Deborah (Chino Valley, Az) on 01/23/2012
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....
Replied By Timh (Louisville, Ky, Usa) on 01/24/2012
Replied By Deborah (Chino Valley, Az) on 01/27/2012
Replied By Ros (Tewantin, Qld, australia) on 02/03/2012
Replied By Deborah (Chino Valley, Az) on 02/09/2012
Replied By Kickdiver (Wilmington, Nc) on 02/23/2012
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??
Replied By Deborah (Chino Valley, Az) on 02/23/2012
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.
Replied By Marilyn (Pembroke Pines, Fl) on 06/11/2012
Replied By Nh Gardener (Sanbornton, Nh, Usa) on 06/18/2012
Replied By Deborah (Chino Valley, Az) on 05/23/2013
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
Replied By Phillip (Olympia, Wa) on 08/17/2013
Replied By Sasho (Bg) on 10/23/2013
(Mpls., Mn) on 10/23/2013Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
I took a peek at the website you linked - it looks like they have produced an effective product, going by the user reviews. I then saw an asterisk at the bottom and lost some of my enthusiasm for the product; the asterisk indicated that "*Testimonial results not typical; your results may vary." - and wouldn't you know it ALL the testimonies had asterisks by them.
I looked at the ingredients in the formulas; you can piecemeal your own formulas but you might end up spending just as much money putting together your own formula as their dearly priced preparations.
One single ingredient that appears promising and may prove helpful is homeopathic Crataegus oxyacantha. It is available in the pill form or a liquid tincture and must be used for a while for good results.
You might check out this online Materia Medica and see if there are remedies that resonate with you: http://www.homeoint.org/books/boericmm/
Check out these pages to read up more on dilated cardiomyopathy:
http://www.2ndchance.info/conghtfaildog.htm
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/5_4/features/5443-1.html
[Read to bottom to see possible remedies]
Replied By Sasho (Bulgaria) on 10/24/2013
I will see information you provided
unfortunately I started to give Hawthorn and Dandelion by Amber Tech http://ambertech.com/store/#! /~/product/category=1964585&id=8417024 and the next day dog condition worsense - there are difficult breathing almost all the time, gain at chest and abdomen
so I stop that supplement and started Furantril (Furosemide) and Enalapril
that was yesterday but today condition Is not better
so I have ordered Vetmedin (Pimobendan)
the above pharmaceutical drugs were prescribed month ago and I didn't supply them - dog condition was like Class 2 CHF and now Is like Class 3 - 4
I will need your help to start an additinal healing In combination with pharmaceutical drugs
BTW month and half ago dog undergo aa hirurgical treatment and was put on a Lidocayne - I guess that Is main reason to worsen heart
there Is another hope treating DCM - It Is oxygen therapy - you can read dr Terry Wood treatment at the beginning http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/feed_program_for_heart_support.htm
also I have found that when curing human DCM It can be used MSM (don't know what Is) and chromium http://cardiomyopathy-heart-failure.pilliewillie.nl/treatment-heart-failure/treatment.cardiomyopathy.heart.failure.21.php
anyone experienced with either treatments
regards
(Mpls., Mn) on 10/24/2013Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
I'm sorry to hear the upgrade to CHF 3-4.
This info is relevant:
"With failure of the right ventricle, fluid leaks into the abdomen, giving the belly a characteristic swelling or potbellied appearance (called ascites). This may be accompanied by swelling of the legs (dependent edema). An accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) also occurs with right-sided heart failure.
In the late stages of congestive heart failure the dog sits with his elbows spread and his head extended. Breathing is labored. The pulse is rapid, thready, and often irregular. The mucous membranes of the gums and tongue are bluish-gray and cool. A thrill may be felt over the chest. Fainting can occur with stress or exertion."
All drugs and remedies need *time* to work. The prescription meds you just started need time to work; if they do begin to work it may buy you more time to try the alternative therapies you are researching.
Bach Flower Rescue Energy may prove helpful here, and Rescue Remedy wouldn't be amiss for the BOTH of you during this stressful time.
