plus contains about 25 mg. of natural CoQ10 per tab.

The Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support are the only supplements that my dog is currently on. And, as you will see from my previous posts, my dog's heart is strong now and is pumping at 100% - and his heart shrunk back to the size of a what a normal, healthy Cavalier should be. The reason why my dog still has a murmur right now is only because his valves are still a little leaky, but my vet feels that they will also improve, if not heal themselves too, in the near future. I am planning another echo at the end of the summer.

As far as dosages go, I would probably recommend 2 to 4 tabs a day of the Cardio-Plus, at least initially (because of the severity of your dog's heart issue). If possible, I would try to give the Cardio-Plus throughout the day (away from the Enalapril, though) in order to keep the nutrition consistently in his system. Then, as the heart improves, I would probably cut back to 2 tabs a day. The Canine Whole Body Support is dosed by weight, so for a 10 lb. dog the dosage would be 1/8 tsp once a day.

I would also recommend that you find a good holistic vet who can help work with you and monitor your dog and his progress and then help you get him safely off the Enalapril as her heart starts to improve."

05/04/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Thank you Katie for your concerned and quick response. You are definitely an angel from Heaven! I will order these supplements today and start her on them. When you say "away from the Enalapril", do you mean I should administer them at a different time of day? I give her the Enalapril with each meal (am/pm) so as to not upset her stomach. Is it ok to give her the Standard Process supplements on an empty stomach?

During our visit to the Cardiologist next Tuesday, I am sure that he will want to put her on additional meds (some I have heard from your followers are Vetmedin, Benazeprill and Furosemide). Shoud I refuse?

Katie, you have no idea how much we appreciate your kindness, support and knowledge. It is people like you that makes me not give up on "two-legged animals."!!!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Yes, give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at a different time from your dog's meds so they don't compete. I would continue giving the Enalapril with his meals, and would give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at any other point during the day – but, I would want to space them out. If you choose to give closer to mealtime, I would allow at 1 or 2 hours before a meal or 2 to 3 hours after a meal. Also, these phytonutrients don't need to be given with food.

Most likely, your vet is going to want to put your dog on additional meds (as they did with my dog). In my experience, I found that every time they added another drug, his heart issue became more dire and his heart continued to weaken further and faster. These drugs created all types of terrible problems with my dog. And, it ultimately became more and more complicated to try to wean my dog off of his meds after being on so many of them (he was on 6 or 7 meds in the end). So, my advice would be to try to keep him off the additional meds, if possible, and give these supplements a chance to start working. However, if it's unavoidable, try to get her off of them ASAP, once the heart strengthens.

By the way, you might also want to keep some magnesium on hand (only in the beginning though). Once, when my dog was very sick, his heart was beating out of his chest and I was rushing him to the cardiologist. Before I left the house I gave him a small spoonful of the liquid magnesium, and in less than 5 minutes his heartbeat returned to normal again. Now, I wouldn't recommend the magnesium long term (or as a regular supplement anymore) because it is an "isolated" supplement --- but you might want to keep some on hand just in case…in an emergency."

05/06/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Got it! Thanks Katie! I will post an update as soon as Candy and I visit the cardiologist tomorrow. Please everyone, keep her in your prayers!"

05/07/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie. Candy and I are back from the Cardiologist. $1000 later, she has been diagnosed with Myxomatous Mitral and Triscuspid Valve Degeneration. Left atrial and ventricular dialation. Mild left-sided congestive heart failure. She said the condition is moderate and that the prognosis is 1 to 2 years. They performed an echo, electro and blood panel and prescribed Lasix and Vetmedin (which I bought). She wants to see her again in a week to determine if her body is accepting the meds with more lab work and another electro.

Katie, I am so confused! Candy seems to be doing better and only coughing a little bit at night. Her heart beat is still elevated and very loud but other than that her appetite is good and so is her energy level.

Should I start her on the meds (I know you hate Vetmedin and I did read about it) or should I not? I have order the supplements (the isolated as well as the Standard Process ones) but have not received them yet. So far I have spent over $1500. When the supplements arrive and I get her on them, how will I know if she gets better that it was the supplements and not the meds or the other way around?And if I don't start her on the meds, what if she gets worse? I very much want to do what is best for Candy and I don't know what that is. I am heartbroken, nervous and very confused.

I would really appreciate your input! Please help me!!!!!"

05/07/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Did the cardiologist mention if Candy's heart is enlarged (cardiomegaly), and if so, did he mention if is it mild, moderate or severe? Or if she had any fluid in her lungs? Or, if she has any pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)? Also, do you know what her heart rate is? Did he mention what grade her murmur was -- or anything about her mitral regurgitation? (Murmurs are graded from 1-6 and regurgitation is graded from is 0-4. ) Also, what were the recommended dosages of each of her meds?

Also, when do you expect to receive the SP supplements?"

05/08/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie, I feel like I did not ask the right questions. She did say that her heart was enlarged but only the left side and moderately. She did have fluid in her lungs (thus the Lasix) but she did not mention heart rate or pulmonary hypertension. She explained that the top part of her left valve is not closing properly any more. The murmur is a grade 5 but do not know the regurgitation grade. I am expecting the supplements around the 14th. I just measured her heart rate myself and counted 67 beats per minute (very loud beating). What do you think?

Her medications are: Enalapril 2. 5 mg. - 1/4 tablet twice a day. Lasix 12. 5 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day and Vetmedin 1. 25 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day. She has been taking the Enalapril for two years now."

05/08/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, can you give me your e-mail address so we can speak directly."

05/23/2013: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi all,

Just wanted to send an update our our Mocha. I had originally posted about him in January of 2012; we were in the process of bringing him back from a very difficult experience of heart-related 'seizure-like' episodes and I wrote at that time to share what we found to be working for him in terms of supplements.

Mocha is still with us (yay!) and doing well. As with any healing, it has been a journey. He did really well on the previous supplement schedule for some time, however he is in his later years and like any body - animal or human - it has its ups and downs. But dramatic decrease in the episodes we were so afraid would take his life. And after having so many of them, we were afraid he would not come all the way back.

He has recovered so well, and we continue to 'tweak' his supplements as Katie from Northport mentioned doing herself over time and with research. We also were blessed to have a wonderful holistic veterinarian move to our area so that we didn't have to figure so much out on our own.

Mocha is currently on:

1. Canine Cardiac Support by Standard Process. Great product, can't say enough about it.

2. CoQ10 for pets by Rx Vitamins - this is created exclusively for pets

3. Forti Flora by Purina - A probiotic supplement for dogs, and I believe they have a version for cats.

4. A Chinese herbal formula called Ding Xian Wan by Jing Tang to balance the liver, which in Chinese Medicine is responsible in part for keeping the heart balanced. This was very interesting to me, as Mocha had a long history of liver imbalance before his heart symptoms ever showed up.

5. CAS Options by Resources - this is an immune and antioxidant support.

All supplements were provided by our holistic vet, who also determined doses for our 9 lb boy.

We also give him 1 tsp of organic sweet potato baby food (great for easing constipation - also associated with the liver) and 1 tsp of fresh wheatgrass per meal which has really improved him overall. A bit of 'live food' in his baked chicken or white fish has made a lovely difference.

In his case, he did not do well on raw foods but as we've learned, there is no 'one size fits all' for people or for pets. This combination has been working beautifully for him and we are deeply grateful that he is here with us and has quality of life. He was, unfortunately, a 'puppy mill' puppy - something we weren't aware of until years later and with that, did not come from a healthy background. Health issues have surfaced throughout his life despite us giving the best care we could at the time, and in this way, his little body has been a great teacher to us.

Hope a bit of what we all have learned and shared here with one another continues to help other dear pets out there.

Best wishes,

Deborah"

[YEA]  01/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "My 12 lb. Pekingnese recently went through some very frightening and life-threatening health issues related to his heart. He is doing terrific now, however I want to share a bit about what symptoms were manifesting and how we've managed to stop them.

In September of 2011, our sweet dog Mocha began having something akin to night screams/seizures. In the middle of the night, normally between 1 - 3am, he would wake from sleep with a horrific scream, then go immediately into a seizure. In all of our years with him he had never shown anything like this. His seizure would then last 7 -8 minutes. It was a terrible scene to witness and watch him endure. It happened again a month later, and as we began the process of veterinary visits, tests, etc. and were coming up with no answers. The veterinarian said these were not epileptic seizures, but he did not know what they were or where they were coming from. From his model of medicine he only had Phenobarbital to offer as a means to get control of the seizures. Although we took the advice at the time, my family and I all felt this was still an undiagnosed condition and the Pheno would at best offer us some time to get things figured out. We had to bring these episodes to a halt as soon as possible as each episode seemed to erode his overall health. We were watching our beloved pup drift away from us with each episode.

As we began our research, I started online with researching 'dog screams'. Although the veterinarian said perhaps this was a dream, or anxiety, he didn't feel the dog was in pain at the time of his episodes. We wholeheartedly disagreed. Although Mocha may not have felt pain during the actual seizure, the scream occurred just before and was absolutely horrifying. It was CLEAR that he was in wrenching pain before falling into a seizure. I was amazed to find online assorted threads of pet owner conversations on the topic of dog screams... Most of which indeed were followed by seizure activity, involuntary defecation, etc. In almost each case, the dogs in question were small dog breeds, just like Mocha. Also in each case, the owner knew the dog had a diagnosed heart murmur, as we did with Mocha.

Following this thread, I started to research heart remedies for dogs. Some were specific to murmurs, others were more generalized and in each small dog case, there was also an issue with keeping blood sugar balanced. We began putting together a small grouping of supplements to put Mocha on based on the information we were finding online.

At the same time that we were doing this research, we were giving Mocha the Phenobarbital. He had a terrible time adapting to it. Aside from being basically unconscious 90 minutes after the dose for approximately 9 hours, he was starting to urinate excessively and also to pant exactly 90 minutes after each dose. Sometimes the panting was excessive and frightening. We brought all of these topics up to the veterinarian who said that small dogs tend to adapt the least to this medication, and that whatever adaptation was going to happen would happen within the first two weeks. We were a month into it at this point and becoming very concerned. In addition, it was not stopping entirely his concerning episodes. We had his blood tested to see if he was at 'therapeutic levels' of the Phenobarbital and he was not. The veterinarian wanted us to go up in dose, but our instincts told us 'no'. This dog was losing quality of life on the dose he was already on, and we felt certain that increasing his dose would decrease his life expectancy and quality of remaining life. We decided at that point to trust our instincts and begin tending specifically to his heart.

I am happy to report that since we began adding in his natural heart and blood sugar supports, there have been no screaming/seizure episodes (6 weeks now). This is SIGNIFICANT, as Mocha had gotten to the point where he was screaming/seizing several times per day before beginning his holistic treatment. We have also decreased his Phenobarbital very slowly and safely and this, also, has improved his overall health and vitality. At this point we know we are substantially below 'therapeutic levels' and that the medication is doing next to nothing for him. We are taking him off slowly simply to be safe and gentle with is system. He should be off it entirely over the next week.

I am sharing this information because I know there are others out there who may have dogs with heart murmurs, small dogs, screaming/seizure dogs and the like. I was amazed at how frequent this problem presents based on what I found online, and yet could find NONE of this information via veterinarians or veterinary sites. It all came from pet owners who have had to research and address the issues themselves based on what others were doing. Thank goodness for sites like this one... I truly have no idea what Mocha's future would have been without them.

As for what supplements we have found which address his issues:

Hearty Heart (liquid drops) from Pet Wellbeing: Dosage is determined by pet's weight. This product has been developed by holistic veterinarians and veterinary herbalists. It is absolutely fantastic and useful for dogs and cats. Our 14 year-old cat has Cardiomyopathy and this has helped him so very much as well. Can't recommend it highly enough.

L-Carnitine (liquid) from Pet's Choice Pharmaceuticals: An essential amino acid designed to assist both the heart and blood sugar levels. Very helpful in healing the heart after functional disturbances and preventing future problems. Especially recommended for small breeds. Dosage determined by pet's weight.

FortiFlora (powder) from Purina Veterinary Diets: Probiotic supplement with beneficial strains of good bacteria designed to balance the digestive system and strengthen immunity. Excellent for blood sugar issues, allergies, skin and coat issues, etc. Mocha has been on this for years, as he has a long history of highly reactive/allergic skin, itching, blood sugar issues, etc. As a 12 lb dog, we give Mocha half a packet twice per day with his meals.

Magnesium mixed with Vitamin C: Both of these nutrients are excellent for the heart and safe for dogs. We buy tablets and then powder them together in our mortar and pestle. This allows us to sprinkle them onto his food. Again because Mocha is small, he only get 2 pinches of this mixture once per day. The ratio of his Magnesium to Vitamin C is 2:1. The dose, ratio, form of the nutrient may be specific dog to dog but there is helpful information online about dosing them.

Ubiqinone (CoQ10): An important antioxidant which helps with energy and heart function. It is potent so again, read up on dosage for your pet or consult with a holistic veterinarian. For Mocha, he only takes 1 drop from a 30mg capsule. Any more than that is too much, but we notice a difference when he doesn't have it at all.

D-Ribose: This is a metabolic sugar which is found within the body, but can also be supplemented. It is excellent for the heart, for recovery of the heart and for energy production... Of of which Mocha needed. Because of his small size he only takes 200 - 300 mg day. This product can be found in most healthfood stores.

So there you are. I hope you find this information helpful if you are searching for help for your dog. Most important lessons we have learned from the experince are 1) trust your instincts and 2) do your homework. If something doesn't sound right to you in terms of diagnosis, treatment, etc. , or if you simply feel you have not gotten sufficient answers, trust your instincts. There is an abundance of information available on the web today and tho, yes, sometimes that can be misleading, when you read over and over from owners about what works/doesn't work, TRUST it. In our case we were not able to get any answers from the veterinary community (in person or online) and ALL of Mocha's help came from dog owners like you. And, do your homework... Research what is going on with your pet, what others are doing for the same issues, safe dosage amounts, etc. Take charge of what is going on, have confidence in yourself and your instincts and take one step at a time. Don't wait passively for answers and don't continue with anything that just feels wrong or is causing clear harm... Even if that information comes from the medical community. They, like us, are all still learning but sometimes the life of a patient (human or animal) can't wait and you must strike out on your own. Work closely with professionals when and how you can, but don't linger with anyone who isn't providing help or cooperating with your desire to work holistically. Put your pet and his/her life first.

Good luck to you and I hope some little puppy dog and his family out there can be helped just like we have been. We are tremendously grateful to have been steered by others to the help Mocha needed and are enjoying seeing our sweet pup return to us in every way.

Blessings,

Deborah, Mocha and family...."

01/24/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Deborah, thanks for this detailed and informative post; and congrats on Mocha's recovery. If I might add the importance of omega 3 fatty acids like Flax and Fish oils for health of every cell in prevention and recovery of illness."

01/27/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Thanks Tim, indeed. We did have Mocha on fish oil at different time periods... Sometimes he did well with it, other times not so much. We switched his diet to a more fish-rich diet (fresh cooked fish) and that seemed to do the trick. Flax oil makes him itch terribly so we avoid that in his case. But excellent advice to others who may be researching for their own pets."

02/23/2012: Kickdiver from Wilmington, Nc: "Thank you for the detailed info. I have a 12 year old Great Dane on various heart meds due to near Heart Failure and enlarged heart with atrial fib/dilated cardio myopathy. He's on Vetmed, Diltiazem, Benazepril and Digoxin, since our emergency visit at the Cardiology Clinic, where his heart beat was measured 250 bpm.... He is stabilized now, and I also give him Omega 3 fish oils, CQ10, and looking into carnitine and taurine, and I did come across the site for Hearty Heart, but it says NOT to give this natural remedy WHILE on heart meds.

But... How can I stop the heart meds, when they just now kicked in after 2 days of horrible heart racing and my poor dog being miserable? Can I trust the reviews on line? They all seem great , but... One never knows if they are just bloggers paid by the company... Anyhow.. I'm willing to give it a try, yet, I cannot take him off the heart meds right now... I'd rather give him half a dose of the Hearty Heart along WITH the meds and then slowly go down with the dosage..

Worst of all, I am supposed to move to the Middle East with my 3 beloved K9s in April, how in the world am I going to get my boy there in this condition? I cannot leave this companion behind, he's my kiddo! I know his heart situation is a serious thing, but apart from that he has NO health issues, all blood work was good and all organs perfectly intact, as a matter of fact, the Vets at the clinic told me that he was the healthiest and oldest Dane they have seen!!! (thanks to Raw Diet and NO vaccines, I guess... ) I do have a professional pet handling company hired, still... My holistic vet said St John's Word could help him as well. I have a few more weeks to see how he develops, in the interim, any input helps.. I'd love to give Hearty Heart a try, but.. There is NO way I can stop the meds right now... What to do??"

02/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi Kickdiver, thank you for your post. How great that your Great Dane is so healthy at the age of 12! You've obviously done so much to get him there.

I totally understand your concern about mixing the HH supplement with the heart meds. This is indeed a conundrum and I don't know the answer for you. This has to be an individual decision. I personally would not mix them as the HH is developed by holistic veterinarians and they so strongly advise against it.

I know in our situation, we had to make the difficult choice between medications vs. Supplements. It's so much easier when one can blend both and not make such a difficult and scary decision, but sometimes this is just not safe. So what we did was begin with supplements that did not have contraindications with the medication we used at the time. The HH came in toward the end of that supplement list, as we did everything else first to stabilize him supplement-wise. As Mocha grew more and more stable on the supplements, we gradually began moving him down on his medication dose AND began putting the HH in separate feedings from his medication. So breakfast/dinner had medication, lunch snack and evening snack (9pm) had HH. This worked for him but we were ever so careful. The medication he was on could not safely be stopped abruptly, so we had to wean him down on it while slowly adding in the supplements where we could. This took time, patience, faith and much care to get right but like for you, he is our 'kiddo' and we just wanted him better. However he was not on heart meds, he was on Phenobarbital and that is a big difference between your picture and mine. Had Mocha been on heart meds, I'm not sure if we would have gone forward with the HH in this way. Like you, we would have had to sit with the different choices in front of us and find the safest, best long-term plan for our pup.

So for now, since your pup is newly on all of these meds and just coming out of an acute situation you may want to continue as you are doing. Simply add safe supplements with no contraindications. If I were you, I would add the L-Carn as that has profoundly good impact on heart function and in general is very safe. Not sure the Taurine is a fit or a priority in your pup's case.

As for the HH, I recommended it because I use it for my pup and it works brilliantly. It is also safe for cats, and we gave it to our 14-year old cat who was having wobbly, at times screeching, seizures and who had previously been diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. Since starting him on the HH, no wobbling, no screaming, no seizures. I don't work for the company, am not a paid blogger, etc. I'm a user and this product is the real deal in my experience. Is it the best fit for your sweet Dane? I don't know. But it was the fit for our Pekingese and tabby.

Seems the safest short-term approach would be to find the combination of supplements (and possibly meds) that work for your Dane and then move in whatever direction you can from there for a long-term plan. Most important is to a) stabilize acute symptoms and then b) find long-term solutions which often need to be at least partially natural so as to 'do no harm'. If some meds need to be part of that picture for your Dane going forward, so be it. Most important is to keep him healthy, happy and strong for the longest amount of time you can. We HAD to move our pup off of meds because they were doing more harm then good, far more so. With that, we still had to do it gradually to keep him safe. If the meds had been significantly helping with no serious side effects, I may have considered keeping him on them along with supplements but that was not what was happening.

So, you have a bit of a process in front of you but I know you will find the right solutions for him. Just please don't mix HH with meds if you have been outright cautioned against doing so by the product maker. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to our sweet animal friends' lives, I know you agree."

06/11/2012: Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, Fl: "Yogi, is 1/2 st bernard 1/2 golden retriever, 9 yrs old. As a result of elective surgery gone bad he developed seizures which he is taking phenabarbital. 30 mg. 1 1/2 in pm. Helping. From onset of seizures causing anxiety vet told me he has enlarged heart. Beats so fast his chest beating with it. Dr. not familar with heart. Not taking meds for that. Afraid he will have heart attack!!! Comes to us when this starts to happen, drooling all over himself. Please help. Been to so many drs. Can't afford anymore."

06/18/2012: Nh Gardener from Sanbornton, Nh, Usa: "For Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, FL for dog Yogi--Please give him food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in his food dampened with raw apple cider vinegar, starting with 1 tsp. DE once a day, increasing gradually to heaping tsp. 2 X/day. Also add gently melted coconut oil to his food, starting with 1 tsp. Once a day, increasing gradually to 2 or 3 tsps. 2 X/day. I've seen testimonials that seizures have decreased or disappeared with both these supplements. His heart racing may normalize with the ACV. Also give him 1 kelp tablet, crushed, in his food, said to strengthen heart. One site that sells DE has esp. Good human and pet testimonials. Check Coconut Research Center.org for seizure info. Bach Flower Remedies may help racing heart also. All good wishes for dear Yogi."

10/27/2012: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Suji, I just noticed your post today. You placed your post under someone else's post, not mine, which is why I didn't see it. The reason I stopped the magnesium, carnitine, ribose and CoQ-10 was because I started to worry that it might have stopped working for my dog. I kept my dog on these supplements for a year and my dog was examined by 2 cardiologists in that time and they both confirmed that he had no murmur. However on the last visit, the third cardiologist told me he had a grade 1 murmur. This really concerned me --- so I started to research more and found out that taking "isolated" supplements such as the above can cause imbalances in the body. I found out that calcium is equally necessary to the heart (along with magnesium and many other nutrients, including omega 3s), but that they must be in balance with each other and in a form that the body can utilize. Too much calcium can cause a magnesium imbalance and too much magnesium can cause a calcium imbalance, etc. These minerals and vitamins must also come along with all their cofactors, enzymes and other things that appear naturally in nature in order to really work.

I also noticed that my dog appeared to start having some bone issues. I wondered if I was creating a calcium deficiency in him, by giving him the magnesium. Now the bone issues may be completely unrelated and just purely coincidental..... I just don't know. But, that was enough for me... I felt that I needed to look into this a little further and that's when I started him on the phytonutrients.

You mentioned homeopathy and I'd like to tell you my experience with it with my now deceased dog. I consulted with a vet who I believed was also knowledgeable homeopath and she recommended remedies for him, which I gave to him (away from meds) but they did not work. I now know the reason they did not work -- and a true homeopath will tell you this --- is because the drugs are so strong that they will cancel out the effects of the homeopathy.

Unfortunately, I realized this too late because I trusted this doctor. I have since found out that this vet was not an accredited classical homeopath and did not have the in-depth training and knowledge and experience with homeopathy - rather, I believe she only took a weekend course and claimed to be one.

Thankfully I have found a "real" classical homeopath who is wonderful and I use him for many things (mostly short term illnesses and other problems) --- but I WILL NOT use him for my dog's heart problem. I have learned that you MUST address the underlying nutritional problems in any longstanding chronic condition first. If you don't, I believe you will not get the results you are looking for. This is why he is on the phytonutrients.

You asked if there is a way that we can speak directly but that would require that we would have to post our email addresses here -- and I'm not sure that I am comfortable with that."

05/03/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Hi Katie! I have just read all of your posts on supplements and feel that the Universe brought me to this site after hours of crying and pleading! I have three Chihuahuas (my babies) since they were pups and are now 6 years old. Candy (the brightest and most inquisitive) was diagnosed with a grade 2 heart murmur 2 years ago. The vet put her on 1/4 pill of Enalapril twice a day and she had been doing fine. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that her heart was beating unusually hard (I could hear it from a few feet away) and sometimes feels sluggish in the mornings with a lack of appetite. No other symptoms yet thank God. I took her back to the vet today and she says that the murmur has escalated to a grade 5. She recommended a cardiologist. We have an appointment next Tuesday. I switched my dogs' diet to raw a couple of years ago and have been giving them Dr. Becker's supplements (digestive enzymes, probiotics, Krill oil, Spirulina, Ubiquinol) as well as bone meal, glands powder and coconut oil.

I am devastated about my baby's prognosis, as the vet says her condition will get worse, her heart is working very hard and there is no surgery or cure. She is 6, beautiful, smart, funny and a great loving doggy! I refuse to think that there is nothing that I can do for her. I am so sad and helpless. Candy is only 5 pounds and I don't know if some of the supplements will benefit her or what dosage I should use. I beg you to please help me come up with a good alternative option for her. I don't care if I have to go to the end of the world and back, if it means a long, happy and healthy life for her. Thank you so much!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, Do not give up hope on your dog. I would start your dog on the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support immediately. I would give these supplements away from the Enalapril. (Note: Do not stop the Enalapril immediately - your dog will need to be slowly weaned off of it once her heart starts to get stronger. Stopping this drug immediately can cause a setback. ) I would recommend that you stop all of the other supplements though- and I don't even think that the ubiquinol is necessary as the Cardio-Plus contains about 25 mg. of natural CoQ10 per tab.

The Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support are the only supplements that my dog is currently on. And, as you will see from my previous posts, my dog's heart is strong now and is pumping at 100% - and his heart shrunk back to the size of a what a normal, healthy Cavalier should be. The reason why my dog still has a murmur right now is only because his valves are still a little leaky, but my vet feels that they will also improve, if not heal themselves too, in the near future. I am planning another echo at the end of the summer.

As far as dosages go, I would probably recommend 2 to 4 tabs a day of the Cardio-Plus, at least initially (because of the severity of your dog's heart issue). If possible, I would try to give the Cardio-Plus throughout the day (away from the Enalapril, though) in order to keep the nutrition consistently in his system. Then, as the heart improves, I would probably cut back to 2 tabs a day. The Canine Whole Body Support is dosed by weight, so for a 10 lb. dog the dosage would be 1/8 tsp once a day.

I would also recommend that you find a good holistic vet who can help work with you and monitor your dog and his progress and then help you get him safely off the Enalapril as her heart starts to improve."

05/04/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Thank you Katie for your concerned and quick response. You are definitely an angel from Heaven! I will order these supplements today and start her on them. When you say "away from the Enalapril", do you mean I should administer them at a different time of day? I give her the Enalapril with each meal (am/pm) so as to not upset her stomach. Is it ok to give her the Standard Process supplements on an empty stomach?

During our visit to the Cardiologist next Tuesday, I am sure that he will want to put her on additional meds (some I have heard from your followers are Vetmedin, Benazeprill and Furosemide). Shoud I refuse?

Katie, you have no idea how much we appreciate your kindness, support and knowledge. It is people like you that makes me not give up on "two-legged animals."!!!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Yes, give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at a different time from your dog's meds so they don't compete. I would continue giving the Enalapril with his meals, and would give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at any other point during the day – but, I would want to space them out. If you choose to give closer to mealtime, I would allow at 1 or 2 hours before a meal or 2 to 3 hours after a meal. Also, these phytonutrients don't need to be given with food.

Most likely, your vet is going to want to put your dog on additional meds (as they did with my dog). In my experience, I found that every time they added another drug, his heart issue became more dire and his heart continued to weaken further and faster. These drugs created all types of terrible problems with my dog. And, it ultimately became more and more complicated to try to wean my dog off of his meds after being on so many of them (he was on 6 or 7 meds in the end). So, my advice would be to try to keep him off the additional meds, if possible, and give these supplements a chance to start working. However, if it's unavoidable, try to get her off of them ASAP, once the heart strengthens.

By the way, you might also want to keep some magnesium on hand (only in the beginning though). Once, when my dog was very sick, his heart was beating out of his chest and I was rushing him to the cardiologist. Before I left the house I gave him a small spoonful of the liquid magnesium, and in less than 5 minutes his heartbeat returned to normal again. Now, I wouldn't recommend the magnesium long term (or as a regular supplement anymore) because it is an "isolated" supplement --- but you might want to keep some on hand just in case…in an emergency."

05/06/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Got it! Thanks Katie! I will post an update as soon as Candy and I visit the cardiologist tomorrow. Please everyone, keep her in your prayers!"

05/07/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie. Candy and I are back from the Cardiologist. $1000 later, she has been diagnosed with Myxomatous Mitral and Triscuspid Valve Degeneration. Left atrial and ventricular dialation. Mild left-sided congestive heart failure. She said the condition is moderate and that the prognosis is 1 to 2 years. They performed an echo, electro and blood panel and prescribed Lasix and Vetmedin (which I bought). She wants to see her again in a week to determine if her body is accepting the meds with more lab work and another electro.

Katie, I am so confused! Candy seems to be doing better and only coughing a little bit at night. Her heart beat is still elevated and very loud but other than that her appetite is good and so is her energy level.

Should I start her on the meds (I know you hate Vetmedin and I did read about it) or should I not? I have order the supplements (the isolated as well as the Standard Process ones) but have not received them yet. So far I have spent over $1500. When the supplements arrive and I get her on them, how will I know if she gets better that it was the supplements and not the meds or the other way around?And if I don't start her on the meds, what if she gets worse? I very much want to do what is best for Candy and I don't know what that is. I am heartbroken, nervous and very confused.

I would really appreciate your input! Please help me!!!!!"

05/07/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Did the cardiologist mention if Candy's heart is enlarged (cardiomegaly), and if so, did he mention if is it mild, moderate or severe? Or if she had any fluid in her lungs? Or, if she has any pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)? Also, do you know what her heart rate is? Did he mention what grade her murmur was -- or anything about her mitral regurgitation? (Murmurs are graded from 1-6 and regurgitation is graded from is 0-4. ) Also, what were the recommended dosages of each of her meds?

Also, when do you expect to receive the SP supplements?"

05/08/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie, I feel like I did not ask the right questions. She did say that her heart was enlarged but only the left side and moderately. She did have fluid in her lungs (thus the Lasix) but she did not mention heart rate or pulmonary hypertension. She explained that the top part of her left valve is not closing properly any more. The murmur is a grade 5 but do not know the regurgitation grade. I am expecting the supplements around the 14th. I just measured her heart rate myself and counted 67 beats per minute (very loud beating). What do you think?

Her medications are: Enalapril 2. 5 mg. - 1/4 tablet twice a day. Lasix 12. 5 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day and Vetmedin 1. 25 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day. She has been taking the Enalapril for two years now."

