Thursday, November 25, 2010

Dangerous Foods Not To Feed Pets

During the holidays, it is very tempting to want to “treat” our pets to something special. Unfortunately, this can result in very serious consequences. Many small pets can be adversely affected from what might seem, is a tiny piece of food.

To be on the safe side, it is best to avoid giving your pet anything except extra love and attention during the holiday season. It is often a confusing time, especially if guests are coming to your home, and can be stressful as well. Adding new foods can only compound the problem.

During the holidays, it is quite common for emergency animal clinics to be filled with dogs and cats being brought in after suffering from a severe bout of pancreatitis. Giving pets table scraps such as fat from meat, cooked bones, turkey drippings and gravy, even in small amounts, can make them sick. Pet owners and doting relatives who overindulge the pet in holiday food are not only causing a change in the pet’s diet (which can make them sick on its own) but combining that with high fat foods can lead to serious, sometimes even fatal consequences.

Still, it is natural to want to pamper your pet and so if you want to give your pet an extra snack, plan ahead. Have safe treats such as your pet’s favorite treat available or consider giving fresh vegetables (steamed preferably) or lean meats or fish. A small teaspoon of canned pumpkin (plain pumpkin-not with pumpkin pie spice and sugar!) is also a safe option. Even a piece of a baked sweet potato, white potato or yam is ok.


The following foods, however, can be dangerous so avoid giving them to your pet:
* Chocolate (always toxic even in miniscule amounts)
* Grapes or raisins
* Onions (cooked or raw)
* Sweets (cookies, cake, ice cream, etc.)
* Rolls/bread (gluten is not good for pets!)
* High fat foods such as butter, gravy or turkey drippings
* Cooked bones (they can cause choking and tearing in the GI tract).

The most common thing people tend to do during the holidays is give the dog and cat scraps off the table, such as gravy and pieces of fat. These high fat foods can cause diarrhea, vomiting and overload the pet’s digestive system.
Moreover, overtreating pets during the holidays or anytime leads to obesity. Numerous studies indicate that pet obesity is on the rise contributing to an increase in life-threatening diseases such as diabetes, hepatic lipidosis and cancer.

So to make your holidays special with your furry friends, make safety your number one priority. Keep pets in a designated part of your home if guests come over so that they can’t get loose when the door opens, don’t leave them alone in a room when candles are burning and plan ahead if you want to give them some special treats. Finally, don’t forget those adorable holiday pet toys as those little surprises will keep your pet happy and entertained during this memorable time of year.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Injured MinPin Gets Pain Relief With Amazing Arthrosoothe


Tootsie was a stray who came into our local shelter. I brought her home to foster her for Internet MinPin Service a year ago. She was somewhere around 10 years old at the time. She apparently had had injuries to her back legs. There was little muscle tone and she could barely walk, often holding one leg up as she tried. I started her on a glucosamine/chondroitin preparation but saw little progress. Three months later someone told be about Askariel products and I purchased the Amazing Arthro Soothe and started her on that. She made amazing progress. Within a month she was able to use the leg that previously she had not walked on. A couple months later she was able to go at a fast walk and a few more months and she could trot. Six months after starting the Amazing ArthroSoothe she was able to actually run. Today you would never know that her back legs had been so bad. She has good muscle tone, runs, uses steps, and never has any more discomfort. Jean Ensor
Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Shocking Halloween Bad Dog Breath!

Save 25% on our Bad Dog Breath Kit


Bad Dog Breath Kit--25% off


Don't let your dog scare off those cute Halloween trick-or-treaters! Order our Bad Dog Breath Kit today and make sure your dog's breath isn't a frightening odor!

Sale Price: $39.75 for 3 products
(Reg Price: $52.95)

Use our Bad Dog Breath Kit and your dog will be much more kissable in no time! Helps improve digestion, stomach issues and overall health. Be sure to get your dog's teeth cleaned too!

Bad Dog Breath Kit includes:
Soothing Digestive Relief Formula (100 caps)---Helps break down food, reduces stomach upset and improves digestion so food doesn't "sit" too long in the digestive tract. When food doesn't break down immediately it can ferment and cause gas, bad breath and digestive upset. The product helps stop tummy rumbling and painful gas. Stools will be firmer and your pet will feel so much better!

Probiotic (60 caps)--Adds proper flora to help reduce the toxins that can cause odors. Helps with diarrhea, indigestion, gum problems, stomatitis. Especially needed if your pet has recently been on antibiotics!

Vitamineral Green 1 ounce Trial Size Jar ----Helps "alkalize and deodorize" your dog's intestinal tract and provides valuable vitamins and minerals to greatly reduce grass eating which often is a sign of an acid stomach.Excellent value---great results!!! Veterinarian-approved

Click here to Order Bad Dog Breath Kit

View Products on http://www.askariel.com/

Monday, October 4, 2010

Autoimmune Supplement for Cats and Dogs--Plant Sterols for Pets


"We love Immune Harmony for our cat, Rocky. He gets
Immune Harmony in his baby food every afternoon.
He actually looks forward to this little treat. He is doing great!"
Deborah Albritton and Steve Yost

Immune Harmony 60 capsules
This product is helpful for all immune conditions and can be used in conjunction with chemotherapy and/or prednisone. Rather than overstimulating your pet's immune system, this wonderful product helps the body to rebalance immune function. Thus, you will see improved results over time not instantly as if you were using an antibiotic. It slowly builds in your pet's system and helps them feel better overall. We have many highly allergic pets that were scratching and itching horribly last summer, that now with continued use, are seeing their pets having a much easier time this summer. Immune Harmony does not treat symptoms immediately but over time as the pet's immune function improves, most clients report solid long-term improvement . If your pet has chronic allergy symptoms, a serious immune condition such as cancer or an autoimmune related disorder, research shows that Immune Harmony should be utilized. This is a unique one-of-a-kind product that has been scientifically tested in various world-wide studies. Immune Harmony is the only supplement that offers 300 mg of plant sterols plus powerful antioxidants (Enzogenol®) that protect the body from free radical damage, and an essential fatty acid complex (BiolysateTM) that supports the digestive system and assists in the bioavailability of these health-promoting nutrients.
Friday, October 1, 2010

Canine Lung Cancer Testimonial


When my 95 pound boxer, Marconi, turned 12 years old, he was diagnosed with canine lung cancer during his yearly physical. The cancer could not be surgically removed and chemotherapy was not an option, either. The vet thought that Marconi would have about a month to live. Susan told me what supplements I should use to help Marconi boost his immune system, to try to slow down the canine lung cancer. I gave Marconi Digestzymes, Amazing Omegas, OncoPet and Immunitone. Six months later Marconi still didn't have any symptoms. The vet couldn't believe how well Marconi was doing and said that he would probably just live as long as if he didn't have cancer. Two months later Marconi finally started coughing. Susan told me to give him ApoPulm to help with his coughing. The ApoPulm gave me an addtional three weeks of time to spend with Marconi. He ended up living a full 8 months after his canine lung cancer diagnosis, without any signs of cancer until the very end. I am very grateful to Susan for giving me so much time with my beloved Marconi.

Dog Vomiting and Dog Acid Stomach Switching to a New Diet

Q from meechingurl:
My dog Lucky has been eating pedigree for 11 years. I just found out how terrible it is for dogs so I tried to change her food to evo. But she just threw up and had loose stool even with me adding 12 kibble pieces. Then I tried to put her on chicken soup for dog lover's. She seemed ok until I completely transitioned her. Now she's vomiting and eating grass again. What should I do?!

A: Dear Meechingurl:

It is very good that you are getting educated about nutrition and are trying to take care of your dog Lucky. It is never too late to try to help your dog and even small dietary changes will make a difference. Sometimes though when people or pets try to make changes too quickly, it can cause a "detox" reaction. To help Lucky through this transition, you need to do two things: 1) support Lucky using some important vitamins that will help her manage the transition and 2) detox out some of the toxins and use a milder food that is more similar to what she has been eating without all the chemicals.