Replied By Sasho (Bulgaria) on 10/25/2013
that CHF classification Is based only on mine own perception
since 2 days on Renetec (Enalapril malaete) and Furantril (Furosemide) dog Is now better then what was before 2 days. The effect of diuretic Is that dog started to pee much much more - so I hope that gain at abdomen will be fixed somehow. I am waiting for Vetmedin to receive and will add It like doctors prescribed
Does anyone here got a Vetmedin experience
I also give Cardiovet - polish product to support heart http://www.vetexpert.pl/bg/pets-bg/pets-products-bg/cardiovet
I also give Bomazeal Sinior - a great natural supplyment - I can recommend It - I use It from more than year because of a neurological deficiency
One big concern Is that dog lost apethite when I started drugs - I need to know how I can feed dog as I know that theese drugs are dangerous for kidney and liver at least
What would you advise to add to the above mentioned to compensate vital minerals extraction caused by diuretic
I am thinking also about some kind of Vitamine B complex - natural form Is best but do not know which product
Later I plan to start buying Standard Process products recommended by Katie and used from dr West http://www.healthalert.com/default.aspx
anyone subscribed for his newsletter
(Mpls., Mn) on 10/25/2013Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
I think with the cocktail of drugs and supplements you are giving your dog, you really need a veterinarian's imput - particularly so with the side effects of loss of appetite and the concern over liver and kidney damage.
That said....
Feed your dog whatever he wants to eat. Keeping a low sodium requirement, many canned products for seniors may fit the bill but do read labels on all prepared diets for sodium levels. Check these out for help on low sodium kibbles and treats:
http://www.vermontveterinarycardiology.com/index.php/for-clients/feeding-the-cardiac-patient
http://vet.tufts.edu/heartsmart/resources/reduced_sodium_diet_for_dogs.pdf
http://vet.tufts.edu/heartsmart/resources/treats_for_dogs_with_heart_disease.pdf
A few of mine have loved fried egg sandwiches with runny yolks; sometimes we just skipped the bread and they had eggs over easy. Another loved canned cat food; given that her remaining time was very limited she got all the cheap, sugar laden, crappy canned cat food she wanted. I don't know the age of your dog, but feeding mine 'junk food' in the form of cheap cat food certainly wasn't going to kill her before her medical conditions took her out and at least she was eating and feeling comfortable; with end stage disease sometimes all you can do is make them comfortable. Home made diets have always been a big hit with mine also; if you go home made consider supplementing with the supplements Katie has outlined in related posts to Lisa. Also consider tempting him with raw, ground sirloin or hamburger or raw ground chicken; for some of mine it was all they would eat in the end. So find out what your dog will eat, and feed it.
If you are concerned over water intake try making a low sodium broth, or a sweet water with a few drops of honey; if your dog isn't willing to drink then use a syringe and tip his head back and slowly ease the liquid into his mouth. Start a diary and keep track of water intake and food consumption so you know for certain just how much he is eating and drinking.
I am glad to hear the pharmaceuticals are working; fingers crossed that you can gain enough ground to wean him onto the more wholistic and natural approaches to treatment that you desire!
Replied By Sasho (Bulgaria) on 10/27/2013
I appreciate very much your support I tried once again to give a dose of Amber Tech Hawthorne and Dandelion and result once more was very fast breathing for few hours.
I am very curious Is anyone have an experience with mentioned product?
(Mpls., Mn) on 10/27/2013Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
Homeopathic hawthorn is 'Crataegus Oxyacantha'; homeopathic dandelion is 'Taraxacum officinale': please read up on these remedies here: http://www.homeoint.org/books/boericmm/index.htm
While you are using a tinc rather than the homeopathic sugar pills I think the homeopathic indications still apply. From what I have read in both reviewing your boy's symptoms [right side affected] and the crataegus [applicable for left side] it doesn't appear to be the correct remedy. Same for the dandelion/taraxacum. As Katie advised, its best to use a trained homeopath- and in an ideal world we all would. But sometimes the 'cook book' approach to homeopathy - pairing general symptoms to general remedies - does provide a direct hit, and when homeopathy works, it tends to be evident rather quickly. [And that said the materia medica info indicated the hawthorn must be used for some time for results - and it would seem you do not have the luxury of time at present.]