05/08/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, can you give me your e-mail address so we can speak directly."

05/23/2013: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi all,

Just wanted to send an update our our Mocha. I had originally posted about him in January of 2012; we were in the process of bringing him back from a very difficult experience of heart-related 'seizure-like' episodes and I wrote at that time to share what we found to be working for him in terms of supplements.

Mocha is still with us (yay!) and doing well. As with any healing, it has been a journey. He did really well on the previous supplement schedule for some time, however he is in his later years and like any body - animal or human - it has its ups and downs. But dramatic decrease in the episodes we were so afraid would take his life. And after having so many of them, we were afraid he would not come all the way back.

He has recovered so well, and we continue to 'tweak' his supplements as Katie from Northport mentioned doing herself over time and with research. We also were blessed to have a wonderful holistic veterinarian move to our area so that we didn't have to figure so much out on our own.

Mocha is currently on:

1. Canine Cardiac Support by Standard Process. Great product, can't say enough about it.

2. CoQ10 for pets by Rx Vitamins - this is created exclusively for pets

3. Forti Flora by Purina - A probiotic supplement for dogs, and I believe they have a version for cats.

4. A Chinese herbal formula called Ding Xian Wan by Jing Tang to balance the liver, which in Chinese Medicine is responsible in part for keeping the heart balanced. This was very interesting to me, as Mocha had a long history of liver imbalance before his heart symptoms ever showed up.

5. CAS Options by Resources - this is an immune and antioxidant support.

All supplements were provided by our holistic vet, who also determined doses for our 9 lb boy.

We also give him 1 tsp of organic sweet potato baby food (great for easing constipation - also associated with the liver) and 1 tsp of fresh wheatgrass per meal which has really improved him overall. A bit of 'live food' in his baked chicken or white fish has made a lovely difference.

In his case, he did not do well on raw foods but as we've learned, there is no 'one size fits all' for people or for pets. This combination has been working beautifully for him and we are deeply grateful that he is here with us and has quality of life. He was, unfortunately, a 'puppy mill' puppy - something we weren't aware of until years later and with that, did not come from a healthy background. Health issues have surfaced throughout his life despite us giving the best care we could at the time, and in this way, his little body has been a great teacher to us.

Hope a bit of what we all have learned and shared here with one another continues to help other dear pets out there.

Best wishes,

Deborah"

[YEA]  01/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "My 12 lb. Pekingnese recently went through some very frightening and life-threatening health issues related to his heart. He is doing terrific now, however I want to share a bit about what symptoms were manifesting and how we've managed to stop them.

In September of 2011, our sweet dog Mocha began having something akin to night screams/seizures. In the middle of the night, normally between 1 - 3am, he would wake from sleep with a horrific scream, then go immediately into a seizure. In all of our years with him he had never shown anything like this. His seizure would then last 7 -8 minutes. It was a terrible scene to witness and watch him endure. It happened again a month later, and as we began the process of veterinary visits, tests, etc. and were coming up with no answers. The veterinarian said these were not epileptic seizures, but he did not know what they were or where they were coming from. From his model of medicine he only had Phenobarbital to offer as a means to get control of the seizures. Although we took the advice at the time, my family and I all felt this was still an undiagnosed condition and the Pheno would at best offer us some time to get things figured out. We had to bring these episodes to a halt as soon as possible as each episode seemed to erode his overall health. We were watching our beloved pup drift away from us with each episode.

As we began our research, I started online with researching 'dog screams'. Although the veterinarian said perhaps this was a dream, or anxiety, he didn't feel the dog was in pain at the time of his episodes. We wholeheartedly disagreed. Although Mocha may not have felt pain during the actual seizure, the scream occurred just before and was absolutely horrifying. It was CLEAR that he was in wrenching pain before falling into a seizure. I was amazed to find online assorted threads of pet owner conversations on the topic of dog screams... Most of which indeed were followed by seizure activity, involuntary defecation, etc. In almost each case, the dogs in question were small dog breeds, just like Mocha. Also in each case, the owner knew the dog had a diagnosed heart murmur, as we did with Mocha.

Following this thread, I started to research heart remedies for dogs. Some were specific to murmurs, others were more generalized and in each small dog case, there was also an issue with keeping blood sugar balanced. We began putting together a small grouping of supplements to put Mocha on based on the information we were finding online.

At the same time that we were doing this research, we were giving Mocha the Phenobarbital. He had a terrible time adapting to it. Aside from being basically unconscious 90 minutes after the dose for approximately 9 hours, he was starting to urinate excessively and also to pant exactly 90 minutes after each dose. Sometimes the panting was excessive and frightening. We brought all of these topics up to the veterinarian who said that small dogs tend to adapt the least to this medication, and that whatever adaptation was going to happen would happen within the first two weeks. We were a month into it at this point and becoming very concerned. In addition, it was not stopping entirely his concerning episodes. We had his blood tested to see if he was at 'therapeutic levels' of the Phenobarbital and he was not. The veterinarian wanted us to go up in dose, but our instincts told us 'no'. This dog was losing quality of life on the dose he was already on, and we felt certain that increasing his dose would decrease his life expectancy and quality of remaining life. We decided at that point to trust our instincts and begin tending specifically to his heart.

I am happy to report that since we began adding in his natural heart and blood sugar supports, there have been no screaming/seizure episodes (6 weeks now). This is SIGNIFICANT, as Mocha had gotten to the point where he was screaming/seizing several times per day before beginning his holistic treatment. We have also decreased his Phenobarbital very slowly and safely and this, also, has improved his overall health and vitality. At this point we know we are substantially below 'therapeutic levels' and that the medication is doing next to nothing for him. We are taking him off slowly simply to be safe and gentle with is system. He should be off it entirely over the next week.

I am sharing this information because I know there are others out there who may have dogs with heart murmurs, small dogs, screaming/seizure dogs and the like. I was amazed at how frequent this problem presents based on what I found online, and yet could find NONE of this information via veterinarians or veterinary sites. It all came from pet owners who have had to research and address the issues themselves based on what others were doing. Thank goodness for sites like this one... I truly have no idea what Mocha's future would have been without them.

As for what supplements we have found which address his issues:

Hearty Heart (liquid drops) from Pet Wellbeing: Dosage is determined by pet's weight. This product has been developed by holistic veterinarians and veterinary herbalists. It is absolutely fantastic and useful for dogs and cats. Our 14 year-old cat has Cardiomyopathy and this has helped him so very much as well. Can't recommend it highly enough.

L-Carnitine (liquid) from Pet's Choice Pharmaceuticals: An essential amino acid designed to assist both the heart and blood sugar levels. Very helpful in healing the heart after functional disturbances and preventing future problems. Especially recommended for small breeds. Dosage determined by pet's weight.

FortiFlora (powder) from Purina Veterinary Diets: Probiotic supplement with beneficial strains of good bacteria designed to balance the digestive system and strengthen immunity. Excellent for blood sugar issues, allergies, skin and coat issues, etc. Mocha has been on this for years, as he has a long history of highly reactive/allergic skin, itching, blood sugar issues, etc. As a 12 lb dog, we give Mocha half a packet twice per day with his meals.

Magnesium mixed with Vitamin C: Both of these nutrients are excellent for the heart and safe for dogs. We buy tablets and then powder them together in our mortar and pestle. This allows us to sprinkle them onto his food. Again because Mocha is small, he only get 2 pinches of this mixture once per day. The ratio of his Magnesium to Vitamin C is 2:1. The dose, ratio, form of the nutrient may be specific dog to dog but there is helpful information online about dosing them.

Ubiqinone (CoQ10): An important antioxidant which helps with energy and heart function. It is potent so again, read up on dosage for your pet or consult with a holistic veterinarian. For Mocha, he only takes 1 drop from a 30mg capsule. Any more than that is too much, but we notice a difference when he doesn't have it at all.

D-Ribose: This is a metabolic sugar which is found within the body, but can also be supplemented. It is excellent for the heart, for recovery of the heart and for energy production... Of of which Mocha needed. Because of his small size he only takes 200 - 300 mg day. This product can be found in most healthfood stores.

So there you are. I hope you find this information helpful if you are searching for help for your dog. Most important lessons we have learned from the experince are 1) trust your instincts and 2) do your homework. If something doesn't sound right to you in terms of diagnosis, treatment, etc. , or if you simply feel you have not gotten sufficient answers, trust your instincts. There is an abundance of information available on the web today and tho, yes, sometimes that can be misleading, when you read over and over from owners about what works/doesn't work, TRUST it. In our case we were not able to get any answers from the veterinary community (in person or online) and ALL of Mocha's help came from dog owners like you. And, do your homework... Research what is going on with your pet, what others are doing for the same issues, safe dosage amounts, etc. Take charge of what is going on, have confidence in yourself and your instincts and take one step at a time. Don't wait passively for answers and don't continue with anything that just feels wrong or is causing clear harm... Even if that information comes from the medical community. They, like us, are all still learning but sometimes the life of a patient (human or animal) can't wait and you must strike out on your own. Work closely with professionals when and how you can, but don't linger with anyone who isn't providing help or cooperating with your desire to work holistically. Put your pet and his/her life first.

Good luck to you and I hope some little puppy dog and his family out there can be helped just like we have been. We are tremendously grateful to have been steered by others to the help Mocha needed and are enjoying seeing our sweet pup return to us in every way.

Blessings,

Deborah, Mocha and family...."

01/24/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Deborah, thanks for this detailed and informative post; and congrats on Mocha's recovery. If I might add the importance of omega 3 fatty acids like Flax and Fish oils for health of every cell in prevention and recovery of illness."

01/27/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Thanks Tim, indeed. We did have Mocha on fish oil at different time periods... Sometimes he did well with it, other times not so much. We switched his diet to a more fish-rich diet (fresh cooked fish) and that seemed to do the trick. Flax oil makes him itch terribly so we avoid that in his case. But excellent advice to others who may be researching for their own pets."

02/23/2012: Kickdiver from Wilmington, Nc: "Thank you for the detailed info. I have a 12 year old Great Dane on various heart meds due to near Heart Failure and enlarged heart with atrial fib/dilated cardio myopathy. He's on Vetmed, Diltiazem, Benazepril and Digoxin, since our emergency visit at the Cardiology Clinic, where his heart beat was measured 250 bpm.... He is stabilized now, and I also give him Omega 3 fish oils, CQ10, and looking into carnitine and taurine, and I did come across the site for Hearty Heart, but it says NOT to give this natural remedy WHILE on heart meds.

But... How can I stop the heart meds, when they just now kicked in after 2 days of horrible heart racing and my poor dog being miserable? Can I trust the reviews on line? They all seem great , but... One never knows if they are just bloggers paid by the company... Anyhow.. I'm willing to give it a try, yet, I cannot take him off the heart meds right now... I'd rather give him half a dose of the Hearty Heart along WITH the meds and then slowly go down with the dosage..

Worst of all, I am supposed to move to the Middle East with my 3 beloved K9s in April, how in the world am I going to get my boy there in this condition? I cannot leave this companion behind, he's my kiddo! I know his heart situation is a serious thing, but apart from that he has NO health issues, all blood work was good and all organs perfectly intact, as a matter of fact, the Vets at the clinic told me that he was the healthiest and oldest Dane they have seen!!! (thanks to Raw Diet and NO vaccines, I guess... ) I do have a professional pet handling company hired, still... My holistic vet said St John's Word could help him as well. I have a few more weeks to see how he develops, in the interim, any input helps.. I'd love to give Hearty Heart a try, but.. There is NO way I can stop the meds right now... What to do??"

02/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi Kickdiver, thank you for your post. How great that your Great Dane is so healthy at the age of 12! You've obviously done so much to get him there.

I totally understand your concern about mixing the HH supplement with the heart meds. This is indeed a conundrum and I don't know the answer for you. This has to be an individual decision. I personally would not mix them as the HH is developed by holistic veterinarians and they so strongly advise against it.

I know in our situation, we had to make the difficult choice between medications vs. Supplements. It's so much easier when one can blend both and not make such a difficult and scary decision, but sometimes this is just not safe. So what we did was begin with supplements that did not have contraindications with the medication we used at the time. The HH came in toward the end of that supplement list, as we did everything else first to stabilize him supplement-wise. As Mocha grew more and more stable on the supplements, we gradually began moving him down on his medication dose AND began putting the HH in separate feedings from his medication. So breakfast/dinner had medication, lunch snack and evening snack (9pm) had HH. This worked for him but we were ever so careful. The medication he was on could not safely be stopped abruptly, so we had to wean him down on it while slowly adding in the supplements where we could. This took time, patience, faith and much care to get right but like for you, he is our 'kiddo' and we just wanted him better. However he was not on heart meds, he was on Phenobarbital and that is a big difference between your picture and mine. Had Mocha been on heart meds, I'm not sure if we would have gone forward with the HH in this way. Like you, we would have had to sit with the different choices in front of us and find the safest, best long-term plan for our pup.

So for now, since your pup is newly on all of these meds and just coming out of an acute situation you may want to continue as you are doing. Simply add safe supplements with no contraindications. If I were you, I would add the L-Carn as that has profoundly good impact on heart function and in general is very safe. Not sure the Taurine is a fit or a priority in your pup's case.

As for the HH, I recommended it because I use it for my pup and it works brilliantly. It is also safe for cats, and we gave it to our 14-year old cat who was having wobbly, at times screeching, seizures and who had previously been diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. Since starting him on the HH, no wobbling, no screaming, no seizures. I don't work for the company, am not a paid blogger, etc. I'm a user and this product is the real deal in my experience. Is it the best fit for your sweet Dane? I don't know. But it was the fit for our Pekingese and tabby.

Seems the safest short-term approach would be to find the combination of supplements (and possibly meds) that work for your Dane and then move in whatever direction you can from there for a long-term plan. Most important is to a) stabilize acute symptoms and then b) find long-term solutions which often need to be at least partially natural so as to 'do no harm'. If some meds need to be part of that picture for your Dane going forward, so be it. Most important is to keep him healthy, happy and strong for the longest amount of time you can. We HAD to move our pup off of meds because they were doing more harm then good, far more so. With that, we still had to do it gradually to keep him safe. If the meds had been significantly helping with no serious side effects, I may have considered keeping him on them along with supplements but that was not what was happening.

So, you have a bit of a process in front of you but I know you will find the right solutions for him. Just please don't mix HH with meds if you have been outright cautioned against doing so by the product maker. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to our sweet animal friends' lives, I know you agree."

06/11/2012: Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, Fl: "Yogi, is 1/2 st bernard 1/2 golden retriever, 9 yrs old. As a result of elective surgery gone bad he developed seizures which he is taking phenabarbital. 30 mg. 1 1/2 in pm. Helping. From onset of seizures causing anxiety vet told me he has enlarged heart. Beats so fast his chest beating with it. Dr. not familar with heart. Not taking meds for that. Afraid he will have heart attack!!! Comes to us when this starts to happen, drooling all over himself. Please help. Been to so many drs. Can't afford anymore."

06/18/2012: Nh Gardener from Sanbornton, Nh, Usa: "For Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, FL for dog Yogi--Please give him food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in his food dampened with raw apple cider vinegar, starting with 1 tsp. DE once a day, increasing gradually to heaping tsp. 2 X/day. Also add gently melted coconut oil to his food, starting with 1 tsp. Once a day, increasing gradually to 2 or 3 tsps. 2 X/day. I've seen testimonials that seizures have decreased or disappeared with both these supplements. His heart racing may normalize with the ACV. Also give him 1 kelp tablet, crushed, in his food, said to strengthen heart. One site that sells DE has esp. Good human and pet testimonials. Check Coconut Research Center.org for seizure info. Bach Flower Remedies may help racing heart also. All good wishes for dear Yogi."

10/27/2012: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Suji, I just noticed your post today. You placed your post under someone else's post, not mine, which is why I didn't see it. The reason I stopped the magnesium, carnitine, ribose and CoQ-10 was because I started to worry that it might have stopped working for my dog. I kept my dog on these supplements for a year and my dog was examined by 2 cardiologists in that time and they both confirmed that he had no murmur. However on the last visit, the third cardiologist told me he had a grade 1 murmur. This really concerned me --- so I started to research more and found out that taking "isolated" supplements such as the above can cause imbalances in the body. I found out that calcium is equally necessary to the heart (along with magnesium and many other nutrients, including omega 3s), but that they must be in balance with each other and in a form that the body can utilize. Too much calcium can cause a magnesium imbalance and too much magnesium can cause a calcium imbalance, etc. These minerals and vitamins must also come along with all their cofactors, enzymes and other things that appear naturally in nature in order to really work.

I also noticed that my dog appeared to start having some bone issues. I wondered if I was creating a calcium deficiency in him, by giving him the magnesium. Now the bone issues may be completely unrelated and just purely coincidental..... I just don't know. But, that was enough for me... I felt that I needed to look into this a little further and that's when I started him on the phytonutrients.

You mentioned homeopathy and I'd like to tell you my experience with it with my now deceased dog. I consulted with a vet who I believed was also knowledgeable homeopath and she recommended remedies for him, which I gave to him (away from meds) but they did not work. I now know the reason they did not work -- and a true homeopath will tell you this --- is because the drugs are so strong that they will cancel out the effects of the homeopathy.

Unfortunately, I realized this too late because I trusted this doctor. I have since found out that this vet was not an accredited classical homeopath and did not have the in-depth training and knowledge and experience with homeopathy - rather, I believe she only took a weekend course and claimed to be one.

Thankfully I have found a "real" classical homeopath who is wonderful and I use him for many things (mostly short term illnesses and other problems) --- but I WILL NOT use him for my dog's heart problem. I have learned that you MUST address the underlying nutritional problems in any longstanding chronic condition first. If you don't, I believe you will not get the results you are looking for. This is why he is on the phytonutrients.

You asked if there is a way that we can speak directly but that would require that we would have to post our email addresses here -- and I'm not sure that I am comfortable with that."

05/03/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Hi Katie! I have just read all of your posts on supplements and feel that the Universe brought me to this site after hours of crying and pleading! I have three Chihuahuas (my babies) since they were pups and are now 6 years old. Candy (the brightest and most inquisitive) was diagnosed with a grade 2 heart murmur 2 years ago. The vet put her on 1/4 pill of Enalapril twice a day and she had been doing fine. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that her heart was beating unusually hard (I could hear it from a few feet away) and sometimes feels sluggish in the mornings with a lack of appetite. No other symptoms yet thank God. I took her back to the vet today and she says that the murmur has escalated to a grade 5. She recommended a cardiologist. We have an appointment next Tuesday. I switched my dogs' diet to raw a couple of years ago and have been giving them Dr. Becker's supplements (digestive enzymes, probiotics, Krill oil, Spirulina, Ubiquinol) as well as bone meal, glands powder and coconut oil.

I am devastated about my baby's prognosis, as the vet says her condition will get worse, her heart is working very hard and there is no surgery or cure. She is 6, beautiful, smart, funny and a great loving doggy! I refuse to think that there is nothing that I can do for her. I am so sad and helpless. Candy is only 5 pounds and I don't know if some of the supplements will benefit her or what dosage I should use. I beg you to please help me come up with a good alternative option for her. I don't care if I have to go to the end of the world and back, if it means a long, happy and healthy life for her. Thank you so much!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, Do not give up hope on your dog. I would start your dog on the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support immediately. I would give these supplements away from the Enalapril. (Note: Do not stop the Enalapril immediately - your dog will need to be slowly weaned off of it once her heart starts to get stronger. Stopping this drug immediately can cause a setback. ) I would recommend that you stop all of the other supplements though- and I don't even think that the ubiquinol is necessary as the Cardio-Plus contains about 25 mg. of natural CoQ10 per tab.

The Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support are the only supplements that my dog is currently on. And, as you will see from my previous posts, my dog's heart is strong now and is pumping at 100% - and his heart shrunk back to the size of a what a normal, healthy Cavalier should be. The reason why my dog still has a murmur right now is only because his valves are still a little leaky, but my vet feels that they will also improve, if not heal themselves too, in the near future. I am planning another echo at the end of the summer.

As far as dosages go, I would probably recommend 2 to 4 tabs a day of the Cardio-Plus, at least initially (because of the severity of your dog's heart issue). If possible, I would try to give the Cardio-Plus throughout the day (away from the Enalapril, though) in order to keep the nutrition consistently in his system. Then, as the heart improves, I would probably cut back to 2 tabs a day. The Canine Whole Body Support is dosed by weight, so for a 10 lb. dog the dosage would be 1/8 tsp once a day.

I would also recommend that you find a good holistic vet who can help work with you and monitor your dog and his progress and then help you get him safely off the Enalapril as her heart starts to improve."

05/04/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Thank you Katie for your concerned and quick response. You are definitely an angel from Heaven! I will order these supplements today and start her on them. When you say "away from the Enalapril", do you mean I should administer them at a different time of day? I give her the Enalapril with each meal (am/pm) so as to not upset her stomach. Is it ok to give her the Standard Process supplements on an empty stomach?

During our visit to the Cardiologist next Tuesday, I am sure that he will want to put her on additional meds (some I have heard from your followers are Vetmedin, Benazeprill and Furosemide). Shoud I refuse?

Katie, you have no idea how much we appreciate your kindness, support and knowledge. It is people like you that makes me not give up on "two-legged animals."!!!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Yes, give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at a different time from your dog's meds so they don't compete. I would continue giving the Enalapril with his meals, and would give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at any other point during the day – but, I would want to space them out. If you choose to give closer to mealtime, I would allow at 1 or 2 hours before a meal or 2 to 3 hours after a meal. Also, these phytonutrients don't need to be given with food.

Most likely, your vet is going to want to put your dog on additional meds (as they did with my dog). In my experience, I found that every time they added another drug, his heart issue became more dire and his heart continued to weaken further and faster. These drugs created all types of terrible problems with my dog. And, it ultimately became more and more complicated to try to wean my dog off of his meds after being on so many of them (he was on 6 or 7 meds in the end). So, my advice would be to try to keep him off the additional meds, if possible, and give these supplements a chance to start working. However, if it's unavoidable, try to get her off of them ASAP, once the heart strengthens.

By the way, you might also want to keep some magnesium on hand (only in the beginning though). Once, when my dog was very sick, his heart was beating out of his chest and I was rushing him to the cardiologist. Before I left the house I gave him a small spoonful of the liquid magnesium, and in less than 5 minutes his heartbeat returned to normal again. Now, I wouldn't recommend the magnesium long term (or as a regular supplement anymore) because it is an "isolated" supplement --- but you might want to keep some on hand just in case…in an emergency."

05/06/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Got it! Thanks Katie! I will post an update as soon as Candy and I visit the cardiologist tomorrow. Please everyone, keep her in your prayers!"

05/07/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie. Candy and I are back from the Cardiologist. $1000 later, she has been diagnosed with Myxomatous Mitral and Triscuspid Valve Degeneration. Left atrial and ventricular dialation. Mild left-sided congestive heart failure. She said the condition is moderate and that the prognosis is 1 to 2 years. They performed an echo, electro and blood panel and prescribed Lasix and Vetmedin (which I bought). She wants to see her again in a week to determine if her body is accepting the meds with more lab work and another electro.

Katie, I am so confused! Candy seems to be doing better and only coughing a little bit at night. Her heart beat is still elevated and very loud but other than that her appetite is good and so is her energy level.

Should I start her on the meds (I know you hate Vetmedin and I did read about it) or should I not? I have order the supplements (the isolated as well as the Standard Process ones) but have not received them yet. So far I have spent over $1500. When the supplements arrive and I get her on them, how will I know if she gets better that it was the supplements and not the meds or the other way around?And if I don't start her on the meds, what if she gets worse? I very much want to do what is best for Candy and I don't know what that is. I am heartbroken, nervous and very confused.

I would really appreciate your input! Please help me!!!!!"

05/07/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Did the cardiologist mention if Candy's heart is enlarged (cardiomegaly), and if so, did he mention if is it mild, moderate or severe? Or if she had any fluid in her lungs? Or, if she has any pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)? Also, do you know what her heart rate is? Did he mention what grade her murmur was -- or anything about her mitral regurgitation? (Murmurs are graded from 1-6 and regurgitation is graded from is 0-4. ) Also, what were the recommended dosages of each of her meds?

Also, when do you expect to receive the SP supplements?"

05/08/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie, I feel like I did not ask the right questions. She did say that her heart was enlarged but only the left side and moderately. She did have fluid in her lungs (thus the Lasix) but she did not mention heart rate or pulmonary hypertension. She explained that the top part of her left valve is not closing properly any more. The murmur is a grade 5 but do not know the regurgitation grade. I am expecting the supplements around the 14th. I just measured her heart rate myself and counted 67 beats per minute (very loud beating). What do you think?

Her medications are: Enalapril 2. 5 mg. - 1/4 tablet twice a day. Lasix 12. 5 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day and Vetmedin 1. 25 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day. She has been taking the Enalapril for two years now."

05/08/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, can you give me your e-mail address so we can speak directly."

05/23/2013: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi all,

Just wanted to send an update our our Mocha. I had originally posted about him in January of 2012; we were in the process of bringing him back from a very difficult experience of heart-related 'seizure-like' episodes and I wrote at that time to share what we found to be working for him in terms of supplements.

Mocha is still with us (yay!) and doing well. As with any healing, it has been a journey. He did really well on the previous supplement schedule for some time, however he is in his later years and like any body - animal or human - it has its ups and downs. But dramatic decrease in the episodes we were so afraid would take his life. And after having so many of them, we were afraid he would not come all the way back.

He has recovered so well, and we continue to 'tweak' his supplements as Katie from Northport mentioned doing herself over time and with research. We also were blessed to have a wonderful holistic veterinarian move to our area so that we didn't have to figure so much out on our own.

Mocha is currently on:

1. Canine Cardiac Support by Standard Process. Great product, can't say enough about it.

2. CoQ10 for pets by Rx Vitamins - this is created exclusively for pets

3. Forti Flora by Purina - A probiotic supplement for dogs, and I believe they have a version for cats.

4. A Chinese herbal formula called Ding Xian Wan by Jing Tang to balance the liver, which in Chinese Medicine is responsible in part for keeping the heart balanced. This was very interesting to me, as Mocha had a long history of liver imbalance before his heart symptoms ever showed up.

5. CAS Options by Resources - this is an immune and antioxidant support.

All supplements were provided by our holistic vet, who also determined doses for our 9 lb boy.

We also give him 1 tsp of organic sweet potato baby food (great for easing constipation - also associated with the liver) and 1 tsp of fresh wheatgrass per meal which has really improved him overall. A bit of 'live food' in his baked chicken or white fish has made a lovely difference.

In his case, he did not do well on raw foods but as we've learned, there is no 'one size fits all' for people or for pets. This combination has been working beautifully for him and we are deeply grateful that he is here with us and has quality of life. He was, unfortunately, a 'puppy mill' puppy - something we weren't aware of until years later and with that, did not come from a healthy background. Health issues have surfaced throughout his life despite us giving the best care we could at the time, and in this way, his little body has been a great teacher to us.

Hope a bit of what we all have learned and shared here with one another continues to help other dear pets out there.

Best wishes,

Deborah"

[YEA]  01/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "My 12 lb. Pekingnese recently went through some very frightening and life-threatening health issues related to his heart. He is doing terrific now, however I want to share a bit about what symptoms were manifesting and how we've managed to stop them.

In September of 2011, our sweet dog Mocha began having something akin to night screams/seizures. In the middle of the night, normally between 1 - 3am, he would wake from sleep with a horrific scream, then go immediately into a seizure. In all of our years with him he had never shown anything like this. His seizure would then last 7 -8 minutes. It was a terrible scene to witness and watch him endure. It happened again a month later, and as we began the process of veterinary visits, tests, etc. and were coming up with no answers. The veterinarian said these were not epileptic seizures, but he did not know what they were or where they were coming from. From his model of medicine he only had Phenobarbital to offer as a means to get control of the seizures. Although we took the advice at the time, my family and I all felt this was still an undiagnosed condition and the Pheno would at best offer us some time to get things figured out. We had to bring these episodes to a halt as soon as possible as each episode seemed to erode his overall health. We were watching our beloved pup drift away from us with each episode.

As we began our research, I started online with researching 'dog screams'. Although the veterinarian said perhaps this was a dream, or anxiety, he didn't feel the dog was in pain at the time of his episodes. We wholeheartedly disagreed. Although Mocha may not have felt pain during the actual seizure, the scream occurred just before and was absolutely horrifying. It was CLEAR that he was in wrenching pain before falling into a seizure. I was amazed to find online assorted threads of pet owner conversations on the topic of dog screams... Most of which indeed were followed by seizure activity, involuntary defecation, etc. In almost each case, the dogs in question were small dog breeds, just like Mocha. Also in each case, the owner knew the dog had a diagnosed heart murmur, as we did with Mocha.

Following this thread, I started to research heart remedies for dogs. Some were specific to murmurs, others were more generalized and in each small dog case, there was also an issue with keeping blood sugar balanced. We began putting together a small grouping of supplements to put Mocha on based on the information we were finding online.

At the same time that we were doing this research, we were giving Mocha the Phenobarbital. He had a terrible time adapting to it. Aside from being basically unconscious 90 minutes after the dose for approximately 9 hours, he was starting to urinate excessively and also to pant exactly 90 minutes after each dose. Sometimes the panting was excessive and frightening. We brought all of these topics up to the veterinarian who said that small dogs tend to adapt the least to this medication, and that whatever adaptation was going to happen would happen within the first two weeks. We were a month into it at this point and becoming very concerned. In addition, it was not stopping entirely his concerning episodes. We had his blood tested to see if he was at 'therapeutic levels' of the Phenobarbital and he was not. The veterinarian wanted us to go up in dose, but our instincts told us 'no'. This dog was losing quality of life on the dose he was already on, and we felt certain that increasing his dose would decrease his life expectancy and quality of remaining life. We decided at that point to trust our instincts and begin tending specifically to his heart.

