Prayers For Pets

Our pets...dogs, cats, birds, whatever type of critter they are, we love them and care for them on a level that ranks as 'family'.  It's sad that in comparison to human years, most are only with us a fraction of that time. Illness happens, senior years set in and our beloved friends befall maladies that necessitate more than a vet visit or prescription medications.  When people are sick, many times we pray for their recovery.  I think some people however, don't tend to think of praying for an animal, even when it's a family pet.

When I first came to the world of social media, via FaceBook, I hadn't even started this blog, but I had been a pet parent since 1995, and been involved in small dog rescue/fostering since 2008.  It wasn't too long after (2011), I came across Caren Brodt's page, 'Prayers for Pets'. (PfP)  I'm sure it was because I had a sick pet.  My blog is geared toward canine nutrition, (I obtained certification in April 2013) but I have benefited so much from PfP, that I wanted to share this wonderful ministry with my readers. Caren graciously imparted her thoughts in this, my first virtual blog interview for ‘Talk To The Paw’!

Anita: Do you get many questions from people who are skeptical?

Caren:   (While) it’s true, most people don’t think of praying for even a family pet; thankfully for us there are some who do. (God really does care about every detail and every creature: Matthew 10:29-30)  When I meet people and tell them what I do there is rarely any skepticism, surprisingly. Almost every person I tell about the page in a personal conversation has a story to tell about a friend (neighbor, relative) who has or had a pet problem which really needed a ministry like Prayers for Pets, but they didn’t know about us. Many of the new people we get see us as a last resort. They are unfamiliar with what we do, I often feel as though they are crying out in the dark, hoping that someone will actually answer their plea for help.  Some are genuinely surprised and appreciative that I answer their plea.

Anita: What kind of responses have you received when pets are healed, sometimes against the odds?

Caren: Some people are surprised when their pet gets healed, others seem to expect it. Some seem to see God as Santa Claus or a service provider. In this consumer society we tend to believe that we are owed good service therefore if they ask for healing through a venue such as Prayers for Pets, they are owed an answer commensurate with their expectations. It may sound silly, but I do get that impression from a lot of people. Others are elated and ascribe miraculous powers to the website and FB page. Neither view is very realistic. Psalm 115:3 says: ‘Our God is in Heaven, He does whatever pleases him.’ He is often pleased to answer our prayers according to our expectations, but often his answer is: “no”, or “not now”. I believe that God calls us to pray out of obedience to Him, it is not a laundry list of the things we want God to do for us. Prayer is about conforming our will to God’s will. When we do that we succeed no matter how God chooses to answer.

Anita: I have long felt that prayer changes the pray-er....can you recollect instances in these past many years where an answered prayer from your page has changed someone's life/belief in some way? I'm sure there are some stories....can you share one or two of your favorites?

Caren: Changed Belief: The downside of running a ministry like PfP is that I don’t often know just how the page makes a difference in people’s lives; they rarely tell me. It wasn’t until FB began to call for reviews of pages that I even had a clue about how people have been affected! People see the posts I put up on a daily basis, but most of the actual one on one ministry lies behind the scenes thru messages. One woman whom I’ll call Diane thought that she had a relationship with Jesus when she began her journey with us. Through hours and hours of communication over about a 2-year period she realized that what I was encouraging her to learn through the Bible and prayer was not the same as her traditional upbringing. I was delighted to learn that she made a commitment to repent of her sins and become a follower of Jesus Christ not according to her traditions but as the Bible teaches. Changed Lives: There is one family which stands out to me whose lives were definitely changed thru the ministry. I met “Jane” on New Year’s Eve several years ago. Jane’s husband was dying and they would soon be homeless. She was desperate. We talked a lot in the days and months to come and we were able to be of more than just spiritual encouragement. One of the people in our community became Jane’s pet angel, paying for Vet visits. Jane was so afraid her pets would be taken from her during their period of homelessness, but God was gracious to enable her to keep them. We helped get Jane and her husband into a caring community of believers; they found housing, furniture and a new life. Her husband is still alive to this day. I know Jane would tell you that PfP has made a big difference in their lives. We happen to have another family going thru a very similar situation at present. God is beginning to answer in marvelous ways and he’s using Jane to help this family as a representative of the PfP community! It’s such a privilege to be able to bring people together from different sides of the country to help each other. It’s only thru the Internet that a ministry like this is possible. I thank God every day for the opportunity to serve Him this way!

