Friday, September 27, 2013

Donations Desperately Needed For Neglected Rescue Dog




Denali3 2Denali2 2Denali1 2

Denali is a 9 year old Siberian Husky who was rescued from an LA County Shelter 3 years ago by Husky Haven of LA.  She was adopted to a seemingly nice family who promised to care for Denali for the rest of her life.  Even though the family was carefully screened, they did not live up to their promise and Denali turned up at a shelter looking as she appears on the right with clumps of fur missing, loss of her black pigment from severe malnutrition, sores around her mouth and a large growth on her ear.  The picture on the left is how Denali appeared just 3 years ago at the time of her adoption.  Husky Haven of LA makes a commitment to the dogs they rescue for life.  It cost $250 in fees to bail out poor Denali from the shelter and it is estimated that she will need approx. $2000 in veterinary care.  However, we are hopeful that with proper veterinary attention, supplements and good nutrition, Denali will be able to make a successful recovery.  Even the smallest donations would be appreciated.  If you would like to help save Denali's life, please make a tax-deductible donation on the Husky Haven of LA website. 

AskAriel.com is dedicated to helping save the lives of homeless pets.  We donate resources and supplements to rescue groups to help give these pets a 2nd chance.
Move to: 
Thursday, September 26, 2013

Rosemary and Seizures in Dogs

Q:  Dear Ask Ariel:  My 9 month old pug Pugsley, is having seizures.  Is there a proven link between rosemary and seizures, especially in small breed dogs?

A:      This is a GREAT question and I am so glad you asked because seizures in dogs can be greatly improved with holistic care.  Seizures in a young dog are often related to some of the following issues:
1) food allergies--food allergies can be a trigger
 2) low thyroid function---Pugsly could be borderline thyroid--be sure to discuss a thyroid panel with your veterinarian
 3) Liver problems--a comprehensive blood test will reveal if there is an issue

Dog Brain Booster  is recommended by veterinarians and has been extremely effective in controlling seizures in dogs especially when combined with AllerEaze and Neuroflam .  It is very important to put Pugsley on a completely hypoallergenic diet, preferably a raw frozen diet.  Avoid all grains and use hypoallergenic protein sources such as rabbit.  Omega 3s are extremely helpful so using the highly purified Amazing Omegas to support brain health and reduce inflammation can help greatly.  In my opinion, I have not seen a definitive link between rosemary and seizures in dogs and think addressing these other issues will yield a much more successful approach for Pugsley.



Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Collapsed Trachea in Yorkshire Terriers



Q: Dear Ariel: I have an 10 yr old Yorkshire Terrier named Lily that has had problems with collapsing trachea and it is getting worse so I brought her into our vet and he did an x-ray and it showed that Lily has a slight enlargement of her heart on the left side. He felt that the heart issues may be involved with the issues with the trachea and he prescribed heart medications (Vetmedin  & Enalapril).  She seems to be feeling ok but she does make a honking sound especially if she gets excited.  Is there any holistic supplements that I can use that would help?


These products will help to support the heart and breathing.  The coughing is due to the collapsing trachea which can be helped from a functional standpoint using the Ultra-Flex Collagen Support (this helps to strengthen the cartilage in the trachea).  These products are all good for your dog and can be combined with heart medications but they are not cough control medicines.  


Also, some dogs do get stressed from the collapsing trachea so using the Psystabil is a gentle way to calm them. 

Friday, September 20, 2013

Gremlin and Goblin: Two Special Pets Who Brought So Much Love and Joy

Goblin and Gremlin---Two Special Dogs Who Are Now Angels


Losing a beloved pet is a heartbreak beyond words.  Anyone who has ever loved an animal knows the painful grief that comes when the time comes for them to leave us.   For Kimberly Dawn Hatfield, this pain was magnified by two.  Two precious dogs, Gremlin and Goblin both passed away within 2 months of one another.  Kimberly was a wonderful Mommie and took great care of them. Some memories that Kimberly has of each of these cherished pets is below:

Goblin, happy go lucky, awesome friend, smiled and brought you a toy everytime you came home, 15 years old and strong right up to the end, dog all the way thru, hated if I cried, licked my face until I stopped.  Powerful.