I am happy to report that since we began adding in his natural heart and blood sugar supports, there have been no screaming/seizure episodes (6 weeks now). This is SIGNIFICANT, as Mocha had gotten to the point where he was screaming/seizing several times per day before beginning his holistic treatment. We have also decreased his Phenobarbital very slowly and safely and this, also, has improved his overall health and vitality. At this point we know we are substantially below 'therapeutic levels' and that the medication is doing next to nothing for him. We are taking him off slowly simply to be safe and gentle with is system. He should be off it entirely over the next week.

I am sharing this information because I know there are others out there who may have dogs with heart murmurs, small dogs, screaming/seizure dogs and the like. I was amazed at how frequent this problem presents based on what I found online, and yet could find NONE of this information via veterinarians or veterinary sites. It all came from pet owners who have had to research and address the issues themselves based on what others were doing. Thank goodness for sites like this one... I truly have no idea what Mocha's future would have been without them.

As for what supplements we have found which address his issues:

Hearty Heart (liquid drops) from Pet Wellbeing: Dosage is determined by pet's weight. This product has been developed by holistic veterinarians and veterinary herbalists. It is absolutely fantastic and useful for dogs and cats. Our 14 year-old cat has Cardiomyopathy and this has helped him so very much as well. Can't recommend it highly enough.

L-Carnitine (liquid) from Pet's Choice Pharmaceuticals: An essential amino acid designed to assist both the heart and blood sugar levels. Very helpful in healing the heart after functional disturbances and preventing future problems. Especially recommended for small breeds. Dosage determined by pet's weight.

FortiFlora (powder) from Purina Veterinary Diets: Probiotic supplement with beneficial strains of good bacteria designed to balance the digestive system and strengthen immunity. Excellent for blood sugar issues, allergies, skin and coat issues, etc. Mocha has been on this for years, as he has a long history of highly reactive/allergic skin, itching, blood sugar issues, etc. As a 12 lb dog, we give Mocha half a packet twice per day with his meals.

Magnesium mixed with Vitamin C: Both of these nutrients are excellent for the heart and safe for dogs. We buy tablets and then powder them together in our mortar and pestle. This allows us to sprinkle them onto his food. Again because Mocha is small, he only get 2 pinches of this mixture once per day. The ratio of his Magnesium to Vitamin C is 2:1. The dose, ratio, form of the nutrient may be specific dog to dog but there is helpful information online about dosing them.

Ubiqinone (CoQ10): An important antioxidant which helps with energy and heart function. It is potent so again, read up on dosage for your pet or consult with a holistic veterinarian. For Mocha, he only takes 1 drop from a 30mg capsule. Any more than that is too much, but we notice a difference when he doesn't have it at all.

D-Ribose: This is a metabolic sugar which is found within the body, but can also be supplemented. It is excellent for the heart, for recovery of the heart and for energy production... Of of which Mocha needed. Because of his small size he only takes 200 - 300 mg day. This product can be found in most healthfood stores.

So there you are. I hope you find this information helpful if you are searching for help for your dog. Most important lessons we have learned from the experince are 1) trust your instincts and 2) do your homework. If something doesn't sound right to you in terms of diagnosis, treatment, etc. , or if you simply feel you have not gotten sufficient answers, trust your instincts. There is an abundance of information available on the web today and tho, yes, sometimes that can be misleading, when you read over and over from owners about what works/doesn't work, TRUST it. In our case we were not able to get any answers from the veterinary community (in person or online) and ALL of Mocha's help came from dog owners like you. And, do your homework... Research what is going on with your pet, what others are doing for the same issues, safe dosage amounts, etc. Take charge of what is going on, have confidence in yourself and your instincts and take one step at a time. Don't wait passively for answers and don't continue with anything that just feels wrong or is causing clear harm... Even if that information comes from the medical community. They, like us, are all still learning but sometimes the life of a patient (human or animal) can't wait and you must strike out on your own. Work closely with professionals when and how you can, but don't linger with anyone who isn't providing help or cooperating with your desire to work holistically. Put your pet and his/her life first.

Good luck to you and I hope some little puppy dog and his family out there can be helped just like we have been. We are tremendously grateful to have been steered by others to the help Mocha needed and are enjoying seeing our sweet pup return to us in every way.

Blessings,

Deborah, Mocha and family...."

01/24/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Deborah, thanks for this detailed and informative post; and congrats on Mocha's recovery. If I might add the importance of omega 3 fatty acids like Flax and Fish oils for health of every cell in prevention and recovery of illness."

01/27/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Thanks Tim, indeed. We did have Mocha on fish oil at different time periods... Sometimes he did well with it, other times not so much. We switched his diet to a more fish-rich diet (fresh cooked fish) and that seemed to do the trick. Flax oil makes him itch terribly so we avoid that in his case. But excellent advice to others who may be researching for their own pets."

02/23/2012: Kickdiver from Wilmington, Nc: "Thank you for the detailed info. I have a 12 year old Great Dane on various heart meds due to near Heart Failure and enlarged heart with atrial fib/dilated cardio myopathy. He's on Vetmed, Diltiazem, Benazepril and Digoxin, since our emergency visit at the Cardiology Clinic, where his heart beat was measured 250 bpm.... He is stabilized now, and I also give him Omega 3 fish oils, CQ10, and looking into carnitine and taurine, and I did come across the site for Hearty Heart, but it says NOT to give this natural remedy WHILE on heart meds.

But... How can I stop the heart meds, when they just now kicked in after 2 days of horrible heart racing and my poor dog being miserable? Can I trust the reviews on line? They all seem great , but... One never knows if they are just bloggers paid by the company... Anyhow.. I'm willing to give it a try, yet, I cannot take him off the heart meds right now... I'd rather give him half a dose of the Hearty Heart along WITH the meds and then slowly go down with the dosage..

Worst of all, I am supposed to move to the Middle East with my 3 beloved K9s in April, how in the world am I going to get my boy there in this condition? I cannot leave this companion behind, he's my kiddo! I know his heart situation is a serious thing, but apart from that he has NO health issues, all blood work was good and all organs perfectly intact, as a matter of fact, the Vets at the clinic told me that he was the healthiest and oldest Dane they have seen!!! (thanks to Raw Diet and NO vaccines, I guess... ) I do have a professional pet handling company hired, still... My holistic vet said St John's Word could help him as well. I have a few more weeks to see how he develops, in the interim, any input helps.. I'd love to give Hearty Heart a try, but.. There is NO way I can stop the meds right now... What to do??"

02/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi Kickdiver, thank you for your post. How great that your Great Dane is so healthy at the age of 12! You've obviously done so much to get him there.

I totally understand your concern about mixing the HH supplement with the heart meds. This is indeed a conundrum and I don't know the answer for you. This has to be an individual decision. I personally would not mix them as the HH is developed by holistic veterinarians and they so strongly advise against it.

I know in our situation, we had to make the difficult choice between medications vs. Supplements. It's so much easier when one can blend both and not make such a difficult and scary decision, but sometimes this is just not safe. So what we did was begin with supplements that did not have contraindications with the medication we used at the time. The HH came in toward the end of that supplement list, as we did everything else first to stabilize him supplement-wise. As Mocha grew more and more stable on the supplements, we gradually began moving him down on his medication dose AND began putting the HH in separate feedings from his medication. So breakfast/dinner had medication, lunch snack and evening snack (9pm) had HH. This worked for him but we were ever so careful. The medication he was on could not safely be stopped abruptly, so we had to wean him down on it while slowly adding in the supplements where we could. This took time, patience, faith and much care to get right but like for you, he is our 'kiddo' and we just wanted him better. However he was not on heart meds, he was on Phenobarbital and that is a big difference between your picture and mine. Had Mocha been on heart meds, I'm not sure if we would have gone forward with the HH in this way. Like you, we would have had to sit with the different choices in front of us and find the safest, best long-term plan for our pup.

So for now, since your pup is newly on all of these meds and just coming out of an acute situation you may want to continue as you are doing. Simply add safe supplements with no contraindications. If I were you, I would add the L-Carn as that has profoundly good impact on heart function and in general is very safe. Not sure the Taurine is a fit or a priority in your pup's case.

As for the HH, I recommended it because I use it for my pup and it works brilliantly. It is also safe for cats, and we gave it to our 14-year old cat who was having wobbly, at times screeching, seizures and who had previously been diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. Since starting him on the HH, no wobbling, no screaming, no seizures. I don't work for the company, am not a paid blogger, etc. I'm a user and this product is the real deal in my experience. Is it the best fit for your sweet Dane? I don't know. But it was the fit for our Pekingese and tabby.

Seems the safest short-term approach would be to find the combination of supplements (and possibly meds) that work for your Dane and then move in whatever direction you can from there for a long-term plan. Most important is to a) stabilize acute symptoms and then b) find long-term solutions which often need to be at least partially natural so as to 'do no harm'. If some meds need to be part of that picture for your Dane going forward, so be it. Most important is to keep him healthy, happy and strong for the longest amount of time you can. We HAD to move our pup off of meds because they were doing more harm then good, far more so. With that, we still had to do it gradually to keep him safe. If the meds had been significantly helping with no serious side effects, I may have considered keeping him on them along with supplements but that was not what was happening.

So, you have a bit of a process in front of you but I know you will find the right solutions for him. Just please don't mix HH with meds if you have been outright cautioned against doing so by the product maker. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to our sweet animal friends' lives, I know you agree."

06/11/2012: Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, Fl: "Yogi, is 1/2 st bernard 1/2 golden retriever, 9 yrs old. As a result of elective surgery gone bad he developed seizures which he is taking phenabarbital. 30 mg. 1 1/2 in pm. Helping. From onset of seizures causing anxiety vet told me he has enlarged heart. Beats so fast his chest beating with it. Dr. not familar with heart. Not taking meds for that. Afraid he will have heart attack!!! Comes to us when this starts to happen, drooling all over himself. Please help. Been to so many drs. Can't afford anymore."

06/18/2012: Nh Gardener from Sanbornton, Nh, Usa: "For Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, FL for dog Yogi--Please give him food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in his food dampened with raw apple cider vinegar, starting with 1 tsp. DE once a day, increasing gradually to heaping tsp. 2 X/day. Also add gently melted coconut oil to his food, starting with 1 tsp. Once a day, increasing gradually to 2 or 3 tsps. 2 X/day. I've seen testimonials that seizures have decreased or disappeared with both these supplements. His heart racing may normalize with the ACV. Also give him 1 kelp tablet, crushed, in his food, said to strengthen heart. One site that sells DE has esp. Good human and pet testimonials. Check Coconut Research Center.org for seizure info. Bach Flower Remedies may help racing heart also. All good wishes for dear Yogi."

10/27/2012: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Suji, I just noticed your post today. You placed your post under someone else's post, not mine, which is why I didn't see it. The reason I stopped the magnesium, carnitine, ribose and CoQ-10 was because I started to worry that it might have stopped working for my dog. I kept my dog on these supplements for a year and my dog was examined by 2 cardiologists in that time and they both confirmed that he had no murmur. However on the last visit, the third cardiologist told me he had a grade 1 murmur. This really concerned me --- so I started to research more and found out that taking "isolated" supplements such as the above can cause imbalances in the body. I found out that calcium is equally necessary to the heart (along with magnesium and many other nutrients, including omega 3s), but that they must be in balance with each other and in a form that the body can utilize. Too much calcium can cause a magnesium imbalance and too much magnesium can cause a calcium imbalance, etc. These minerals and vitamins must also come along with all their cofactors, enzymes and other things that appear naturally in nature in order to really work.

I also noticed that my dog appeared to start having some bone issues. I wondered if I was creating a calcium deficiency in him, by giving him the magnesium. Now the bone issues may be completely unrelated and just purely coincidental..... I just don't know. But, that was enough for me... I felt that I needed to look into this a little further and that's when I started him on the phytonutrients.

You mentioned homeopathy and I'd like to tell you my experience with it with my now deceased dog. I consulted with a vet who I believed was also knowledgeable homeopath and she recommended remedies for him, which I gave to him (away from meds) but they did not work. I now know the reason they did not work -- and a true homeopath will tell you this --- is because the drugs are so strong that they will cancel out the effects of the homeopathy.

Unfortunately, I realized this too late because I trusted this doctor. I have since found out that this vet was not an accredited classical homeopath and did not have the in-depth training and knowledge and experience with homeopathy - rather, I believe she only took a weekend course and claimed to be one.

Thankfully I have found a "real" classical homeopath who is wonderful and I use him for many things (mostly short term illnesses and other problems) --- but I WILL NOT use him for my dog's heart problem. I have learned that you MUST address the underlying nutritional problems in any longstanding chronic condition first. If you don't, I believe you will not get the results you are looking for. This is why he is on the phytonutrients.

You asked if there is a way that we can speak directly but that would require that we would have to post our email addresses here -- and I'm not sure that I am comfortable with that."

05/03/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Hi Katie! I have just read all of your posts on supplements and feel that the Universe brought me to this site after hours of crying and pleading! I have three Chihuahuas (my babies) since they were pups and are now 6 years old. Candy (the brightest and most inquisitive) was diagnosed with a grade 2 heart murmur 2 years ago. The vet put her on 1/4 pill of Enalapril twice a day and she had been doing fine. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that her heart was beating unusually hard (I could hear it from a few feet away) and sometimes feels sluggish in the mornings with a lack of appetite. No other symptoms yet thank God. I took her back to the vet today and she says that the murmur has escalated to a grade 5. She recommended a cardiologist. We have an appointment next Tuesday. I switched my dogs' diet to raw a couple of years ago and have been giving them Dr. Becker's supplements (digestive enzymes, probiotics, Krill oil, Spirulina, Ubiquinol) as well as bone meal, glands powder and coconut oil.

I am devastated about my baby's prognosis, as the vet says her condition will get worse, her heart is working very hard and there is no surgery or cure. She is 6, beautiful, smart, funny and a great loving doggy! I refuse to think that there is nothing that I can do for her. I am so sad and helpless. Candy is only 5 pounds and I don't know if some of the supplements will benefit her or what dosage I should use. I beg you to please help me come up with a good alternative option for her. I don't care if I have to go to the end of the world and back, if it means a long, happy and healthy life for her. Thank you so much!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, Do not give up hope on your dog. I would start your dog on the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support immediately. I would give these supplements away from the Enalapril. (Note: Do not stop the Enalapril immediately - your dog will need to be slowly weaned off of it once her heart starts to get stronger. Stopping this drug immediately can cause a setback. ) I would recommend that you stop all of the other supplements though- and I don't even think that the ubiquinol is necessary as the Cardio-Plus contains about 25 mg. of natural CoQ10 per tab.

The Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support are the only supplements that my dog is currently on. And, as you will see from my previous posts, my dog's heart is strong now and is pumping at 100% - and his heart shrunk back to the size of a what a normal, healthy Cavalier should be. The reason why my dog still has a murmur right now is only because his valves are still a little leaky, but my vet feels that they will also improve, if not heal themselves too, in the near future. I am planning another echo at the end of the summer.

As far as dosages go, I would probably recommend 2 to 4 tabs a day of the Cardio-Plus, at least initially (because of the severity of your dog's heart issue). If possible, I would try to give the Cardio-Plus throughout the day (away from the Enalapril, though) in order to keep the nutrition consistently in his system. Then, as the heart improves, I would probably cut back to 2 tabs a day. The Canine Whole Body Support is dosed by weight, so for a 10 lb. dog the dosage would be 1/8 tsp once a day.

I would also recommend that you find a good holistic vet who can help work with you and monitor your dog and his progress and then help you get him safely off the Enalapril as her heart starts to improve."

05/04/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Thank you Katie for your concerned and quick response. You are definitely an angel from Heaven! I will order these supplements today and start her on them. When you say "away from the Enalapril", do you mean I should administer them at a different time of day? I give her the Enalapril with each meal (am/pm) so as to not upset her stomach. Is it ok to give her the Standard Process supplements on an empty stomach?

During our visit to the Cardiologist next Tuesday, I am sure that he will want to put her on additional meds (some I have heard from your followers are Vetmedin, Benazeprill and Furosemide). Shoud I refuse?

Katie, you have no idea how much we appreciate your kindness, support and knowledge. It is people like you that makes me not give up on "two-legged animals."!!!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Yes, give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at a different time from your dog's meds so they don't compete. I would continue giving the Enalapril with his meals, and would give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at any other point during the day – but, I would want to space them out. If you choose to give closer to mealtime, I would allow at 1 or 2 hours before a meal or 2 to 3 hours after a meal. Also, these phytonutrients don't need to be given with food.

Most likely, your vet is going to want to put your dog on additional meds (as they did with my dog). In my experience, I found that every time they added another drug, his heart issue became more dire and his heart continued to weaken further and faster. These drugs created all types of terrible problems with my dog. And, it ultimately became more and more complicated to try to wean my dog off of his meds after being on so many of them (he was on 6 or 7 meds in the end). So, my advice would be to try to keep him off the additional meds, if possible, and give these supplements a chance to start working. However, if it's unavoidable, try to get her off of them ASAP, once the heart strengthens.

By the way, you might also want to keep some magnesium on hand (only in the beginning though). Once, when my dog was very sick, his heart was beating out of his chest and I was rushing him to the cardiologist. Before I left the house I gave him a small spoonful of the liquid magnesium, and in less than 5 minutes his heartbeat returned to normal again. Now, I wouldn't recommend the magnesium long term (or as a regular supplement anymore) because it is an "isolated" supplement --- but you might want to keep some on hand just in case…in an emergency."

05/06/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Got it! Thanks Katie! I will post an update as soon as Candy and I visit the cardiologist tomorrow. Please everyone, keep her in your prayers!"

05/07/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie. Candy and I are back from the Cardiologist. $1000 later, she has been diagnosed with Myxomatous Mitral and Triscuspid Valve Degeneration. Left atrial and ventricular dialation. Mild left-sided congestive heart failure. She said the condition is moderate and that the prognosis is 1 to 2 years. They performed an echo, electro and blood panel and prescribed Lasix and Vetmedin (which I bought). She wants to see her again in a week to determine if her body is accepting the meds with more lab work and another electro.

Katie, I am so confused! Candy seems to be doing better and only coughing a little bit at night. Her heart beat is still elevated and very loud but other than that her appetite is good and so is her energy level.

Should I start her on the meds (I know you hate Vetmedin and I did read about it) or should I not? I have order the supplements (the isolated as well as the Standard Process ones) but have not received them yet. So far I have spent over $1500. When the supplements arrive and I get her on them, how will I know if she gets better that it was the supplements and not the meds or the other way around?And if I don't start her on the meds, what if she gets worse? I very much want to do what is best for Candy and I don't know what that is. I am heartbroken, nervous and very confused.

I would really appreciate your input! Please help me!!!!!"

05/07/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Did the cardiologist mention if Candy's heart is enlarged (cardiomegaly), and if so, did he mention if is it mild, moderate or severe? Or if she had any fluid in her lungs? Or, if she has any pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)? Also, do you know what her heart rate is? Did he mention what grade her murmur was -- or anything about her mitral regurgitation? (Murmurs are graded from 1-6 and regurgitation is graded from is 0-4. ) Also, what were the recommended dosages of each of her meds?

Also, when do you expect to receive the SP supplements?"

05/08/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie, I feel like I did not ask the right questions. She did say that her heart was enlarged but only the left side and moderately. She did have fluid in her lungs (thus the Lasix) but she did not mention heart rate or pulmonary hypertension. She explained that the top part of her left valve is not closing properly any more. The murmur is a grade 5 but do not know the regurgitation grade. I am expecting the supplements around the 14th. I just measured her heart rate myself and counted 67 beats per minute (very loud beating). What do you think?

Her medications are: Enalapril 2. 5 mg. - 1/4 tablet twice a day. Lasix 12. 5 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day and Vetmedin 1. 25 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day. She has been taking the Enalapril for two years now."

05/08/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, can you give me your e-mail address so we can speak directly."

05/23/2013: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi all,

Just wanted to send an update our our Mocha. I had originally posted about him in January of 2012; we were in the process of bringing him back from a very difficult experience of heart-related 'seizure-like' episodes and I wrote at that time to share what we found to be working for him in terms of supplements.

Mocha is still with us (yay!) and doing well. As with any healing, it has been a journey. He did really well on the previous supplement schedule for some time, however he is in his later years and like any body - animal or human - it has its ups and downs. But dramatic decrease in the episodes we were so afraid would take his life. And after having so many of them, we were afraid he would not come all the way back.

He has recovered so well, and we continue to 'tweak' his supplements as Katie from Northport mentioned doing herself over time and with research. We also were blessed to have a wonderful holistic veterinarian move to our area so that we didn't have to figure so much out on our own.

Mocha is currently on:

1. Canine Cardiac Support by Standard Process. Great product, can't say enough about it.

2. CoQ10 for pets by Rx Vitamins - this is created exclusively for pets

3. Forti Flora by Purina - A probiotic supplement for dogs, and I believe they have a version for cats.

4. A Chinese herbal formula called Ding Xian Wan by Jing Tang to balance the liver, which in Chinese Medicine is responsible in part for keeping the heart balanced. This was very interesting to me, as Mocha had a long history of liver imbalance before his heart symptoms ever showed up.

5. CAS Options by Resources - this is an immune and antioxidant support.

All supplements were provided by our holistic vet, who also determined doses for our 9 lb boy.

We also give him 1 tsp of organic sweet potato baby food (great for easing constipation - also associated with the liver) and 1 tsp of fresh wheatgrass per meal which has really improved him overall. A bit of 'live food' in his baked chicken or white fish has made a lovely difference.

In his case, he did not do well on raw foods but as we've learned, there is no 'one size fits all' for people or for pets. This combination has been working beautifully for him and we are deeply grateful that he is here with us and has quality of life. He was, unfortunately, a 'puppy mill' puppy - something we weren't aware of until years later and with that, did not come from a healthy background. Health issues have surfaced throughout his life despite us giving the best care we could at the time, and in this way, his little body has been a great teacher to us.

Hope a bit of what we all have learned and shared here with one another continues to help other dear pets out there.

Best wishes,

Deborah"

10/11/2011: Kim from Coeur D'alene, Id: "Hi Everyone: I'm grateful to have found this page, and if HALF of what I'm hearing about ACV is true, my life and my Yorkies will change. Lily is 10. She was my mothers, who passed away 4 years ago so I adopted her. She is a precious gift that came with lots of skin issues. Lily has had "allergies" since she was very little and has been on more doses of anti-biotics and steroids than you can imagine. Living in South Florida she was not only allergic to grass and mold, but chicken. We changed her diet to Venison and Sweet Potato or brown rice but se is still chewing her feet, shaking her ears, goopy eyes, stuffy breathing. To make matters worse, when my mother passed, we now take her between our Idaho home and our Florida home so she is exposed to lots more airborne things and she is misrable.

Between me and my mother, we have spent THOUSANDS of dollars on her but how can you not. She has to be comfortable. We've been in Idaho since April and I've probably spent 3 thousand dollars on vet visits, medicine and cultures because nothing seems to be working. The last culture indicated she had a bacteria that was resistant to all traditional anti-biotics because she had been on them so many times that they don't work any more.

She is now on Chloramphenical oral and topical (which is so bad for humans that I have to wear gloves when handeling it. Very scary) Atopica, Fluconazole, Temeral P, topical steroids for her feet because she chews and eye stuff for the goop, AND NOTHING IS WORKING. She has pustules which the doctor said was common with Atopic Dermitis and her belly skin is turning black with darker patches, which he said was due to age, but maybe not. I have to stop this madness for both of us. I am going to change her food again and her treats because they have oats. I'll give her Coconut Oil and use Ted's solution to bath her and use the ACV for the eyes and feet. I cannot see her this way and it's making me crazy.

I'll keep you posted. Just started today.

Thanks for all the postings. We love our animals and need to keep them comfortable."

05/07/2013: In The Same Boat from Metairie, Louisiana, Usa: "We bought a tiny toy poodle that from day one has cost us thousands of dollars. He had vomiting and diarrhea for 2 or 3 years. Switched him to ZD dog food, hypoallergenic. Was fine with occassional allergies. Then took him to TN for vacation. Allergies never went away. Plus we had BP oil spill and burning oil in air. He gets yeast in ears. Been cleaning with diluted apple cider vinegar. Coat is dry. Constantly scratches ears, and licks feet. No hair loss or wounds. Starting a raw diet and have started adding flaxseed oil to his food. See bark website. Natural vet gives list of supplements that can be added to their food to help allergies. Acidophillus is one. Don't want to continue to give him benadryl (taking twice a day) because it just knocks him out. Don't want to give him steroids because of the possibility of muscle necrosis, as well as long term use can cause cushings disease."

11/04/2011: Alison from Ormond Beach, Fl: "Went to vet last week and the vet said my 9 yr old lab's spleen is enlarged. He was very sick this time last year. Specialists could not figure out what was wrong with him. They found his adrenal glands/lymphnodes to be enlarged indicating the body was fighting something, (reactive). Had bloodwork done and had him scoped from both ends, nothing. He was losing weight, not much of an apetite, drinking lots of water, salivating constantly, shortness of breath, bark was weakening, laying down a lot, was almost hard to wake him at times. Vet put him on Phenobarbitol to see if it was something with his brain (connection to salivary glands), that didn't work. Finally they put him on steriods because he was losing so much weight and antibiotics. I am not sure what helped him more, but his apetite and energy came back. They told me to keep him on the steroids but he was peeing all over the house so I stopped giving him the steroids and he remained strong.

A few months after, I was talking to my new neighbor and she was complaining about the moles destroying her yard and that she had applied 3 different products to try to kill them months ago. My dog and her dog are both grass eaters and she said at that time (when using mole killing products) that her dog got very sick and was staring at the wall a lot and not eating and she thought it was dying but couldn't take it to the vet, (no money). I didn't put two and two together until after the conversation since she said it happened in December and then backed it up to November and then started talking about something else, (my dog got sick in Oct, so if maybe she thought about it long enough she may have backed it up to October). My theory is that my dog ate the grass along the fence and was poisoned by the products she put down... Even though the vet and specialists said there was no evidence of poisoning, (something about that posion has a half life or something). I am not sure if poison takes on another form if it is absorbed by grass and then is eaten??

Now it's a year later and the vet says she can feel that his spleen is enlarged but does not feel any lumps. Two weeks ago I fertilized my lawn and watched as best I could to make sure he didn't eat the grass. I caught him a couple times and he is starting to lay down a little more than normal and then the vet gave him a rabies shot which made him more tired. He has bounced back a little but I would really like to try vitamin K but not sure how much to give him... He is 59 pounds. Can anyone tell me how much? Can I feed him spinach, he likes it raw."

04/09/2012: Marianne from Huntington Beach, Ca: "Can the type of dog food a dog eats cause an enlarged spleen? Our dog has an enlarged spleen, however all bloodwork, urinalysis and fecal came back normal. She had an ultrasound and it's not cancerous either. The only change since her last checkup was that we switched dog food brands for weight management. She shows no symptoms and acts normal."

05/07/2013: Om from Hope, Canada, Bc: "A friend of mine has a large rescue dog that was diagnosed with enlarged spleen and dark areas on the X-ray. My friend was devastated. Other vets he had consulted mumbled about it being "usually too late " etc. I comforted my friend and we set up a totally natural plan for his dog's diet. He was getting plenty of exercise to start with. We put Shadow on a six months course of Essiac, twice a day, fresh veggies put through the kitchen blender with good quality kibbles, wet food, nutritional yeast, large amount of amala, which is an incredible ayurvedic vitamin C ( other good C can be used), shilajit for a large range of minerals, but Zeolite can be substituted. We used turmeric since it has also an affinity for the spleen. We also added BSM.

By now my friend is ready to use natural healing for himself and drop his statin franken meds in exchange of God's pharmacy.

At the end of the six months treatment with natural foods and remedies he took his dog to the vet who had taken the initial X-ray of the enlarged spleen. NO enlarged spleen, NO dark areas! He was sooo happy. The vet was surprised ( she had suggested to excise the spleen!! ) and asked what he had done. ( If it does not work, cut it out.)

As for my two dogs, small and big, they have been overcome with itch. Nothing to be seen. If they had sores I would use their urine to heal them but in this case I think the liver must be addressed. We had a long wet winter here and most of the cats came down with fungal lesions in their coats that are healing now in the sun. Well, we will opt for a six month protocol of Essiac tea. Perhaps I should wash my dogs with borax, leave the paste on for a while and the rinse it all off. Prevention is better than a cure especially if it is the liver .

Animals drink their own urine in the wilds as they KNOW what works.

Don't fall into the hands of doctors or vets...

Blessing to all and your beloved pets. Om"

02/09/2013: Katie from Northport, New York: "UPDATE 2/9/13. My dog just had his follow-up echo last month. The cardiologist said he is doing real good - he said his heart is pumping strong and his heart is now working at 100%.... And he said there was no heart enlargement. He said he still has a grade 2 murmur due to his mitral valve issue but he said my dog was doing really well despite it. It is very interesting.... When the cardiologist went to take his heart measurements he seemed a little perplexed for a moment.... Then he mumbled that he must have taken the wrong measurements on the echo that was done a year earlier because my dog's numbers/measurements improved. His LA Diameter (left atrium diameter) improved by decreasing from 2.4 cm to 2.0 cm and his LA/AO ratio (left atrium to aortic root ratio) improved by decreasing from 1.21 to 1.02. Note: I read that this LA/AO measurement is a sensitive indicator of heart enlargement. So, even though my dog's LA/AO ratio was considered within the "normal" range last year with a reading of 1.21, it has decreased to 1.02 which is right in line with what I read a normal, healthy Cavalier should be. (This measurement is adjusted for different breeds). I read that the range for healthy Cavaliers should be 1.03 + 09 (or 0.94 - 1.12).

My holistic vet told me that my dog no longer needs all the supplements I had him on for the past year. So we have just lowered his supplements to only CardioPlus (3 tabs/day) and Canine Whole Body Support (1/4 tsp. Twice daily) and we'll continue to monitor his progress. Note that Canine Whole Body Support is dosed based on weight - and that this supplement contains most of the other supplements which I was originally giving my dog, only in a smaller proportion (e.g. , Calcium Lactate, Organically Bound Minerals).