So, it sounds like the Ambertech product is a miss - a shame, because they do make great products.
Are you continuing with the pharmaceuticals? If so what results are you seeing?
How old is your boy? Have you been back to the vet since the first diagnosis 6 weeks or so ago?
Thanks!
Replied By Sasho (Bulgaria) on 10/28/2013
dog Is 10 yr - 2 months
The main problem Is enlarged heart which can not pump effectively
month ago - the last time I have been to vet for a relatively light surgery of other disease the pulse was very high - doctors said 220 - one of the reasons Is that he Is very emotional
that was where heart disease were finded - but because surgery dog was under local anasthesia when cardio examine was done - don't know If that might change something
from all of the prescribed pharmaceutical drugs - Enalapril, Furosemide, Vetmedin I am giving only light doses from Enalapril and Furosemide and I had to started because of the worsened condition after giving Hawthorne and Dandelion by Amber Tech
I am very scared to start with Vetmedin - If I do that I am scared that there Is no way of turning back
prior to that I have not given any meds because dog condition was relatevely good and stable
At Hawthorne and Dandelion brochure Is writed that there might be breathing problems because It containes Ethyle Alcohole
I have read description from http://www.homeoint.org/books/boericmm/index.htm and I think that Hawthorne - Crataegus Oxyacantha Is one of the supplements I need because It lower blood pressure and lower pulse - Enalapril equivalent
Dandelion must have diuretical function from what I know - Furosemide equivalent
I have noticed that when I supply a fresh air at room or when outside dog condition Is bettered
I have to find a way to supply an oxygen to his body, one of the options Is OTT Therapy http://www.firstchoicenaturals.com/Index/showroom.php?pid=122 but I am scared If I can mix two components or that there might be side effects
I am searching now trying to find other suppliments - like Vitamine B complex and etc which might energized heart and higher oxygen flow
I plan also to add D ribose, Magnesium, Calcium, Vitamine D and Calamari - fish oil.
Replied By Sasho (Bulgaria) on 10/28/2013
It has all the effects I look for - that Is why I bought Amber Tech suppliment
may be I have to find other brand which contains other than powder - to exclude Ethyle Alcohole
(Mpls., Mn) on 10/28/2013Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
I think you need to go with your gut; if you feel the hawthorn is indicated, then you should pursue it.
I think you are on the right track with the nutritional supplements.
I am worried over your 'light' use of the pharmaceuticals; dabbling in dosing without the supervision and feedback of your veterinarian just raises red flags all over the place for me. But I again encourage you to go with your gut; you see your dog in real time, and I am only reading your interpretations of his condition on my screen and sometimes the written word fails to describe exactly what is going on: a picture paints a thousand words, yes? So again, you need to do what you feel is right.
The OTT offered by First Choice Naturals looks promising; rather than worry and speculate on side effects for mixing treatments, why don't you give FCN a call? They offer telephone consulting: Nutritional Consultations - 1-877-343-0724
Please keep us updated on your boy!
Replied By Sasho (Bulgaria) on 10/28/2013
Cratageus is included In Canine Cardio Support by Standard Process also. Too bad they do not ship outside US
(Mpls., Mn) on 10/29/2013Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
Replied By Sasho (Bulgaria) on 10/30/2013
I live outside US and Its difficult to get Standard Process products
Replied By Sasho (Bulgaria) on 11/01/2013
(Mpls., Mn) on 11/01/2013Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
The easiest way to check the blood pressure of your dog would be to see your vet - simply because they are trained and will have all the necessary equipment. That said...
You will need a stethoscope and a blood pressure cuff; in the US these can be obtained local drug stores starting under $20.00.