Anita: I particularly like the R.I.P. video you and Victor made...what kind of feedback have you received from that? Obviously when our beloved pets pass on, it is devastating, because for most of us, they are family...we pray for healing, but it doesn't always happen.  It's sad that these beautiful creatures are around for such a short period of time!   I was already aware of the 'soul' connection and references/wording in the Bible regarding that...are many people surprised by this? I certainly cannot image that God would not have them in Heaven when we derived such joy from them here on earth...truly innocent creatures, why wouldn't they live forever?

Caren: Pets and Animals in Heaven Video: The video has been a blessing in many, many lives. My husband, Victor was inspired to make it to explain to a young boy (the boy on our PfP book cover) how he could know his dog would be in Heaven. Michael attended a Christian school where he was told to not expect to see his beloved Scooby in Heaven. Victor felt the need to counteract what we have come to recognize as a false view of Scripture. The Bible is very clear that animals have souls and souls are eternal. See: http://prayersforpets1.org/pets-people-heaven  In answer to the question, most people do believe their pets will be in heaven, but there are those who are unsure. We know with certainty that there ARE animals in heaven. Victor hopes to write a full scale book on the subject in the near future. Please see http://prayersforpets1.org/welcome/ as we unroll more videos and articles about animals and heaven, there are also links to pet care, pet news, pet resources and special pet art.

Anita: You have a couple of books....what brought about your first one, and now your resource book?

Caren: PfP Book: I wrote the Prayers for Pets 1^st book because I wanted to tell some of the many stories that came my way; they were too good to keep to myself! When I post prayer requests daily they need to be presented in a concise format so people will read them and know how they can pray. I found that thru my communications with the many pet parents I talk to on a daily basis; there was so much more to their story than the simple prayer requests and prayers I published every day. I wanted to let people know that there was far more going on behind the scenes. My goal was to write each story in the “voice” of the pet parent.  I collected each story and edited them (some more than others!) and compiled them to create the book, which is over 300 pages, and also contains some of the many Scriptures I use in daily prayers as well as the Hebrew Names of God used daily and their meaning.  Prayers for Pets: Resources is an E-book or free PDF for those who donate to our website: http://prayersforpets1.org/welcome/ It is meant to be a searchable document containing resources I’ve collected over the years which have been helpful to many in our community. The resources include everything from diet and supplement recommendations to natural treatments people have had success with to funding options available for Veterinary treatment.

 

 

Anita:  I know you credit the 'birth' of your FB page coming from a very difficult week for the FB dog community...what is the story on that?

Caren: The page came into being on November 29, 2011. I saw much sorrow on the pet pages on Facebook; but there is one incident which stood out to me and spurred me on to begin the ministry of Prayers for Pets. It was “Sparky’s Story” https://www.facebook.com/Sparkys-story-188454227901896/?fref=ts  Sparky was a little mixed Terrier who was mauled by a pack of big dogs that week. His condition was tenuous for the rest of his life, but he did survive for more than 5 years after that incident! I believe that our prayers had something to do with his longevity and his survival especially thru the first few months of recovery which were very touch and go.

Anita: What question(s) have you always wanted someone to ask you, but they never did? What is that question, and how would you answer that? I'm sure you have some unusual things happen!

Caren: The one question I’ve never been asked is, “How do you know what to pray for each creature and how do you happen to have Scriptures appropriate for every post?” The truth is I don’t know what to pray, I do my best to learn as much as I can about each pet we post and trust the Holy Spirit to guide me to ask for the appropriate answer. There are some requests I get which are sadly lacking in detail. People often see us as a “last ditch” effort so they say very little about the pet and their condition. When they don’t enable me to message them back to draw out more detail I have to really rely on God to put the words in my hands to pray over these precious creatures. As for the Scriptures; I maintain a document of over 100 pages into which I have added Scriptures for the various categories we use, such as: Adonai Rapha (God our Healer) to Adonai Rohi (God our Shepherd) to Remembrance, God of Mercy, etc. At present there are 49 categories I have collected Scriptures for. I plan to create another searchable E-book containing these Scriptures as well as the Hebrew Names of God we use on the page.