In summary, I would highly recommend this protocol to anyone who has a dog with a heart condition. I believe that even if your dog has mitral valve disease, like mine does, this will help to strengthen his heart which will help it to move that regurgitated blood out of the heart (note the reductions in the size of my dog's left atrium size). Without heart support such as this, the heart will continue to weaken and the left atrium and left ventricle will continue to enlarge which could eventually lead to CHF, as it did with my first dog. However, I would make the following adjustments to the protocol I was using for my 25 lb. Dog. I would recommend the following:

CardioPlus - 4 tabs/day
Cataplex B - 2 tabs/day
Cataplex F - 2 tabs/day
Organically Bound Minerals - 1 tab/day
Calcium Lactate - 2 tabs/day
Flax Oil - I would lower this. I think 1 TBS was too much. I would only give 1 tsp/day for every 25 lbs. For dog's less than that, I would halve the dose.

We are going to continue to monitor my dog for any future improvements and will post here with any updates. His next echo won't be for another 6 to 12 months from now."

05/07/2013: Donna from Covington. La: "Katie, hello- I posted on here a year ago. I have a 6.5 yr old Cavalier with a grade 3 murmur. He weighs 21.6 lbs. I want to start him on the Standard Process Cardio Plus and the Whole Body Support. How much should I give him of each ? Thanks, Donna"

[YEA]  01/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "My 12 lb. Pekingnese recently went through some very frightening and life-threatening health issues related to his heart. He is doing terrific now, however I want to share a bit about what symptoms were manifesting and how we've managed to stop them.

In September of 2011, our sweet dog Mocha began having something akin to night screams/seizures. In the middle of the night, normally between 1 - 3am, he would wake from sleep with a horrific scream, then go immediately into a seizure. In all of our years with him he had never shown anything like this. His seizure would then last 7 -8 minutes. It was a terrible scene to witness and watch him endure. It happened again a month later, and as we began the process of veterinary visits, tests, etc. and were coming up with no answers. The veterinarian said these were not epileptic seizures, but he did not know what they were or where they were coming from. From his model of medicine he only had Phenobarbital to offer as a means to get control of the seizures. Although we took the advice at the time, my family and I all felt this was still an undiagnosed condition and the Pheno would at best offer us some time to get things figured out. We had to bring these episodes to a halt as soon as possible as each episode seemed to erode his overall health. We were watching our beloved pup drift away from us with each episode.

As we began our research, I started online with researching 'dog screams'. Although the veterinarian said perhaps this was a dream, or anxiety, he didn't feel the dog was in pain at the time of his episodes. We wholeheartedly disagreed. Although Mocha may not have felt pain during the actual seizure, the scream occurred just before and was absolutely horrifying. It was CLEAR that he was in wrenching pain before falling into a seizure. I was amazed to find online assorted threads of pet owner conversations on the topic of dog screams... Most of which indeed were followed by seizure activity, involuntary defecation, etc. In almost each case, the dogs in question were small dog breeds, just like Mocha. Also in each case, the owner knew the dog had a diagnosed heart murmur, as we did with Mocha.

Following this thread, I started to research heart remedies for dogs. Some were specific to murmurs, others were more generalized and in each small dog case, there was also an issue with keeping blood sugar balanced. We began putting together a small grouping of supplements to put Mocha on based on the information we were finding online.

At the same time that we were doing this research, we were giving Mocha the Phenobarbital. He had a terrible time adapting to it. Aside from being basically unconscious 90 minutes after the dose for approximately 9 hours, he was starting to urinate excessively and also to pant exactly 90 minutes after each dose. Sometimes the panting was excessive and frightening. We brought all of these topics up to the veterinarian who said that small dogs tend to adapt the least to this medication, and that whatever adaptation was going to happen would happen within the first two weeks. We were a month into it at this point and becoming very concerned. In addition, it was not stopping entirely his concerning episodes. We had his blood tested to see if he was at 'therapeutic levels' of the Phenobarbital and he was not. The veterinarian wanted us to go up in dose, but our instincts told us 'no'. This dog was losing quality of life on the dose he was already on, and we felt certain that increasing his dose would decrease his life expectancy and quality of remaining life. We decided at that point to trust our instincts and begin tending specifically to his heart.

I am happy to report that since we began adding in his natural heart and blood sugar supports, there have been no screaming/seizure episodes (6 weeks now). This is SIGNIFICANT, as Mocha had gotten to the point where he was screaming/seizing several times per day before beginning his holistic treatment. We have also decreased his Phenobarbital very slowly and safely and this, also, has improved his overall health and vitality. At this point we know we are substantially below 'therapeutic levels' and that the medication is doing next to nothing for him. We are taking him off slowly simply to be safe and gentle with is system. He should be off it entirely over the next week.

I am sharing this information because I know there are others out there who may have dogs with heart murmurs, small dogs, screaming/seizure dogs and the like. I was amazed at how frequent this problem presents based on what I found online, and yet could find NONE of this information via veterinarians or veterinary sites. It all came from pet owners who have had to research and address the issues themselves based on what others were doing. Thank goodness for sites like this one... I truly have no idea what Mocha's future would have been without them.

As for what supplements we have found which address his issues:

Hearty Heart (liquid drops) from Pet Wellbeing: Dosage is determined by pet's weight. This product has been developed by holistic veterinarians and veterinary herbalists. It is absolutely fantastic and useful for dogs and cats. Our 14 year-old cat has Cardiomyopathy and this has helped him so very much as well. Can't recommend it highly enough.

L-Carnitine (liquid) from Pet's Choice Pharmaceuticals: An essential amino acid designed to assist both the heart and blood sugar levels. Very helpful in healing the heart after functional disturbances and preventing future problems. Especially recommended for small breeds. Dosage determined by pet's weight.

FortiFlora (powder) from Purina Veterinary Diets: Probiotic supplement with beneficial strains of good bacteria designed to balance the digestive system and strengthen immunity. Excellent for blood sugar issues, allergies, skin and coat issues, etc. Mocha has been on this for years, as he has a long history of highly reactive/allergic skin, itching, blood sugar issues, etc. As a 12 lb dog, we give Mocha half a packet twice per day with his meals.

Magnesium mixed with Vitamin C: Both of these nutrients are excellent for the heart and safe for dogs. We buy tablets and then powder them together in our mortar and pestle. This allows us to sprinkle them onto his food. Again because Mocha is small, he only get 2 pinches of this mixture once per day. The ratio of his Magnesium to Vitamin C is 2:1. The dose, ratio, form of the nutrient may be specific dog to dog but there is helpful information online about dosing them.

Ubiqinone (CoQ10): An important antioxidant which helps with energy and heart function. It is potent so again, read up on dosage for your pet or consult with a holistic veterinarian. For Mocha, he only takes 1 drop from a 30mg capsule. Any more than that is too much, but we notice a difference when he doesn't have it at all.

D-Ribose: This is a metabolic sugar which is found within the body, but can also be supplemented. It is excellent for the heart, for recovery of the heart and for energy production... Of of which Mocha needed. Because of his small size he only takes 200 - 300 mg day. This product can be found in most healthfood stores.

So there you are. I hope you find this information helpful if you are searching for help for your dog. Most important lessons we have learned from the experince are 1) trust your instincts and 2) do your homework. If something doesn't sound right to you in terms of diagnosis, treatment, etc. , or if you simply feel you have not gotten sufficient answers, trust your instincts. There is an abundance of information available on the web today and tho, yes, sometimes that can be misleading, when you read over and over from owners about what works/doesn't work, TRUST it. In our case we were not able to get any answers from the veterinary community (in person or online) and ALL of Mocha's help came from dog owners like you. And, do your homework... Research what is going on with your pet, what others are doing for the same issues, safe dosage amounts, etc. Take charge of what is going on, have confidence in yourself and your instincts and take one step at a time. Don't wait passively for answers and don't continue with anything that just feels wrong or is causing clear harm... Even if that information comes from the medical community. They, like us, are all still learning but sometimes the life of a patient (human or animal) can't wait and you must strike out on your own. Work closely with professionals when and how you can, but don't linger with anyone who isn't providing help or cooperating with your desire to work holistically. Put your pet and his/her life first.

Good luck to you and I hope some little puppy dog and his family out there can be helped just like we have been. We are tremendously grateful to have been steered by others to the help Mocha needed and are enjoying seeing our sweet pup return to us in every way.

Blessings,

Deborah, Mocha and family...."

01/24/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Deborah, thanks for this detailed and informative post; and congrats on Mocha's recovery. If I might add the importance of omega 3 fatty acids like Flax and Fish oils for health of every cell in prevention and recovery of illness."

01/27/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Thanks Tim, indeed. We did have Mocha on fish oil at different time periods... Sometimes he did well with it, other times not so much. We switched his diet to a more fish-rich diet (fresh cooked fish) and that seemed to do the trick. Flax oil makes him itch terribly so we avoid that in his case. But excellent advice to others who may be researching for their own pets."

02/23/2012: Kickdiver from Wilmington, Nc: "Thank you for the detailed info. I have a 12 year old Great Dane on various heart meds due to near Heart Failure and enlarged heart with atrial fib/dilated cardio myopathy. He's on Vetmed, Diltiazem, Benazepril and Digoxin, since our emergency visit at the Cardiology Clinic, where his heart beat was measured 250 bpm.... He is stabilized now, and I also give him Omega 3 fish oils, CQ10, and looking into carnitine and taurine, and I did come across the site for Hearty Heart, but it says NOT to give this natural remedy WHILE on heart meds.

But... How can I stop the heart meds, when they just now kicked in after 2 days of horrible heart racing and my poor dog being miserable? Can I trust the reviews on line? They all seem great , but... One never knows if they are just bloggers paid by the company... Anyhow.. I'm willing to give it a try, yet, I cannot take him off the heart meds right now... I'd rather give him half a dose of the Hearty Heart along WITH the meds and then slowly go down with the dosage..

Worst of all, I am supposed to move to the Middle East with my 3 beloved K9s in April, how in the world am I going to get my boy there in this condition? I cannot leave this companion behind, he's my kiddo! I know his heart situation is a serious thing, but apart from that he has NO health issues, all blood work was good and all organs perfectly intact, as a matter of fact, the Vets at the clinic told me that he was the healthiest and oldest Dane they have seen!!! (thanks to Raw Diet and NO vaccines, I guess... ) I do have a professional pet handling company hired, still... My holistic vet said St John's Word could help him as well. I have a few more weeks to see how he develops, in the interim, any input helps.. I'd love to give Hearty Heart a try, but.. There is NO way I can stop the meds right now... What to do??"

02/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi Kickdiver, thank you for your post. How great that your Great Dane is so healthy at the age of 12! You've obviously done so much to get him there.

I totally understand your concern about mixing the HH supplement with the heart meds. This is indeed a conundrum and I don't know the answer for you. This has to be an individual decision. I personally would not mix them as the HH is developed by holistic veterinarians and they so strongly advise against it.

I know in our situation, we had to make the difficult choice between medications vs. Supplements. It's so much easier when one can blend both and not make such a difficult and scary decision, but sometimes this is just not safe. So what we did was begin with supplements that did not have contraindications with the medication we used at the time. The HH came in toward the end of that supplement list, as we did everything else first to stabilize him supplement-wise. As Mocha grew more and more stable on the supplements, we gradually began moving him down on his medication dose AND began putting the HH in separate feedings from his medication. So breakfast/dinner had medication, lunch snack and evening snack (9pm) had HH. This worked for him but we were ever so careful. The medication he was on could not safely be stopped abruptly, so we had to wean him down on it while slowly adding in the supplements where we could. This took time, patience, faith and much care to get right but like for you, he is our 'kiddo' and we just wanted him better. However he was not on heart meds, he was on Phenobarbital and that is a big difference between your picture and mine. Had Mocha been on heart meds, I'm not sure if we would have gone forward with the HH in this way. Like you, we would have had to sit with the different choices in front of us and find the safest, best long-term plan for our pup.

So for now, since your pup is newly on all of these meds and just coming out of an acute situation you may want to continue as you are doing. Simply add safe supplements with no contraindications. If I were you, I would add the L-Carn as that has profoundly good impact on heart function and in general is very safe. Not sure the Taurine is a fit or a priority in your pup's case.

As for the HH, I recommended it because I use it for my pup and it works brilliantly. It is also safe for cats, and we gave it to our 14-year old cat who was having wobbly, at times screeching, seizures and who had previously been diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. Since starting him on the HH, no wobbling, no screaming, no seizures. I don't work for the company, am not a paid blogger, etc. I'm a user and this product is the real deal in my experience. Is it the best fit for your sweet Dane? I don't know. But it was the fit for our Pekingese and tabby.

Seems the safest short-term approach would be to find the combination of supplements (and possibly meds) that work for your Dane and then move in whatever direction you can from there for a long-term plan. Most important is to a) stabilize acute symptoms and then b) find long-term solutions which often need to be at least partially natural so as to 'do no harm'. If some meds need to be part of that picture for your Dane going forward, so be it. Most important is to keep him healthy, happy and strong for the longest amount of time you can. We HAD to move our pup off of meds because they were doing more harm then good, far more so. With that, we still had to do it gradually to keep him safe. If the meds had been significantly helping with no serious side effects, I may have considered keeping him on them along with supplements but that was not what was happening.

So, you have a bit of a process in front of you but I know you will find the right solutions for him. Just please don't mix HH with meds if you have been outright cautioned against doing so by the product maker. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to our sweet animal friends' lives, I know you agree."

06/11/2012: Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, Fl: "Yogi, is 1/2 st bernard 1/2 golden retriever, 9 yrs old. As a result of elective surgery gone bad he developed seizures which he is taking phenabarbital. 30 mg. 1 1/2 in pm. Helping. From onset of seizures causing anxiety vet told me he has enlarged heart. Beats so fast his chest beating with it. Dr. not familar with heart. Not taking meds for that. Afraid he will have heart attack!!! Comes to us when this starts to happen, drooling all over himself. Please help. Been to so many drs. Can't afford anymore."

06/18/2012: Nh Gardener from Sanbornton, Nh, Usa: "For Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, FL for dog Yogi--Please give him food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in his food dampened with raw apple cider vinegar, starting with 1 tsp. DE once a day, increasing gradually to heaping tsp. 2 X/day. Also add gently melted coconut oil to his food, starting with 1 tsp. Once a day, increasing gradually to 2 or 3 tsps. 2 X/day. I've seen testimonials that seizures have decreased or disappeared with both these supplements. His heart racing may normalize with the ACV. Also give him 1 kelp tablet, crushed, in his food, said to strengthen heart. One site that sells DE has esp. Good human and pet testimonials. Check Coconut Research Center.org for seizure info. Bach Flower Remedies may help racing heart also. All good wishes for dear Yogi."

10/27/2012: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Suji, I just noticed your post today. You placed your post under someone else's post, not mine, which is why I didn't see it. The reason I stopped the magnesium, carnitine, ribose and CoQ-10 was because I started to worry that it might have stopped working for my dog. I kept my dog on these supplements for a year and my dog was examined by 2 cardiologists in that time and they both confirmed that he had no murmur. However on the last visit, the third cardiologist told me he had a grade 1 murmur. This really concerned me --- so I started to research more and found out that taking "isolated" supplements such as the above can cause imbalances in the body. I found out that calcium is equally necessary to the heart (along with magnesium and many other nutrients, including omega 3s), but that they must be in balance with each other and in a form that the body can utilize. Too much calcium can cause a magnesium imbalance and too much magnesium can cause a calcium imbalance, etc. These minerals and vitamins must also come along with all their cofactors, enzymes and other things that appear naturally in nature in order to really work.

I also noticed that my dog appeared to start having some bone issues. I wondered if I was creating a calcium deficiency in him, by giving him the magnesium. Now the bone issues may be completely unrelated and just purely coincidental..... I just don't know. But, that was enough for me... I felt that I needed to look into this a little further and that's when I started him on the phytonutrients.

You mentioned homeopathy and I'd like to tell you my experience with it with my now deceased dog. I consulted with a vet who I believed was also knowledgeable homeopath and she recommended remedies for him, which I gave to him (away from meds) but they did not work. I now know the reason they did not work -- and a true homeopath will tell you this --- is because the drugs are so strong that they will cancel out the effects of the homeopathy.

Unfortunately, I realized this too late because I trusted this doctor. I have since found out that this vet was not an accredited classical homeopath and did not have the in-depth training and knowledge and experience with homeopathy - rather, I believe she only took a weekend course and claimed to be one.

Thankfully I have found a "real" classical homeopath who is wonderful and I use him for many things (mostly short term illnesses and other problems) --- but I WILL NOT use him for my dog's heart problem. I have learned that you MUST address the underlying nutritional problems in any longstanding chronic condition first. If you don't, I believe you will not get the results you are looking for. This is why he is on the phytonutrients.

You asked if there is a way that we can speak directly but that would require that we would have to post our email addresses here -- and I'm not sure that I am comfortable with that."

05/03/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Hi Katie! I have just read all of your posts on supplements and feel that the Universe brought me to this site after hours of crying and pleading! I have three Chihuahuas (my babies) since they were pups and are now 6 years old. Candy (the brightest and most inquisitive) was diagnosed with a grade 2 heart murmur 2 years ago. The vet put her on 1/4 pill of Enalapril twice a day and she had been doing fine. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that her heart was beating unusually hard (I could hear it from a few feet away) and sometimes feels sluggish in the mornings with a lack of appetite. No other symptoms yet thank God. I took her back to the vet today and she says that the murmur has escalated to a grade 5. She recommended a cardiologist. We have an appointment next Tuesday. I switched my dogs' diet to raw a couple of years ago and have been giving them Dr. Becker's supplements (digestive enzymes, probiotics, Krill oil, Spirulina, Ubiquinol) as well as bone meal, glands powder and coconut oil.

I am devastated about my baby's prognosis, as the vet says her condition will get worse, her heart is working very hard and there is no surgery or cure. She is 6, beautiful, smart, funny and a great loving doggy! I refuse to think that there is nothing that I can do for her. I am so sad and helpless. Candy is only 5 pounds and I don't know if some of the supplements will benefit her or what dosage I should use. I beg you to please help me come up with a good alternative option for her. I don't care if I have to go to the end of the world and back, if it means a long, happy and healthy life for her. Thank you so much!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, Do not give up hope on your dog. I would start your dog on the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support immediately. I would give these supplements away from the Enalapril. (Note: Do not stop the Enalapril immediately - your dog will need to be slowly weaned off of it once her heart starts to get stronger. Stopping this drug immediately can cause a setback. ) I would recommend that you stop all of the other supplements though- and I don't even think that the ubiquinol is necessary as the Cardio-Plus contains about 25 mg. of natural CoQ10 per tab.

The Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support are the only supplements that my dog is currently on. And, as you will see from my previous posts, my dog's heart is strong now and is pumping at 100% - and his heart shrunk back to the size of a what a normal, healthy Cavalier should be. The reason why my dog still has a murmur right now is only because his valves are still a little leaky, but my vet feels that they will also improve, if not heal themselves too, in the near future. I am planning another echo at the end of the summer.

As far as dosages go, I would probably recommend 2 to 4 tabs a day of the Cardio-Plus, at least initially (because of the severity of your dog's heart issue). If possible, I would try to give the Cardio-Plus throughout the day (away from the Enalapril, though) in order to keep the nutrition consistently in his system. Then, as the heart improves, I would probably cut back to 2 tabs a day. The Canine Whole Body Support is dosed by weight, so for a 10 lb. dog the dosage would be 1/8 tsp once a day.

I would also recommend that you find a good holistic vet who can help work with you and monitor your dog and his progress and then help you get him safely off the Enalapril as her heart starts to improve."

05/04/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Thank you Katie for your concerned and quick response. You are definitely an angel from Heaven! I will order these supplements today and start her on them. When you say "away from the Enalapril", do you mean I should administer them at a different time of day? I give her the Enalapril with each meal (am/pm) so as to not upset her stomach. Is it ok to give her the Standard Process supplements on an empty stomach?

During our visit to the Cardiologist next Tuesday, I am sure that he will want to put her on additional meds (some I have heard from your followers are Vetmedin, Benazeprill and Furosemide). Shoud I refuse?

Katie, you have no idea how much we appreciate your kindness, support and knowledge. It is people like you that makes me not give up on "two-legged animals."!!!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Yes, give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at a different time from your dog's meds so they don't compete. I would continue giving the Enalapril with his meals, and would give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at any other point during the day – but, I would want to space them out. If you choose to give closer to mealtime, I would allow at 1 or 2 hours before a meal or 2 to 3 hours after a meal. Also, these phytonutrients don't need to be given with food.

Most likely, your vet is going to want to put your dog on additional meds (as they did with my dog). In my experience, I found that every time they added another drug, his heart issue became more dire and his heart continued to weaken further and faster. These drugs created all types of terrible problems with my dog. And, it ultimately became more and more complicated to try to wean my dog off of his meds after being on so many of them (he was on 6 or 7 meds in the end). So, my advice would be to try to keep him off the additional meds, if possible, and give these supplements a chance to start working. However, if it's unavoidable, try to get her off of them ASAP, once the heart strengthens.

By the way, you might also want to keep some magnesium on hand (only in the beginning though). Once, when my dog was very sick, his heart was beating out of his chest and I was rushing him to the cardiologist. Before I left the house I gave him a small spoonful of the liquid magnesium, and in less than 5 minutes his heartbeat returned to normal again. Now, I wouldn't recommend the magnesium long term (or as a regular supplement anymore) because it is an "isolated" supplement --- but you might want to keep some on hand just in case…in an emergency."

05/06/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Got it! Thanks Katie! I will post an update as soon as Candy and I visit the cardiologist tomorrow. Please everyone, keep her in your prayers!"

05/07/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie. Candy and I are back from the Cardiologist. $1000 later, she has been diagnosed with Myxomatous Mitral and Triscuspid Valve Degeneration. Left atrial and ventricular dialation. Mild left-sided congestive heart failure. She said the condition is moderate and that the prognosis is 1 to 2 years. They performed an echo, electro and blood panel and prescribed Lasix and Vetmedin (which I bought). She wants to see her again in a week to determine if her body is accepting the meds with more lab work and another electro.

Katie, I am so confused! Candy seems to be doing better and only coughing a little bit at night. Her heart beat is still elevated and very loud but other than that her appetite is good and so is her energy level.

Should I start her on the meds (I know you hate Vetmedin and I did read about it) or should I not? I have order the supplements (the isolated as well as the Standard Process ones) but have not received them yet. So far I have spent over $1500. When the supplements arrive and I get her on them, how will I know if she gets better that it was the supplements and not the meds or the other way around?And if I don't start her on the meds, what if she gets worse? I very much want to do what is best for Candy and I don't know what that is. I am heartbroken, nervous and very confused.

I would really appreciate your input! Please help me!!!!!"

05/07/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Did the cardiologist mention if Candy's heart is enlarged (cardiomegaly), and if so, did he mention if is it mild, moderate or severe? Or if she had any fluid in her lungs? Or, if she has any pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)? Also, do you know what her heart rate is? Did he mention what grade her murmur was -- or anything about her mitral regurgitation? (Murmurs are graded from 1-6 and regurgitation is graded from is 0-4. ) Also, what were the recommended dosages of each of her meds?

Also, when do you expect to receive the SP supplements?"

05/08/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie, I feel like I did not ask the right questions. She did say that her heart was enlarged but only the left side and moderately. She did have fluid in her lungs (thus the Lasix) but she did not mention heart rate or pulmonary hypertension. She explained that the top part of her left valve is not closing properly any more. The murmur is a grade 5 but do not know the regurgitation grade. I am expecting the supplements around the 14th. I just measured her heart rate myself and counted 67 beats per minute (very loud beating). What do you think?

Her medications are: Enalapril 2. 5 mg. - 1/4 tablet twice a day. Lasix 12. 5 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day and Vetmedin 1. 25 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day. She has been taking the Enalapril for two years now."

05/08/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, can you give me your e-mail address so we can speak directly."

05/23/2013: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi all,

Just wanted to send an update our our Mocha. I had originally posted about him in January of 2012; we were in the process of bringing him back from a very difficult experience of heart-related 'seizure-like' episodes and I wrote at that time to share what we found to be working for him in terms of supplements.

Mocha is still with us (yay!) and doing well. As with any healing, it has been a journey. He did really well on the previous supplement schedule for some time, however he is in his later years and like any body - animal or human - it has its ups and downs. But dramatic decrease in the episodes we were so afraid would take his life. And after having so many of them, we were afraid he would not come all the way back.

He has recovered so well, and we continue to 'tweak' his supplements as Katie from Northport mentioned doing herself over time and with research. We also were blessed to have a wonderful holistic veterinarian move to our area so that we didn't have to figure so much out on our own.

Mocha is currently on:

1. Canine Cardiac Support by Standard Process. Great product, can't say enough about it.

2. CoQ10 for pets by Rx Vitamins - this is created exclusively for pets

3. Forti Flora by Purina - A probiotic supplement for dogs, and I believe they have a version for cats.

4. A Chinese herbal formula called Ding Xian Wan by Jing Tang to balance the liver, which in Chinese Medicine is responsible in part for keeping the heart balanced. This was very interesting to me, as Mocha had a long history of liver imbalance before his heart symptoms ever showed up.

5. CAS Options by Resources - this is an immune and antioxidant support.

All supplements were provided by our holistic vet, who also determined doses for our 9 lb boy.

We also give him 1 tsp of organic sweet potato baby food (great for easing constipation - also associated with the liver) and 1 tsp of fresh wheatgrass per meal which has really improved him overall. A bit of 'live food' in his baked chicken or white fish has made a lovely difference.

In his case, he did not do well on raw foods but as we've learned, there is no 'one size fits all' for people or for pets. This combination has been working beautifully for him and we are deeply grateful that he is here with us and has quality of life. He was, unfortunately, a 'puppy mill' puppy - something we weren't aware of until years later and with that, did not come from a healthy background. Health issues have surfaced throughout his life despite us giving the best care we could at the time, and in this way, his little body has been a great teacher to us.

Hope a bit of what we all have learned and shared here with one another continues to help other dear pets out there.

Best wishes,

Deborah"

[YEA]  03/31/2013: Briana from Vancouver, Wa: "Omg thank you so much for this info. We have a chihuahua and she was getting it. We did the eye drops, ice and then massaged twice last night and when we woke up today it was gone!"

05/06/2013: Sofia from Toledo.ohio: "What is it called?"

05/05/2013: Raelynne06 from Johnstown, Pa, Usa: "My parent's purebred chow chow is three years old and has been diagnosed with lymphoma cancer and we just can't afford chemo and looking for home remedies. Please any suggestions?"

05/05/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash: "Try the watercure for dogs.... Dr. Batmanghelidj helped many people with watercures using salt and water and wrote books... Those people began to treat their pets with miraculous results.... 1/2 tsp high mineral seasalts in quart dish of pet water and a dash of salt on food for three days.... blessings.....see the site watercure.com."

[YEA]  11/17/2010: Sonia Rivera from Orlando, Fl: "GOOD DAY EVERYBODY,
I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE OUT THERE THAT HAVE PETS AND NO MONEY TO TAKE THEM TO VETS. I HAVE 6 CATS I AM CRAZY ABOUT. ONE OF THEM CAUGHT A COLD AND GOT A STUFFY NOSE. I PUT MY ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR TO THE TEST AND IT PASSED WITH HIGH HONORS. I PUT A CAP OR 2 IN THE WATER BOWL. AFTER HE DRANK OUT OF IT HE WAS ABLE TO SLEEP MORE AT PEACE PER HE WAS BREATHING SO MUCH BETTER. BY MORNING HE WAS NOT STUFFY AT ALL. PRAISE GOD FOR THIS AMAZING PRODUCT. NOW, I JUST ADD IT TO THEIR WATER AS A SUPPLEMENT FOR PREVENTION OF ANYTHING. GOD BLESS AND BE HAPPY."

05/05/2013: Ian from Arizona: "Hey earthclinic peeps I have a Male orange tabby cat who keeps having trouble with urinating, he has been to the vet 2weeks twice and has had surgery twice. The docs said it was due to urethra blockage both times. His first surgery was in April 2012 and again in May of 2012 each surgery was over $2,400. I took him to a V.A.C animal hospital where both procedures were done. It's now one year later and he is having the same problems. I don't have that kind of cash to spend right otherwise I would, but I was wondering about ACV, does it really work? I need advice, he's my best friend and I'm scared to lose him. If this remedy does work can I put in his water? If so, how much? I can't get him to eat a thing and he is starting to drop weight.. He occasionally will take a few bites but I rather have him eat his normal about and I don't want to compromise. That with AVC please help."

05/09/2013: Om from Hope, B.c., Canada: "Male tabby urinary issues.

In my experience, after caring for many rescue cats , these male cats need homemade food, raw but soaked meat in perox. Solution to prevent tapeworm. They need in addition dandelion tea which they like to slurp either in water and mixed into the food or given by syringe. Best to eliminate dry food. The tea gives them all the needed vitamins and some minerals. Just dig dandelions, wash them well using the entire plant, simmer in water til the plant is totally wilted, add a little more time for the roots. This herb attends to urinary issues, even healing severe kidney problems. In difficult cases you could look into MMS. Part of the urinary problem is often emotional, for example a cat wants to go outdoors but is an indoor cat or other emotional causes.

The dandelion water will have residue at the bottom but it can be poured off. It is an excellent remedy, also for people as I can well attest, especially diabetes. Give for about three weeks at a time and sporadically repeat. I hope all goes well. Keep your money for good food. God's pharmacy is not about extracting large sums, but service to fellow beings. Please stay away from polluted areas when collecting herbs.

Love Om"

09/28/2012: Gmacookie from Fort Pierce, Fl, Usa: "I realized Red Cedar Mulch is the same smell as mothballs so spread it as mulch on the 3 planting areas in my patio that are up against the fence, plus all along the fence where there are no planting areas. This is where the bufo toads come underneath and into the patio. I spread a half a big bale (got it at Kmart as the ones at Walmart are the smaller bales) about a week ago and so far they're staying out. It also looks nice! And I don't have to worry about my bichon/poodle picking up mothballs to play with. I used to use the red cedar all around my house foundation when I had a house, and once a year I'd spead it to keep away pests and bugs of all kinds. THen I made a long tube kind of like a draft stopper, from a piece of nylon netting that was a shower scrub (a buck or so at Walmart), filled it up with the red cedar and use it under the gate. I can move it easily when I go in and out the gate but at night it's there and keeps the toads out."