The average or 'normal' blood pressure varies by breed:
|
Breed |
Systolic Pressure (mmHg) |
Diastolic Pressure (mmHg) |
Pulse Rate |
|
Labrador Retriever |
118?17 |
66 ? 13 |
99 ? 19 |
|
Golden Retriever |
122 ?14 |
70 ?11 |
95 ? 15 |
|
Great Pyrenees |
120 ? 16 |
66 ? 6 |
95 ? 15 |
|
Yorkshire Terrier |
121 ? 12 |
69 ? 13 |
120 ? 14 |
|
West Highland |
126 ? 6 |
83 ? 7 |
112 ? 13 |
|
Border Collie |
131 ? 14 |
75 ? 12 |
101 ? 21 |
|
King Charles Spaniel |
131 ? 16 |
72 ?14 |
124 ? 24 |
|
German Shepherd |
132 ? 13 |
75 ?10 |
108 ? 23 |
|
Terrier |
136 ? 16 |
76 ?12 |
104 ? 16 |
|
Bullterrier |
134 ? 12 |
77 ?17 |
122 ? 6 |
|
Chihuahua |
134 ? 9 |
84 ? 12 |
109 ? 12 |
|
Miniature Breeds |
136 ? 13 |
74 ? 17 |
117 ? 13 |
|
Pomeranian |
136 ? 12 |
76 ? 13 |
131 ? 14 |
|
Beagle |
140 ? 15 |
79 ? 13 |
104 ? 16 |
|
Dachshund |
142 ? 10 |
85 ? 15 |
98 ? 17 |
|
Saluki |
143 + 16 |
88 ? 10 |
98 ? 22 |
|
Greyhound |
149 ?20 |
87 ? 16 |
114 ? 28 |
|
Pointer |
145 ? 17 |
83 ? 15 |
102 ? 14 |
The normal values for dogs are breed-specific. Those for Golden Retrievers, Labradors and giant breeds tend to be lower than the overall average, and those for greyhounds and in general racing hounds tend to be higher. The “average” varies by the source – some indicate normal dog values are about 112 systolic and about 75 diastolic and others indicate the average canine blood pressure is 133/75. So use the chart and look up the breed [or perhaps size] of your dog and do some figuring.
Blood pressure is often measured in pets in the same manner as in humans. An inflatable cuff will be placed on the dog's paw or tail, and standard blood pressure measuring instruments will check the pressure. It is important to keep the dog still long enough to get an accurate reading.
The standards for dog blood pressure are:
- 150/95 – at this reading or below, there is minimal risk and treatment is not recommended
- 150/99 to 159/95 -- intervention is rotuinely not recommended at these readings
- 160/119 to 179/100 -- treatment should be sought to limit the risk of organ damage
- 180/120 -- immediate treatment should be sought to limit the degree of other more severe complications
Five to seven measurements are generally taken. The first measurement will be discarded, and the dog's excitement level during the procedure will be taken in account. If the results are in dispute, the procedure will need to be repeated.
For the procedure or “how to” it's easier for you to view the link than for me to post the entire article here.
Procedure: http://www.petplace.com/dogs/blood-pressure-in-dogs/page1.aspx
Replied By Sasho (Bulgaria) on 12/10/2013
(Mpls., Mn) on 12/11/2013Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
I am not the best one to comment on the products you wish to compare, so I will leave that to those with more experience.
I did find this link that compares SP products and equivalents that you may find helpful:
Replied By Sasho (Bulgaria) on 12/12/2013
(Mpls., Mn) on 12/12/2013Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
Please take a peek at the link I researched for you. It appears to offer the equivalent of the SP products that you are seeking. Click this link:
http://www.doctorsresearch.com/index.html
Look on the left hand side and scroll down - its kind of hidden but it has a link for purchasing these products. Unless you are super skilled at mixing and balacing herbs and vitamins to recreate the SP products you seek, it might just be far easier and safer to try the equivalents.
I did a quick google peek for you; it appears walnuts may be problematic for dogs.
Replied By Sasho (Bulgaria) on 04/10/2014
I like tthe quality of Orijen and Acana grains free dry foods but they are not low sodium foods although salt are 0.3 - 0.6 %. Anyone used Orijen Senior or 6 Fish?
(Mpls., Mn) on 04/10/2014Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
I have no advise on diets as I am very unfamilar with them. I do know that many prescribed low sodium diets seem to taste awful and dogs do not want to eat them. You may wish to consider a home made diet as it very well may be the best you can get.