Gremlin, fighter, 12 years old, chronically ill for 5 years but still hung on until his body gave out, awesome, loyal friend, old soul,
was hanging on for me, until I told him, "I would be ok and to go if he needed to, I would be alright", two hours later, he did.

These two dogs were my life, my loves, my true friends, but I let them both go, 40 days apart, with love and happiness, I celebrate their life and good time memories which will always be in my heart, wait for me boys, I will see you again.
 Your Mommie
Friday, September 13, 2013

Hair Loss Around the Mouth or Tail in Dogs and Cats



Some cats and dogs can experience hair loss especially around the mouth or on the tail.  Hair loss can be a sign of allergies in pets.  Sometimes after my dog Legend eats something he is allergic to it, he will start scratching at the mouth which leads to hair loss.  While we keep Legend on  very strict hypoallergenic diet, on occasion, we might try something new to see how he responds to it.  Amazing, but even a different type of fish or small piece of pork is a huge trigger for him.  He will start scratching at the mouth.  Also, we have seen cats where they lose hair around the tail and then by changing the diet, the hair grows back.  For more about pet food allergies, please read the following pet nutrition health articles.
Thursday, September 12, 2013

Raw chicken can cause food allergies in dogs and cats

Raw Chicken is still chicken and could be an allergen for your dog or cats.  There is a popular opinion that if a cat or dog has allergies and then eats raw food, their allergy symptoms such as diarrhea, eye staining, itching, scratching and hair loss will improve.  Yes, it is true that raw food is easier to digest and anytime a pet is switched from dry kibble for example to a raw frozen diet, it is typical to see improved digestive symptoms which in turn can improve allergy symptoms.  However, if a cat or dog is allergic to chicken or poultry, whether the food is raw, cooked, overcooked or in whatever form---it is still chicken.   To learn more about why chicken could be a potential allergen for your dog or cat, please read this detailed article about chicken food allergies.  So, many pet owners can become extremely frustrated and erroneously conclude that a raw diet won't help their pet's allergies, when in fact it can.  But, what is important, is to understand that when choosing a raw frozen diet, the pet owner needs to look for a hypoallergenic "novel" protein such as rabbit.  Rabbit seems to work very well for dogs and cats with allergies.


Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Huskies From Alaska Send Thanks For Pet Supplements

  Pansy      Sue Firmin 2

"I am sold on your products and the two dogs I am treating have shown vast improvements.  I am most impressed.  My dogs are my very best friends.   I am willing to help them and do whatever is necessary to keep them healthy and happy.  Your products are helping me do just that.  I will use conventional medicine if I have to but am always happy to find holistic pet supplements that actually work.  I will always go with them first.  Yours are amazing.  Thank you once again for having these wonderful pet supplements and being so kind with helping .”   Firmin Family, Alaska, 2013


Ask Ariel is a holistic pet care website that provides expert advice about using natural diets and pet supplements to help dogs and cats stay happy and healthy.   Ask Ariel Your Pet Nutritionist
       
Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Fish Oil For Pets: Glass Bottles Prevent Rancid Omega 3s


Fish oil for pets can be full of more problems than benefits.  This is because the oil is typically packed in inexpensive plastic bottles which can leach toxins into the oil.  Moreover, many pet fish oils have not been purified for heavy metals, PCBs and are overheated.  This means that when you give your pet the fish oil, you may be giving your pet more chemicals and toxins rather than a healthy nutritious food.

Veterinary-recommended Amazing Omegas are sold in glass bottles to preserve the freshness and quality of the fish oil.  The product is produced naturally and is made from anchovies and sardines.  Toxins, PCBs, mercury are gently removed from the oil.  Amazing Omegas are third-party tested to ensure that the product delivers a rich array of Omega 3 fatty acids.