To help her canine stomach acid (grass eating) and enable her to transition to a better food, use the following: Renelix--this product helps clean out accumulated toxins, Oxicell-antioxidant formula that helps fight free radicals, Probiotic--important for digestion and overall health, Soothing Digestive Relief--very gentle digestive enzyme that helps with vomitting and diarrhea and Gastro ULC (helps tremendously with stomach acid). Try transitioning at first to a very mild food such as Natural Balance sweet potato and duck or sweet potato and bison. Also, you might want to try using canned food and add some steamed green vegetables (fresh or frozen not canned) such as green beans along with it. The green beans help to neutralize the stomach acid. The EVO food is very rich and high in protein and fat--it is too much for an 11 year old that has been eating a reduced protein, high carbohydrate diet.  You are applauded for making this change for Lucky and we wish you all the best!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Ask Ariel In the News: Article About Dog Scratching and Itching


Ask Ariel Is In the News. Please click on the link below to read about dog scratching and itching. We know a lot of dogs are very itchy right now so we hope this article will help.
Monday, September 13, 2010

Holistic Alternatives for Sinus Infections in Dogs and Cats

It can be very difficult to treat chronic sinus infections in cats, dogs and people as well. The goal of holistic care is to help the body not only fight the infection but to create an environment in the affected area that will not enable bacteria and yeast to thrive.

Using antibiotics can be a lifesaver when a bacterial infection is present. However, antibiotics can also affect the good bacteria which help our immune system to fight against infection. As a result, many people find that once the treatment of the antibiotics is over, the infection returns.

This can be due to the fact that the immune system isn’t getting enough support and the bad bacteria just regrows more rapidly than the body can handle. In addition to the structural reasons, this can also be due to an underlying viral infection that was present before the infection or yeast overgrowth that has now set in as a result of the antibiotics killing off the good bacteria. It can become a vicious cycle of using antibiotics and then getting yeast. This problem is not just in our sinuses, but can occur anywhere, especially moist areas where yeast can thrive.

To offset this problem, it is highly recommended that you use Power Probiotic when taking antibiotics to help replenish the lost “good” bacteria. In addition, if your pet has a history of ear or yeast infections, it is advisable to use products such as K9 Yeast Defense along with the antibiotic and/or anti-inflammatories to counteract the yeast.

Changing the diet can also be very helpful. Many times yeast and bacteria overgrow when there is a food allergy or too many carbohydrates in the diet. Dogs and cats can be allergic to poultry, for example or grains such as wheat, corn, gluten or oats. Carbohydrates in most dry kibble for example, can break down to sugar which help feed the infection.

Using a high protein, hypoallergenic, grain-free, high moisture diet will help. It is also important to use Omega 3 fatty acids to help fight inflammation. Amazing Omegas is a highly purified fish oil product that can provide your pet with important Omega 3s at a concentrated, therapeutic level.

If your cat is suffering from a virus such as feline herpesvirus, sinus and upper respiratory infections can be a secondary symptom and a sign of a weakened immune system.  We have had success helping cats with chronic viruses using two homeopathic remedies:  Quent and Not Drops.  These two supplements help to control the virus and support the cat's immune system.    Since sinus infections can be so difficult to treat, a multipronged strategy using diet, supplements along with conventional veterinary care is needed. Below is a summary of supplements that can help your pet recover from a chronic sinus infection and can be used along with medications prescribed by your veterinarian.

Click here to view supplements for chronic sinus infections in cats and dogs






Monday, August 30, 2010

Feline Staph Infection, Cat Skin Problems

Molly Marie, our kitty, was very sick and had fleas, ear mites and hot spots when we rescued her. We took her to the vet numerous times and she was treated with antibiotics and steroids that proved to be unsuccessful. We had blood work done and determined that she had a staph infection on the hot spots as well as an infection in her pancreas and a UTI too. She once again took antibiotics and everything healed except the hot spots, which by this time had become a lot worse with the largest one being the size of a lemon. I tried organic shampoo, sprays and creams—nothing worked.

I consulted AskAriel and based on Susan Davis’ recommendation, I changed her food and used the Pet Skin Package and I am so happy to report that Molly is on the mend. She is almost totally healed. Her largest spot is now the size of a dime and she is eating well and starting to gain some weight. Molly's hair is starting to grow back and her coat is very soft. I don't know what we would have done if not for Susan, her staff at Ask Ariel Your Pet Nutritionist and her amazing products. My family and I thank her and most of all, Molly thanks her as she is getting better every day. Thank you Susan for all of your help and for how much you care about our little animals.


Sincerely, Shelley Bard in PA
Sunday, August 15, 2010

Border Terrier with Epilepsy, Fecal Incontinence, Acid Stomach

Q: My border terrier is 4 and she has recently started emitting a small hard ball of poop at night, or upon getting up in the morning, it falls out. I have done some online research and some sites pointed to gas as being the problem, others suggest having her checked for hemivertebrae. She has been seeking out grass to eat. We have also recently discovered that she may have a congenital disorder - a canine epilepsy. I wonder if the epilepsy like symptoms, and the fecal incontinence may both be symptoms of hemivertebrae. She has a vet appointment monday and I have asked the vet to express her anal glands which she has never had done. I wonder if I should also bring up the possibility of hemivertebrae. Any insight into her maladies would be greatly appreciated.

A: So sorry your border terrier is suffering with these health problems. Definitely work with your veterinarian to determine a diagnoses and inquire about possible spinal deformations such as hemivertebrae as well as potential neurological conditions. It sounds to me though that there are a couple of issues going on which could DEFINITELY be improved upon from a holistic standpoint. For instance, epileptic symptoms can be triggered by allergic reactions to dog food. Same with eating grass, anal gland problems and the gas/stool issue--food allergies and poor digestion can all cause these issues.

 Our holistic veterinary team could really help you to understand how what you are feeding might be dramatically impacting your dog's symptoms. For example, if your border terrier is eating any type of grains such as wheat, corn or rice (found in most commercial dog foods), this could be just one of the culprits. There are quite a few others however and without an indepth discussion, it would be hard for us to tell you exactly what to feed your border terrier. But, when dogs are eating grass, it is generally a sign of poor digestion and acid stomach. To combat this, you need to find a better food that works for your specific dog's needs. Potential problems with the food you are using? Grains, protein allergies (your dog may need a novel protein diet that excludes poultry for example), additives and depending upon what you are using, chemicals and byproducts. The diet is so important and unfortunately is often the last issue concerned in controlling neurological and unusual symptoms.

Be sure your border terrier is getting plenty of omegas in the diet and use Amazing Omegas to control the inflammation and provide neurological support. Gastro ULC is excellent for grass eating and definitely use a digestive enzyme such as Soothing Digestive Relief. as well as the Probiotic. Acupuncture can help if a neurological or veterbrae condition is diagnosed. Overall, there is a lot you can do to help your dog from a holistic standpoint, in addition to conventional veterinary care treatments. Get the tests done and a diagnoses, but there is so much you can do now without them just based on the symptoms you are describing.
Saturday, August 14, 2010

Feline Renal Failure--Holistic Supplements Helped!

Feline Renal Failure--Holistic Supplements For Ranger

"I ordered herbs for Ranger, my 14 year old cat, on Friday Jan 29th, 2010. To my great surprise, they arrived here in Upstate NY on Monday Feb 1st! Ranger, my kitty was near death. She hid to sleep constantly. Usually cats hide to die. She was in really bad shape. I had one cat die of liver disease and two others from renal failure. Ranger is my third cat with renal failure so I know how they act before they die. Anyhow, Ranger was near death on Feb 1st when your supplements arrived. I ordered the Cat Kidney Package that consisted of Renelix, Rehmannia 8 and Protease. I also ordered Kidney Terrain. I gave them to her but assumed she was probably too far gone by this time and I was kicking myself for having waited too long. However, after 3 -4 days, she started eating more, was more alert, sleeping less and feeling so much better. I know she isn't cured...but your supplements are giving her more quality time with me. For that, I am truly grateful. I know she is 14 but I can possibly see that if she stays the same as she is now, maye she will be around awhile more. THANK YOU!!!!!Daniel Mark Lafler April 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010

Bichon Yorkie with Thinning Hair--Natural Supplements to Help A Dog's Coat

Q: My 5-month-old bichon yorkie has thinning hair. The vet said it could possibly be flea allergy and acted like it was a death sentence. He said it was uncommon for puppies of this age to start having allergies? Are there are any supplements good for hair. I was led to believe he would have a thick coat of hair.