This may be a site you have seen before, but it looks to have helpful information suggests a few low sodium brands:
http://www.vermontveterinarycardiology.com/index.php/for-clients/feeding-the-cardiac-patient
Replied By Linda (Chicago) on 10/23/2014
I am curious to know if I can add supplements for her, or is it simply too late. I know her age is working against her, but she is so incredibly healthy otherwise...if I had never been told of the murmur or enlarged heart, I would never assume their was a problem. No panting, no rapid breathing...just the minor cough upon waking.
After being through the ringer on conventional kibbles (we've battled allergies over the years) we've finally switch her to a raw diet (most often Stella & Chewy's frozen medallions) in the morning, and either scrambled eggs or cottage cheese mixed with just a few spoons of Taste of the Wild kibble in the evenings (I simply can't afford a full diet of Stella & Chewys). Her only treats are carrots sliced into chips, and the occasional slice of apple. She takes Denamarin (silymarin-milk thistle) to supplement her liver and Glucosamine with MSM for her joints.
Any advice would be most appreciated. I know she can't live forever, but if there is anything I can do to keep her healthy as long as possible, I am sure willing to try it....especially if there is a way to strengthen her heart and reduce it's size.
Wishbone is 19 1/2 pounds and will be 14 years old in January, 2015. I am praying that she makes it to her next birthday -- the vets have sounded so dire that I am afraid I could lose her any day. So hard to believe, as she is so active and healthy.
A million thanks in advance!!
(Mpls., Mn) on 10/24/2014Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
I lost my rattie girl at 13 years to the day two years ago. She had developed a heart murmur, was taking on fluids and was clearly in pain. I did not know about Earth Clinic at the time, and extending her life with drugs didn't seem fair to *her*. My choice was to PTS. In hind sight, I would do the same over again - not because of any expense or that I thought a wholistic approach would work or not work [I use a holistic vet] -but because the loyalty of a rat terrier is so strong she would have willed herself to live despite the agony and pain just to please me. I had to take the reins as a responsible pet guardian and say "Enough is enough - your body is tired out despite your every rallying spirit, and my last kindness to you is to allow you to leave with my blessing". Believe me I have been in your shoes.
So my advice is this: get that second opinion. Find a vet whom you *trust*. Do the vet prescribed meds and work closely with your vet -touch bases daily or several times a day to report what you see in terms of how the medications are affecting your girl. Ask the vet about an expected time that the drugs should be working together - when you will finally see your girl getting relief.
The remedies listed here may work, although generally they take time to work. Don't rob your dog of comfort by halting the vet meds over the remedies here - JMHO. Pick and choose the remedies listed here and go with your gut: what do you feel at a gut level will work in your girl's favor? If your gut agrees, I say go with it. I strongly feel that with the proper dosing of the vet prescribed drugs, along with the ideas you glean from these pages, your girl WILL make her next birthday. That is just *my* gut talking.
Not sure which vet you are using, but this site lists holistic vets:
They redesigned their site to make it absolutely UN-user friendly, so click the link, and then on the RESOURCES tab click "for veterinarians" - then scroll down past the giant image and you will see three circles, click the first one "Find a holistic veterinarian" and then use the state scroll bar to choose IL and then click on that. The screen will alter just a tiny bit, but a scroll bar will appear on the right side. Drag the scroll bar down and the list of vets will appear. You may find a vet local to you that you connect with. Upon viewing the list, the one that stands out to me is Ventura but I have no idea how close you are to that one.
Sending prayers to you and your girl! Please report back!
Replied By Linda (Chicago, IL) on 10/24/2014
Thank you for your advice! You are absolutely right about the loyalty of a Rattie...Wishbone is (by far) the most intelligent dog I've ever owned (or that owned me! Lol) and certainly the most loyal and seems to delight in making me laugh. She's a sweetheart!