There is another question I’ve never been asked: “Why do you always list the Names of God in Hebrew?” The answer is easy: I’m a Jewish Christian! No one has ever asked me, but I have mentioned this to a few people behind the scenes. I was raised by an Orthodox father and Reform mother. Victor was the very first Christian (he’s a goy! Note: that’s a Jewish name for a non-Jew) I ever met. We met when I was 21 years old. Someday maybe someone will ask me to tell how I came to faith in my Messiah, Jesus. I’ll gladly tell them! I met my Savior on November 9, 1979 in Florence, Italy.

I love having the privilege of praying over people’s pets and ministering to their families in some of their darkest moments. My prayer is that God will continue to use me as long as I live to minister to more and more people and pets. I hope that the people who read this will join us at: http://prayersforpets1.org/welcome/  or under the name Prayers for Pets1 on Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Tumblr, LinkedIn and Prayers for Pets on Twitter.

Caren added “Some of the most compelling stories are completely behind the scenes and need to stay that way…it's a shame. When people understand that you care enough about them to pray for their pets they recognize that you are trustworthy for other prayer requests.”  And I say, ‘thank you, Caren for the insight into ‘the little window of your world.’  I hope this blog interview spreads the word to many and grows the PfP community. This adds just one more way we can love our pets.  Even though prayers aren’t always answered the way we would like, because God’s ways aren’t our ways, I can say personally, He is always right…and always good, all the time! I firmly believe my pets will be in Heaven to reunite with me for eternity.

Canine Vestibular Disease

 

 

 

The word 'disease' can be a scary word...although some diseases are worse than others.  Canine vestibular disease goes by several names: Idiopathic vestibular disease, geriatric vestibular syndrome, and old dog syndrome.  Disease simply said is 'ill health'.  However, this one is considered 'non-progressive', which to me signifies there will be improvement.  And so it is with this one.  It usually gets better on its own with little to no treatment.  That's a good thing.  I wish I'd known that when it happened to my dog Tidbit in June of 2014.  To say the display of symptoms is dramatic and disturbing is very accurate, as the indicators seemingly appear out of nowhere.

 

It can be congenital and when it is, it is usually apparent before three months of age (I also understand it can be 'outgrown').  Young dogs can get it due mostly from infections in the middle ear.  It is quite common in older dogs...and it typically resolves in 7-14 days, although a head tilt may remain.  There are several breeds more pre-deposed...Akita, Beagle, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, English Cocker Spaniel, Smooth Fox Terrier and the Tibetan Terrier, however any breed can experience it.

 

The signs and symptoms include, abnormal posture, head tilt, staggering (a 'drunken gait'), circling, involuntary, rhythmic jerking eye flicks (nystagmus), vomiting, and motion sickness.  This disease can arise from numerous causes including chronic and recurrent infections of the inner and middle ear, head trauma, stroke, tumors, and some prescription drugs. It appears that most time the cause is considered idiopathic, which means the cause is just not identified, and that can be frustrating to a pet parent.  It is a sudden, non-progressive disturbance of balance, which is more common in older dogs.

 

The vestibular system is composed of portions of the brain (central) and ear (peripheral).  The central form of this disease is less common and a more serious form of the condition, as it originates inside the central nervous system (CNS).  The peripheral form arises outside the CNS and involves disorders affecting the inner ear and irritation to the nerves connecting the inner ear with the brain.  The vestibular system regulates the body's ability to orient itself in space, maintain balance, preserve posture and coordinate movement. When something goes awry, it feels like the world is spinning.  

 

In my research for this blog I read there is 'no cure' for CVD, but I don't buy that.  I also came across conflicting information, such as one go around lends an above average risk of having another episode, to another article stating it is rare for a dog to have a second occurrence, but it can happen. And of course, there is a battery of tests that can be done to 'try' to determine a cause.  Granted it would be great to know the underlying cause, so it can be treated appropriately, but most people lack the financial resources to find this out.  The dollars can add up quickly.  Therapy likely in the form of intra-venous fluids and supplemental nutrition, physical exam, neurological assessment to determine whether it's central or peripheral form, sometimes x-rays, blood tests, culture and sensitivity, cytology, a biopsy if polyps or tumors are involved, MRI, CT scan, etc.