A: There are a lot of reasons why a dog might have thinning hair and it is important to rule out all of them. Yes--allergies is a big issue. Pets can have both environmental and food allergies. Be sure you are using a high protein, hypoallergenic diet free of grains. Most commercial dog food contains grains such as corn, wheat, oats and rice, all of which are not beneficial for a young puppy. Be sure your bichon yorkie puppy does not have fleas and keep your pet's bedding especially clean.

You also need to get your yorkie bichon's thyroid checked. Thinning hair can be a sign of a thyroid disorder. Many veterinarians are skeptical that a young dog might have a thyroid disorder but it is possible, while uncommon. In my practice, I have seen several young dogs that have underactive thyroids and if this is determined, we have used the Biothyro product successfully to help.

If your pet has dry coat and thinning hair, then I can think of no better product than Amazing Omegas. Amazing Omegas will give pets a thick, lustrous coat and you will notice an improvement in the sheen in just a few days. We have many, many clients who use other fish oils and just can't get over the difference. This exceptional fish oil for pets is extremely bioavailable and a little goes a long way. I highly recommend using Amazing Omegas for allergies, coat problems, joint issues and overall good health for your pets.

If your yorkie bichon puppy is scratching and itching as well and your veterinarian has said that your dog has flea allergies, than it would be a good idea to get the Dog Skin Package The dog skin package includes three products proven to help with dog itching, dog scratching, dry skin and coat issues. The Proaller helps to reduce itching and the Notatum is excellent for any type of infection and inflammation. The Amazing Omegas fish oil is part of the package as well. The three products are easy to use and can greatly benefit your yorkie bichon puppy.
Saturday, July 31, 2010

Pug Has Yeast in Ears and Red Bumps and Sores

Q: I have a 2 year old pug who gets yeast in his ears and red bumps that look like little sores on his stomach and groin and the vet puts him on antibiotics. The antibiotics help but then he gets yeast. What can I do?

John, Oklahoma

A: A lot of your pug's problems could be due to the food you are feeding him. Be sure you are using a hypoallergenic, low carbohydrate diet. Many diets claim to be "hypoallergenic" but they are still very high in starches such as potatoes and rice which can contribute to yeast overgrowth. Unfortunately, you can get into a cycle where you put your pug on antibiotics and then your pug gets better only to have him develop yeast which starts the whole cyle all over again.

1) Be sure you are avoiding key allergens such as wheat, corn, peanut butter, etc and use a low carbohydrate diet. This will help control yeast overgrowth.

2) Use natural anti-yeast products such as Myco-zyme or our K9 Yeast Defense whenever you are using antibiotics and also afterwards to rebalance your pug's digestive tract. People used to think that using a Probiotic was sufficient to prevent yeast overgrowth. Using a Probiotic is very important and is helpful for all pets, especially those that have allergies, but it is often not sufficient to fight yeast when a pet has been on multiple rounds of probiotics and steroids.

3) Give your pug plenty of fresh vegetables such as green beans to help prevent having an "acid" condition. Vegetables provide many vitamins and help alkalize the body warding off yeast which grows in an acidic environment.

4) Use allergy formulas such as AllerEaze and Allergy Combination Drops to help your pet cope with environmental allergies. This will reduce the possibility of infections and help build up your pet's immune system.
Saturday, July 24, 2010

Holistic Care For Raised Mast Cell Tumor on Beagle

Q: I have a year and a half old male Beagle named Giovanni. Giovanni has had a one week old mast pink raised cell on the back of his head. The bump went from a small bump to a larger bump in a matter of a few days. And has not become any bigger in size. Last Friday we visited a Banfield Veterinarian. And they prescribed him Resortin. The instructions were to apply the cream twice a day for two weeks. And check back in two weeks if nothing has changed. So, it has been a few days and nothing has changed. On top of applying the cream the Veterinarian said that Benadryl is good to give him as well. And we give him 25mg twice a day every 12 hours. All I can do is wait and see what happens when we hit the end of two weeks. I am also in the process of taking him to a holistic Veterinarian here by my house. I should be able to get in this week. Please help us. Is there anything we can put on it? I know surgery might be a option if nothing changes the Vet told me. The vet also said that this might be something that might clear on its own over time. He also noted that usually when he sends this down for a biopsy, they get the result backs and it shows that it was in the process of all ready healing.
A: Thank you for submitting a question to our blog. We submitted your question to Dr. David Gordon, holistic veterinarian, and here is his response:

"The only way to know what any suspicious lump is would be to do a fine needle aspirate first. If this is inconclusive, then a biopsy would be recommended. A fine needle aspirate will give some indication of the diagnosis in over 50% of cases. " dg

In addition, we HIGHLY recommend scheduling a telephone appointment with us to help with Giovanni's diet and supplement protocol. These growths can become a chronic problem and may be exacerbated by food allergies. We can really help you to address Giovanni's health going forward. In the meantime, we also recommend using the Amazing Omegas and Proaller/Notatum (Pet Skin Package) on www.askariel.com Topically, would also recommend using Argentyn which directly supports natural healing of the skin. Argentyn is a wonderful product and we use it for many types of skin inflammation and irritation.

Wishing you all the best with Giovanni. Susan Blake Davis, CCN
Saturday, July 17, 2010

Senior Dog Nutrition Needs and Prescription Diets for Senior Dogs


Pictured here is my beloved Ariel, blowing out the candles on her birthday cake at 14 years.... Ariel lived to a vibrant old age and was still running and playing as a senior. Senior dogs need more nutrition than ever. Unfortunately, most premium packaged Senior Dog foods have reduced nutrition and more fillers. Many times senior dogs are overweight but that doesn't mean they should eat less nutritious food. What that means is you need to feed less of it.

Senior dogs need a diet custom-tailored to their health condition. It is very important to get a blood panel on your senior dog so you can be sure you are aware of any potential health issues. Many times people are afraid to get the tests done because they are afraid of what they might find out. But the truth is, many diseases, when caught early can be treated successfully. For example, the liver can actually grow new tissue and repair itself IF you start using liver support supplements and change your pet's diet early on. Be sure to get a complete blood panel, including thyroid along with a urine test to check on your pet's overall health. Pets won't often act like they are sick until disease has set in so a laboratory test is the best way to find out your pet's health status.
Many senior pets have joint issues and arthritis so it is highly recommended that you use a purified, effective omega oil. Amazing Omegas is a highly potent, purified omega 3 fish oil that has been used with thousands of cats and dogs with much success. Pet owners can often see results in just a few days. Senior pets will quickly show an improvement in coat quality and flexibility. If your pet is acting stiff or showing signs of difficulty getting up, we highly recommend using  Arthrosoothe along with the Amazing Omegas.
Give your senior pet plenty of fresh vegetables. If you don't have time to steam them, then take frozen vegetables such as chopped broccoli or french style green beans and let them defrost in the refrigerator. Mix a small amount into your pet's dog food. Most pet owners are surprised that their dogs will actually eat vegetables---don't just use baby carrots, it is the green vegetable that provide vitamins, fiber and extra nutrition to your senior dog's diet.

Finally, be careful about using "senior diets". It is much better to use a healthy diet and then use less of it. You can use green vegetables as a healthy way to fill up your pet rather than giving them food that contains such "fillers" as peanut hulls or beet pulp. Senior diets tend to be lacking not only in calories, but everything else. If your pet is on a prescription diet, the best thing you can do is to schedule an appointment with a veterinary professional to develop a healthier alternative. Prescription diets are made for your convenience to address a specific problem. However, in trying to help the "mass market" and make them convenient for you, they end up skimping on what really counts--good nutrition. Check out the labels---generally they contain artificial ingredients, byproducts, chemicals you can't pronounce, etc etc and these are for pets that already are compromised with a specific health condition. 
Friday, July 16, 2010

Dry, Flaking Skin on Black Labrador--Can dogs have dandruff?

Q: Dear Ariel,
My 2 year old black labrador is so cute but he has dry, flaking skin that gets all over the place. I don't know if it is just his color that makes the flakes stand out or if there is something wrong with him. This is really bad especially when he starts itching. Is there anything natural I can do to help him?