I was able to take her for a consult with a new vet today, though not a holistic one (right now I'm debating on a consult with a holistic vet or a cardiologist as my next step - both cost nearly the same, and I can't afford both). I spoke with the new vet by phone yesterday and I emailed her xrays to him...upon seeing them he called me and was willing to come in on his day off to see her today...he said her xrays do not look good. He was shocked to see her...he said he expected to be greeted by a very ill dog, and said she does not seem to outwardly match what her xrays are showing. He said that her murmur is only a 3...definitely NOT a 5...and that she appears to be healthier than most dogs her age that don't have heart conditions. He was a very thorough vet, and I liked him very much, but I could see the dismay in his face when I mentioned her Raw diet (why are most conventional vets so against this?? The switch to raw made such a huge difference in our dog! ) He did, however, seem open to supplementation, so my first step is CoQ10..or Ubiquinol, if I can find it. Dr. Becker says 10 mg. per day for each 10 lbs. of dog...which puts my dog at 20 mg. per day....I have found 50mg. softgels but fear that would be too much?? I am lucky to have a holistic vet within 30 minutes of me (it is actually Dr. Becker's original practice) and they carry Mercola's Ubiquinol pump...but are out of it at the moment.
I'm doing my best to determine what is best for Wishbone...and when her health does begin to decline, I agree with you, I will not continue to medicate her only to see her fall into a spiral of suffering. When she can no longer function as a healthy, happy and playful dog, I do not want to her linger in pain as her last loyalty to me.
Until then, any suggestions on supplements and dosages are greatly appreciated. I will run all of them by my vet before administering them. Today he told me he wants to keep her on the Vetmedin, try to get her on the Enalapril (even if we have to go slowly and built up to a therapeutic dose to allow her body to adjust) and to eliminate the daily dose of the Lasix, but keep it on hand as needed (if she develops a "wet" cough or bloating). He heard her cough in the office, and said that it was not a congestion cough, but rather due to her trachea....which is slightly compressed from her heart, but not at all compromised or at a level for concern yet.
I could write for days...but thanks for your response. Any suggestions on supplementation from anyone is appreciated, and again, will be discussed with her doctor before trying it.
Thanks all for some great information!!
(Mpls., Mn) on 10/24/2014Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
It sounds like you have a good vet - the new vet you just saw. Ask your vet about the 50mg capsules; I could not find any info on overdosing [unless you are giving 500mg per pound of body weight] so I suspect the bigger dose would be OK - but ask your new guy.
In your shoes I would hold off on the holistic guy and the cardiologist, and see if you can get your girl stabilized on the meds with the new vet. When the meds are properly dosed they work well and fairly quickly. Once she is stabilized, then I would consider seeing the holistic guy - JMO.
And excellent that she is grade 3 and not 5! A silver lining in this cloud!
Please keep us posted!
Replied By Linda (Chicago, US) on 10/26/2014
The other silver lining is her bloodwork results came back - aside from elevated cholesterol, bilirubin and high tryglycerides, everything else is well within the normal range. No liver issues, no kidney issues, no thyroid issues. He said the elevated cholesterol/bilirubin/tryglycerides could very easily be attributed to the fact that her blood was drawn 2 hours after eating, and since she is on a raw diet, that could account for the higher fats circulating in her blood. He didn't seem concerned, since dogs don't live long enough to develop atheroslerosis....he said to give it 3 months with the heart meds and then she can come back for a new chest xray and bloodwork, and next time we can do the bloodwork after a fast to get a better picture of her blood lipid levels.
So, off I go in search of some low-dose CoQ10. From everything I'm reading about it, apparently my husband and I should be taking it along with our pup!! Lol I know Mercola has a liquid based pump..I will probably wind up trying that for her. One less pill for her!
This morning was the second attempt at a full dose (2.5 mg) of Enalapril....the last time we tried it lowered her blood pressure into a danger zone, and she was too weak and dizzy to stand or walk. Today, a whole different story. She has more energy than my husband and I combined, and I took her to a field to walk some of it off, and she spent 20 minutes running around like a puppy. Right now, she is on 2.5 mg. of Enalapril once a day (slowly working up to twice per day) and 5 mg. of Vetmedin split into two doses (half pill in the morning, half in the evening). We are only giving Lasix (diuretic) as needed, if she should develop a wet cough or bloating.