 

Obviously if your dog is experiencing nausea, anti-nausea meds can be given, and that would be a reasonable charge.  If there is an inner/middle ear infection, antibiotics would be affordable.  I have used warm garlic oil with success in healing ear infections in dogs. Here is a link to help with that if your dog gets one:

 http://www.petremedycharts.com/Learning%20Center/Introduction%20to%20Herbs/Garlic%20Oil/How_to_Make_Garlic_Oil_for_Ear_Infections.html

 

I also came across a homeopathic remedy for CVD, Cocculus. http://www.petremedycharts.com/Learning%20Center/Homeopathy/Homeopathic%20Remedies/Homeopathic_Remedies/Cocculus_Homeopathic_Remedy_for_Car_Sickness_in_Pets.html

 

There was a good article I read written by a vet who had a dog that had an episode with CVD, and he gave a list of natural supplementation to help with healing.  Here is the link:

http://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/14495125-vestibular-syndrome-in-dogs-natural-treatment-and-prevention

 

My hope in writing this blog on CVD is that it will help other pet parents who read this to know what to look for and understand that the prognosis of recovery is very good.  (This was not the information I got when I took Tidbit to an emergency vet, and I had him put down...it was extremely upsetting to me.  At the time, I had not heard of this, did not know what I know now.)  I just recently had another dog go thru this (she is fully recovered)...and it caused me to research, thinking at first she had a seizure...and finding out that wasn't the case...to something else the next day that she did that triggered what Tidbit had displayed...and it led me to this.  Hind sight is always 20/20, but I don't like learning lessons by losing a dog.  I'm angry that vet didn't seem to know enough about it to conclude that his chance of pulling out of it was well above 90%.  It was difficult for me to find this information out as I was researching for this blog.  There is so much that can happen to our furry friends...I know a lot, but I don't know it all...I keep learning.  As I learn, I like to pass along that information to help reach out to others.  Our pets are family, it's our responsibility to care for them, they are with us for such a short time.  Do all you are able to help them, they are counting on you!

 

 

Written in memory of Tidbit C. Chaplin

10/28/99 - 6/21/14

RIP little man...I love you and miss you so much!





Fresh Pet - Sharing Love During The Holiday Season

Good morning blog readers....just a quick blog to let you know about this wonderful opportunity YOU have to help shelter pets during this Holiday season.  FreshPet has put together a video....a must see! Here is what they posted about it on FaceBook, and also the link!

 

"We threw these shelter pets a Holiday Feast they’ll never forget, and what happens after will warm your heart. For every share Freshpet will donate a meal to a pet in need!"

http://freshpet.co/2hFP0VJ

 

 

Thank you, FreshPet for your commitment to adopt, and thank YOU, my blog readers for sharing and helping out! Merry Christmas!

Bone Broth for a Healthy Dog

 

I am always searching for new and better ways to help pet parents have healthier dogs.  I understand the financial burden of caring for our furry family members, especially large dogs or multi-dog households...I'm in that boat with you.  As you well know, food is just a part of our responsibility to our Fido's and Spot's.  However, it is a very important one, and as I have said for years, it is their first line of defense against disease.  I know that majority of owners feed dry kibble, and unfortunately the cheapest one they can find.  That troubles me, but my plea is that you will at least add something that will be of benefit....it's better than nothing.  There are numerous add-ins that I have blogged about over the many years that can be beneficial to your dog's health and well-being.

 

I recently began researching the benefits of collagen for myself, and with that came much reading about bone broth.  It is a powerhouse of nutrients.  Then I saw an advertisement just the other day regarding dogs and bone broth...which got me to thinking, 'yeah, why not for dogs?'  So....this morning I did some further research.  I have in past blogs posted my exclusive 'Chaplin Doggie Diner' recipes, and canine soup is so easy to make! Adding bone broth as the liquid is a cinch!  The most convenient way to do this would be to buy it, but it can be pricey...around $5-6 for 32 ounce of the organic, but that is always my recommendation because of the better health benefit of organics.