05/05/2013: Holly from West Palm Beach Fl: "That idea for your gate is FANTASTIC!!"

[YEA]  09/28/2011: Jay from Tampa, Pinellas: "This is the second time that I have had one of my Frenchies lick or eat these toads ( by the way, they all have some form of nurotoxin) The first dog I revived 5 times on the way to the Emergency Vet. She had a 5% survival rate. Tonight (9/28) My second female Frenchie ate a small one. They go absolutely spastic trying to get the toxins out of their mouth. Both times hitting them with Benedryl help, also you need to get as much of the toxins out of their mouths(wet Cloth). She was bleeding profusely from the mouth due to a dollar shape (necrotic) circle.

It may sound cruel but I also took the hose from the sink and forced as much water into her stomach and mouth. The first was to ensure she threw up, second to clean as much of the toxin into a wet cloth. The key is whatever you do has to be quick. The first 15 mins to half hour are critical. I have not heard of the vinegar before but if it works and I will check with the VET in the morning. Please pay attention to ALL toads. Theses incidents occured in Delray Beach and Palm Harbor."

05/05/2013: Holly from West Palm Beach, Fl: "My vet says that the poison is ON their mouth, lips, gums, etc., and that inducing vomiting is not only unnecessary, but dangerous... The idea is to rinse the poison through, out and off of the mouth. We use a hose from one side and then the other with the dog's head forced downward, wiping the slime away and OFF with fingers and a towel. In my opinion, FAST rinsing is the only cure. Seizures and death can be astonishingly quick. Our dogs NEVER go out after daylight alone. It's too dangerous, especially in the spring and summer, here in West Palm."

07/21/2011: Scissorgurl from Honolulu, Hi: "I moved to Hawaii 7 months ago and have never heard of a Bufo Toad. I have to boston terriers about 20 to 25lbs each and luckily the 1st time I caught it right away and rinsed there mouths being sure to keep them from not swallowing the water, its hard but try your best. It worked best for me to lay them on there side so it would drain out. And if the jaw locks up I used my sons fork that has the rubber grip to prey his mouth open to get some air. And then once you get them able to move a little and breathe go to the vet if not sooner. After that the vet told me they come out at night so be careful so after 5 I NEVER let them outside I only walked them on a leash. During the day I never saw them until monday afternoon I let them out while I had people delivering my sons bed and when I went to get them less than an hour later I found one dog already dead and the other I took to the vet. He stayed 3 days and now has edema on his left side the vet said he has never seen that before but he is ok. They are litter mates so I worry about him, This has been so difficult I dont know how I am going to get through this I feel like its my fault and I know people said they didnt want to kill the toads but I will now go out of my way to do so if I see one because they killed my family member. These are no joke! Watch out and take precautions. R. I. P Monk! You were the greatest dog!"

02/24/2013: Mrsmike6 from Boynton Beach, Florida: "My question I suppose is what I have read a little about here. What can you do around the outside of your house? I read something about cedar? What else can you do? I have 2 mini dachshunds and am scared for them! I had a Bofu toad IN my garage this morning when I went out to get my newspaper! I took a long handled broom and ushered it outside. I will continue to go outside with my dogs to make sure it went away! What can I do outside my home to help keep them away OR make it unattractive to those creepy things. Thank You. Michaeleen"

05/05/2013: Holly from West Palm Beach, Fl: "So sorry for your loss. All dogs go to heaven. I'm careful, but your heartbreak reminds me to be MORE careful and take NO chances. Blessings."

[YEA]  01/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "My 12 lb. Pekingnese recently went through some very frightening and life-threatening health issues related to his heart. He is doing terrific now, however I want to share a bit about what symptoms were manifesting and how we've managed to stop them.

In September of 2011, our sweet dog Mocha began having something akin to night screams/seizures. In the middle of the night, normally between 1 - 3am, he would wake from sleep with a horrific scream, then go immediately into a seizure. In all of our years with him he had never shown anything like this. His seizure would then last 7 -8 minutes. It was a terrible scene to witness and watch him endure. It happened again a month later, and as we began the process of veterinary visits, tests, etc. and were coming up with no answers. The veterinarian said these were not epileptic seizures, but he did not know what they were or where they were coming from. From his model of medicine he only had Phenobarbital to offer as a means to get control of the seizures. Although we took the advice at the time, my family and I all felt this was still an undiagnosed condition and the Pheno would at best offer us some time to get things figured out. We had to bring these episodes to a halt as soon as possible as each episode seemed to erode his overall health. We were watching our beloved pup drift away from us with each episode.

As we began our research, I started online with researching 'dog screams'. Although the veterinarian said perhaps this was a dream, or anxiety, he didn't feel the dog was in pain at the time of his episodes. We wholeheartedly disagreed. Although Mocha may not have felt pain during the actual seizure, the scream occurred just before and was absolutely horrifying. It was CLEAR that he was in wrenching pain before falling into a seizure. I was amazed to find online assorted threads of pet owner conversations on the topic of dog screams... Most of which indeed were followed by seizure activity, involuntary defecation, etc. In almost each case, the dogs in question were small dog breeds, just like Mocha. Also in each case, the owner knew the dog had a diagnosed heart murmur, as we did with Mocha.

Following this thread, I started to research heart remedies for dogs. Some were specific to murmurs, others were more generalized and in each small dog case, there was also an issue with keeping blood sugar balanced. We began putting together a small grouping of supplements to put Mocha on based on the information we were finding online.

At the same time that we were doing this research, we were giving Mocha the Phenobarbital. He had a terrible time adapting to it. Aside from being basically unconscious 90 minutes after the dose for approximately 9 hours, he was starting to urinate excessively and also to pant exactly 90 minutes after each dose. Sometimes the panting was excessive and frightening. We brought all of these topics up to the veterinarian who said that small dogs tend to adapt the least to this medication, and that whatever adaptation was going to happen would happen within the first two weeks. We were a month into it at this point and becoming very concerned. In addition, it was not stopping entirely his concerning episodes. We had his blood tested to see if he was at 'therapeutic levels' of the Phenobarbital and he was not. The veterinarian wanted us to go up in dose, but our instincts told us 'no'. This dog was losing quality of life on the dose he was already on, and we felt certain that increasing his dose would decrease his life expectancy and quality of remaining life. We decided at that point to trust our instincts and begin tending specifically to his heart.

I am happy to report that since we began adding in his natural heart and blood sugar supports, there have been no screaming/seizure episodes (6 weeks now). This is SIGNIFICANT, as Mocha had gotten to the point where he was screaming/seizing several times per day before beginning his holistic treatment. We have also decreased his Phenobarbital very slowly and safely and this, also, has improved his overall health and vitality. At this point we know we are substantially below 'therapeutic levels' and that the medication is doing next to nothing for him. We are taking him off slowly simply to be safe and gentle with is system. He should be off it entirely over the next week.

I am sharing this information because I know there are others out there who may have dogs with heart murmurs, small dogs, screaming/seizure dogs and the like. I was amazed at how frequent this problem presents based on what I found online, and yet could find NONE of this information via veterinarians or veterinary sites. It all came from pet owners who have had to research and address the issues themselves based on what others were doing. Thank goodness for sites like this one... I truly have no idea what Mocha's future would have been without them.

As for what supplements we have found which address his issues:

Hearty Heart (liquid drops) from Pet Wellbeing: Dosage is determined by pet's weight. This product has been developed by holistic veterinarians and veterinary herbalists. It is absolutely fantastic and useful for dogs and cats. Our 14 year-old cat has Cardiomyopathy and this has helped him so very much as well. Can't recommend it highly enough.

L-Carnitine (liquid) from Pet's Choice Pharmaceuticals: An essential amino acid designed to assist both the heart and blood sugar levels. Very helpful in healing the heart after functional disturbances and preventing future problems. Especially recommended for small breeds. Dosage determined by pet's weight.

FortiFlora (powder) from Purina Veterinary Diets: Probiotic supplement with beneficial strains of good bacteria designed to balance the digestive system and strengthen immunity. Excellent for blood sugar issues, allergies, skin and coat issues, etc. Mocha has been on this for years, as he has a long history of highly reactive/allergic skin, itching, blood sugar issues, etc. As a 12 lb dog, we give Mocha half a packet twice per day with his meals.

Magnesium mixed with Vitamin C: Both of these nutrients are excellent for the heart and safe for dogs. We buy tablets and then powder them together in our mortar and pestle. This allows us to sprinkle them onto his food. Again because Mocha is small, he only get 2 pinches of this mixture once per day. The ratio of his Magnesium to Vitamin C is 2:1. The dose, ratio, form of the nutrient may be specific dog to dog but there is helpful information online about dosing them.

Ubiqinone (CoQ10): An important antioxidant which helps with energy and heart function. It is potent so again, read up on dosage for your pet or consult with a holistic veterinarian. For Mocha, he only takes 1 drop from a 30mg capsule. Any more than that is too much, but we notice a difference when he doesn't have it at all.

D-Ribose: This is a metabolic sugar which is found within the body, but can also be supplemented. It is excellent for the heart, for recovery of the heart and for energy production... Of of which Mocha needed. Because of his small size he only takes 200 - 300 mg day. This product can be found in most healthfood stores.

So there you are. I hope you find this information helpful if you are searching for help for your dog. Most important lessons we have learned from the experince are 1) trust your instincts and 2) do your homework. If something doesn't sound right to you in terms of diagnosis, treatment, etc. , or if you simply feel you have not gotten sufficient answers, trust your instincts. There is an abundance of information available on the web today and tho, yes, sometimes that can be misleading, when you read over and over from owners about what works/doesn't work, TRUST it. In our case we were not able to get any answers from the veterinary community (in person or online) and ALL of Mocha's help came from dog owners like you. And, do your homework... Research what is going on with your pet, what others are doing for the same issues, safe dosage amounts, etc. Take charge of what is going on, have confidence in yourself and your instincts and take one step at a time. Don't wait passively for answers and don't continue with anything that just feels wrong or is causing clear harm... Even if that information comes from the medical community. They, like us, are all still learning but sometimes the life of a patient (human or animal) can't wait and you must strike out on your own. Work closely with professionals when and how you can, but don't linger with anyone who isn't providing help or cooperating with your desire to work holistically. Put your pet and his/her life first.

Good luck to you and I hope some little puppy dog and his family out there can be helped just like we have been. We are tremendously grateful to have been steered by others to the help Mocha needed and are enjoying seeing our sweet pup return to us in every way.

Blessings,

Deborah, Mocha and family...."

01/24/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Deborah, thanks for this detailed and informative post; and congrats on Mocha's recovery. If I might add the importance of omega 3 fatty acids like Flax and Fish oils for health of every cell in prevention and recovery of illness."

01/27/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Thanks Tim, indeed. We did have Mocha on fish oil at different time periods... Sometimes he did well with it, other times not so much. We switched his diet to a more fish-rich diet (fresh cooked fish) and that seemed to do the trick. Flax oil makes him itch terribly so we avoid that in his case. But excellent advice to others who may be researching for their own pets."

02/23/2012: Kickdiver from Wilmington, Nc: "Thank you for the detailed info. I have a 12 year old Great Dane on various heart meds due to near Heart Failure and enlarged heart with atrial fib/dilated cardio myopathy. He's on Vetmed, Diltiazem, Benazepril and Digoxin, since our emergency visit at the Cardiology Clinic, where his heart beat was measured 250 bpm.... He is stabilized now, and I also give him Omega 3 fish oils, CQ10, and looking into carnitine and taurine, and I did come across the site for Hearty Heart, but it says NOT to give this natural remedy WHILE on heart meds.

But... How can I stop the heart meds, when they just now kicked in after 2 days of horrible heart racing and my poor dog being miserable? Can I trust the reviews on line? They all seem great , but... One never knows if they are just bloggers paid by the company... Anyhow.. I'm willing to give it a try, yet, I cannot take him off the heart meds right now... I'd rather give him half a dose of the Hearty Heart along WITH the meds and then slowly go down with the dosage..

Worst of all, I am supposed to move to the Middle East with my 3 beloved K9s in April, how in the world am I going to get my boy there in this condition? I cannot leave this companion behind, he's my kiddo! I know his heart situation is a serious thing, but apart from that he has NO health issues, all blood work was good and all organs perfectly intact, as a matter of fact, the Vets at the clinic told me that he was the healthiest and oldest Dane they have seen!!! (thanks to Raw Diet and NO vaccines, I guess... ) I do have a professional pet handling company hired, still... My holistic vet said St John's Word could help him as well. I have a few more weeks to see how he develops, in the interim, any input helps.. I'd love to give Hearty Heart a try, but.. There is NO way I can stop the meds right now... What to do??"

02/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi Kickdiver, thank you for your post. How great that your Great Dane is so healthy at the age of 12! You've obviously done so much to get him there.

I totally understand your concern about mixing the HH supplement with the heart meds. This is indeed a conundrum and I don't know the answer for you. This has to be an individual decision. I personally would not mix them as the HH is developed by holistic veterinarians and they so strongly advise against it.

I know in our situation, we had to make the difficult choice between medications vs. Supplements. It's so much easier when one can blend both and not make such a difficult and scary decision, but sometimes this is just not safe. So what we did was begin with supplements that did not have contraindications with the medication we used at the time. The HH came in toward the end of that supplement list, as we did everything else first to stabilize him supplement-wise. As Mocha grew more and more stable on the supplements, we gradually began moving him down on his medication dose AND began putting the HH in separate feedings from his medication. So breakfast/dinner had medication, lunch snack and evening snack (9pm) had HH. This worked for him but we were ever so careful. The medication he was on could not safely be stopped abruptly, so we had to wean him down on it while slowly adding in the supplements where we could. This took time, patience, faith and much care to get right but like for you, he is our 'kiddo' and we just wanted him better. However he was not on heart meds, he was on Phenobarbital and that is a big difference between your picture and mine. Had Mocha been on heart meds, I'm not sure if we would have gone forward with the HH in this way. Like you, we would have had to sit with the different choices in front of us and find the safest, best long-term plan for our pup.

So for now, since your pup is newly on all of these meds and just coming out of an acute situation you may want to continue as you are doing. Simply add safe supplements with no contraindications. If I were you, I would add the L-Carn as that has profoundly good impact on heart function and in general is very safe. Not sure the Taurine is a fit or a priority in your pup's case.

As for the HH, I recommended it because I use it for my pup and it works brilliantly. It is also safe for cats, and we gave it to our 14-year old cat who was having wobbly, at times screeching, seizures and who had previously been diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. Since starting him on the HH, no wobbling, no screaming, no seizures. I don't work for the company, am not a paid blogger, etc. I'm a user and this product is the real deal in my experience. Is it the best fit for your sweet Dane? I don't know. But it was the fit for our Pekingese and tabby.

Seems the safest short-term approach would be to find the combination of supplements (and possibly meds) that work for your Dane and then move in whatever direction you can from there for a long-term plan. Most important is to a) stabilize acute symptoms and then b) find long-term solutions which often need to be at least partially natural so as to 'do no harm'. If some meds need to be part of that picture for your Dane going forward, so be it. Most important is to keep him healthy, happy and strong for the longest amount of time you can. We HAD to move our pup off of meds because they were doing more harm then good, far more so. With that, we still had to do it gradually to keep him safe. If the meds had been significantly helping with no serious side effects, I may have considered keeping him on them along with supplements but that was not what was happening.

So, you have a bit of a process in front of you but I know you will find the right solutions for him. Just please don't mix HH with meds if you have been outright cautioned against doing so by the product maker. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to our sweet animal friends' lives, I know you agree."

06/11/2012: Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, Fl: "Yogi, is 1/2 st bernard 1/2 golden retriever, 9 yrs old. As a result of elective surgery gone bad he developed seizures which he is taking phenabarbital. 30 mg. 1 1/2 in pm. Helping. From onset of seizures causing anxiety vet told me he has enlarged heart. Beats so fast his chest beating with it. Dr. not familar with heart. Not taking meds for that. Afraid he will have heart attack!!! Comes to us when this starts to happen, drooling all over himself. Please help. Been to so many drs. Can't afford anymore."

06/18/2012: Nh Gardener from Sanbornton, Nh, Usa: "For Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, FL for dog Yogi--Please give him food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in his food dampened with raw apple cider vinegar, starting with 1 tsp. DE once a day, increasing gradually to heaping tsp. 2 X/day. Also add gently melted coconut oil to his food, starting with 1 tsp. Once a day, increasing gradually to 2 or 3 tsps. 2 X/day. I've seen testimonials that seizures have decreased or disappeared with both these supplements. His heart racing may normalize with the ACV. Also give him 1 kelp tablet, crushed, in his food, said to strengthen heart. One site that sells DE has esp. Good human and pet testimonials. Check Coconut Research Center.org for seizure info. Bach Flower Remedies may help racing heart also. All good wishes for dear Yogi."

10/27/2012: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Suji, I just noticed your post today. You placed your post under someone else's post, not mine, which is why I didn't see it. The reason I stopped the magnesium, carnitine, ribose and CoQ-10 was because I started to worry that it might have stopped working for my dog. I kept my dog on these supplements for a year and my dog was examined by 2 cardiologists in that time and they both confirmed that he had no murmur. However on the last visit, the third cardiologist told me he had a grade 1 murmur. This really concerned me --- so I started to research more and found out that taking "isolated" supplements such as the above can cause imbalances in the body. I found out that calcium is equally necessary to the heart (along with magnesium and many other nutrients, including omega 3s), but that they must be in balance with each other and in a form that the body can utilize. Too much calcium can cause a magnesium imbalance and too much magnesium can cause a calcium imbalance, etc. These minerals and vitamins must also come along with all their cofactors, enzymes and other things that appear naturally in nature in order to really work.

I also noticed that my dog appeared to start having some bone issues. I wondered if I was creating a calcium deficiency in him, by giving him the magnesium. Now the bone issues may be completely unrelated and just purely coincidental..... I just don't know. But, that was enough for me... I felt that I needed to look into this a little further and that's when I started him on the phytonutrients.

You mentioned homeopathy and I'd like to tell you my experience with it with my now deceased dog. I consulted with a vet who I believed was also knowledgeable homeopath and she recommended remedies for him, which I gave to him (away from meds) but they did not work. I now know the reason they did not work -- and a true homeopath will tell you this --- is because the drugs are so strong that they will cancel out the effects of the homeopathy.

Unfortunately, I realized this too late because I trusted this doctor. I have since found out that this vet was not an accredited classical homeopath and did not have the in-depth training and knowledge and experience with homeopathy - rather, I believe she only took a weekend course and claimed to be one.

Thankfully I have found a "real" classical homeopath who is wonderful and I use him for many things (mostly short term illnesses and other problems) --- but I WILL NOT use him for my dog's heart problem. I have learned that you MUST address the underlying nutritional problems in any longstanding chronic condition first. If you don't, I believe you will not get the results you are looking for. This is why he is on the phytonutrients.

You asked if there is a way that we can speak directly but that would require that we would have to post our email addresses here -- and I'm not sure that I am comfortable with that."

05/03/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Hi Katie! I have just read all of your posts on supplements and feel that the Universe brought me to this site after hours of crying and pleading! I have three Chihuahuas (my babies) since they were pups and are now 6 years old. Candy (the brightest and most inquisitive) was diagnosed with a grade 2 heart murmur 2 years ago. The vet put her on 1/4 pill of Enalapril twice a day and she had been doing fine. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that her heart was beating unusually hard (I could hear it from a few feet away) and sometimes feels sluggish in the mornings with a lack of appetite. No other symptoms yet thank God. I took her back to the vet today and she says that the murmur has escalated to a grade 5. She recommended a cardiologist. We have an appointment next Tuesday. I switched my dogs' diet to raw a couple of years ago and have been giving them Dr. Becker's supplements (digestive enzymes, probiotics, Krill oil, Spirulina, Ubiquinol) as well as bone meal, glands powder and coconut oil.

I am devastated about my baby's prognosis, as the vet says her condition will get worse, her heart is working very hard and there is no surgery or cure. She is 6, beautiful, smart, funny and a great loving doggy! I refuse to think that there is nothing that I can do for her. I am so sad and helpless. Candy is only 5 pounds and I don't know if some of the supplements will benefit her or what dosage I should use. I beg you to please help me come up with a good alternative option for her. I don't care if I have to go to the end of the world and back, if it means a long, happy and healthy life for her. Thank you so much!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, Do not give up hope on your dog. I would start your dog on the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support immediately. I would give these supplements away from the Enalapril. (Note: Do not stop the Enalapril immediately - your dog will need to be slowly weaned off of it once her heart starts to get stronger. Stopping this drug immediately can cause a setback. ) I would recommend that you stop all of the other supplements though- and I don't even think that the ubiquinol is necessary as the Cardio-Plus contains about 25 mg. of natural CoQ10 per tab.

The Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support are the only supplements that my dog is currently on. And, as you will see from my previous posts, my dog's heart is strong now and is pumping at 100% - and his heart shrunk back to the size of a what a normal, healthy Cavalier should be. The reason why my dog still has a murmur right now is only because his valves are still a little leaky, but my vet feels that they will also improve, if not heal themselves too, in the near future. I am planning another echo at the end of the summer.

As far as dosages go, I would probably recommend 2 to 4 tabs a day of the Cardio-Plus, at least initially (because of the severity of your dog's heart issue). If possible, I would try to give the Cardio-Plus throughout the day (away from the Enalapril, though) in order to keep the nutrition consistently in his system. Then, as the heart improves, I would probably cut back to 2 tabs a day. The Canine Whole Body Support is dosed by weight, so for a 10 lb. dog the dosage would be 1/8 tsp once a day.

I would also recommend that you find a good holistic vet who can help work with you and monitor your dog and his progress and then help you get him safely off the Enalapril as her heart starts to improve."

05/04/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Thank you Katie for your concerned and quick response. You are definitely an angel from Heaven! I will order these supplements today and start her on them. When you say "away from the Enalapril", do you mean I should administer them at a different time of day? I give her the Enalapril with each meal (am/pm) so as to not upset her stomach. Is it ok to give her the Standard Process supplements on an empty stomach?

During our visit to the Cardiologist next Tuesday, I am sure that he will want to put her on additional meds (some I have heard from your followers are Vetmedin, Benazeprill and Furosemide). Shoud I refuse?

Katie, you have no idea how much we appreciate your kindness, support and knowledge. It is people like you that makes me not give up on "two-legged animals."!!!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Yes, give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at a different time from your dog's meds so they don't compete. I would continue giving the Enalapril with his meals, and would give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at any other point during the day – but, I would want to space them out. If you choose to give closer to mealtime, I would allow at 1 or 2 hours before a meal or 2 to 3 hours after a meal. Also, these phytonutrients don't need to be given with food.

Most likely, your vet is going to want to put your dog on additional meds (as they did with my dog). In my experience, I found that every time they added another drug, his heart issue became more dire and his heart continued to weaken further and faster. These drugs created all types of terrible problems with my dog. And, it ultimately became more and more complicated to try to wean my dog off of his meds after being on so many of them (he was on 6 or 7 meds in the end). So, my advice would be to try to keep him off the additional meds, if possible, and give these supplements a chance to start working. However, if it's unavoidable, try to get her off of them ASAP, once the heart strengthens.

By the way, you might also want to keep some magnesium on hand (only in the beginning though). Once, when my dog was very sick, his heart was beating out of his chest and I was rushing him to the cardiologist. Before I left the house I gave him a small spoonful of the liquid magnesium, and in less than 5 minutes his heartbeat returned to normal again. Now, I wouldn't recommend the magnesium long term (or as a regular supplement anymore) because it is an "isolated" supplement --- but you might want to keep some on hand just in case…in an emergency."

05/06/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Got it! Thanks Katie! I will post an update as soon as Candy and I visit the cardiologist tomorrow. Please everyone, keep her in your prayers!"

05/07/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie. Candy and I are back from the Cardiologist. $1000 later, she has been diagnosed with Myxomatous Mitral and Triscuspid Valve Degeneration. Left atrial and ventricular dialation. Mild left-sided congestive heart failure. She said the condition is moderate and that the prognosis is 1 to 2 years. They performed an echo, electro and blood panel and prescribed Lasix and Vetmedin (which I bought). She wants to see her again in a week to determine if her body is accepting the meds with more lab work and another electro.

Katie, I am so confused! Candy seems to be doing better and only coughing a little bit at night. Her heart beat is still elevated and very loud but other than that her appetite is good and so is her energy level.

Should I start her on the meds (I know you hate Vetmedin and I did read about it) or should I not? I have order the supplements (the isolated as well as the Standard Process ones) but have not received them yet. So far I have spent over $1500. When the supplements arrive and I get her on them, how will I know if she gets better that it was the supplements and not the meds or the other way around?And if I don't start her on the meds, what if she gets worse? I very much want to do what is best for Candy and I don't know what that is. I am heartbroken, nervous and very confused.

I would really appreciate your input! Please help me!!!!!"

05/07/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Did the cardiologist mention if Candy's heart is enlarged (cardiomegaly), and if so, did he mention if is it mild, moderate or severe? Or if she had any fluid in her lungs? Or, if she has any pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)? Also, do you know what her heart rate is? Did he mention what grade her murmur was -- or anything about her mitral regurgitation? (Murmurs are graded from 1-6 and regurgitation is graded from is 0-4. ) Also, what were the recommended dosages of each of her meds?

Also, when do you expect to receive the SP supplements?"

05/08/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie, I feel like I did not ask the right questions. She did say that her heart was enlarged but only the left side and moderately. She did have fluid in her lungs (thus the Lasix) but she did not mention heart rate or pulmonary hypertension. She explained that the top part of her left valve is not closing properly any more. The murmur is a grade 5 but do not know the regurgitation grade. I am expecting the supplements around the 14th. I just measured her heart rate myself and counted 67 beats per minute (very loud beating). What do you think?

Her medications are: Enalapril 2. 5 mg. - 1/4 tablet twice a day. Lasix 12. 5 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day and Vetmedin 1. 25 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day. She has been taking the Enalapril for two years now."

05/08/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, can you give me your e-mail address so we can speak directly."

05/23/2013: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi all,

Just wanted to send an update our our Mocha. I had originally posted about him in January of 2012; we were in the process of bringing him back from a very difficult experience of heart-related 'seizure-like' episodes and I wrote at that time to share what we found to be working for him in terms of supplements.

Mocha is still with us (yay!) and doing well. As with any healing, it has been a journey. He did really well on the previous supplement schedule for some time, however he is in his later years and like any body - animal or human - it has its ups and downs. But dramatic decrease in the episodes we were so afraid would take his life. And after having so many of them, we were afraid he would not come all the way back.

He has recovered so well, and we continue to 'tweak' his supplements as Katie from Northport mentioned doing herself over time and with research. We also were blessed to have a wonderful holistic veterinarian move to our area so that we didn't have to figure so much out on our own.

Mocha is currently on:

1. Canine Cardiac Support by Standard Process. Great product, can't say enough about it.

2. CoQ10 for pets by Rx Vitamins - this is created exclusively for pets

3. Forti Flora by Purina - A probiotic supplement for dogs, and I believe they have a version for cats.

4. A Chinese herbal formula called Ding Xian Wan by Jing Tang to balance the liver, which in Chinese Medicine is responsible in part for keeping the heart balanced. This was very interesting to me, as Mocha had a long history of liver imbalance before his heart symptoms ever showed up.

5. CAS Options by Resources - this is an immune and antioxidant support.

All supplements were provided by our holistic vet, who also determined doses for our 9 lb boy.

We also give him 1 tsp of organic sweet potato baby food (great for easing constipation - also associated with the liver) and 1 tsp of fresh wheatgrass per meal which has really improved him overall. A bit of 'live food' in his baked chicken or white fish has made a lovely difference.

In his case, he did not do well on raw foods but as we've learned, there is no 'one size fits all' for people or for pets. This combination has been working beautifully for him and we are deeply grateful that he is here with us and has quality of life. He was, unfortunately, a 'puppy mill' puppy - something we weren't aware of until years later and with that, did not come from a healthy background. Health issues have surfaced throughout his life despite us giving the best care we could at the time, and in this way, his little body has been a great teacher to us.

Hope a bit of what we all have learned and shared here with one another continues to help other dear pets out there.

Best wishes,

Deborah"

[YEA]  01/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "My 12 lb. Pekingnese recently went through some very frightening and life-threatening health issues related to his heart. He is doing terrific now, however I want to share a bit about what symptoms were manifesting and how we've managed to stop them.

In September of 2011, our sweet dog Mocha began having something akin to night screams/seizures. In the middle of the night, normally between 1 - 3am, he would wake from sleep with a horrific scream, then go immediately into a seizure. In all of our years with him he had never shown anything like this. His seizure would then last 7 -8 minutes. It was a terrible scene to witness and watch him endure. It happened again a month later, and as we began the process of veterinary visits, tests, etc. and were coming up with no answers. The veterinarian said these were not epileptic seizures, but he did not know what they were or where they were coming from. From his model of medicine he only had Phenobarbital to offer as a means to get control of the seizures. Although we took the advice at the time, my family and I all felt this was still an undiagnosed condition and the Pheno would at best offer us some time to get things figured out. We had to bring these episodes to a halt as soon as possible as each episode seemed to erode his overall health. We were watching our beloved pup drift away from us with each episode.

As we began our research, I started online with researching 'dog screams'. Although the veterinarian said perhaps this was a dream, or anxiety, he didn't feel the dog was in pain at the time of his episodes. We wholeheartedly disagreed. Although Mocha may not have felt pain during the actual seizure, the scream occurred just before and was absolutely horrifying. It was CLEAR that he was in wrenching pain before falling into a seizure. I was amazed to find online assorted threads of pet owner conversations on the topic of dog screams... Most of which indeed were followed by seizure activity, involuntary defecation, etc. In almost each case, the dogs in question were small dog breeds, just like Mocha. Also in each case, the owner knew the dog had a diagnosed heart murmur, as we did with Mocha.

