Heartworm disease

I recently received a great question about heartworm disease:

Q. I'm relocating from the West coast and have never given my healthy (very!) 6 1/2 y o labradoodle heart worm medicine - is it necessary and if so, what's the least toxic, I hate for a preventitive treatment to harm him in other ways

A. This is an important topic, and is especially relevant in these warm months; when mosquitos are prevalent in many areas.

Heartworm disease is a very real disease in dogs and cats; and can lead to potentially life threatening complications. It is true that this disease is more common in certain parts of the country; as it is transmitted by mosquitos. In Tucson we very rarely see heartworm disease; and cases are usually attributed to the animal having travelled to another location where mosquitos are more common. Unfortunately in my practice in DC and during my time in Georgia and Florida, I diagnosed a few heartworm positive dogs; and the available western treatments were harsh.

In general in my practice I tend to favor a more "natural" approach over western medicine if I have a choice. Unfortunately, with heartworm disease, there is not much research regarding the prevention and treatment of this scary disease with herbal, homeopathic or dietary appraches; and there is a large amount of research supporting the efficacy and relative safety of western medications. That being said; I can tell you a bit about holistic approaches to this disease; and what I do with my own pets; and let you make the best decision for your family.

It is interesting to me that many non- domesticated animals (such as coyotes) seem resistant to heartworm disease (as in this study). While we could argue there are many differences between a coyote and a dog; one of the main ones is lifestyle: a "whole foods" diet and exercise.

To mimic the diet of a dog in it's natural habitat; and to help your pet build a strong immune system I would suggest a minimally processed, balanced diet. There are a few books with recipes for balanced "homemade diets"; or you can look at products such as The Honest Kitchen and Natures Variety Instinct raw.  In my practice I evaluate a pets' overall health and particular imbalances as well as the medicinal properties of various foods when choosing the best diet for them. I also like to add probiotics and digestive enzymes (especially if your dog is on a raw food) to their food.

There are a few western herbs that are commonly used in the treatment and prevention of heartworm disease; however safety and efficacy studies have not been done. Please consult with your pet's veterinarian before trying these (for example, some herbs such as garlic and ginger can interfere with medications); and note that they should be discontinued with any adverse reactions such as diarrhea.

• Black Walnut: 1 capsule of ground herb/ day. This is often used to treat gastro intestinal parasites as well.
• Tincture formula: 14 ml Ginger, 9ml Wormwood, 4 ml Garlic, 14 ml Thyme, 9 ml Cinnamon. Give 0.1 ml ml of tincture per 5 lb of body weight; divide this into twice daily doses.
• Bromelein: to be given with above tincture formula to prevent potential complications from sudden worm "die-offs."  Starting dose is 30 mg/ pound body weight devided into twice daily doses.

I will tell you that I put my own pets on prescription heartworm preventative when we travel from Arizona to states with a higher risk of mosquitos (such as DC in the summer). In the winter months on the east coast; when there is little chance of mosquitos, I take them off of prescription heartworm preventative.  In Tucson I do not have my pets on heartworm preventative; but I do test them for the disease annually.

It is hard to say what the "safest" prescription product would be for your particular pet. In my practice I tend to favor the Ivermectin formulas (which have been around longer) over some of the newer formulas that aim to prevent many types of parasites at once. It should be noted that Ivermectin should never be used in certain breeds such as herding dogs; so check with your vet about your particular pet, though a labradoodle should be fine. For families with children; I would err on the side of caution and use a product (such as Ivermectin with Pyrantel) that also addresses gastro-intestinal worms; which can migrate into various parts of the human body and cause damage.

I hope this gives you some information and resources to help your decision making process for your pet. This is an important topic that all pet owners in areas with a humid, warm climate need to take seriously.

Gator enjoying the great outdoors :)

 

Ticks as a cause of beef allergy

A recent discovery in human medicine has linked a bite from a particular tick to beef allergy in humans.  While this link has not been established in veterinary medicine; I do see food allergies (and ticks!) quite often in my veterinary practice... Please be sure to check your pets for ticks daily!

link to wsj article

OCD in dogs

Recent research indicates that our dog friends can suffer from the same sort of imbalances and changes in their brains (seen on an MRI) as a person with OCD. In dogs, the condition often "manifests in tail and shadow chasing, spinning, excessive drinking and licking, fly snapping, persistent barking, and pica - a compulsive eating habit where they devour non-nutritive substances."  