 

If you are willing to invest some time, you can make it yourself very inexpensive.  Check the Asian food markets, or stores with a butcher shop to get raw bones...the best ones being beef knuckles, chicken necks, turkey wings, oxtails, soup bones and even poultry feet.  You can put these in a crock pot and cook on low for about 24 hours (here is a link with directions.... http://www.grassfedgirl.com/easy-crock-pot-bone-broth-2/)  Do not feed the bones to your dog! Cooked bones are a danger for dogs to eat!  Consider adding some veggies to the broth in the last couple of hours of cooking...carrots, celery, broccoli, potatoes are all good choices.  Even herbs like some fresh parsley is a great choice!

 

I have long believed that any dog over the age of seven needs to be on a joint supplement to help avoid joint issues, as many smaller breeds develop luxating patella, and large breeds tend to have hip problems.  Bone broth can help, as it has high concentrations of minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium and calcium...all of which develops/maintains stronger bones.  It also contains glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate which I have supplemented in wafer form for years with my own dogs and have had positive results.  As always, consistency is key with diet...yes, even with dogs!

 

So many dogs have digestive issues, mainly which I believe develop from the daily diet of kibble.  Bone broth has healing properties that aids the digestive process because it contains glycine, which is an amino acid (aka: a building block of protein)  Dogs can suffer from leaky gut too!  Digestive ills can lead to allergies, which can not only affect the digestive tract and cause diarrhea, but also bring on skin issues.  Bone broth contains gelatin which can seal up holes in the intestines.  (Note: the intestines contain small holes naturally that allow nutrients to pass into the body, but can become problematic if the holes become too large, which can cause things to pass into the body that shouldn't).  Besides gelatin, this broth also has collagen.  I did quite a bit of research on collagen as a advantage for humans, and found the best way to get benefit from it is through ingesting it, as the molecules are too large to absorb into the skin.

 

Another gain from adding this to your dog's diet is bone broth aids in liver detoxification.  When you consider how our furry friends are directly connected to their world, their bare paws touching flooring that has been cleaned with toxic cleaners, and grass that has been sprayed with chemicals, it is easy to understand how their bodies can become overwhelmed with dealing with elimination of these.  Also, synthetic ingredients in the typical food they eat, dewormers, flea and tick preventatives, antibiotics and vaccines (most times over vaccination), and you just have an accident waiting to happen!

 

Truly, this is just the tip of the iceberg so to speak.  This can be one small change to your dog's diet that will reap positive results.  I am a firm believer in herbs and complimentary, natural forms in caring for people and animals, as it is close to nature, to our natural biorhythm of life.  When you treat the body as the whole and connected form it is, you provide a harmonic environment in which it is able to heal, and that is the very root of sound health and well-being!

Fresh Pet Dog Food - Update to Blog from 3/27/16

 

I wanted to provide an update to the blog I wrote just this past Sunday regarding Freshpet Dog food.  That blog came from a comment from a reader who had an issue of mold in the 'Select' brand of this food. (I have since removed her comment, but I am leaving her YouTube link for viewing) After writing the blog as a warning to my readers, I went to the Freshpet website to contact them myself, as I could not overlook my responsibility to do this. (http://freshpet.com)  I explained in detail my reason for contacting them.  The next day I received an email from Freshpet's Consumer Affairs Manager thanking me for reaching out to them with my concern.

 

I was informed that Freshpet co-founder Mr. Scott Morris wanted to speak to me regarding the matter.  I will discuss some of the things Mr. Morris and I talked about, but first let me share with you the email I received.  I was told, 'Freshpet takes great care in our product formulations and manufacturing processes to make the best pet foods.  Products are processed in a modern pet food facility under sanitary conditions to produce safe and nutritious pet foods.  Freshpet Select Dog Roasted Meals are pasteurized to destroy bacteria, packaged under hygienic conditions and refrigerated to maintain freshness.  As with any fresh food, a damaged bag will allow air to enter and result in mold formation.'

 

Continuing....'Several factors can cause the problem to occur.  We have discovered that if bags are dropped, cut or punctured while in transit or in stocking, this can allow oxygen into the bag and leave our foods susceptible to mold.  We'd like to assure you that out of all the bags we sell, only a small percentage are affected by mold.  We understand that even at a low percentage that this is an important issue, and we have implemented stronger bags and case packaging to eliminate as many instances as we can of mold...we are very familiar with the case you have referenced.  We have no reason to believe that our foods have caused any illness in pets and take these concerns very seriously.'

