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