Following this thread, I started to research heart remedies for dogs. Some were specific to murmurs, others were more generalized and in each small dog case, there was also an issue with keeping blood sugar balanced. We began putting together a small grouping of supplements to put Mocha on based on the information we were finding online.

At the same time that we were doing this research, we were giving Mocha the Phenobarbital. He had a terrible time adapting to it. Aside from being basically unconscious 90 minutes after the dose for approximately 9 hours, he was starting to urinate excessively and also to pant exactly 90 minutes after each dose. Sometimes the panting was excessive and frightening. We brought all of these topics up to the veterinarian who said that small dogs tend to adapt the least to this medication, and that whatever adaptation was going to happen would happen within the first two weeks. We were a month into it at this point and becoming very concerned. In addition, it was not stopping entirely his concerning episodes. We had his blood tested to see if he was at 'therapeutic levels' of the Phenobarbital and he was not. The veterinarian wanted us to go up in dose, but our instincts told us 'no'. This dog was losing quality of life on the dose he was already on, and we felt certain that increasing his dose would decrease his life expectancy and quality of remaining life. We decided at that point to trust our instincts and begin tending specifically to his heart.

I am happy to report that since we began adding in his natural heart and blood sugar supports, there have been no screaming/seizure episodes (6 weeks now). This is SIGNIFICANT, as Mocha had gotten to the point where he was screaming/seizing several times per day before beginning his holistic treatment. We have also decreased his Phenobarbital very slowly and safely and this, also, has improved his overall health and vitality. At this point we know we are substantially below 'therapeutic levels' and that the medication is doing next to nothing for him. We are taking him off slowly simply to be safe and gentle with is system. He should be off it entirely over the next week.

I am sharing this information because I know there are others out there who may have dogs with heart murmurs, small dogs, screaming/seizure dogs and the like. I was amazed at how frequent this problem presents based on what I found online, and yet could find NONE of this information via veterinarians or veterinary sites. It all came from pet owners who have had to research and address the issues themselves based on what others were doing. Thank goodness for sites like this one... I truly have no idea what Mocha's future would have been without them.

As for what supplements we have found which address his issues:

Hearty Heart (liquid drops) from Pet Wellbeing: Dosage is determined by pet's weight. This product has been developed by holistic veterinarians and veterinary herbalists. It is absolutely fantastic and useful for dogs and cats. Our 14 year-old cat has Cardiomyopathy and this has helped him so very much as well. Can't recommend it highly enough.

L-Carnitine (liquid) from Pet's Choice Pharmaceuticals: An essential amino acid designed to assist both the heart and blood sugar levels. Very helpful in healing the heart after functional disturbances and preventing future problems. Especially recommended for small breeds. Dosage determined by pet's weight.

FortiFlora (powder) from Purina Veterinary Diets: Probiotic supplement with beneficial strains of good bacteria designed to balance the digestive system and strengthen immunity. Excellent for blood sugar issues, allergies, skin and coat issues, etc. Mocha has been on this for years, as he has a long history of highly reactive/allergic skin, itching, blood sugar issues, etc. As a 12 lb dog, we give Mocha half a packet twice per day with his meals.

Magnesium mixed with Vitamin C: Both of these nutrients are excellent for the heart and safe for dogs. We buy tablets and then powder them together in our mortar and pestle. This allows us to sprinkle them onto his food. Again because Mocha is small, he only get 2 pinches of this mixture once per day. The ratio of his Magnesium to Vitamin C is 2:1. The dose, ratio, form of the nutrient may be specific dog to dog but there is helpful information online about dosing them.

Ubiqinone (CoQ10): An important antioxidant which helps with energy and heart function. It is potent so again, read up on dosage for your pet or consult with a holistic veterinarian. For Mocha, he only takes 1 drop from a 30mg capsule. Any more than that is too much, but we notice a difference when he doesn't have it at all.

D-Ribose: This is a metabolic sugar which is found within the body, but can also be supplemented. It is excellent for the heart, for recovery of the heart and for energy production... Of of which Mocha needed. Because of his small size he only takes 200 - 300 mg day. This product can be found in most healthfood stores.

So there you are. I hope you find this information helpful if you are searching for help for your dog. Most important lessons we have learned from the experince are 1) trust your instincts and 2) do your homework. If something doesn't sound right to you in terms of diagnosis, treatment, etc. , or if you simply feel you have not gotten sufficient answers, trust your instincts. There is an abundance of information available on the web today and tho, yes, sometimes that can be misleading, when you read over and over from owners about what works/doesn't work, TRUST it. In our case we were not able to get any answers from the veterinary community (in person or online) and ALL of Mocha's help came from dog owners like you. And, do your homework... Research what is going on with your pet, what others are doing for the same issues, safe dosage amounts, etc. Take charge of what is going on, have confidence in yourself and your instincts and take one step at a time. Don't wait passively for answers and don't continue with anything that just feels wrong or is causing clear harm... Even if that information comes from the medical community. They, like us, are all still learning but sometimes the life of a patient (human or animal) can't wait and you must strike out on your own. Work closely with professionals when and how you can, but don't linger with anyone who isn't providing help or cooperating with your desire to work holistically. Put your pet and his/her life first.

Good luck to you and I hope some little puppy dog and his family out there can be helped just like we have been. We are tremendously grateful to have been steered by others to the help Mocha needed and are enjoying seeing our sweet pup return to us in every way.

Blessings,

Deborah, Mocha and family...."

01/24/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Deborah, thanks for this detailed and informative post; and congrats on Mocha's recovery. If I might add the importance of omega 3 fatty acids like Flax and Fish oils for health of every cell in prevention and recovery of illness."

01/27/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Thanks Tim, indeed. We did have Mocha on fish oil at different time periods... Sometimes he did well with it, other times not so much. We switched his diet to a more fish-rich diet (fresh cooked fish) and that seemed to do the trick. Flax oil makes him itch terribly so we avoid that in his case. But excellent advice to others who may be researching for their own pets."

02/23/2012: Kickdiver from Wilmington, Nc: "Thank you for the detailed info. I have a 12 year old Great Dane on various heart meds due to near Heart Failure and enlarged heart with atrial fib/dilated cardio myopathy. He's on Vetmed, Diltiazem, Benazepril and Digoxin, since our emergency visit at the Cardiology Clinic, where his heart beat was measured 250 bpm.... He is stabilized now, and I also give him Omega 3 fish oils, CQ10, and looking into carnitine and taurine, and I did come across the site for Hearty Heart, but it says NOT to give this natural remedy WHILE on heart meds.

But... How can I stop the heart meds, when they just now kicked in after 2 days of horrible heart racing and my poor dog being miserable? Can I trust the reviews on line? They all seem great , but... One never knows if they are just bloggers paid by the company... Anyhow.. I'm willing to give it a try, yet, I cannot take him off the heart meds right now... I'd rather give him half a dose of the Hearty Heart along WITH the meds and then slowly go down with the dosage..

Worst of all, I am supposed to move to the Middle East with my 3 beloved K9s in April, how in the world am I going to get my boy there in this condition? I cannot leave this companion behind, he's my kiddo! I know his heart situation is a serious thing, but apart from that he has NO health issues, all blood work was good and all organs perfectly intact, as a matter of fact, the Vets at the clinic told me that he was the healthiest and oldest Dane they have seen!!! (thanks to Raw Diet and NO vaccines, I guess... ) I do have a professional pet handling company hired, still... My holistic vet said St John's Word could help him as well. I have a few more weeks to see how he develops, in the interim, any input helps.. I'd love to give Hearty Heart a try, but.. There is NO way I can stop the meds right now... What to do??"

02/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi Kickdiver, thank you for your post. How great that your Great Dane is so healthy at the age of 12! You've obviously done so much to get him there.

I totally understand your concern about mixing the HH supplement with the heart meds. This is indeed a conundrum and I don't know the answer for you. This has to be an individual decision. I personally would not mix them as the HH is developed by holistic veterinarians and they so strongly advise against it.

I know in our situation, we had to make the difficult choice between medications vs. Supplements. It's so much easier when one can blend both and not make such a difficult and scary decision, but sometimes this is just not safe. So what we did was begin with supplements that did not have contraindications with the medication we used at the time. The HH came in toward the end of that supplement list, as we did everything else first to stabilize him supplement-wise. As Mocha grew more and more stable on the supplements, we gradually began moving him down on his medication dose AND began putting the HH in separate feedings from his medication. So breakfast/dinner had medication, lunch snack and evening snack (9pm) had HH. This worked for him but we were ever so careful. The medication he was on could not safely be stopped abruptly, so we had to wean him down on it while slowly adding in the supplements where we could. This took time, patience, faith and much care to get right but like for you, he is our 'kiddo' and we just wanted him better. However he was not on heart meds, he was on Phenobarbital and that is a big difference between your picture and mine. Had Mocha been on heart meds, I'm not sure if we would have gone forward with the HH in this way. Like you, we would have had to sit with the different choices in front of us and find the safest, best long-term plan for our pup.

So for now, since your pup is newly on all of these meds and just coming out of an acute situation you may want to continue as you are doing. Simply add safe supplements with no contraindications. If I were you, I would add the L-Carn as that has profoundly good impact on heart function and in general is very safe. Not sure the Taurine is a fit or a priority in your pup's case.

As for the HH, I recommended it because I use it for my pup and it works brilliantly. It is also safe for cats, and we gave it to our 14-year old cat who was having wobbly, at times screeching, seizures and who had previously been diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. Since starting him on the HH, no wobbling, no screaming, no seizures. I don't work for the company, am not a paid blogger, etc. I'm a user and this product is the real deal in my experience. Is it the best fit for your sweet Dane? I don't know. But it was the fit for our Pekingese and tabby.

Seems the safest short-term approach would be to find the combination of supplements (and possibly meds) that work for your Dane and then move in whatever direction you can from there for a long-term plan. Most important is to a) stabilize acute symptoms and then b) find long-term solutions which often need to be at least partially natural so as to 'do no harm'. If some meds need to be part of that picture for your Dane going forward, so be it. Most important is to keep him healthy, happy and strong for the longest amount of time you can. We HAD to move our pup off of meds because they were doing more harm then good, far more so. With that, we still had to do it gradually to keep him safe. If the meds had been significantly helping with no serious side effects, I may have considered keeping him on them along with supplements but that was not what was happening.

So, you have a bit of a process in front of you but I know you will find the right solutions for him. Just please don't mix HH with meds if you have been outright cautioned against doing so by the product maker. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to our sweet animal friends' lives, I know you agree."

06/11/2012: Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, Fl: "Yogi, is 1/2 st bernard 1/2 golden retriever, 9 yrs old. As a result of elective surgery gone bad he developed seizures which he is taking phenabarbital. 30 mg. 1 1/2 in pm. Helping. From onset of seizures causing anxiety vet told me he has enlarged heart. Beats so fast his chest beating with it. Dr. not familar with heart. Not taking meds for that. Afraid he will have heart attack!!! Comes to us when this starts to happen, drooling all over himself. Please help. Been to so many drs. Can't afford anymore."

06/18/2012: Nh Gardener from Sanbornton, Nh, Usa: "For Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, FL for dog Yogi--Please give him food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in his food dampened with raw apple cider vinegar, starting with 1 tsp. DE once a day, increasing gradually to heaping tsp. 2 X/day. Also add gently melted coconut oil to his food, starting with 1 tsp. Once a day, increasing gradually to 2 or 3 tsps. 2 X/day. I've seen testimonials that seizures have decreased or disappeared with both these supplements. His heart racing may normalize with the ACV. Also give him 1 kelp tablet, crushed, in his food, said to strengthen heart. One site that sells DE has esp. Good human and pet testimonials. Check Coconut Research Center.org for seizure info. Bach Flower Remedies may help racing heart also. All good wishes for dear Yogi."

10/27/2012: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Suji, I just noticed your post today. You placed your post under someone else's post, not mine, which is why I didn't see it. The reason I stopped the magnesium, carnitine, ribose and CoQ-10 was because I started to worry that it might have stopped working for my dog. I kept my dog on these supplements for a year and my dog was examined by 2 cardiologists in that time and they both confirmed that he had no murmur. However on the last visit, the third cardiologist told me he had a grade 1 murmur. This really concerned me --- so I started to research more and found out that taking "isolated" supplements such as the above can cause imbalances in the body. I found out that calcium is equally necessary to the heart (along with magnesium and many other nutrients, including omega 3s), but that they must be in balance with each other and in a form that the body can utilize. Too much calcium can cause a magnesium imbalance and too much magnesium can cause a calcium imbalance, etc. These minerals and vitamins must also come along with all their cofactors, enzymes and other things that appear naturally in nature in order to really work.

I also noticed that my dog appeared to start having some bone issues. I wondered if I was creating a calcium deficiency in him, by giving him the magnesium. Now the bone issues may be completely unrelated and just purely coincidental..... I just don't know. But, that was enough for me... I felt that I needed to look into this a little further and that's when I started him on the phytonutrients.

You mentioned homeopathy and I'd like to tell you my experience with it with my now deceased dog. I consulted with a vet who I believed was also knowledgeable homeopath and she recommended remedies for him, which I gave to him (away from meds) but they did not work. I now know the reason they did not work -- and a true homeopath will tell you this --- is because the drugs are so strong that they will cancel out the effects of the homeopathy.

Unfortunately, I realized this too late because I trusted this doctor. I have since found out that this vet was not an accredited classical homeopath and did not have the in-depth training and knowledge and experience with homeopathy - rather, I believe she only took a weekend course and claimed to be one.

Thankfully I have found a "real" classical homeopath who is wonderful and I use him for many things (mostly short term illnesses and other problems) --- but I WILL NOT use him for my dog's heart problem. I have learned that you MUST address the underlying nutritional problems in any longstanding chronic condition first. If you don't, I believe you will not get the results you are looking for. This is why he is on the phytonutrients.

You asked if there is a way that we can speak directly but that would require that we would have to post our email addresses here -- and I'm not sure that I am comfortable with that."

05/03/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Hi Katie! I have just read all of your posts on supplements and feel that the Universe brought me to this site after hours of crying and pleading! I have three Chihuahuas (my babies) since they were pups and are now 6 years old. Candy (the brightest and most inquisitive) was diagnosed with a grade 2 heart murmur 2 years ago. The vet put her on 1/4 pill of Enalapril twice a day and she had been doing fine. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that her heart was beating unusually hard (I could hear it from a few feet away) and sometimes feels sluggish in the mornings with a lack of appetite. No other symptoms yet thank God. I took her back to the vet today and she says that the murmur has escalated to a grade 5. She recommended a cardiologist. We have an appointment next Tuesday. I switched my dogs' diet to raw a couple of years ago and have been giving them Dr. Becker's supplements (digestive enzymes, probiotics, Krill oil, Spirulina, Ubiquinol) as well as bone meal, glands powder and coconut oil.

I am devastated about my baby's prognosis, as the vet says her condition will get worse, her heart is working very hard and there is no surgery or cure. She is 6, beautiful, smart, funny and a great loving doggy! I refuse to think that there is nothing that I can do for her. I am so sad and helpless. Candy is only 5 pounds and I don't know if some of the supplements will benefit her or what dosage I should use. I beg you to please help me come up with a good alternative option for her. I don't care if I have to go to the end of the world and back, if it means a long, happy and healthy life for her. Thank you so much!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, Do not give up hope on your dog. I would start your dog on the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support immediately. I would give these supplements away from the Enalapril. (Note: Do not stop the Enalapril immediately - your dog will need to be slowly weaned off of it once her heart starts to get stronger. Stopping this drug immediately can cause a setback. ) I would recommend that you stop all of the other supplements though- and I don't even think that the ubiquinol is necessary as the Cardio-Plus contains about 25 mg. of natural CoQ10 per tab.

The Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support are the only supplements that my dog is currently on. And, as you will see from my previous posts, my dog's heart is strong now and is pumping at 100% - and his heart shrunk back to the size of a what a normal, healthy Cavalier should be. The reason why my dog still has a murmur right now is only because his valves are still a little leaky, but my vet feels that they will also improve, if not heal themselves too, in the near future. I am planning another echo at the end of the summer.

As far as dosages go, I would probably recommend 2 to 4 tabs a day of the Cardio-Plus, at least initially (because of the severity of your dog's heart issue). If possible, I would try to give the Cardio-Plus throughout the day (away from the Enalapril, though) in order to keep the nutrition consistently in his system. Then, as the heart improves, I would probably cut back to 2 tabs a day. The Canine Whole Body Support is dosed by weight, so for a 10 lb. dog the dosage would be 1/8 tsp once a day.

I would also recommend that you find a good holistic vet who can help work with you and monitor your dog and his progress and then help you get him safely off the Enalapril as her heart starts to improve."

05/04/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Thank you Katie for your concerned and quick response. You are definitely an angel from Heaven! I will order these supplements today and start her on them. When you say "away from the Enalapril", do you mean I should administer them at a different time of day? I give her the Enalapril with each meal (am/pm) so as to not upset her stomach. Is it ok to give her the Standard Process supplements on an empty stomach?

During our visit to the Cardiologist next Tuesday, I am sure that he will want to put her on additional meds (some I have heard from your followers are Vetmedin, Benazeprill and Furosemide). Shoud I refuse?

Katie, you have no idea how much we appreciate your kindness, support and knowledge. It is people like you that makes me not give up on "two-legged animals."!!!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Yes, give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at a different time from your dog's meds so they don't compete. I would continue giving the Enalapril with his meals, and would give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at any other point during the day – but, I would want to space them out. If you choose to give closer to mealtime, I would allow at 1 or 2 hours before a meal or 2 to 3 hours after a meal. Also, these phytonutrients don't need to be given with food.

Most likely, your vet is going to want to put your dog on additional meds (as they did with my dog). In my experience, I found that every time they added another drug, his heart issue became more dire and his heart continued to weaken further and faster. These drugs created all types of terrible problems with my dog. And, it ultimately became more and more complicated to try to wean my dog off of his meds after being on so many of them (he was on 6 or 7 meds in the end). So, my advice would be to try to keep him off the additional meds, if possible, and give these supplements a chance to start working. However, if it's unavoidable, try to get her off of them ASAP, once the heart strengthens.

By the way, you might also want to keep some magnesium on hand (only in the beginning though). Once, when my dog was very sick, his heart was beating out of his chest and I was rushing him to the cardiologist. Before I left the house I gave him a small spoonful of the liquid magnesium, and in less than 5 minutes his heartbeat returned to normal again. Now, I wouldn't recommend the magnesium long term (or as a regular supplement anymore) because it is an "isolated" supplement --- but you might want to keep some on hand just in case…in an emergency."

05/06/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Got it! Thanks Katie! I will post an update as soon as Candy and I visit the cardiologist tomorrow. Please everyone, keep her in your prayers!"

05/07/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie. Candy and I are back from the Cardiologist. $1000 later, she has been diagnosed with Myxomatous Mitral and Triscuspid Valve Degeneration. Left atrial and ventricular dialation. Mild left-sided congestive heart failure. She said the condition is moderate and that the prognosis is 1 to 2 years. They performed an echo, electro and blood panel and prescribed Lasix and Vetmedin (which I bought). She wants to see her again in a week to determine if her body is accepting the meds with more lab work and another electro.

Katie, I am so confused! Candy seems to be doing better and only coughing a little bit at night. Her heart beat is still elevated and very loud but other than that her appetite is good and so is her energy level.

Should I start her on the meds (I know you hate Vetmedin and I did read about it) or should I not? I have order the supplements (the isolated as well as the Standard Process ones) but have not received them yet. So far I have spent over $1500. When the supplements arrive and I get her on them, how will I know if she gets better that it was the supplements and not the meds or the other way around?And if I don't start her on the meds, what if she gets worse? I very much want to do what is best for Candy and I don't know what that is. I am heartbroken, nervous and very confused.

I would really appreciate your input! Please help me!!!!!"

05/07/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Did the cardiologist mention if Candy's heart is enlarged (cardiomegaly), and if so, did he mention if is it mild, moderate or severe? Or if she had any fluid in her lungs? Or, if she has any pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)? Also, do you know what her heart rate is? Did he mention what grade her murmur was -- or anything about her mitral regurgitation? (Murmurs are graded from 1-6 and regurgitation is graded from is 0-4. ) Also, what were the recommended dosages of each of her meds?

Also, when do you expect to receive the SP supplements?"

05/08/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie, I feel like I did not ask the right questions. She did say that her heart was enlarged but only the left side and moderately. She did have fluid in her lungs (thus the Lasix) but she did not mention heart rate or pulmonary hypertension. She explained that the top part of her left valve is not closing properly any more. The murmur is a grade 5 but do not know the regurgitation grade. I am expecting the supplements around the 14th. I just measured her heart rate myself and counted 67 beats per minute (very loud beating). What do you think?

Her medications are: Enalapril 2. 5 mg. - 1/4 tablet twice a day. Lasix 12. 5 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day and Vetmedin 1. 25 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day. She has been taking the Enalapril for two years now."

05/08/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, can you give me your e-mail address so we can speak directly."

05/23/2013: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi all,

Just wanted to send an update our our Mocha. I had originally posted about him in January of 2012; we were in the process of bringing him back from a very difficult experience of heart-related 'seizure-like' episodes and I wrote at that time to share what we found to be working for him in terms of supplements.

Mocha is still with us (yay!) and doing well. As with any healing, it has been a journey. He did really well on the previous supplement schedule for some time, however he is in his later years and like any body - animal or human - it has its ups and downs. But dramatic decrease in the episodes we were so afraid would take his life. And after having so many of them, we were afraid he would not come all the way back.

He has recovered so well, and we continue to 'tweak' his supplements as Katie from Northport mentioned doing herself over time and with research. We also were blessed to have a wonderful holistic veterinarian move to our area so that we didn't have to figure so much out on our own.

Mocha is currently on:

1. Canine Cardiac Support by Standard Process. Great product, can't say enough about it.

2. CoQ10 for pets by Rx Vitamins - this is created exclusively for pets

3. Forti Flora by Purina - A probiotic supplement for dogs, and I believe they have a version for cats.

4. A Chinese herbal formula called Ding Xian Wan by Jing Tang to balance the liver, which in Chinese Medicine is responsible in part for keeping the heart balanced. This was very interesting to me, as Mocha had a long history of liver imbalance before his heart symptoms ever showed up.

5. CAS Options by Resources - this is an immune and antioxidant support.

All supplements were provided by our holistic vet, who also determined doses for our 9 lb boy.

We also give him 1 tsp of organic sweet potato baby food (great for easing constipation - also associated with the liver) and 1 tsp of fresh wheatgrass per meal which has really improved him overall. A bit of 'live food' in his baked chicken or white fish has made a lovely difference.

In his case, he did not do well on raw foods but as we've learned, there is no 'one size fits all' for people or for pets. This combination has been working beautifully for him and we are deeply grateful that he is here with us and has quality of life. He was, unfortunately, a 'puppy mill' puppy - something we weren't aware of until years later and with that, did not come from a healthy background. Health issues have surfaced throughout his life despite us giving the best care we could at the time, and in this way, his little body has been a great teacher to us.

Hope a bit of what we all have learned and shared here with one another continues to help other dear pets out there.

Best wishes,

Deborah"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  04/19/2013: Palhuc from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: "I took my 5.5 month old ragdoll kitten for spaying this week. After 2 of the 4 doses of metacam given to her for pain I noticed she was so hyper, jumping up walls and nonstop climbing. She also appeared to be watching the ceiling and I could not get her attention (possibly hallucinating). She responded very well after surgery, ate , drank and went to bathroom almost immediately after coming home from surgery.

05/04/2013: Andrea from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia: "My cat Sam-Panda has a serious heart condition, and has lately developed a throat irritation. He was prescribed Metacam for the irritation, but just as I was about to give him his first dose I read that it is contra-indicated in animals with cardiac disease. Reading about other animals experiences with this drug, I have no doubt my precious boy would be dead now if I had followed the ve'ts careless advice."

[YEA]  01/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "My 12 lb. Pekingnese recently went through some very frightening and life-threatening health issues related to his heart. He is doing terrific now, however I want to share a bit about what symptoms were manifesting and how we've managed to stop them.

In September of 2011, our sweet dog Mocha began having something akin to night screams/seizures. In the middle of the night, normally between 1 - 3am, he would wake from sleep with a horrific scream, then go immediately into a seizure. In all of our years with him he had never shown anything like this. His seizure would then last 7 -8 minutes. It was a terrible scene to witness and watch him endure. It happened again a month later, and as we began the process of veterinary visits, tests, etc. and were coming up with no answers. The veterinarian said these were not epileptic seizures, but he did not know what they were or where they were coming from. From his model of medicine he only had Phenobarbital to offer as a means to get control of the seizures. Although we took the advice at the time, my family and I all felt this was still an undiagnosed condition and the Pheno would at best offer us some time to get things figured out. We had to bring these episodes to a halt as soon as possible as each episode seemed to erode his overall health. We were watching our beloved pup drift away from us with each episode.

As we began our research, I started online with researching 'dog screams'. Although the veterinarian said perhaps this was a dream, or anxiety, he didn't feel the dog was in pain at the time of his episodes. We wholeheartedly disagreed. Although Mocha may not have felt pain during the actual seizure, the scream occurred just before and was absolutely horrifying. It was CLEAR that he was in wrenching pain before falling into a seizure. I was amazed to find online assorted threads of pet owner conversations on the topic of dog screams... Most of which indeed were followed by seizure activity, involuntary defecation, etc. In almost each case, the dogs in question were small dog breeds, just like Mocha. Also in each case, the owner knew the dog had a diagnosed heart murmur, as we did with Mocha.

Following this thread, I started to research heart remedies for dogs. Some were specific to murmurs, others were more generalized and in each small dog case, there was also an issue with keeping blood sugar balanced. We began putting together a small grouping of supplements to put Mocha on based on the information we were finding online.

At the same time that we were doing this research, we were giving Mocha the Phenobarbital. He had a terrible time adapting to it. Aside from being basically unconscious 90 minutes after the dose for approximately 9 hours, he was starting to urinate excessively and also to pant exactly 90 minutes after each dose. Sometimes the panting was excessive and frightening. We brought all of these topics up to the veterinarian who said that small dogs tend to adapt the least to this medication, and that whatever adaptation was going to happen would happen within the first two weeks. We were a month into it at this point and becoming very concerned. In addition, it was not stopping entirely his concerning episodes. We had his blood tested to see if he was at 'therapeutic levels' of the Phenobarbital and he was not. The veterinarian wanted us to go up in dose, but our instincts told us 'no'. This dog was losing quality of life on the dose he was already on, and we felt certain that increasing his dose would decrease his life expectancy and quality of remaining life. We decided at that point to trust our instincts and begin tending specifically to his heart.

I am happy to report that since we began adding in his natural heart and blood sugar supports, there have been no screaming/seizure episodes (6 weeks now). This is SIGNIFICANT, as Mocha had gotten to the point where he was screaming/seizing several times per day before beginning his holistic treatment. We have also decreased his Phenobarbital very slowly and safely and this, also, has improved his overall health and vitality. At this point we know we are substantially below 'therapeutic levels' and that the medication is doing next to nothing for him. We are taking him off slowly simply to be safe and gentle with is system. He should be off it entirely over the next week.

I am sharing this information because I know there are others out there who may have dogs with heart murmurs, small dogs, screaming/seizure dogs and the like. I was amazed at how frequent this problem presents based on what I found online, and yet could find NONE of this information via veterinarians or veterinary sites. It all came from pet owners who have had to research and address the issues themselves based on what others were doing. Thank goodness for sites like this one... I truly have no idea what Mocha's future would have been without them.

As for what supplements we have found which address his issues:

Hearty Heart (liquid drops) from Pet Wellbeing: Dosage is determined by pet's weight. This product has been developed by holistic veterinarians and veterinary herbalists. It is absolutely fantastic and useful for dogs and cats. Our 14 year-old cat has Cardiomyopathy and this has helped him so very much as well. Can't recommend it highly enough.

L-Carnitine (liquid) from Pet's Choice Pharmaceuticals: An essential amino acid designed to assist both the heart and blood sugar levels. Very helpful in healing the heart after functional disturbances and preventing future problems. Especially recommended for small breeds. Dosage determined by pet's weight.

FortiFlora (powder) from Purina Veterinary Diets: Probiotic supplement with beneficial strains of good bacteria designed to balance the digestive system and strengthen immunity. Excellent for blood sugar issues, allergies, skin and coat issues, etc. Mocha has been on this for years, as he has a long history of highly reactive/allergic skin, itching, blood sugar issues, etc. As a 12 lb dog, we give Mocha half a packet twice per day with his meals.

Magnesium mixed with Vitamin C: Both of these nutrients are excellent for the heart and safe for dogs. We buy tablets and then powder them together in our mortar and pestle. This allows us to sprinkle them onto his food. Again because Mocha is small, he only get 2 pinches of this mixture once per day. The ratio of his Magnesium to Vitamin C is 2:1. The dose, ratio, form of the nutrient may be specific dog to dog but there is helpful information online about dosing them.

Ubiqinone (CoQ10): An important antioxidant which helps with energy and heart function. It is potent so again, read up on dosage for your pet or consult with a holistic veterinarian. For Mocha, he only takes 1 drop from a 30mg capsule. Any more than that is too much, but we notice a difference when he doesn't have it at all.

D-Ribose: This is a metabolic sugar which is found within the body, but can also be supplemented. It is excellent for the heart, for recovery of the heart and for energy production... Of of which Mocha needed. Because of his small size he only takes 200 - 300 mg day. This product can be found in most healthfood stores.

So there you are. I hope you find this information helpful if you are searching for help for your dog. Most important lessons we have learned from the experince are 1) trust your instincts and 2) do your homework. If something doesn't sound right to you in terms of diagnosis, treatment, etc. , or if you simply feel you have not gotten sufficient answers, trust your instincts. There is an abundance of information available on the web today and tho, yes, sometimes that can be misleading, when you read over and over from owners about what works/doesn't work, TRUST it. In our case we were not able to get any answers from the veterinary community (in person or online) and ALL of Mocha's help came from dog owners like you. And, do your homework... Research what is going on with your pet, what others are doing for the same issues, safe dosage amounts, etc. Take charge of what is going on, have confidence in yourself and your instincts and take one step at a time. Don't wait passively for answers and don't continue with anything that just feels wrong or is causing clear harm... Even if that information comes from the medical community. They, like us, are all still learning but sometimes the life of a patient (human or animal) can't wait and you must strike out on your own. Work closely with professionals when and how you can, but don't linger with anyone who isn't providing help or cooperating with your desire to work holistically. Put your pet and his/her life first.