 

I received a call from Mr. Morris the next day, which was Tuesday.  We spoke at length, well over an hour.  He gave me a brief history of the company which was founded in 2006, and emphasized the importance of quality and their 'pets before profit' standpoint.  Their foods are 'processed' as little as possible, are pasteurized and each batch, (a batch being 2,000 pounds) are all tested for microorganisms such as bacteria and mold before leaving the facility.

 

I am big on education, as I believe 'knowledge is power'.  I know most of my readers feed a dry food (kibble) to their dogs.  Since this is not a 'fresh' or 'refrigerated' food, it's not an issue to leave it at room temperature or have the bag open for a month or have much concern for the way it is handled.  Fresh Pet is different.  My advice would be to treat it as you would raw meat you buy for your family.  Careful handling is imperative, and I would much rather err on the side of being 'overly safe' than to be careless and have an issue.  Fresh Pet's website is a wealth of information to help you use their foods properly, and I highly recommend you read it if you are considering feeding your pet this type of food.  According to their site, here is the amount of time they recommend to use up the food once opened: rolls/patties - 7 days; bagged meals - 7 days; single serve cups - 2 days; dog treats - 14 days and non-refrigerated food - 2 to 3 weeks. And do not leave the refrigerated food in your dog's bowl for more than 2 to 3 hours.

 

My dogs eat a mainly raw diet, along with home-cooked.  I do give them a little kibble  in the evening.  Yes, we have the Fresh Pet kibble.  I am very careful with my utensils, and clean-up after wards.  The raw I purchase comes frozen...I thaw it in the refrigerator, never on the counter-top.  I make sure I use it within at the most 4 days of opening, depending on the size of the container. I have never had any problems with mold or with any of my dogs being sickened by it, and I've been feeding raw for nearly three years. 

 

My conclusion from my conversation with Mr. Morris is that there was no fault on Fresh Pet's part regarding this mold issue.  I make no apologies for my findings.  The evidence presented to me, which I do not feel at liberty to discuss in this blog, determined my personal opinion, and those are based on my extensive background in human and canine nutrition in which the former spans several decades.  I always strive to learn as much as I can and research necessary areas to bring my readers easy to understand, no nonsense information you can use to become better pet parents.

 

Albeit said, I cannot do it all for you.  Please check out Fresh Pet's website....they still have the Talk To the Paw, 'paw of approval' for their food.  They receive thousands of letters from satisfied customers. I was impressed enough with it in late 2012 to blog about it, and I still stand behind their products...I have been feeding it to my own since before then. Yes, it carries a higher price tag, but it is a quality product, and if you cannot afford to feed it to your dog on a consistent basis, at least consider supplementing their diet with it from time to time, as I feel it is a healthy addition to any canine food program. As always, best of health to you and your furry companions!

 



Fresh Pet Food Update....IMPORTANT!!!

I began writing this blog nearly four years ago because I care very deeply for dogs...their well-being is of utmost importance to me.  I obtained my certification in advanced canine nutrition shortly after starting the blog.  I continue to do research and utilize my extensive background in human nutrition to bring to my readers easy to understand, no nonsense information to help them be better pet parents.

 

I recently had a comment left by one of my blog readers, Robin, regarding an issue she encountered with mold in the Freshpet Select.  This is very troubling and disheartening.  I am so sorry to hear that her mom lost a pet because of this and two of her own dogs were sickened by it.  Here is the link to the YouTube video she made...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nJfJdtJAoM

 

I went to the Fresh Pet website and left a detailed comment to them regarding this issue. (http://freshpet.com)  I am anticipating an answer back from them, and I informed them I would be adding a warning to my original blog from October of 2012, and that I would also write an updated blog to warn my readers of this issue.  I am a strong advocate for dogs, I have seven little ones myself.

 

Considering my blog has reached over 90 countries in nearly four years and is approaching 62,000 page views...and the blog on Pet Fresh food has over 4,100 views...that is a considerable reach.  There are many pet parents using this product...I use the kibble for evening meals, and I have purchased the very product where the mold was found.  I questioned them in my comments I left regarding the preservative they use, their shipping methods and the storage and handling once it reaches its destination.  It will be interesting to see/read their response.