A: This is a really good question. A dog's skin is a reflection of what is going on the inside. Dry, flaking skin (dog dandruff)--when a dog's skin is flaking, many times pet owners think the dog needs topical lotions or creams. While sure, using a topical cream rinse can help temporarily to reduce the dog dandruff, that is not a permanent answer. The problem needs to be resolved internally. The dog's coat is dry because the diet does not contain enough essential fatty acids e.g. Omega 3 fatty acids. Perhaps you have heard them referred to as Omega 3s. There are different types of Omega 3s available for pets and you need to be very careful. Many times pet owners think they are buying the "best" but getting very little for their money. Fish oil, especially in pet products can be heavily diluted with water when it is manufactured or it can be altered significantly in the manufacturing process. In addition, fish oil and flax seed oil, two important sources of Omega 3s, can contain a lot of contaminants, PCBs, toxins such as mercury.

There are a few criteria to know if the Omega 3s you are using are really as good as they claim to be. First, if they make you or your pet belch, chances are it is the contaminants in the product. A purified fish oil should not give you that continual, nasty aftertaste. It should go down and stay down! Second, you should notice a very quick improvement in your pet's coat, skin and fur. Amazing Omegas in an exceptional product that works very quickly (just a few days) and the pet's dry skin and coat will start to improve. Amazing Omegas contain the purest, most potent fish oil available. Because it is so pure, it is highly bioavailable to your dog and cat. What does bioavailable mean? It means that your pet's body is able to use it. We have had countless examples at the clinic where pet owners are already using another brand of fish oil and yet, the pet continues to have dull coat or flaky skin. This is most likely due to the fact that the oil is not a high enough quality or they are not using enough. Buyer beware--there is huge variation in fish oils.

Finally, dog skin flaking (dog dandruff) can also be due to a number of other factors such as endocrine diseases (e.g. hypothyroidism), yeast overgrowth, allergies and parasites. We definitely encourage you to first go to the veterinarian to rule this out. If nothing is determined other than dry flaking skin (dog dandruff), then be sure to use a hypoallergenic, grain-free diet along with the oils mentioned above.

AskAriel will provide a free diet suggestion on the packing slip that comes with your order. Please be sure to include your pet's diet on the order form at checkout.
Pet Nutritionist Susan Blake Davis and Her Rescue Dog Legend
Join us now on Instagram! Be sure to follow @Ask.Ariel for cute pet pictures, videos and pet health tips. www.instagram.com/ask.ariel


Need help with your pet?  Email the experts at AskAriel.com at support@askariel.com

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Incredible Savings on Argentyn Anti-Infection Formula

We love Argentyn!

This terrific colloidal silver is extremely pure, easy to use, backed by significant research and really delivers! Argentyn can be used topically on any type of irritation or inflammation. Just watch as this miracle formula helps to heal the skin. Excellent for oral and topical use.


Here is how Argentyn 23 can benefit you and your pet:

* Fights infection and boosts immune response

* Promotes healing of the skin

*Reduces topical pain (great for sunburn!!!)

*Calms minor inflammation reducing the swelling, redness and heat

*Great for bug bites, itching, burns and scrapes

*Spray and drop in sore ears


The product tastes very much like water and yet offers powerful immune support. Fabulous savings through Friday July 16th!!!



Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Holistic Pet Care and Pet Nutrition --Please support us on Facebook

Please join us on Facebook for the latest tips on holistic pet care, pet nutriton and product sales announcements. Ask Ariel Your Pet Nutritionist is a holistic pet care website that is a complete library on pet health conditions and how to treat them naturally using diet and supplements. We provide advice that complements the conventional veterinary care your pet is receiving from your veterinarian.

Click here to join us on Facebook and become a fan of holistic pet care!

What is holistic pet care? holistic veterinary medicine?

Holistic pet care and holistic veterinary medicine is the examination and diagnosis of an animal encompassing the entire “whole” picture of the patient including not only the symptoms and disease patterns, but the emotions, nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle factors as well. When your pet receives a holistic examination, conventional laboratory testing and diagnostic techniques will be utilized, but these other important factors will also be addressed in developing your pet’s individualized treatment plan. Holistic veterinary medicine will treat the whole body, not just an isolated area, all the while attempting to minimize side effects and potentially harmful invasive procedures.

The goal of the holistic veterinarian is to examine the patient’s present state of disease and ask the question, “Why?”. A simple appearing symptom may have many levels of causation. While conventional veterinary medicine may use pharmaceutical agents and surgery to treat the symptom or disease, holistic veterinary medicine will use these conventional tools along with a comprehensive protocol of holistic modalities which include changing diet, adding nutritional supplements, chiropractic and acupuncture treatments to name a few.

As an example, a 5 year old dog may appear to be in relatively good health except for constant scratching and itching. The owner may be reluctant to bring the pet to the veterinarian because the pet appears “fine” and prior treatments with corticosteroids helped temporarily but the problem came back. A holistic veterinarian will look beyond the simple symptom of scratching and itching because skin is a detoxification mechanism for the body and is often the first place where diseases present themselves. The pet may have food or environmental allergies, a thyroid condition or a weakened immune system—all of which, if left untreated, could result in a more serious, chronic disease. Thus, in helping the pet attain total wellness, the holistic veterinarian will employ additional holistic modalities to heal the entire body, beyond just resolving the current scratching and itching symptom.

To learn more about our state of the art holistic pet care, please visit AskAriel.com
Saturday, July 3, 2010

Bichon Frise Has Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and Crystals

Q: My 5 year old bichon frise has been getting chronic urinary tract infections and the vet told me now she has struvite crystals. He put her on a special prescription diet called C/D. My dog is gaining weight and is now itching really bad too. My vet said bichons are prone to getting bladder crystals and stones but I was wondering if there anything else I could do?

A: Yes, there is a lot you can do to help your bichon frise. Even if a breed is prone to getting certain problems, using holistic care you can help to prevent what might seem like the "inevitable". First and foremost, you need to get your dog on a healthy ph-balanced diet. When it comes to finding the right diet for your pet, one size does NOT fit all. Some guidelines though: avoid grains such as wheat, corn and oats and try to use novel protein foods such as venison or rabbit. A dietary consultation with a veterinary professional such as the telephone appointments offered through AskAriel.com is highly recommended especially when crystals are involved. This is because if you are not careful, what can happen is that a pet may have one type of urinary crystals---e.g. struvite and then by using either a prescription diet that is so acidic or the wrong diet, you can end up having your pet develop a different type of crystal, e.g. oxalate.

There are some supplements that would really help your bichon's tendency to get urinary tract infections. For starters, use Renelix Renelix helps clear toxins, accumulated gravel, protein and other sediments from the kidneys and urinary tract. We have consistently used this product with pets that have crystals in the urine and then retest them later and have had consistently positive results. Moreover, using a Probiotic and the Pet UTI Prevention Package is highly recommended.
Friday, July 2, 2010

Dog Scratching, Dry and Flaky Dandruff on Dog's Coat

Q: I have a 3 year old ShtZu that stays in the house all the time. She scratches herself all the time and her skin is dry and flaky like dandruff. What can I do for her?

A: Your dog could have BOTH food and environmental allergies. For starters, it is really important for you to use a pure and effective Omega 3 fatty acid supplement. We highly recommend Amazing Omegas to help with your dog's dry and flaky dandruff. Amazing Omegas can make your dog's coat soft and will help reduce the dandruff in just a few days. Omegas add a beautiful sheen to the coat and lubricate the skin. In addition, they reduce inflammation to help fight allergies.

You need to address your dog's food allergies as well. Be sure to look carefully at your pet's food label as it might contain grains such as corn or wheat. Also, chicken can be a big allergen too. You might want to consider a frozen raw food diet or a canned diet using a "novel protein" such as rabbit. Be sure to avoid key allergens such as wheat, corn, milk products, chicken and peanut butter. Dry food is not recommended for dogs with allergies as it can promote yeast overgrowth since many dogs don't digest it well.