Good luck to you and I hope some little puppy dog and his family out there can be helped just like we have been. We are tremendously grateful to have been steered by others to the help Mocha needed and are enjoying seeing our sweet pup return to us in every way.

Blessings,

Deborah, Mocha and family...."

01/24/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Deborah, thanks for this detailed and informative post; and congrats on Mocha's recovery. If I might add the importance of omega 3 fatty acids like Flax and Fish oils for health of every cell in prevention and recovery of illness."

01/27/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Thanks Tim, indeed. We did have Mocha on fish oil at different time periods... Sometimes he did well with it, other times not so much. We switched his diet to a more fish-rich diet (fresh cooked fish) and that seemed to do the trick. Flax oil makes him itch terribly so we avoid that in his case. But excellent advice to others who may be researching for their own pets."

02/23/2012: Kickdiver from Wilmington, Nc: "Thank you for the detailed info. I have a 12 year old Great Dane on various heart meds due to near Heart Failure and enlarged heart with atrial fib/dilated cardio myopathy. He's on Vetmed, Diltiazem, Benazepril and Digoxin, since our emergency visit at the Cardiology Clinic, where his heart beat was measured 250 bpm.... He is stabilized now, and I also give him Omega 3 fish oils, CQ10, and looking into carnitine and taurine, and I did come across the site for Hearty Heart, but it says NOT to give this natural remedy WHILE on heart meds.

But... How can I stop the heart meds, when they just now kicked in after 2 days of horrible heart racing and my poor dog being miserable? Can I trust the reviews on line? They all seem great , but... One never knows if they are just bloggers paid by the company... Anyhow.. I'm willing to give it a try, yet, I cannot take him off the heart meds right now... I'd rather give him half a dose of the Hearty Heart along WITH the meds and then slowly go down with the dosage..

Worst of all, I am supposed to move to the Middle East with my 3 beloved K9s in April, how in the world am I going to get my boy there in this condition? I cannot leave this companion behind, he's my kiddo! I know his heart situation is a serious thing, but apart from that he has NO health issues, all blood work was good and all organs perfectly intact, as a matter of fact, the Vets at the clinic told me that he was the healthiest and oldest Dane they have seen!!! (thanks to Raw Diet and NO vaccines, I guess... ) I do have a professional pet handling company hired, still... My holistic vet said St John's Word could help him as well. I have a few more weeks to see how he develops, in the interim, any input helps.. I'd love to give Hearty Heart a try, but.. There is NO way I can stop the meds right now... What to do??"

02/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi Kickdiver, thank you for your post. How great that your Great Dane is so healthy at the age of 12! You've obviously done so much to get him there.

I totally understand your concern about mixing the HH supplement with the heart meds. This is indeed a conundrum and I don't know the answer for you. This has to be an individual decision. I personally would not mix them as the HH is developed by holistic veterinarians and they so strongly advise against it.

I know in our situation, we had to make the difficult choice between medications vs. Supplements. It's so much easier when one can blend both and not make such a difficult and scary decision, but sometimes this is just not safe. So what we did was begin with supplements that did not have contraindications with the medication we used at the time. The HH came in toward the end of that supplement list, as we did everything else first to stabilize him supplement-wise. As Mocha grew more and more stable on the supplements, we gradually began moving him down on his medication dose AND began putting the HH in separate feedings from his medication. So breakfast/dinner had medication, lunch snack and evening snack (9pm) had HH. This worked for him but we were ever so careful. The medication he was on could not safely be stopped abruptly, so we had to wean him down on it while slowly adding in the supplements where we could. This took time, patience, faith and much care to get right but like for you, he is our 'kiddo' and we just wanted him better. However he was not on heart meds, he was on Phenobarbital and that is a big difference between your picture and mine. Had Mocha been on heart meds, I'm not sure if we would have gone forward with the HH in this way. Like you, we would have had to sit with the different choices in front of us and find the safest, best long-term plan for our pup.

So for now, since your pup is newly on all of these meds and just coming out of an acute situation you may want to continue as you are doing. Simply add safe supplements with no contraindications. If I were you, I would add the L-Carn as that has profoundly good impact on heart function and in general is very safe. Not sure the Taurine is a fit or a priority in your pup's case.

As for the HH, I recommended it because I use it for my pup and it works brilliantly. It is also safe for cats, and we gave it to our 14-year old cat who was having wobbly, at times screeching, seizures and who had previously been diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. Since starting him on the HH, no wobbling, no screaming, no seizures. I don't work for the company, am not a paid blogger, etc. I'm a user and this product is the real deal in my experience. Is it the best fit for your sweet Dane? I don't know. But it was the fit for our Pekingese and tabby.

Seems the safest short-term approach would be to find the combination of supplements (and possibly meds) that work for your Dane and then move in whatever direction you can from there for a long-term plan. Most important is to a) stabilize acute symptoms and then b) find long-term solutions which often need to be at least partially natural so as to 'do no harm'. If some meds need to be part of that picture for your Dane going forward, so be it. Most important is to keep him healthy, happy and strong for the longest amount of time you can. We HAD to move our pup off of meds because they were doing more harm then good, far more so. With that, we still had to do it gradually to keep him safe. If the meds had been significantly helping with no serious side effects, I may have considered keeping him on them along with supplements but that was not what was happening.

So, you have a bit of a process in front of you but I know you will find the right solutions for him. Just please don't mix HH with meds if you have been outright cautioned against doing so by the product maker. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to our sweet animal friends' lives, I know you agree."

06/11/2012: Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, Fl: "Yogi, is 1/2 st bernard 1/2 golden retriever, 9 yrs old. As a result of elective surgery gone bad he developed seizures which he is taking phenabarbital. 30 mg. 1 1/2 in pm. Helping. From onset of seizures causing anxiety vet told me he has enlarged heart. Beats so fast his chest beating with it. Dr. not familar with heart. Not taking meds for that. Afraid he will have heart attack!!! Comes to us when this starts to happen, drooling all over himself. Please help. Been to so many drs. Can't afford anymore."

06/18/2012: Nh Gardener from Sanbornton, Nh, Usa: "For Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, FL for dog Yogi--Please give him food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in his food dampened with raw apple cider vinegar, starting with 1 tsp. DE once a day, increasing gradually to heaping tsp. 2 X/day. Also add gently melted coconut oil to his food, starting with 1 tsp. Once a day, increasing gradually to 2 or 3 tsps. 2 X/day. I've seen testimonials that seizures have decreased or disappeared with both these supplements. His heart racing may normalize with the ACV. Also give him 1 kelp tablet, crushed, in his food, said to strengthen heart. One site that sells DE has esp. Good human and pet testimonials. Check Coconut Research Center.org for seizure info. Bach Flower Remedies may help racing heart also. All good wishes for dear Yogi."

10/27/2012: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Suji, I just noticed your post today. You placed your post under someone else's post, not mine, which is why I didn't see it. The reason I stopped the magnesium, carnitine, ribose and CoQ-10 was because I started to worry that it might have stopped working for my dog. I kept my dog on these supplements for a year and my dog was examined by 2 cardiologists in that time and they both confirmed that he had no murmur. However on the last visit, the third cardiologist told me he had a grade 1 murmur. This really concerned me --- so I started to research more and found out that taking "isolated" supplements such as the above can cause imbalances in the body. I found out that calcium is equally necessary to the heart (along with magnesium and many other nutrients, including omega 3s), but that they must be in balance with each other and in a form that the body can utilize. Too much calcium can cause a magnesium imbalance and too much magnesium can cause a calcium imbalance, etc. These minerals and vitamins must also come along with all their cofactors, enzymes and other things that appear naturally in nature in order to really work.

I also noticed that my dog appeared to start having some bone issues. I wondered if I was creating a calcium deficiency in him, by giving him the magnesium. Now the bone issues may be completely unrelated and just purely coincidental..... I just don't know. But, that was enough for me... I felt that I needed to look into this a little further and that's when I started him on the phytonutrients.

You mentioned homeopathy and I'd like to tell you my experience with it with my now deceased dog. I consulted with a vet who I believed was also knowledgeable homeopath and she recommended remedies for him, which I gave to him (away from meds) but they did not work. I now know the reason they did not work -- and a true homeopath will tell you this --- is because the drugs are so strong that they will cancel out the effects of the homeopathy.

Unfortunately, I realized this too late because I trusted this doctor. I have since found out that this vet was not an accredited classical homeopath and did not have the in-depth training and knowledge and experience with homeopathy - rather, I believe she only took a weekend course and claimed to be one.

Thankfully I have found a "real" classical homeopath who is wonderful and I use him for many things (mostly short term illnesses and other problems) --- but I WILL NOT use him for my dog's heart problem. I have learned that you MUST address the underlying nutritional problems in any longstanding chronic condition first. If you don't, I believe you will not get the results you are looking for. This is why he is on the phytonutrients.

You asked if there is a way that we can speak directly but that would require that we would have to post our email addresses here -- and I'm not sure that I am comfortable with that."

05/03/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Hi Katie! I have just read all of your posts on supplements and feel that the Universe brought me to this site after hours of crying and pleading! I have three Chihuahuas (my babies) since they were pups and are now 6 years old. Candy (the brightest and most inquisitive) was diagnosed with a grade 2 heart murmur 2 years ago. The vet put her on 1/4 pill of Enalapril twice a day and she had been doing fine. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that her heart was beating unusually hard (I could hear it from a few feet away) and sometimes feels sluggish in the mornings with a lack of appetite. No other symptoms yet thank God. I took her back to the vet today and she says that the murmur has escalated to a grade 5. She recommended a cardiologist. We have an appointment next Tuesday. I switched my dogs' diet to raw a couple of years ago and have been giving them Dr. Becker's supplements (digestive enzymes, probiotics, Krill oil, Spirulina, Ubiquinol) as well as bone meal, glands powder and coconut oil.

I am devastated about my baby's prognosis, as the vet says her condition will get worse, her heart is working very hard and there is no surgery or cure. She is 6, beautiful, smart, funny and a great loving doggy! I refuse to think that there is nothing that I can do for her. I am so sad and helpless. Candy is only 5 pounds and I don't know if some of the supplements will benefit her or what dosage I should use. I beg you to please help me come up with a good alternative option for her. I don't care if I have to go to the end of the world and back, if it means a long, happy and healthy life for her. Thank you so much!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, Do not give up hope on your dog. I would start your dog on the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support immediately. I would give these supplements away from the Enalapril. (Note: Do not stop the Enalapril immediately - your dog will need to be slowly weaned off of it once her heart starts to get stronger. Stopping this drug immediately can cause a setback. ) I would recommend that you stop all of the other supplements though- and I don't even think that the ubiquinol is necessary as the Cardio-Plus contains about 25 mg. of natural CoQ10 per tab.

The Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support are the only supplements that my dog is currently on. And, as you will see from my previous posts, my dog's heart is strong now and is pumping at 100% - and his heart shrunk back to the size of a what a normal, healthy Cavalier should be. The reason why my dog still has a murmur right now is only because his valves are still a little leaky, but my vet feels that they will also improve, if not heal themselves too, in the near future. I am planning another echo at the end of the summer.

As far as dosages go, I would probably recommend 2 to 4 tabs a day of the Cardio-Plus, at least initially (because of the severity of your dog's heart issue). If possible, I would try to give the Cardio-Plus throughout the day (away from the Enalapril, though) in order to keep the nutrition consistently in his system. Then, as the heart improves, I would probably cut back to 2 tabs a day. The Canine Whole Body Support is dosed by weight, so for a 10 lb. dog the dosage would be 1/8 tsp once a day.

I would also recommend that you find a good holistic vet who can help work with you and monitor your dog and his progress and then help you get him safely off the Enalapril as her heart starts to improve."

05/04/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Thank you Katie for your concerned and quick response. You are definitely an angel from Heaven! I will order these supplements today and start her on them. When you say "away from the Enalapril", do you mean I should administer them at a different time of day? I give her the Enalapril with each meal (am/pm) so as to not upset her stomach. Is it ok to give her the Standard Process supplements on an empty stomach?

During our visit to the Cardiologist next Tuesday, I am sure that he will want to put her on additional meds (some I have heard from your followers are Vetmedin, Benazeprill and Furosemide). Shoud I refuse?

Katie, you have no idea how much we appreciate your kindness, support and knowledge. It is people like you that makes me not give up on "two-legged animals."!!!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Yes, give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at a different time from your dog's meds so they don't compete. I would continue giving the Enalapril with his meals, and would give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at any other point during the day – but, I would want to space them out. If you choose to give closer to mealtime, I would allow at 1 or 2 hours before a meal or 2 to 3 hours after a meal. Also, these phytonutrients don't need to be given with food.

Most likely, your vet is going to want to put your dog on additional meds (as they did with my dog). In my experience, I found that every time they added another drug, his heart issue became more dire and his heart continued to weaken further and faster. These drugs created all types of terrible problems with my dog. And, it ultimately became more and more complicated to try to wean my dog off of his meds after being on so many of them (he was on 6 or 7 meds in the end). So, my advice would be to try to keep him off the additional meds, if possible, and give these supplements a chance to start working. However, if it's unavoidable, try to get her off of them ASAP, once the heart strengthens.

By the way, you might also want to keep some magnesium on hand (only in the beginning though). Once, when my dog was very sick, his heart was beating out of his chest and I was rushing him to the cardiologist. Before I left the house I gave him a small spoonful of the liquid magnesium, and in less than 5 minutes his heartbeat returned to normal again. Now, I wouldn't recommend the magnesium long term (or as a regular supplement anymore) because it is an "isolated" supplement --- but you might want to keep some on hand just in case…in an emergency."

05/06/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Got it! Thanks Katie! I will post an update as soon as Candy and I visit the cardiologist tomorrow. Please everyone, keep her in your prayers!"

05/07/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie. Candy and I are back from the Cardiologist. $1000 later, she has been diagnosed with Myxomatous Mitral and Triscuspid Valve Degeneration. Left atrial and ventricular dialation. Mild left-sided congestive heart failure. She said the condition is moderate and that the prognosis is 1 to 2 years. They performed an echo, electro and blood panel and prescribed Lasix and Vetmedin (which I bought). She wants to see her again in a week to determine if her body is accepting the meds with more lab work and another electro.

Katie, I am so confused! Candy seems to be doing better and only coughing a little bit at night. Her heart beat is still elevated and very loud but other than that her appetite is good and so is her energy level.

Should I start her on the meds (I know you hate Vetmedin and I did read about it) or should I not? I have order the supplements (the isolated as well as the Standard Process ones) but have not received them yet. So far I have spent over $1500. When the supplements arrive and I get her on them, how will I know if she gets better that it was the supplements and not the meds or the other way around?And if I don't start her on the meds, what if she gets worse? I very much want to do what is best for Candy and I don't know what that is. I am heartbroken, nervous and very confused.

I would really appreciate your input! Please help me!!!!!"

05/07/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Did the cardiologist mention if Candy's heart is enlarged (cardiomegaly), and if so, did he mention if is it mild, moderate or severe? Or if she had any fluid in her lungs? Or, if she has any pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)? Also, do you know what her heart rate is? Did he mention what grade her murmur was -- or anything about her mitral regurgitation? (Murmurs are graded from 1-6 and regurgitation is graded from is 0-4. ) Also, what were the recommended dosages of each of her meds?

Also, when do you expect to receive the SP supplements?"

05/08/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie, I feel like I did not ask the right questions. She did say that her heart was enlarged but only the left side and moderately. She did have fluid in her lungs (thus the Lasix) but she did not mention heart rate or pulmonary hypertension. She explained that the top part of her left valve is not closing properly any more. The murmur is a grade 5 but do not know the regurgitation grade. I am expecting the supplements around the 14th. I just measured her heart rate myself and counted 67 beats per minute (very loud beating). What do you think?

Her medications are: Enalapril 2. 5 mg. - 1/4 tablet twice a day. Lasix 12. 5 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day and Vetmedin 1. 25 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day. She has been taking the Enalapril for two years now."

05/08/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, can you give me your e-mail address so we can speak directly."

05/23/2013: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi all,

Just wanted to send an update our our Mocha. I had originally posted about him in January of 2012; we were in the process of bringing him back from a very difficult experience of heart-related 'seizure-like' episodes and I wrote at that time to share what we found to be working for him in terms of supplements.

Mocha is still with us (yay!) and doing well. As with any healing, it has been a journey. He did really well on the previous supplement schedule for some time, however he is in his later years and like any body - animal or human - it has its ups and downs. But dramatic decrease in the episodes we were so afraid would take his life. And after having so many of them, we were afraid he would not come all the way back.

He has recovered so well, and we continue to 'tweak' his supplements as Katie from Northport mentioned doing herself over time and with research. We also were blessed to have a wonderful holistic veterinarian move to our area so that we didn't have to figure so much out on our own.

Mocha is currently on:

1. Canine Cardiac Support by Standard Process. Great product, can't say enough about it.

2. CoQ10 for pets by Rx Vitamins - this is created exclusively for pets

3. Forti Flora by Purina - A probiotic supplement for dogs, and I believe they have a version for cats.

4. A Chinese herbal formula called Ding Xian Wan by Jing Tang to balance the liver, which in Chinese Medicine is responsible in part for keeping the heart balanced. This was very interesting to me, as Mocha had a long history of liver imbalance before his heart symptoms ever showed up.

5. CAS Options by Resources - this is an immune and antioxidant support.

All supplements were provided by our holistic vet, who also determined doses for our 9 lb boy.

We also give him 1 tsp of organic sweet potato baby food (great for easing constipation - also associated with the liver) and 1 tsp of fresh wheatgrass per meal which has really improved him overall. A bit of 'live food' in his baked chicken or white fish has made a lovely difference.

In his case, he did not do well on raw foods but as we've learned, there is no 'one size fits all' for people or for pets. This combination has been working beautifully for him and we are deeply grateful that he is here with us and has quality of life. He was, unfortunately, a 'puppy mill' puppy - something we weren't aware of until years later and with that, did not come from a healthy background. Health issues have surfaced throughout his life despite us giving the best care we could at the time, and in this way, his little body has been a great teacher to us.

Hope a bit of what we all have learned and shared here with one another continues to help other dear pets out there.

Best wishes,

Deborah"

[YEA]  01/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "My 12 lb. Pekingnese recently went through some very frightening and life-threatening health issues related to his heart. He is doing terrific now, however I want to share a bit about what symptoms were manifesting and how we've managed to stop them.

In September of 2011, our sweet dog Mocha began having something akin to night screams/seizures. In the middle of the night, normally between 1 - 3am, he would wake from sleep with a horrific scream, then go immediately into a seizure. In all of our years with him he had never shown anything like this. His seizure would then last 7 -8 minutes. It was a terrible scene to witness and watch him endure. It happened again a month later, and as we began the process of veterinary visits, tests, etc. and were coming up with no answers. The veterinarian said these were not epileptic seizures, but he did not know what they were or where they were coming from. From his model of medicine he only had Phenobarbital to offer as a means to get control of the seizures. Although we took the advice at the time, my family and I all felt this was still an undiagnosed condition and the Pheno would at best offer us some time to get things figured out. We had to bring these episodes to a halt as soon as possible as each episode seemed to erode his overall health. We were watching our beloved pup drift away from us with each episode.

As we began our research, I started online with researching 'dog screams'. Although the veterinarian said perhaps this was a dream, or anxiety, he didn't feel the dog was in pain at the time of his episodes. We wholeheartedly disagreed. Although Mocha may not have felt pain during the actual seizure, the scream occurred just before and was absolutely horrifying. It was CLEAR that he was in wrenching pain before falling into a seizure. I was amazed to find online assorted threads of pet owner conversations on the topic of dog screams... Most of which indeed were followed by seizure activity, involuntary defecation, etc. In almost each case, the dogs in question were small dog breeds, just like Mocha. Also in each case, the owner knew the dog had a diagnosed heart murmur, as we did with Mocha.

Following this thread, I started to research heart remedies for dogs. Some were specific to murmurs, others were more generalized and in each small dog case, there was also an issue with keeping blood sugar balanced. We began putting together a small grouping of supplements to put Mocha on based on the information we were finding online.

At the same time that we were doing this research, we were giving Mocha the Phenobarbital. He had a terrible time adapting to it. Aside from being basically unconscious 90 minutes after the dose for approximately 9 hours, he was starting to urinate excessively and also to pant exactly 90 minutes after each dose. Sometimes the panting was excessive and frightening. We brought all of these topics up to the veterinarian who said that small dogs tend to adapt the least to this medication, and that whatever adaptation was going to happen would happen within the first two weeks. We were a month into it at this point and becoming very concerned. In addition, it was not stopping entirely his concerning episodes. We had his blood tested to see if he was at 'therapeutic levels' of the Phenobarbital and he was not. The veterinarian wanted us to go up in dose, but our instincts told us 'no'. This dog was losing quality of life on the dose he was already on, and we felt certain that increasing his dose would decrease his life expectancy and quality of remaining life. We decided at that point to trust our instincts and begin tending specifically to his heart.

I am happy to report that since we began adding in his natural heart and blood sugar supports, there have been no screaming/seizure episodes (6 weeks now). This is SIGNIFICANT, as Mocha had gotten to the point where he was screaming/seizing several times per day before beginning his holistic treatment. We have also decreased his Phenobarbital very slowly and safely and this, also, has improved his overall health and vitality. At this point we know we are substantially below 'therapeutic levels' and that the medication is doing next to nothing for him. We are taking him off slowly simply to be safe and gentle with is system. He should be off it entirely over the next week.

I am sharing this information because I know there are others out there who may have dogs with heart murmurs, small dogs, screaming/seizure dogs and the like. I was amazed at how frequent this problem presents based on what I found online, and yet could find NONE of this information via veterinarians or veterinary sites. It all came from pet owners who have had to research and address the issues themselves based on what others were doing. Thank goodness for sites like this one... I truly have no idea what Mocha's future would have been without them.

As for what supplements we have found which address his issues:

Hearty Heart (liquid drops) from Pet Wellbeing: Dosage is determined by pet's weight. This product has been developed by holistic veterinarians and veterinary herbalists. It is absolutely fantastic and useful for dogs and cats. Our 14 year-old cat has Cardiomyopathy and this has helped him so very much as well. Can't recommend it highly enough.

L-Carnitine (liquid) from Pet's Choice Pharmaceuticals: An essential amino acid designed to assist both the heart and blood sugar levels. Very helpful in healing the heart after functional disturbances and preventing future problems. Especially recommended for small breeds. Dosage determined by pet's weight.

FortiFlora (powder) from Purina Veterinary Diets: Probiotic supplement with beneficial strains of good bacteria designed to balance the digestive system and strengthen immunity. Excellent for blood sugar issues, allergies, skin and coat issues, etc. Mocha has been on this for years, as he has a long history of highly reactive/allergic skin, itching, blood sugar issues, etc. As a 12 lb dog, we give Mocha half a packet twice per day with his meals.

Magnesium mixed with Vitamin C: Both of these nutrients are excellent for the heart and safe for dogs. We buy tablets and then powder them together in our mortar and pestle. This allows us to sprinkle them onto his food. Again because Mocha is small, he only get 2 pinches of this mixture once per day. The ratio of his Magnesium to Vitamin C is 2:1. The dose, ratio, form of the nutrient may be specific dog to dog but there is helpful information online about dosing them.

Ubiqinone (CoQ10): An important antioxidant which helps with energy and heart function. It is potent so again, read up on dosage for your pet or consult with a holistic veterinarian. For Mocha, he only takes 1 drop from a 30mg capsule. Any more than that is too much, but we notice a difference when he doesn't have it at all.

D-Ribose: This is a metabolic sugar which is found within the body, but can also be supplemented. It is excellent for the heart, for recovery of the heart and for energy production... Of of which Mocha needed. Because of his small size he only takes 200 - 300 mg day. This product can be found in most healthfood stores.

So there you are. I hope you find this information helpful if you are searching for help for your dog. Most important lessons we have learned from the experince are 1) trust your instincts and 2) do your homework. If something doesn't sound right to you in terms of diagnosis, treatment, etc. , or if you simply feel you have not gotten sufficient answers, trust your instincts. There is an abundance of information available on the web today and tho, yes, sometimes that can be misleading, when you read over and over from owners about what works/doesn't work, TRUST it. In our case we were not able to get any answers from the veterinary community (in person or online) and ALL of Mocha's help came from dog owners like you. And, do your homework... Research what is going on with your pet, what others are doing for the same issues, safe dosage amounts, etc. Take charge of what is going on, have confidence in yourself and your instincts and take one step at a time. Don't wait passively for answers and don't continue with anything that just feels wrong or is causing clear harm... Even if that information comes from the medical community. They, like us, are all still learning but sometimes the life of a patient (human or animal) can't wait and you must strike out on your own. Work closely with professionals when and how you can, but don't linger with anyone who isn't providing help or cooperating with your desire to work holistically. Put your pet and his/her life first.

Good luck to you and I hope some little puppy dog and his family out there can be helped just like we have been. We are tremendously grateful to have been steered by others to the help Mocha needed and are enjoying seeing our sweet pup return to us in every way.

Blessings,

Deborah, Mocha and family...."

01/24/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: "Deborah, thanks for this detailed and informative post; and congrats on Mocha's recovery. If I might add the importance of omega 3 fatty acids like Flax and Fish oils for health of every cell in prevention and recovery of illness."

01/27/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Thanks Tim, indeed. We did have Mocha on fish oil at different time periods... Sometimes he did well with it, other times not so much. We switched his diet to a more fish-rich diet (fresh cooked fish) and that seemed to do the trick. Flax oil makes him itch terribly so we avoid that in his case. But excellent advice to others who may be researching for their own pets."

02/23/2012: Kickdiver from Wilmington, Nc: "Thank you for the detailed info. I have a 12 year old Great Dane on various heart meds due to near Heart Failure and enlarged heart with atrial fib/dilated cardio myopathy. He's on Vetmed, Diltiazem, Benazepril and Digoxin, since our emergency visit at the Cardiology Clinic, where his heart beat was measured 250 bpm.... He is stabilized now, and I also give him Omega 3 fish oils, CQ10, and looking into carnitine and taurine, and I did come across the site for Hearty Heart, but it says NOT to give this natural remedy WHILE on heart meds.

But... How can I stop the heart meds, when they just now kicked in after 2 days of horrible heart racing and my poor dog being miserable? Can I trust the reviews on line? They all seem great , but... One never knows if they are just bloggers paid by the company... Anyhow.. I'm willing to give it a try, yet, I cannot take him off the heart meds right now... I'd rather give him half a dose of the Hearty Heart along WITH the meds and then slowly go down with the dosage..

Worst of all, I am supposed to move to the Middle East with my 3 beloved K9s in April, how in the world am I going to get my boy there in this condition? I cannot leave this companion behind, he's my kiddo! I know his heart situation is a serious thing, but apart from that he has NO health issues, all blood work was good and all organs perfectly intact, as a matter of fact, the Vets at the clinic told me that he was the healthiest and oldest Dane they have seen!!! (thanks to Raw Diet and NO vaccines, I guess... ) I do have a professional pet handling company hired, still... My holistic vet said St John's Word could help him as well. I have a few more weeks to see how he develops, in the interim, any input helps.. I'd love to give Hearty Heart a try, but.. There is NO way I can stop the meds right now... What to do??"

02/23/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi Kickdiver, thank you for your post. How great that your Great Dane is so healthy at the age of 12! You've obviously done so much to get him there.

I totally understand your concern about mixing the HH supplement with the heart meds. This is indeed a conundrum and I don't know the answer for you. This has to be an individual decision. I personally would not mix them as the HH is developed by holistic veterinarians and they so strongly advise against it.

I know in our situation, we had to make the difficult choice between medications vs. Supplements. It's so much easier when one can blend both and not make such a difficult and scary decision, but sometimes this is just not safe. So what we did was begin with supplements that did not have contraindications with the medication we used at the time. The HH came in toward the end of that supplement list, as we did everything else first to stabilize him supplement-wise. As Mocha grew more and more stable on the supplements, we gradually began moving him down on his medication dose AND began putting the HH in separate feedings from his medication. So breakfast/dinner had medication, lunch snack and evening snack (9pm) had HH. This worked for him but we were ever so careful. The medication he was on could not safely be stopped abruptly, so we had to wean him down on it while slowly adding in the supplements where we could. This took time, patience, faith and much care to get right but like for you, he is our 'kiddo' and we just wanted him better. However he was not on heart meds, he was on Phenobarbital and that is a big difference between your picture and mine. Had Mocha been on heart meds, I'm not sure if we would have gone forward with the HH in this way. Like you, we would have had to sit with the different choices in front of us and find the safest, best long-term plan for our pup.

So for now, since your pup is newly on all of these meds and just coming out of an acute situation you may want to continue as you are doing. Simply add safe supplements with no contraindications. If I were you, I would add the L-Carn as that has profoundly good impact on heart function and in general is very safe. Not sure the Taurine is a fit or a priority in your pup's case.

As for the HH, I recommended it because I use it for my pup and it works brilliantly. It is also safe for cats, and we gave it to our 14-year old cat who was having wobbly, at times screeching, seizures and who had previously been diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. Since starting him on the HH, no wobbling, no screaming, no seizures. I don't work for the company, am not a paid blogger, etc. I'm a user and this product is the real deal in my experience. Is it the best fit for your sweet Dane? I don't know. But it was the fit for our Pekingese and tabby.

Seems the safest short-term approach would be to find the combination of supplements (and possibly meds) that work for your Dane and then move in whatever direction you can from there for a long-term plan. Most important is to a) stabilize acute symptoms and then b) find long-term solutions which often need to be at least partially natural so as to 'do no harm'. If some meds need to be part of that picture for your Dane going forward, so be it. Most important is to keep him healthy, happy and strong for the longest amount of time you can. We HAD to move our pup off of meds because they were doing more harm then good, far more so. With that, we still had to do it gradually to keep him safe. If the meds had been significantly helping with no serious side effects, I may have considered keeping him on them along with supplements but that was not what was happening.