 

I will update as I hear further information.  This is important to me, because it is significant to my readers.  I hope this issue can be resolved, as this is one of the few foods on the market that I consider to be worthy of the 'Paw of Approval' from 'Talk To The Paw'.  I certainly don't want to hear of any more dogs becoming ill and definitely no more deaths.

 



Update 3/29/16 - I will be writing another blog to add to this, as I have new information to add....hope to have it added by the end of the month.

Canine Seborrhea

 

 

I receive a lot of inquiries regarding skin and diet issues in dogs.  There are so many problems that arise...some genetic, but most of these I believe stem from diet deficiencies and food allergies.  If you have followed this blog for very long, you know how I feel regarding diet.  What you feed your dog is his/her first line of defense.  You either feed disease or you starve it.  I realize there are no 100% guarantees, but there is a lot you can do to help avoid problems by controlling your dog's diet first and foremost.

 

I recently responded to an email from a reader regarding a dog with Canine Seborrhea.  Here is an overview of this condition.  There is 'primary', which typically an exact cause is not known, and 'secondary', which is common in almost all breeds of dogs.  There are two types...'sicca', which is the dry, scaly form, and 'olesa', which is the greasy, oily form.  There are many factors that can cause this.  As I mentioned above, genetics, but also skin infections, allergies (from food and dietary deficiencies), a hormonal imbalance and skin cancer.

 

Clinical examination can determine the underlying cause, but I understand this is an expense that many pet parents cannot afford. I typically don't like to make recommendations when it's not clear what I am dealing with, as it makes treatment advice more challenging.  A little over four years ago, I took in a small dog with severe allergies.  I was able to talk to the dog's vet and found that tests had not been conducted to determine the cause.  I suspected diet, so that's where I started.  I believe this is the 'safe' place to begin.  I wrote a blog in September of 2012 detailing how I turned this problem around.

 

I am not fond of prescription drugs and over-the-counter products of synthetic origin.  I prefer natural methods and using herbs, as this gets to the root of the problem and brings about healing...anything else is just treating symptoms which does nothing to truly bring about a cure.  Treatment from the inside out, I believe is the best approach.  That is where diet factors in.  It is best to try just one product and allow time (several months) to see results before moving on to something else.  Herbs are slower to yield positive outcome, therefore much patience is necessary. You may think nothing is happening...but it is! I can say this from personal experience.

 

First my recommendations in the dietary area would be supplementation.  Any dog with an allergy, skin or food should be on an Omega product.  Springtime, Inc. (https://www.springtimeinc.com/) has an Omega 3-6-9 that I highly recommend.  (Note: buy quality supplements!)  I used Vet's Best 'Seasonal Allergy Support' for Maebelle, the above mentioned dog with the severe allergies.  They have a terrific line of top quality, natural products for pets.  (https://vetsbest.com/)  

 

I realize most people feed their furry companions a dry kibble.  I prefer a raw/homecooked diet, as that is what I have been using for years with my own. Adding organic extra virgin olive oil or organic coconut oil is a great boost to canine nutrition. Food allergies and sensitivities affect dogs just as they do people.  Keeping the diet simple, yet nutritionally beneficial goes a long way in insuring fewer issues. (Note: Read over my other blogs to get advice and assistance in this area).

 

The other side of this coin is actual skin care.  Again, quality products are everything.  My recommendations are: Only Natural Pet (http://www.onlynaturalpet.com) and Burt's Bees (http://burtsbeespets.com/). ONP carries a product that would be beneficial in treating the Canine Seborrhea...it is 'Doc Ackerman's Herbal Colloidal Oatmeal Shampoo'.  A warm bath with an oatmeal shampoo along with a coconut oil massage (rinse well) and applying aloe vera to the skin can help manage dry, irritated skin.

 

Be pro-active in your dog's health.  Expect that as your dog ages, issues will become more common, it is unavoidable.  Keeping your furry companion healthy and well in those golden years is important in quality of life. Become familiar with what is 'normal' behavior and attentive to skin/fur conditions.  Staying on top of this is important.  I wish you many happy years with your dog!