To help your dog get some relief, I would highly recommend Ask Ariel's Pet Allergy and Skin Package. The Pet Allergy and Skin Package includes Proaller, Amazing Omegas and Notatum which work synergistically to reduce scratching, itching and infection. You might also want to include a Probiotic in your dog's regimen too as it helps support your dog's digestion, immune system and allergic response.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Holistic Veterinarian Telephone Consultations


The Doctor Is In! Convenient Holistic Veterinary Care By Phone

Dr. David Gordon, Holistic Veterinarian and Medical Director at VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital in Lake Forest, CA is now available for telephone consultations on Wednesday and Saturday mornings to help you with your pet. Dr. Gordon will review your pet's medical records and provide you with advice regarding the best conventional and holistic veterinary treatment options. This is an especially convenient way to receive medical advice if you have a very busy schedule or don't have access to a holistic veterinarian in your area. Dr. David A. Gordon has over 25 years of experience in veterinary medicine and is a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Veterinary Acupuncturists and the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. Dr. Gordon has a special interest in acupuncture, orthopedic pet problems and holistic medical therapies and is dedicated to giving his patients the best that veterinary medicine can offer. Of course, he is an expert in general veterinary medicine too. Click here for more on Dr. Gordon's credentials
This 30 minute medical appointment is recommended if you:
1) Would like a second opinion about your pet's health condition or veterinary treatments
2) If your pet has unusual symptoms and a diagnoses is unclear
3) If your pet is not responding to conventional veterinary care and you would like an additional holistic medical perspective
4) A personalized, focused discussion of your pet's medical prognsosis without having to stress your pet with car transport
Please note that if you are seeking indepth dietary and/or supplement advice, than a combination appointment with both Dr. David Gordon and Susan Blake Davis, pet nutritionist is recommended.
30 minute consultation cost: $149

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Come Meet Susan and Get FREE Advice!






Get Expert Advice on Pet Nutrition
FREE!

Meet Susan Blake Davis, a certified clinical nutritionist who provides holistic health consultations to pet owners nationwide, teaching them how food choices directly affect their pet’s health concerns. Susan is also on-staff at VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital. Stop by and learn about:

-What’s Really in Pet Food
-How Poor Digestion Can Lead to Allergies & Other Diseases
-Best Supplements to Keep Your Pet Healthy
-Benefits of a Raw Food Diet

Susan will be at The Dog Ranch Bed & Biscuit located at 20401 Sun Valley Drive in Laguna Beach to answer your questions and help you optimize your pet’s health on:

-Tuesday July 6th from 4 – 6 pm
-Wednesday July 14th from 4 – 6 pm


Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Diet For Cats With Digestive Problems, IBD and Intestinal Lymphoma

Q: My 16 year old Tonkanese cat has trouble with digestion. He sometimes has small hard stools or diahrrea and/or vomiting. He primarily likes sea food. The Vet sold us Royal Canin for digestion health. I'm not so sure about the ingrediants. Do you think this is a good choice. (cat doesn't like it) any other suggestions for a food that would help him? Vet says it could develop into IBD. Thanks for your help
Barbara

A: Thank you so much for submitting a question. Your kitty's digestive problems are very common for senior cats. It seems that a lot of cats as they get older develop digestive problems which can include diarrhea, constipation, vomitting and discomfort. Many pet owners try the prescribed "prescription diet" from their veterinarians and the kitty doesn't want to eat it. Moreover, the prescription diets often contain ingredients such as corn, byproducts and other synthetic ingredients that may not be good for your cat.

What is hard for cat owners to understand is why their cat "suddenly" developed these issues. Most likely, the symptoms of diarrhea, poor digestion, vomitting, etc were evolving over time and now as a senior cat, it has become more apparent. What this means is that the general "inflammation" in the intestinal lining has been building and as your veterinarian mentioned, if untreated over time, can lead to intestinal lymphoma in cats. There are medications that can help but if possible and the symptoms are not too severe, starting with some supplements and a diet change is the best step.

The main issue is that you need to avoid poultry, sometimes seafood and most grains. You don't want to use a cat food that contains wheat gluten for example. All of these ingredients are hard for cats to digest and can be big allergens for cats. I am reluctant to recommend a specific brand as many of the high quality diets are very high in protein and depending upon your kitty's liver or kidney values, I would want to make some adjustments to the diet. In other words, if I recommended that you use Instinct rabbit by itself (which can work great for many cats), that may not be advisable for your kitty if the kidney values are even slightly elevated, which they often are in a 16 year old cat. Certainly adding some canned pumpkin to whatever diet you use will help add valuable fiber and helps regulate bowel motility.

Dietary changes alone, at this stage, will not be sufficient. It is very important that you also incorporate some natural nutrients into your cat's diet. In your situation, I would recommend using the Probiotic and using our IBD Kit. The Probiotic is highly purified, 3rd party tested and well tolerated by cats. It really helps to repopulate the bowel flora and most pet owners provide wonderful testimonials about how it reduces digestive symptoms and helps regulate their cat's bowel movements. The IBD Kit includes the Probiotic and really helps to heal inflammation and irritation that is causing the digestive symptoms.
Monday, June 14, 2010

In Memory Of Beloved Robert Weinstein, My Stepfather


Our dear Bob passed away yesterday. He just celebrated his 83rd birthday on June 5th. He made an incredible fight but the pneumonia and complications from open heart surgery were just too much for him.


Bob was a thoughtful, generous and caring person who took care of Selma, our mother for 38 years. They had a wonderful life together and enjoyed terrific times going on cruises, shopping and just being together. He could never do enough for Mom who was disabled with multiple sclerosis, diabetes and then later Alzheimers. His only concern was always what was best for Selma.


Bob was a wonderful father and stepfather and gave so much of himself. He was so kind to others in his community too and for years volunteered his time to bring in baked goods for the seniors in his apartment complex.


Bob suffered terribly as a result of the complications due to his surgery. We are so grateful he is at peace now and will miss him terribly. We love you Bob. You will live forever in our hearts!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Testimonial For Layla- Pancreatitis

Layla
Canine Pancreatitis

"Layla is a 3 year old Yorkshire Terrier who was diagnosed with pancreatitis in October of 2008. Our vet wanted Layla to be put on canned prescription formula to manage this and I knew I couldn't do that because I didn't agree with the ingredients in these foods. I talked to a friend who had used Susan in the past for her Yorkie with great success. Our vet was quite sure that Layla's issues could not be managed with a home cooked diet but we were determined to try. From the moment I talked to Susan in our first consultation I knew that Layla was in good hands and that through her help, everything would be fine. Layla was put on a strict diet and along with Susan's LypoZyme and Probiotics. Layla's Spec numbers went from 740 (under 400 is considered normal) in October, down to 164 in February. Our family is beyond thankful to Susan and all that she has done to save our girl from a lifetime of horrible canned food. I recommend Susan to anyone I meet who is considering home cooking or who is dealing with a dog with health issues- I just can't say enough about how knowledgeable Susan is and how deeply she cares."


The Pluss Family, Feb. 2009, Canada
Visit AskAriel.com for more information on digestive disorders

Teddy's Testimonial- Canine Liver Cancer





Canine Liver Cancer

In April 2008, our 10-year-old dog, Teddy, a Chow Chow rescue, was diagnosed with a liver tumor. Our vet did not know if it was cancer at the time. As Teddy’s tumor grew, he was able to be tested, and cancer was confirmed. We were told he was too old for conventional treatment and, as his cancer progressed, to simply keep him comfortable. The vet had no hope for his recovery from canine liver cancer.

Our family decided to treat Teddy’s liver cancer condition with a holistic approach. We found Susan Davis through her website. We scheduled a phone consult, and the surprising results began. Susan customized a diet and supplement plan for Teddy, and we saw a marked difference in just two weeks. His overall health continued to improve.

We chose to have Teddy living with canine cancer instead of dying with cancer. He lost his brave battle on January 8, 2010. Teddy’s vet felt it was a miracle that he survived for so long. Our family knows that it was a miracle, thanks to Susan. We were blessed to have found her. She made it possible for us to have extended time with our wonderful Teddy.

Susan and her team are professional, well-informed, caring, and most responsive. The ability to consult with Susan by phone and e-mail is extremely convenient. We highly recommend her services, particularly when pets are young, to start them off on a healthy, all-natural diet.

–The Nardoni Family 2010

Learn More About AskAriel's Cancer Support
Wednesday, June 2, 2010

EPA Warning Regarding Topical Flea Products

EPA Warning About Topical Flea Products

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has increased restrictions and cautioned consumers to use extra care when applying topical flea treatments. We understand how important it is to use flea and tick prevention, and wish to remind you that many diseases arising from NOT using flea and tick preventatives can cause serious, even deadly consequences. We, are not advising that all clients should stop using them, rather, that caution should be taken and that each pet's specific situation should be evaluated. What we are recommending is that you review the EPA advisory.  Of special concern are cats, certain breeds of dogs and any immune-compromised or sick pets. We are offering a discount on telephone consultations so that if you would like to discuss this issue, along with the special needs of your pet, we would be happy to assist you.