So, you have a bit of a process in front of you but I know you will find the right solutions for him. Just please don't mix HH with meds if you have been outright cautioned against doing so by the product maker. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to our sweet animal friends' lives, I know you agree."

06/11/2012: Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, Fl: "Yogi, is 1/2 st bernard 1/2 golden retriever, 9 yrs old. As a result of elective surgery gone bad he developed seizures which he is taking phenabarbital. 30 mg. 1 1/2 in pm. Helping. From onset of seizures causing anxiety vet told me he has enlarged heart. Beats so fast his chest beating with it. Dr. not familar with heart. Not taking meds for that. Afraid he will have heart attack!!! Comes to us when this starts to happen, drooling all over himself. Please help. Been to so many drs. Can't afford anymore."

06/18/2012: Nh Gardener from Sanbornton, Nh, Usa: "For Marilyn from Pembroke Pines, FL for dog Yogi--Please give him food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in his food dampened with raw apple cider vinegar, starting with 1 tsp. DE once a day, increasing gradually to heaping tsp. 2 X/day. Also add gently melted coconut oil to his food, starting with 1 tsp. Once a day, increasing gradually to 2 or 3 tsps. 2 X/day. I've seen testimonials that seizures have decreased or disappeared with both these supplements. His heart racing may normalize with the ACV. Also give him 1 kelp tablet, crushed, in his food, said to strengthen heart. One site that sells DE has esp. Good human and pet testimonials. Check Coconut Research Center.org for seizure info. Bach Flower Remedies may help racing heart also. All good wishes for dear Yogi."

10/27/2012: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Suji, I just noticed your post today. You placed your post under someone else's post, not mine, which is why I didn't see it. The reason I stopped the magnesium, carnitine, ribose and CoQ-10 was because I started to worry that it might have stopped working for my dog. I kept my dog on these supplements for a year and my dog was examined by 2 cardiologists in that time and they both confirmed that he had no murmur. However on the last visit, the third cardiologist told me he had a grade 1 murmur. This really concerned me --- so I started to research more and found out that taking "isolated" supplements such as the above can cause imbalances in the body. I found out that calcium is equally necessary to the heart (along with magnesium and many other nutrients, including omega 3s), but that they must be in balance with each other and in a form that the body can utilize. Too much calcium can cause a magnesium imbalance and too much magnesium can cause a calcium imbalance, etc. These minerals and vitamins must also come along with all their cofactors, enzymes and other things that appear naturally in nature in order to really work.

I also noticed that my dog appeared to start having some bone issues. I wondered if I was creating a calcium deficiency in him, by giving him the magnesium. Now the bone issues may be completely unrelated and just purely coincidental..... I just don't know. But, that was enough for me... I felt that I needed to look into this a little further and that's when I started him on the phytonutrients.

You mentioned homeopathy and I'd like to tell you my experience with it with my now deceased dog. I consulted with a vet who I believed was also knowledgeable homeopath and she recommended remedies for him, which I gave to him (away from meds) but they did not work. I now know the reason they did not work -- and a true homeopath will tell you this --- is because the drugs are so strong that they will cancel out the effects of the homeopathy.

Unfortunately, I realized this too late because I trusted this doctor. I have since found out that this vet was not an accredited classical homeopath and did not have the in-depth training and knowledge and experience with homeopathy - rather, I believe she only took a weekend course and claimed to be one.

Thankfully I have found a "real" classical homeopath who is wonderful and I use him for many things (mostly short term illnesses and other problems) --- but I WILL NOT use him for my dog's heart problem. I have learned that you MUST address the underlying nutritional problems in any longstanding chronic condition first. If you don't, I believe you will not get the results you are looking for. This is why he is on the phytonutrients.

You asked if there is a way that we can speak directly but that would require that we would have to post our email addresses here -- and I'm not sure that I am comfortable with that."

05/03/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Hi Katie! I have just read all of your posts on supplements and feel that the Universe brought me to this site after hours of crying and pleading! I have three Chihuahuas (my babies) since they were pups and are now 6 years old. Candy (the brightest and most inquisitive) was diagnosed with a grade 2 heart murmur 2 years ago. The vet put her on 1/4 pill of Enalapril twice a day and she had been doing fine. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that her heart was beating unusually hard (I could hear it from a few feet away) and sometimes feels sluggish in the mornings with a lack of appetite. No other symptoms yet thank God. I took her back to the vet today and she says that the murmur has escalated to a grade 5. She recommended a cardiologist. We have an appointment next Tuesday. I switched my dogs' diet to raw a couple of years ago and have been giving them Dr. Becker's supplements (digestive enzymes, probiotics, Krill oil, Spirulina, Ubiquinol) as well as bone meal, glands powder and coconut oil.

I am devastated about my baby's prognosis, as the vet says her condition will get worse, her heart is working very hard and there is no surgery or cure. She is 6, beautiful, smart, funny and a great loving doggy! I refuse to think that there is nothing that I can do for her. I am so sad and helpless. Candy is only 5 pounds and I don't know if some of the supplements will benefit her or what dosage I should use. I beg you to please help me come up with a good alternative option for her. I don't care if I have to go to the end of the world and back, if it means a long, happy and healthy life for her. Thank you so much!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, Do not give up hope on your dog. I would start your dog on the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support immediately. I would give these supplements away from the Enalapril. (Note: Do not stop the Enalapril immediately - your dog will need to be slowly weaned off of it once her heart starts to get stronger. Stopping this drug immediately can cause a setback. ) I would recommend that you stop all of the other supplements though- and I don't even think that the ubiquinol is necessary as the Cardio-Plus contains about 25 mg. of natural CoQ10 per tab.

The Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support are the only supplements that my dog is currently on. And, as you will see from my previous posts, my dog's heart is strong now and is pumping at 100% - and his heart shrunk back to the size of a what a normal, healthy Cavalier should be. The reason why my dog still has a murmur right now is only because his valves are still a little leaky, but my vet feels that they will also improve, if not heal themselves too, in the near future. I am planning another echo at the end of the summer.

As far as dosages go, I would probably recommend 2 to 4 tabs a day of the Cardio-Plus, at least initially (because of the severity of your dog's heart issue). If possible, I would try to give the Cardio-Plus throughout the day (away from the Enalapril, though) in order to keep the nutrition consistently in his system. Then, as the heart improves, I would probably cut back to 2 tabs a day. The Canine Whole Body Support is dosed by weight, so for a 10 lb. dog the dosage would be 1/8 tsp once a day.

I would also recommend that you find a good holistic vet who can help work with you and monitor your dog and his progress and then help you get him safely off the Enalapril as her heart starts to improve."

05/04/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Thank you Katie for your concerned and quick response. You are definitely an angel from Heaven! I will order these supplements today and start her on them. When you say "away from the Enalapril", do you mean I should administer them at a different time of day? I give her the Enalapril with each meal (am/pm) so as to not upset her stomach. Is it ok to give her the Standard Process supplements on an empty stomach?

During our visit to the Cardiologist next Tuesday, I am sure that he will want to put her on additional meds (some I have heard from your followers are Vetmedin, Benazeprill and Furosemide). Shoud I refuse?

Katie, you have no idea how much we appreciate your kindness, support and knowledge. It is people like you that makes me not give up on "two-legged animals."!!!!!"

05/04/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Yes, give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at a different time from your dog's meds so they don't compete. I would continue giving the Enalapril with his meals, and would give the Cardio-Plus and the Canine Whole Body Support at any other point during the day – but, I would want to space them out. If you choose to give closer to mealtime, I would allow at 1 or 2 hours before a meal or 2 to 3 hours after a meal. Also, these phytonutrients don't need to be given with food.

Most likely, your vet is going to want to put your dog on additional meds (as they did with my dog). In my experience, I found that every time they added another drug, his heart issue became more dire and his heart continued to weaken further and faster. These drugs created all types of terrible problems with my dog. And, it ultimately became more and more complicated to try to wean my dog off of his meds after being on so many of them (he was on 6 or 7 meds in the end). So, my advice would be to try to keep him off the additional meds, if possible, and give these supplements a chance to start working. However, if it's unavoidable, try to get her off of them ASAP, once the heart strengthens.

By the way, you might also want to keep some magnesium on hand (only in the beginning though). Once, when my dog was very sick, his heart was beating out of his chest and I was rushing him to the cardiologist. Before I left the house I gave him a small spoonful of the liquid magnesium, and in less than 5 minutes his heartbeat returned to normal again. Now, I wouldn't recommend the magnesium long term (or as a regular supplement anymore) because it is an "isolated" supplement --- but you might want to keep some on hand just in case…in an emergency."

05/06/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, Ca: "Got it! Thanks Katie! I will post an update as soon as Candy and I visit the cardiologist tomorrow. Please everyone, keep her in your prayers!"

05/07/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie. Candy and I are back from the Cardiologist. $1000 later, she has been diagnosed with Myxomatous Mitral and Triscuspid Valve Degeneration. Left atrial and ventricular dialation. Mild left-sided congestive heart failure. She said the condition is moderate and that the prognosis is 1 to 2 years. They performed an echo, electro and blood panel and prescribed Lasix and Vetmedin (which I bought). She wants to see her again in a week to determine if her body is accepting the meds with more lab work and another electro.

Katie, I am so confused! Candy seems to be doing better and only coughing a little bit at night. Her heart beat is still elevated and very loud but other than that her appetite is good and so is her energy level.

Should I start her on the meds (I know you hate Vetmedin and I did read about it) or should I not? I have order the supplements (the isolated as well as the Standard Process ones) but have not received them yet. So far I have spent over $1500. When the supplements arrive and I get her on them, how will I know if she gets better that it was the supplements and not the meds or the other way around?And if I don't start her on the meds, what if she gets worse? I very much want to do what is best for Candy and I don't know what that is. I am heartbroken, nervous and very confused.

I would really appreciate your input! Please help me!!!!!"

05/07/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Hi Sara, Did the cardiologist mention if Candy's heart is enlarged (cardiomegaly), and if so, did he mention if is it mild, moderate or severe? Or if she had any fluid in her lungs? Or, if she has any pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)? Also, do you know what her heart rate is? Did he mention what grade her murmur was -- or anything about her mitral regurgitation? (Murmurs are graded from 1-6 and regurgitation is graded from is 0-4. ) Also, what were the recommended dosages of each of her meds?

Also, when do you expect to receive the SP supplements?"

05/08/2013: Sara from Newbury Park, California: "Hi Katie, I feel like I did not ask the right questions. She did say that her heart was enlarged but only the left side and moderately. She did have fluid in her lungs (thus the Lasix) but she did not mention heart rate or pulmonary hypertension. She explained that the top part of her left valve is not closing properly any more. The murmur is a grade 5 but do not know the regurgitation grade. I am expecting the supplements around the 14th. I just measured her heart rate myself and counted 67 beats per minute (very loud beating). What do you think?

Her medications are: Enalapril 2. 5 mg. - 1/4 tablet twice a day. Lasix 12. 5 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day and Vetmedin 1. 25 mg. 1/2 tablet twice a day. She has been taking the Enalapril for two years now."

05/08/2013: Katie from Northport, Ny: "Sara, can you give me your e-mail address so we can speak directly."

05/23/2013: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az: "Hi all,

Just wanted to send an update our our Mocha. I had originally posted about him in January of 2012; we were in the process of bringing him back from a very difficult experience of heart-related 'seizure-like' episodes and I wrote at that time to share what we found to be working for him in terms of supplements.

Mocha is still with us (yay!) and doing well. As with any healing, it has been a journey. He did really well on the previous supplement schedule for some time, however he is in his later years and like any body - animal or human - it has its ups and downs. But dramatic decrease in the episodes we were so afraid would take his life. And after having so many of them, we were afraid he would not come all the way back.

He has recovered so well, and we continue to 'tweak' his supplements as Katie from Northport mentioned doing herself over time and with research. We also were blessed to have a wonderful holistic veterinarian move to our area so that we didn't have to figure so much out on our own.

Mocha is currently on:

1. Canine Cardiac Support by Standard Process. Great product, can't say enough about it.

2. CoQ10 for pets by Rx Vitamins - this is created exclusively for pets

3. Forti Flora by Purina - A probiotic supplement for dogs, and I believe they have a version for cats.

4. A Chinese herbal formula called Ding Xian Wan by Jing Tang to balance the liver, which in Chinese Medicine is responsible in part for keeping the heart balanced. This was very interesting to me, as Mocha had a long history of liver imbalance before his heart symptoms ever showed up.

5. CAS Options by Resources - this is an immune and antioxidant support.

All supplements were provided by our holistic vet, who also determined doses for our 9 lb boy.

We also give him 1 tsp of organic sweet potato baby food (great for easing constipation - also associated with the liver) and 1 tsp of fresh wheatgrass per meal which has really improved him overall. A bit of 'live food' in his baked chicken or white fish has made a lovely difference.

In his case, he did not do well on raw foods but as we've learned, there is no 'one size fits all' for people or for pets. This combination has been working beautifully for him and we are deeply grateful that he is here with us and has quality of life. He was, unfortunately, a 'puppy mill' puppy - something we weren't aware of until years later and with that, did not come from a healthy background. Health issues have surfaced throughout his life despite us giving the best care we could at the time, and in this way, his little body has been a great teacher to us.

Hope a bit of what we all have learned and shared here with one another continues to help other dear pets out there.

Best wishes,

Deborah"

09/10/2012: Diz2ydez from San Pablo, Ca, Usa : "Hi , I just wanted to let people know that my dog was always itching , after a bath, after I put her drops in. I Never tried Apple Cider Vinegar cause I was afraid of how she might react to it. I bath her with her shampoo and conditioner. After I used her shampoo and rinsed her with warm water more on the colder side, I used my shampoo, I used a small amount of "head and shoulders 2 in 1". I dont know if the Head and Sholders will do any harm but I noticed she hasn't been itching as much. Just thought I should put that out there."

05/03/2013: Shelley from Lamar, Missouri, United States: "Most products like head and shoulders has tea tree oil in it which helps with bacteria that causes dandruff."

[YEA]  06/03/2009: Paulette from Sydney, Australia: "One cap full to four caps water of apple cider vinegar. When blocked do every 30 mins Put in wet foood-catfood tinned NO flour cereal in it.Human Tuna O.K. too if stuck. Our cat was blocked and it unblocked him 2 and a 1/2 hours later enough to sleep, I can lose sleep but not the cat as I dont have another $1200 straight away Two days out of the vet."

06/22/2009: lynn from los angeles, california: "how much water and vinegar do i use for a 4 lb dog (yorkie)?"

05/03/2013: David from Milton Keynes, Bucks: "Garlic keeps fleas off a dog. I capsule a day. Some use garlic salt on their food."

[QUESTION]  05/28/2009: EJ from Middleboro, MA: "Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone has successfully treated melanoma in horses. My aging grey gelding has many and they seem to be getting bigger lately. There is a large one in his mouth, on the crease of the lip where the bit lies that has grown 3 fold in the 8 years I've owned him. Doesn't seem to bother him yet, but I'm concerned that it will. I'm also concerned about some around the anus. The vet has told me if they are outside, they are inside and suspects they are in the rectum. We all know what happens when a horse can't pass manure, so I'm trying to get proactive. I'm also curious if anyone has used Essiac tea or tincture on horses. I use it myself and would like to try it, but know that some things that are safe for humans, aren't for horses. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated."

10/15/2009: Estelle from Gardiner, Maine: "Your horse may very well NOT have them inside. I have been fighting a really agressive case of melamonas in my gray arab mare for almost 2 years now. It costs money, but I have found things that help. You need to use all of them.

Colostrum
Olive Leaf Powder
Grape seed extract
Nzymes (do a good search and put it in exactly the way I spelled it, it's a product)
Vitamin E/Selenium supplement.
You can also add some medicinal mushrooms and blue green algae.

Remember with the colostrum, grape seed and Nzymes you need LARGE doses to do any good. Dose twice a day for at least 6 months, take the horse off most or all of the things for 2-3 weeks,then start back up again.

for bulk colostrum, best price I found for the amount you have to give
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=4091

For the Olive Leaf in bulk.
http://herballovemall.com/Olive-Leaf-Powder-Organic-1-lb./M/B000UYA15A.htm?traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle

For grape seed
http://purebulk.com/grape-seed-pe-95"

11/14/2011: Emily from New Orleans, La: "Hi, I have an 8 yr old male chocolat lab who just got diagnosed with this. I heard that essiac tea helps with this? Has anyone heard of anything? Any suggestions or advice about anything would be greatly appreciated."

11/18/2011: Erika from Melbourne, Victoria. Australia.: "Hi All, Just want to pass on a natural cure for Melanoma(CANCER) and it is called "Black Salve". If you check out Elaine Hollingsworth's website, "Doctor's are Dangerous " you will find all the information there. It works for humans as well."

05/01/2013: Copnnie from Belle, Mo: "Hi, the vet I worked for a long time ago used acupuncture on a gelding that had melanoma, and I worked! It would come back and he would treat again, but at least it wasnt as bad as it could have been:)"

[YEA]  04/20/2013: Person_who_cares from Everett, Wa, Usa: "I did not have any trouble with my West Highland White Terrier's skin until she was about 6 years old and then it started in with hot spots, bleeding from an ear, excess thirst, excess itching and scratching and excess urinating, all I found were symptoms of fungus/yeast infection in dogs.

Searching the internet, most articles for treating skin problems are to use apple cider vinegar, which works but it is treating a symptom and not getting to the reason for the skin problems. If vinegar is showing signs of improvement, odds are the skin problem is a yeast/fungus infection.

With respect to treating dog yeast/fungus infections, I found a very good article online that I thought I had saved but cannot now find it. It said do NOT feed the dog grains, including oats, no potatoes or sweet potatoes, no peas and no honey because they turn into sugar in the dog and feed yeast/fungus. It said to use anti-fungus shampoos and conditioners with a certain anti-fungus ingredient that I did find at a pet store chain. It said to rinse the dog with a hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar mix watered down and to soak the dog's feet in that.

All vet pet doctors wanted to do was to throw steroids at it and to blame her breed. The results showed that that the majority of dog pet food manufacturers and many vets do not have a clue about yeast/fungus infections in dogs and actually contribute to the dog's health problems by putting the poor dog on dangerous steroids, which shorten any dog's life and gives them other health problems. I spent over $3000 in vet bills on my dog's skin problems. I had to ask the vet to do an allergy test, which showed she is allergic to nothing. The vet showed no interest in anything other than throwing steroids at the symptoms and not finding out the cause like a real vet should/would do. Another vet said they did not treat chronic skin conditions - blah! The problem is that many vets do not have a clue about effectively treating dog yeast/fungus infections when this should be basic knowledge to them.

The results of the no grain, no potato, etc. diet are my dog now has hair where she had none, no flaky, itchy skin exists on her any longer, she rarely scratches or itches at herself. She drinks far less water and urinates far less. She seems much happier.

I initially found a dog food with none of the yeast/fungus feeding ingredients in it that I had to rehydrate but the dog food smelled and I wanted a dry dog food that I could just put out and not have to mess with. I found a dry dog food held together with millet, which does not turn into sugar in the dog. This dry dog food is the only dog food that my dog was ever absolutely nuts about and eats with enthusiasm. Earth Clinic said to share the names of such foods in one place and in another place says not to put the names in the article so I will not share the name of the dog food that my dog is absolutely crazy about and which helped her finally have a healthy coat after two terrible years of skin problems.

Do not use those oat shampoos on a dog with skin problems because the oats in it are a source of food to the yeast/fungus. Find a good anti-fungus shampoo/conditioner to use."

04/22/2013: Sahar from San Pedro, Ca: "Could you please share with me the name of the no grain food made with millet that your dog loved? Also, the name of the shampoo? I have a miserable yeasty beagle, and can use all of the help I can get. This forum is made to help people... so you should be able to name Names! :)"

04/30/2013: Jennifer from Port Orchard, Us: "Please allow the lady trying to help people who have sick dogs like hers tell the name of the dry dog food product containing millet she used that healed her dog. She's not a business with commercial interests and just giving her opinion. What happened to free speech? Help our pets!!! How is this any different than "liking" things on Facebook Etc?"

[QUESTION]  07/03/2009: Lady Raven from Colo. Spgs., CO: "Question on Borax & Prevention:

First I'd like to say that I'm really glad I found this site. I am a big-time advocate of natural & "alternative" healing for humans & pets alike. My young daughters & I each have a kitty that calls us "Mom." There's 2 yr.old Bubba and 6 mo.old Stormy, who are both indoor/outdoor cats. Then there's 3 mo.olds Midnight & Maddox, who are still indoor kittens, as we live off a very busy street & I don't feel comfortable letting them out unsupervised just yet. Stormy ended up bringing home ear mites & now they all have them! My question is, once I get rid of the mites in/on our babies, how do I keep them from getting reinfected, since 2 of the cats still go outside. (My yard is also somewhat overgrown, which I know doesn't help, but as I'm physically disabled, there's not much I can do about it. Also can't afford to hire anybody.) My 2nd question regards using a Borax solution around the house. Should I just make a liquid solution & spray the carpets & furniture? Maybe wash linens with a bit added to the wash water? Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Feel free to email me on this or any other pet issue. Thanks! Lady Raven Silverwolf"

[YEA]  09/16/2009: Werknut from Cincinnati, Oh: "___ ___ ___ Borax is a miracle cure for getting rid of fleas and from keeping flea eggs from hatching. You buy it in the grocery store in the laundry aisle. Just sprinkle it on your carpeting and then vacuum it up. The residue will stay in the carpet and will kill fleas and keep flea eggs from hatching. It is more effective than any bug spray or expensive flea spray from the vet. And it's cheap! One box will last a long time. It's non-toxic to pets and it will leave your house smelling fresh. I used it when I lived in Florida, where fleas are plentiful and they are so hardy, they seem to be bionic. I swear by __ ___ ___Borax, and everyone I've ever recommended it to has had the same marvelous results I had."

09/17/2010: Froopy Dude from Orlando, Fl: "Absolutely true. Borax was recommended by a very humane vet. He said that it is the same substance vets sell for over $50. Borax is not quick - can take up to six weeks - but it truly does kill fleas. As stated, just apply it to carpet."

[YEA]  04/30/2013: Rastamom from Vancouver, Wa: "The lady is right about Borax! Used to use it on my carpet in Calil.... Love all the questions and remedies! Very helpful, thanks."

09/05/2012: Valerie from Nashville, Tn: "My poor sweet Leo (3 year old neutered male) has had a urinary blockage almost more times than I can remember now. It started in March 2012, he blocked (on a Sunday, of course) by Monday morning at about 3 or 4 he began vomiting and looked like he was about to die, which in fact, he was. I sat in the vets parking lot with him screaming in his crate for an hour until they opened at 6. That afternoon, they called and said they had unblocked him and then he re-blocked so they were going to keep him overnight. They called the next morning and said I could pick him up. The cost?? $957.00!! I almost fainted. He was good for a few weeks and then it happened again, and on a Sunday, again! We took him to the emergency vet. They told us $1,700 just to catharsizes him. When we balked they suggested that we might consider euthanasia! We got him through the night and took him to a different vet the next morning. We have used this vet many times. He is VERY unconventional and uses a lot of homeopathic and holistic approaches, which we like, but sometimes he gets a little too unconventional. For instance, his office does not have an x-ray machine!! Anyway, he made him very sleepy and put a catheter in. Leo pulled it out the next day or even that very night we are not exactly sure, and blocked again. Another catheter in, he pulled in out in two days, then the vet flushed him out really well and sent him home, he was good for a few weeks, I think, (really this has been going on for so long and so often that's it's really hard to keep up with each emergency. I could check all the bills, but the thought of that just sickens me, it's well over $2,000 in the past two months alone) He blocked again, got really sick again, almost died, re-cauterized him and sent him home. The vet wanted to keep the catheter in for seven days!! We bought not one, but two lampshade collars, kept him very drugged an in his small carrier. What a horrible nightmare for him, for me, for my life!! I couldn't go to work the entire week. Aside from giving him all his meds every three hours and forcing tons of water down his throat, I had to take him out every few hours and clean him, and the crate. He would be soaked in urine. But if I left him out even for a few moments he would attempt to run to the basement and would then immediately throw himself on his back and begin trying to pull the catheter out with his paws! It was really extraordinary. A day or two into this entire ordeal he began screaming all night long, seriously, all night long. I finally figured out that the valium I was giving him, that the vet gave me for him, was working and then having the opposite effect on him (agitation, awake, insane) when I gave him the second dose.. Evidently this is not uncommon in cats. Long story, a bit shorter, he did amazingly well for almost three weeks and then three days ago he started to lick his genitals and cry.. this is how it begins with him.

I discovered this site two weeks ago and started giving him ¼ tsp. ACV on his food, I put it in his water bowl and the water bowl dogs too. I really thought we may have solved the problem.. But two days ago, here we go again.!! He was blocked yesterday. I began giving him ¼ tsp. ACV ¼ tsp. Aloe, in one tablespoon of water about every four hours. Like so many others here have mentioned I shot it down his throat from a small syringe, he really doesn't protest it too much.. And the yesterday morning we took him back to the first vet.. The really expensive one, and when we took him out of his carrier his was soaked with pee. So maybe the ACV was working?? The vet gave us some pain meds for him, a valium family relaxer to keep his bladder relaxed and told us we needed to switch him over to Royal Canine OT. He has been eating Wellness canned chicken, and turkey with a sprinkling of Calf. Natural dried on top. All looked pretty good last night, but this morning he began the licking and crying. I gave him more ACV, but then (I keep reading, keep trying to figure out the best course of action with him. We really love him. He is a wonderful, loving funny, animal. Anyway, now I'm finding all this sites with warnings about not 'over' acidifying a cat's food because it can lead to kidney failure and other awful things. He peed a little today, but screamed like hell after.

So here is my question.. And I am so really hoping someone out there can help me and poor Leo.. How can I be sure now that I am not giving him too much and making the situation worse?? I don't know what to do to help him. Can someone please help me?"

09/12/2012: Gemini Dreamweapon from Chicago, Il: "Felines can get kidney stones just as humans do from excess minerals in the system. In felines this usually stems from high carb, processed, enzymatically dead pet food that they have not evolved to digest. Don't be fooled by your veterinarian approved kibble (I will refrain from names).

The ACV is too alkaline for your feline. Although ACV is a weak acid, when ingested in it becomes alkaline. It is okay diluted and in moderation for dogs and humans but cats internally are more acidic and need to maintain that slight acidity for favorable health - their stomachs produce more acid in order to properly break down and assimilate their ancestral diet. ACV will not only alkalinize their pH but will dampen their digestive fire and hinder proper digestion, nutrient utilization, and weaken their immune systems through pH imbalance.

ACV can also cause severe burns both internally and externally if not properly diluted and if given too much - this holds true for humans and dogs too. The dose you are giving is too high for your very light feline. That dose is human appropriate - consider a 125 pound human vs a 5-10 pound kitty.

Look into kidney stone breaker liquid tinctures. A stone breaker formula containing many of the same herbs used in holistic human stone breaker compounds. They make the formulas species safe and weight specific. You can drop the tincture into their food."

09/12/2012: Gemini Dreamweapon from Chicago, Il: "http://holisticat.com/no-kibble.html

'The grains and plant matter in dry foods can cause cats' urine to be too alkaline. Based on research in vet journals, the ideal urinary pH is between 6. 0 and 6. 5 The more alkalizing cats' diets are, the higher the risk of struvite crystal (and Bast forbid, stone/urolith) formation'

Just say no to ACV for cats. It's too alkaline and may be contributing to the problem.

Also - if your cat is on wet or dry commercial kibble it may very high in carbs and ultimately contributing to this crisis.

Try a raw meat/ancestral diet. Holisticat discusses this under the well-fed section of their site. There is ample info on transitioning and feeding a complete raw meat diet for both cats and dogs (differing protein needs and food tolerances). You don't have to go out of your way to grind down whole game bones and all, there are myriad boutique commercial raw diet manufactures."

04/11/2013: Kadsmidt from Hutchinson, Ks, USA: "No. I had taken our 8 year old male in for what was assumed to be a UTI. Until then, he was a happy, healthy, playful cat with a beautiful coat. He was on antibiotics and pain killers. Low and behind within 2 weeks, it started all over again. So I started reading up on home remedies. I tried the ACV. I had to end up taking him to a vet that was going to charge us 770 dollars to cath him and have an overnight stay. I went to a different vet for a second opinion, and she did the same prodecure for half that cost. But he never got to enjoy anything from the treatment. When she thought he was ready to be un cathed, and come home, he would not urinate. So in a desperate move, we told her to go ahead and open him up to see if she could get his bladder unblocked through his abdomen. When she opened him up, she found cancer masses all over the lining of his bladder, and he had to be euthanized.

This was all within a 2 week period. The last bout being we took him in on a Saturday morning and him was gone on the following Tuesday afternoon. We are beyond devastated. We did the right thing by taking him to the vet's. One never knows what is causing the blockage. Please do not hesitate to care for your pets. ACV was never going to cure our beloved cat. Neither were the antibiotics. On the last day of his life, his coat finally turned dull and he would not walk with us. He never did that before. Even during the round of antibiotics, he still played and had a sleek coat. It will be a month on the 12th of April that we lost him. I know in my mind, that I did everything I could in my power to help him. I won't have to beat myself up over not taking him to the vet. I still question if I took him to the right one. But cancer is cancer, and it took him. He was so advanced that there was no option, no chemo, no surgery. I admonish those that can afford to do so, please get them checked right away. If it works for your cat, great. Do not wait if it doesn't. I would have donated an organ to save my cat."

04/30/2013: Tina from Indiana: "I had a male cat that had a blockage I slipped a Kleenex underneath him and it was a mucus looking for plug. I took him to the vet - the vet put him on glucosamine, it's called dasuquin for cats. I sprinkle one capsule on his wet food in the morning and one at night. That was a year ago and I haven't had a problem since. Hope this helps."