Her diet is mostly Stella & Chewy's raw patties (they come frozen and I thaw in the fridge overnight), and I rotate the protein source. Right now she is on Rabbit. She only gets these in the morning - I give her a few spoons of Taste of the Wild kibble in the evenings along with either a scrambled egg or cottage cheese...but I am eliminating the cottage cheese simply because of the sodium content. I am thinking about making a stew with boneless chicken (or some inexpensive lamb, if I can find some), sweet potato, peas and carrots (no added seasonings) in the crockpot and freezing that in small portions for her dinner. I'm moving toward the "feeding a dog isn't rocket science" idea - I feel like my dog eats better than most of my friends' toddlers do, and at this age, I just can't see it hurting her - it has to be better than whatever is condensed into those little rocks of kibble.
Thanks again!! I will update as we continue on this journey of keeping this little pup as healthy for as long as possible.
(Mpls., Mn) on 10/26/2014Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
Great news on your girly!!
A thought on a home diet that I do - I bake a whole chicken and the humans get the first feeding -and any nice chunks of meat get reserved for chicken salad. I save any skin and bones and juices from the human meal and any juices from the baking pan, and all go into the pot the next day, along with the carcass which usually has plenty of meat on it. I toss in carrots and celery [or parsnips, fennel, rutabaga - sky is the limit] and simmer until the carcass falls apart. I then strain, and use the broth for human soup down the line. With the strained chicken bits, bones skin and veggies, I sort out the skin and discard it, along with the bones. I pay particular attention to the spine and joints - the spine and neck contains a lot of meat, and you want to make sure you harvest the cartilage as that is your natural glucosamine and chondroitin. Tiny spine bones are OK to keep in the food IMHO - they don't pose any sort of a choking or swallowing hazard. Once you have stripped all the meat and cartilage off the carcass, mix the shredded chicken into the veggies - this is your protein base. I will incorporate rice to stretch this out, or add more carrots to stretch it out, or feed 'as is'. My dogs have never complained about this diet, and they never have stool issues. If you do see loose stools, it means you are feeding too much protein at one time/too big a portion. If you are concerned about vitamins and minerals, you can give your girl Pet tabs or a vitamin and mineral supplement just for dogs; I will toss in a tablespoon or two of spirulina powder - or toss raw kale in the food processor and puree it and add to the chicken mix if I am concerned about vitamins.
Replied By Linda (Chicago, IL) on 10/28/2014
Thanks for your chicken stew ideas - I really think I'm going to head in this direction. She's done so well on the Stella & Chewy's raw that I wish I could feed it to her exclusively, but the price combined with her prescriptions is just getting a little crazy. I know I could easily make a month's worth of evening meals for her and freeze them for the same price as 1 week's worth of the raw food I buy.
Replied By Joena (Grovetown, Ga) on 11/29/2015
Replied By Lpm (Spfd, Mo) on 01/05/2016
Replied By Tony L (Queens, Ny) on 02/18/2016
Replied By April (Grand Cayman) on 05/13/2016
About 1-year ago, Daisy became very sick and we admitted her to the University of Minnesota Veterinary clinic. At that time, they did pick up on a slight heart murmur, but this was not the primary reason she needed specialty care. She had low blood counts & platelets, which turned out to be severe anemia. Looking back, the heart murmur was probably something we should have investigated further, as a precursor to her condition now.
A couple of weeks ago, Daisy started gasping, like she couldn't catch her breath. After it happened a second time, I brought her to the vet. X-rays showed a slightly enlarged heart. Echocardiogram results showed that heart disease has set in her right ventricles.
Although Daisy is 10-years old, she is quite an active & youthful looking dog, which I suppose makes accepting this diagnosis so much harder, as she hasn't behaved or had the appearance of an “old” dog.
We live in the Cayman Islands, so it will be difficult for me to find some of the supplements recommended in this forum. Every summer we usually travel, with Daisy, to Minnesota. After reading some of the above posts, I am hesitant to bring her on an airplane. I would like to get her back to the U of M, where they have a cardic department, for a second opinion. Our flight is usually 2 hours to Atlanta, with a 4.5 hour layover, then 2.5 hours to Minneapolis.
This is all new territory that I'm learning about…I would appreciate any advice or recommendations that you might have to offer, as we would love to extend a good quality of life to our precious Daisy. I thank you in advance.
Replied By Amy (Little Rock, Ar) on 05/14/2016
Replied By Kelly (Phoenix Az) on 10/28/2016
Replied By Delise (Midway, Ky) on 05/10/2017