Due to the need to evaluate each pet's specific situation and health concerns in depth, we regret that we cannot provide advice to you over email.

Here is the press release issued by the Environmental Protection Agency:EPA to Increase Restrictions on Flea and Tick Products Cautions Consumers to Use Products with Extra Care Release date: 03/17/2010 WASHINGTON – Due to a significant increase in adverse incidents, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking a series of actions to increase the safety of spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control for cats and dogs. Immediately, EPA will begin reviewing labels to determine which ones need stronger and clearer labeling statements. Next, EPA will develop more stringent testing and evaluation requirements for both existing and new products. EPA expects these steps will help prevent adverse reactions. In dogs and cats that can include skin effects, such as irritation, redness, or gastrointestinal problems that include vomiting or diarrhea, or effects to the nervous system, such as trembling, appearing depressed or seizures—from pet spot-on products. “EPA is committed to better protecting the health and safety of pets and families in all communities across our nation,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. “New restrictions will be placed on these products, and pet owners need to carefully read and follow all labeling before exposing your pet to a pesticide.” Following the 2008 increase in incident reports, EPA received additional information from the pet spot-on pesticide registrants and others and began an intensive evaluation of these products. Today, EPA is reporting the results of this evaluation, and taking steps to address the spike in reported incidents. Among immediate actions that EPA will pursue are: · Requiring manufacturers of spot-on pesticide products to improve labeling, making instructions clearer to prevent product misuse. · Requiring more precise label instructions to ensure proper dosage per pet weight. · Requiring clear markings to differentiate between dog and cat products, and disallowing similar brand names for dog and cat products. Similar names may have led to misuse. · Requiring additional changes for specific products, as needed, based on product-specific evaluations. · When new products are registered, granting only conditional, time-limited registrations to allow for post-marketing product surveillance. If there are incidents of concern associated with the product, EPA will take appropriate regulatory action. · Restricting the use of certain inert ingredients that EPA finds may contribute to the incidents. · Launching a consumer information campaign to explain new label directions and to help users avoid making medication errors. In addition, to improve the regulatory oversight of pet products, EPA will require more standardized post-market surveillance reporting on adverse effects, require submission of more sales information so the agency can better evaluate incident rates, and bring up-to-date the scientific data requirements on pre- and post-market testing so they are more in line with the Food and Drug Administration’s requirements. Flea and tick products can be appropriate treatments for protecting pets and public health because fleas and ticks can transmit disease to animals and humans. While most people use the products with no harm to their pets, the agency's analysis determined that smaller dogs tend to be disproportionately affected by some products and that the exposure of cats to some dog products is a concern. People should carefully follow label directions and monitor their pets for any signs of an adverse reaction after application, particularly when using these products for the first time. EPA recommends that owners consult a veterinarian about the best way to protect their pets from fleas and ticks or whether pesticides are needed, especially before using any product on weak, aged, medicated, sick, pregnant or nursing pets, or on pets that have previously shown signs of sensitivity to pesticide products. EPA is coordinating these actions with Health Canada as Canada also identified similar concerns about the use of spot-on flea and tick products last year, and with the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. The agency is inviting public comment on how best to implement these new measures. A Federal Register notice announcing the opening of a docket will be published on March 19, 2010. The docket number is EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0229. To read the EPA’s report on the evaluation of products and incidents click here)
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/petproductseval.html

EPA recommends that veterinarians use the National Pesticide Information Center’s Veterinary Pesticide Adverse Effects Portal to report incidents: http://npic.orst.edu/vetMore information on pet products and safety tips: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/pets.htm Click here to view Ask Ariel's Products and Services


Thank you for being an Ask Ariel client. We look forward to continuing to provide you with quality holistic pet care.

Sincerely,--The Team at Ask Ariel

Overweight dog- 7 Tips To Get Your Pet Bikini Ready!

Get Your Pet Bikini-Ready--7 Easy Tips! 1) Feed your pet at regular meal times. It is better to feed 2-3 smaller meals than one big meal. Do not free-feed by leaving food out all the time unless your pet has a health condition that requires it. 2) Schedule exercise every day. If you have a dog, this is a great way for you both to exercise together and make new friends. If you have a cat, this is a way for you to bond even closer--try out new toys such as a laser or feather toy. 3) Watch the treats. Treats add up! You can still give your pet treats but use healthy options such as vegetables (e.g. baby carrots), a sliced apple or some of their daily kibble. For example, you can use some of their dry food kibble for treats but be sure to reduce the amount of kibble served at dinner. For best results, set aside a daily amount of treats in a dish so that all family members can "treat" the pet throughout the day. When the bowl is empty--that is it for the day. Remember: one average dog biscuit could be over 100 calories which is about 1/2 the amount of a small can of dog food! 4) If your pet is always hungry and you are trying to cut back, try mixing in steamed vegetables or canned pumpkin. This will help them feel more satiated and add some extra vitamins, minerals and fiber. 5) Sometimes pets beg or are excessively hungry because they are not getting enough protein in their diet. If you have a young pet, consider a grain-free commercial diet, raw frozen food or cooking some fish and adding to their regular food. Please use caution however as some pet owners have a tendency to overdo the protein and this can be life-threatening especially if the pet has a health condition such as liver or kidney disease or pancreatitis. 6) Measure foods carefully! Use a measuring cup--don't "guesstimate" how much a standard cup is. Many scoopers are actually two cups not one. 7) Shower your pet with love--NOT FOOD! Many times people give their pets extra food as a way to show them they love them and often it is because they may feel badly they don't spend enough time with them. Wake up a little earlier on some days or come home once a week at lunch time from work to spend some exercise or play time with your pet. Click here for more information and products available at Ask Ariel
Sunday, May 30, 2010

Canine Papillomavirus, Weak Immune System--Diet and Supplements Can Help

Q: Hello. I have a 1 year old Lab Mix who just recently (beginning of April) was diagnosed with oral papillomavirus. She had 4 warts removed by laser and the rest were crushed. Her mouth healed and then about 2.5 weeks later, the warts showed up again. This time, there are more in quantity but aren't as big. Last week she had about 20 of them crushed to try and stimulate her immune system, but with her "nonexistent" immune system it hasn't seemed to help. I don't want to spend money on another surgery to have them removed then to come back again. Is there anything that you can suggest to help treat these warts? Portraits By Courtney

A: Courtney,
So sorry you have been through so much with your young dog. It really sounds like your dog has a weak immune system and definitely using an improved diet and supplement regimen would really help. When people or pets get chronic infections, it is a sign the body is having trouble defending itself. This is often due to the fact that the body is fighting many "fires" at once and the immune system is depleted. One of the most common reasons in dogs that the immune system gets weak is almost always the diet and the fact the dog is eating foods he or she is allergic to. For example, it is very common for dogs to get chronic ear infections and chronic urinary tract infections as a result of eating chicken which for some dogs is a very high allergen food. What you want to do is be sure your dog is on a grain-free, hypoallergenic diet with plenty of omega fatty acids such as Amazing Omegas. In addition, the following anti-viral supplements found on www.askariel.com would also help: Quentans, Olive Leaf Extract and Samento. Immune Harmony would be especially helpful as well as it modulates (not overstimluates) the immune system.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Supplements for Dog With Arthritis

Q: have a 9 year old dog who is showing signs of arthritis. i want to put her on your supplements and also look at her diet. she has been on vegetarian dog food her whole life and i'm wondering how can i switch to homemade, possibly raw, but mostly vegetarian food for her (maybe i can add some fish, but mostly use nuts?) i'm not sure where to turn for recipes.

A: While giving dogs vegetables is highly recommended, nuts or soy as the primary sources of protein for a dog is not. Dogs need some animal protein. This can be a very tough issue for people who are vegetarians as you may not want to have any type of meat protein in the house. However, if you were to consider what your dog might eat "if in the wild", nuts would not be the top food on the list. Fish is an excellent option though and you can try eggs as well. It should be a balanced diet however, not a "do it yourself" as there is a risk you could be giving your dog an imbalanced diet, even though you have the kindest of intentions.