 

In my TCVM pracitce; I have treated patients with compulsive disorders succesfully with a combination of herbs, acupuncture, diet change and massage therapy.

 

Healthy treat on a hot day :)

In Arizona this time of year the temperatures are already reaching the 90's. To help my dog Gator cool off after a hot walk; I like to give him a treat based on the principles of Chinese veterinary medicine.

 

In Chinese medicine we look at each food as having a specific effect on the body. For example, some foods are "warming", some are "cooling", some help drain excess fluids from the body, and some help to circulate "Qi" (pronounced "Chee") - the life force energy.

 

Watermelon is in the category of  "cold" foods. That is, when you eat it, even if it is at room temperature, it effectively cools the body down. I like to keep a small watermelon in the refrigerator; and offer Gator a few bites after a walk.
 

 

If your dog has a sensitive stomach you may want to try a very small amount to start and see how she tolerates it. You could also try a kefir or yogurt (unsweetened, plain) treat. These are cooling foods as well, and often the probiotics help pups with sensitive tummies.

 

mmmmm...



 

 more please! :)
 

Could your pet's digestive tract be the source of her behavior problems?

  I just read a fascinating article about a recent study linking compulsive disorders (such as excessive licking, "fly biting" and tail chasing) to an underlying digestive problem.
  Holistic health care professionals have known for decades that diet can have a profound effect on a person's (or animal's) psychology and therefore behavior. I have seen many dogs and cats with anxiety, phobias, and aggression problems improve dramatically on a more appropriate diet. In my holistic practice, I tailor a patient's diet according to her particular needs and imbalances. A good place to start is with a minimally processed, high quality balanced diet; supplemented with probiotics, digestive enzymes, and fish oils.
 

 

Please check with your veterinarian before changing anything in your pet’s health care regime.
No information in this blog is meant to replace the advice of your veterinarian.

 

Effective supplements for healthy dogs and cats

The most frequent question I get is: What supplements are the most beneficial for dogs and cats? Let me start by saying that dogs and cats are not the same. These separate species have different anatomies and physiologies; and therefore differing metabolic and nutritional needs.

In my practice, I believe the most important thing I do is to determine the most appropriate and nutritious diet for each of my patients. This is not as easy as it sounds; as all animals are unique, I have found their metabolic and nutritional needs to be unique as well.

That being said, most of our current dog and cat foods that claim to offer a “complete and balanced diet” to our fur babies are lacking in a few specific ways. This is where I believe supplements play an important role:

1.       Probiotics. These are the “good” bacteria and yeast that naturally colonize our pets’ (and our) guts. They are found in rich soil (where nutritious veggies are grown and prey species live), as well as foods like yogurt and unpasteurized sauerkraut. In most commercial pet foods any bacteria is deliberately killed; and brands that add probiotics often aren’t able to add them in an effective quantity or quality.

 

2.       Digestive Enzymes.  While being super convenient and decently nutritious; most commercial pet foods contain ingredients that aren’t quite “whole foods”. These processed and/ or synthesized ingredients are often taxing on the gut, and difficult to digest. Digestive enzymes can help dogs and cats break down their food, and assimilate as many of the nutrients as possible; as well as promote a healthy stool. I have found enzymes to be especially helpful in older patients with digestive issues.

 

3.       Omega 3 fatty acids. Similarly to people, our dogs and cats can often benefit from omega 3 fatty acid supplements. Unfortunately, due to their unique digestive processes, our furry friends do not benefit from the omega 3’s in flax seeds in a similar manner as people.  Thankfully, fish oils are a wonderful omega 3 rich addition to our dogs’ and cats’ diets. These special oils have numerous potential beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory properties which can help with arthritis, allergies, and inflammatory bowel; as well as potentially helping the skin and coat, and chronic diseases like kidney disease.

 

***Please check with your veterinarian before changing anything in your pet’s health care regime. No information in this blog is meant to replace the advice of your veterinarian.