There are some supplements that will greatly help your dog's arthritis. For starters, I would highly recommend the Dog Arthritis Package on www.askariel.com The package includes three key products for arthritis: 1) Amazing Omegas which is a highly purified fish oil product for dogs, 2) Amazing Arthrosoothe which contains key herbs for joint pain including MSM, boswelia, green lipped mussel as well as glucosamine and 3) Curcumin complex for pets--which greatly reduces inflammation and pain. In addition, you might want to consider Collagenex 2 which is a simple, easy to use formula that relieves joint pain in 7-10 days and is backed by considerable research.

Dog With Bladder Crystals: Supplements That Will Help Prevent Crystals

Response to Joyce

Question: I have a 6 yr old jack-a-poo who has had a few UTI"s over the years. I just took her to the vet bc she was barking and then licking her vagina. They did xrays and no bladder stones but her urine showed struvite and calcium oxalate crystals. They put her on a low protein diet. I was wondering what else could I use to help dissolve these so that it doesn't turn into bladder stones?

Answer: When pets have chronic UTIs, along with licking of the vagina, and bladder crystals, the first place to try to help is with the diet. Often this pet will have skin allergies as well and suffer from scratching and itching. A low carbohydrate, hypoallergenic diet is highly recommended. Chronic UTIs and allergies are often due to the pet eating high allergen foods such as grains, corn and poultry. When a pet has bladder crystals, a "prescription" diet is often given. The diet can synthetically manipulate the mineral content which in turn reduces the likelihood of stone formation, but overall is not nearly as nutritious and/or beneficial for the long-term health concerns of the pet. Moreover, many pets still continue to get the stones and crystals while on the diet and can be allergic to the corn, byproducts and other ingredients in the prescription diet.

What we recommend is a telephone consultation through http://www.askariel.com/ to help you formulate a nutritious custom diet for your pet that will not only temporarily supress the struvite and oxalate crystals but get to the root cause of the development of them. Some breeds are more inclined than others to have struvite and oxalate crystals and stones, but in general, if the pet is put on a hypoallergenic, well balanced diet, the crystals will go away. There are different diets recommended depending upon the type of crystals found. In your situation, since both struvite and oxalate crystals were found (very common), it would not be advisable to "do it yourself" but rather seek out the advice of a pet nutritionist or veterinary professional to help you find a more suitable long-term diet.

In terms of supplements, there are products that would really help your dog. Renelix is very helpful for detoxifying the kidneys and urinary tract and releasing mineral build-up. We have seen a number of dogs use this formula along with the Pet UTI and Probitoic, and subsequent laboratory tests do not show any further struvite or oxalate crystals. Since your dog has a history of some UTIs, it would work best to use the Renelix along with Pet UTI Prevention Formula and Probiotic. Ask Ariel sells a package called the Pet UTI Prevention Package which could really help. Sure hope your dog feels better!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Dog Has Yellowish Vaginal Discharge

Q: My 5yr old dog (Trixie) has gotten some sort of an infection. She has a yellowish vaginal discharge with a slight smell to it. I have an appointment with her vet set up but was just wondering if it is safe to give her some Echineacha and goldenseal to help her fight the infection in the mean time, while we are waiting to see the vet? I have seen it in various products on the market, but wanted to make sure that it was safe to be given to a dog and what the approximate dosage would be. She is approximately 62lbs if that helps. Thank you very much for your time.

A: As ironic as it may be for all of us pet Moms, our female dogs can get many of the same ailments as we do, including vaginal yeast infections, urinary tract infections and discharge. I am glad you took Trixie to the veterinarian and hope she is feeling better. Here are some suggestions. First of all, it is really important to get Trixie started on a high quality Probiotic. I highly recommend Ask Ariel's Power Probiotic for Pets It is an excellent multi-strain formula and is a good value as well. Most probiotics for people and pets are not manufactured in such a way that they even do what they promise to perform. In order for a Probiotic to work, it needs to be in a form that can survive the stomach acid and guaranteed potency at the time of USE (not manufacture). This particular Probiotic has been third party tested in high temperatures and still holds up at 97%. In any case, a Probiotic will help to repopulate the good flora for Trixie. We have good bacteria that live in our intestinal tract and help us fight disease. They are very important for our immune system. When we take antibiotics, it can lower our immunity by killing off all the good bacteria as well as the bad bacterial overgrowth. That is why we often see people and pets getting repeat infections, especially after taking several rounds of antibiotics.

The yellowish discharge can either be due to an overgrowth of yeast, bacteria or inflammatory cells as result of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Regardless, the Probiotic will help to rebalance the flora and help Trixie to fight future infections. Even if you used antibiotics this time, it is very important to start on the probiotic as many times, the infection will recur.  Other supplements that will help with the yellowish vaginal discharge are K9 Yeast Defense and Notatum.   If your dog has been on antibiotics, this kills all the good bacteria along with the bad.  Good bacteria is needed to help your dog fight another infection.  In addition, when the immune system is weak, it creates an environment where yeast and bad bacteria can quickly overgrow.  Using the K9 Yeast Defense, Notatum and Power Probiotic all together can help strengthen your dog's immune system and promote a healthy growth of good flora so that your dog is protected from future infections.

In addition to Power Probiotic, I would also recommend using a grain-free diet as many times dogs get urinary and vaginal infections from too much sugar in the diet. Most of the commercial diets contain wheat, corn, oats, and even some supplements contain molasses. Take a look at the protein percentage as for a 5 year old active dog, it should definitely be higher than the low 20s which is where many of the cereal-based dog kibbles are. Even hypoallergenic diets that use potatoes instead of corn and grains are too high in carbohydrates, creating an environment which helps bacteria and yeast to overgrow. It is best to use hypoallergenic, grain-free diets (non-chicken based) for dogs and cats that are prone to UTIs and vaginal infections.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Update on My Dear Bobby--83 year old recovering from Complications Due to Open Heart Surgery


I just want to express my sincerest thanks to all of you--the wonderful friends of Ask Ariel Your Pet Nutritionist and Ariel Rescue whose prayers and kindness have helped my dear Bobby to survive. I sincerely apologize I haven't been able to keep up with the blog but my time had been stretched very thin attending to his care. As you know, I am passionate about holistic care and my staff and I are deeply concerned about each one of your pets. We always try to present you with all of your options in treating your pet's condition--whether it be conventional veterinary care as well as holistic veterinary alternatives. It has been so frustrating with the care of Bob, who has suffered terribly as a result of overmedication, that the doctors were not at all receptive to any type of holistic care. I will never forgot how stunned I was that the doctor REFUSED to give him Vitamin B but authorized morphine and opiate drugs. The overmedication and oversedation of the elderly is rampant because many times the doctors, hospitals and nurses will authorize medications that a young person might be able to tolerate but an older person might not be able to process and clear through their kidneys and liver. This is exactly what happened to Bobby. Now his heart is running ok but he has a lot of problems related to his "hospitalization".

I am sure there are many of you who have elderly parents who have undergone similar experiences and if you would like to share them, please feel free to post them here. It might be therapeutic for all of us to know that we are not alone and that someone else has experienced a similar situation.

In any case, I am happy to report that by the sheer will to survive, Bobby is now in a nursing/rehab center and after 6 long weeks of Critical Care, is breathing pretty well on his own. Prior to his surgery, he was taking care of my Mom (she has Alzheimers and MS) and they were traveling and having fun. He was driving, cooking and leading a pretty normal life. Now, he is bedridden and still after 2 months, does not have the strength to move himself in the bed or to stand up. He is getting intense physical therapy and each day shows a little more progress. My dream is that he will eventually be able to walk again with a walker and spend the rest of his days at home with Mom. Right now though, he lost his ability to swallow (this is common with older folks but in his case, it occured because he was overmedicated and had to stay on a breathing machine too long which damaged the muscles) and is on a feeding tube. Yesterday, was his first day being dressed when I took him for his doctor's appointment. This was a great move in the right direction. Thanks again for all your care and concern. You will never know how much it has meant to me.
Sunday, April 25, 2010

Scottish Terrier with Seizures

Q: I have a 6 month old female scottish terrier. She has had 2 seizure episodes. They have been 3 weeks apart. Excessive saliva and white foam has been seen after the seizures. She will have a day of about 3 to 4 seizures and after flushed with fulids via IV she is fine. The first incident she was tested for toxins and it came out positive for organophospates but we never used pesticides in the house and my other dog (9yr old lab mix) has never showed any signs of poisioning. The second time they tested her bile acid levels and they are elevated but not elevated enough to be a liver shunt. They also realized she was anemic as well (non regenerative). I feel as tho she has some liver malfunction. We have 2 vets looking at her file one says liver and or brain infection the other says epilepsy. I want to know what I can do to help her. It is breaking my heart.

A: So sorry your dog has been so sick. We understand how stressful and upsetting it is. Please try to see a neurologist for your dog. Also, getting an MRI might help as well. Not sure if you saw our recent post about topical flea killers and the EPA warning. We will post on the blog just in case you didn't see our newsletter. But, sometimes pets can have a bad reaction to those (not sure if you used anything like that). In the meantime, you might want to consider scheduling a telephone consultation to at least get your dog on the best homemade liver diet possible and use some basic supplements such as Vitamineral Green and our Probiotic (found on www.askariel.com). Sometimes seizures can also be triggered by food allerges and other digestive issues too so a telephone consultation would greatly help.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Dog Licking Groin and Genitals

Q: our one dog is on lasix for heart murmers, i guess because that is a diuretic it is why she licks her crotch more than normal, my parents never brought that up to the vet, that she does it a lot.
the vet gave us Pronin because my mom misrepresented her peeing problem (separation anxiety i guess, or 'can't hold it in, pee now'
that drove her insane, made her swell, and need to go out evry 5 minutes.
but she just seems to gnaw/lick there a lot.and grunts

A: Sorry your dog is so uncomfortable. You should definitely change your dog's food to be sure it is GRAIN-FREE--no corn, wheat and no byproducts. Your dog may have a urinary tract infection so definitely bring her to the vet to have that checked. Most likely, it is a yeast overgrowth as well. The following products would help your poor dog's discomfort:

K9 Yeast Defense + Power Probiotic + NotatumAmazing Omegas

You can find the products on www.askariel.com This will help greatly to relieve some of the itching and discomfort.
Monday, March 15, 2010

Cat with Chronic Renal Failure (cat kidney disease) is Feeling Better with Natural Kidney Support Supplements


Dear Ask Ariel staff,

This is just an update on Ranger, my 14 year old kitty with kidney disease (CRF). I ordered the following supplements from Ask Ariel (Kidney Terrain, Renelix, Rehmannia 8, Protease and Purozyme) for Ranger on Friday Jan 29th. To my great surprise, they arrived here in Upstate NY on Monday Feb 1st! Which was great as Ranger was near death on Feb 1st and 2nd. She hid to sleep constantly. Usually they hide to die! She was in REALLY REALLY REALLY bad shape. I've had one cat die of Liver disease and two others of Renal Failure. Ranger is the 3rd I've had with Chronic Renal Failure (kidney disease) so I know how they act before they die. (I'm so disappointed that I didn't know about your company back in 2003... perhaps my other three kitties could have lived a couple more years). Oh well.

Anyway, Ranger was near death on Feb 1st when the supplements arrived. I gave them to her but assumed she was probably too far gone by this time and I was kicking myself for having waited too long. However after three to four days she started eating more (although she still won't eat a lot), was more alert, less sleeping and got her "motor mouth" back! Since then she has had only TWO BAD DAYS... and although I truly wish she would eat more, she does eat though! I know she isn't cured... but these meds are giving her MORE TIME and MORE QUALITY TIME with me. And for that I am truly grateful! I just love this little girl so much. She will be 14 sometime this Spring. Anytime Feb to April as I don't know her exact birthday. But she's 14 and I can possibly see that if she stays the same as now, she may be around awhile more. THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Daniel Lafler NY email: kittypup@frontier.net
Friday, February 19, 2010

Please Say A Prayer For Bobby


Pictured above is Robert Weinstein and Selma Koletsky--two beloved "friends" of Ask Ariel Your Pet Nutritionist. Bobby is making the fight of his life right now at 82 years of age. For about 15 years, Bobby has been struggling to breathe due to some problems with his lungs but he took his supplements faithfully and has been doing so well. He and Selma were taking regular trips to Vegas and having the time of their lives. A few weeks ago, Bobby knew something was wrong. He couldn't breathe and the medications and supplements were no longer helping. He was rushed to the emergency three times over the past few weeks and then had open heart surgery this week. Everything was going fine and he was showing a little improvement each day and then last night around midnight, he had a setback. He was struggling to breathe and an infection was in his lungs. He is now heavily sedated with a breathing tube as the doctors fight to save him. It is amazing how complex that open heart surgery is and all that is involved. If he didn't have the surgery though, he wouldn't have a chance because his artery was completely blocked.

I am so sorry that I haven't been keeping up with the blog as I usually do but these last few weeks have been so terribly stressful. My pets seem to know Mom is upset and have been worrying too. I know the power of prayer can be amazing and hope if you read this, you can send some well wishes for my dear Bobby. With gratitude, Susan Blake Davis
Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Golden Retriever Had UTIs and Yeast and is Now Better!


"Bella is our fourth and most sensitive Golden Retriever. She developed chronic UTI's and yeast on her skin. We have always fed Bella premium dog food since she was a puppy. After many expensive tests, medications and possible surgery to correct her problems , we found Susan Davis. We have had nothing but good results. Susan directed us to better health and happiness for Bella with her knowledge and expertise. As my husband so simply put it "she's fixed"!!!!! Thank you Susan." Steve and Valarie Bick
Thursday, January 21, 2010

Cat with advanced chronic renal failure CRF--Can holistic supplements help?


Q: Hello,I have a 4yr old domestic short hair calico. She has advanced stage crf.I am giving her sub-Qs with vitamins(200ml per day) Amphogel(2ml),Enacard(2.5mg)Clavamox(62.5mg),and anti-nausea meds and I switched her to a raw diet according to Anita Frazier's Natural Cat.She isn't eating and seems to be anemic.Is there any product that you offer that will make any difference at this point in the game? I have also looked into kidney transplant and discovered that it is out of our financial range. Please answer as soon as you can if you think that there is something I can still do to save her.

A: So very sorry your kitty is so sick. And....especially at such a young age. Most of the cats with advanced chronic renal failure (CRF) are elderly cats. It is very common for cats to have some degree of renal insufficiency as they age but having a young kitty be diagnosed with this condition must have been devastating for you.

Cats with kidney disease need a reduced protein, reduced phosphorous diet. Without reviewing your cat's specific laboratory tests and history, it would be very difficult for me to assess what your cat's prognosis is. However, what I would say is that I have seen some miracles using the holistic plan for CRF kitties that Dr. Gordon and I provide. Many clients come to us with cats near death and we have had some success. It requires a complete holistic plan using our fluid recommendations, supplements, diet plan, acupuncture, etc.

In terms of products, for anemia, you can try Renelix and Marrow Plus (there are additional conventional veterinary treatments available as well). The Kidney Terrain, Kidney Health and Purrfect Pet CoQ10 are the most commonly ordered products for cats. Recently, we had a young rescue kitty that had been abused (from a horrible "hoarding" environment with little access to water) who suffered with advanced CRF. Pierre's laboratory tests (BUN, phosphorous, Creatinine) were extremely high and the prognosis was poor. The owner was considering putting Pierre down and then scheduled a combination appointment with Dr. Gordon and I via telephone. Here is a recent email we received 6 months following our consultation:

"Hate to bother you on a Sunday, but I just wanted to tell you Pierre is acting as he did before he was sick!! This morning he is up and about, not hiding anywhere, following me everywhere, and up in the window watching outside and getting excited when he sees the doves come to the feeder outside the window. I have been hydrating him every day, and keeping on track with my schedule of supplements & meds. You just don’t know how happy it makes us to see him acting so normal today, he acts as if he feels really good.

Thanks you so much, everyday shows improvement."

While we wish all of our clients' cats could fare as well as Pierre, by doing all you can to help your kitty, at least you know you tried. Many pet owners feel dismayed after their pet's pass that they could have done more so it is important to try, even when the odds may not seem in your favor. We have seen pets turn for the better substantially after following our holistic protocols..