The difference is in the results.  There is just no comparison which is why Amazing Omegas are sold at $30 a bottle at veterinary hospitals.  Ask Ariel sells the Amazing Omegas at a discounted price of $23.50 and the bottles are kept fresh to  prevent rancidity. Ever smell an old bottle of vegetable oil and the odor is putrid? The same can happen with fish oil.  Rancidity occurs as the highly sensitive fish oil becomes exposed to air and oxidation occurs.  By packing in dark glass bottles, Amazing Omegas reduces the likelihood of rancid oil and ensures it is fresh and highly bioavailable nutritious food for your cat or dog.
Monday, September 2, 2013

Injured Husky - Donations Needed For Husky Haven of LA


Please make a donation to Husky Haven of LA to help Kiara (pictured on right) who is being fostered by these lovely people, the McDonald Family.  Kiara was adopted and returned from various LA Shelters and had saved by Rhonda Hallden of Husky Haven.  Finally, she was adopted by an experienced husky owner and within a few hours, an accident occured and Kiara was injured falling down the stairs.  The adopter returned Kiara and has not offered to help or contribute with Kiara's medical care.  It's hard enough to place an older rescue dog like Kiara in a loving home but to have her returned injured after less than a day is cruel.   Kiara is getting treated with acuscope, supplements and veterinary visits.  This is a very difficult situation and even a $5 contribution would help Kiara on her way.  It's easy to make a donation by going to the Husky Haven of LA website.

Here is the complete story from the Husky Haven Website page:
RETURNED "KIARA" Update-Kiara was returned after a few dys at her 8th attempt at a home..It was no fault of hers. The adopter had more stairs than she will be able to maneuver on a regular basis. IN FACT, she had a slip/fall and we are now treating her with hopes of improving a rear leg injury. She is now in the competent hands of our fosters; the McDoanlds of San Juan who are the adopters of our girl MADDIE.. AS well as traditional vet medicine, she is being given therapeutic treatments courtesy of our good friend, adopter and supporter Susan Davis, Founder Ask.Ariel.com..YES... WE cover the dogs we have committed to FOR LIFE.

And in KIARA's case, we are so grateful to all our supporters who lend a hand..(More on her hopeful progress will be coming) Pict: Janet & Mac with their HH girl tripod MADDIE out of Hrb shelter and MISS KIARA..
Sunday, September 1, 2013

French Bulldog Epilepsy Treatment

Q:  Dear Ariel:  Our 2 year old French Bulldog has been having seizures and is currently taking phenobarbital.  I really don't like to use this medication because of the side effects but don't know what else to do.  Are there any natural options I can use instead?  Thank you!  Jennifer

A:  Dear Jennifer:  So sorry your French Bulldog is having seizures.  We understand how stressful and upsetting it is to witness a dog having seizures.  First let me say, that holistic care can greatly help dogs having epileptic seizures.  The first part of helping your Frenchie is to take the cloud of "mystery" surrounding seizures and break them into parts.  Seizures have triggers.  The value of holistic pet care is to determine what those triggers are and to try to reduce the inflammatory cascade that can start the trigger.  There are many different reasons why a dog can have seizures.  Some common reasons are the following:  brain tumors, brain cancer (less likely in such a young dog), liver disease (unlikely unless a liver shunt or other severe congenital liver condition is present), food allergies, hypothyroidism, exposure to toxins and chemicals.

Let's consider food allergies.  While it may seem incredulous that a dog could experience seizures from food allergies, it is a common occurence.  You may have heard about how people can suffer from migraines or even severe reactions to foods such as peanuts.  There are common elements---inflammation caused by the food allergy response can affect the brain.  So, the first thing to do is try to eliminate potential food allergens from your dog's diet.  Similarly,  hypothyroidism can also be a trigger and some dog breeds have a higher incidence of  hypothyroidism due to their genetics. 

Autoimmune thyroiditis is common in dogs so please be sure to get a complete thyroid panel done, even in a young dog.  We have seen many occurences of low thyroid values causing seizures in young dogs.  Now, many dogs suffer from allergies and not all of them get seizures, so the next part of the equation is to try to reduce the overall inflammation in the brain and central nervous system.  It is essential to give any dog with seizures, nutritional support to reduce inflammation in the brain.  The products we have seen the best success with include the following:

Amazing Omegas---this is a highly purified fish oil that does not contain mercury or other contaminants found in most pet fish oils.  It is sold in a glass bottle to preserve the natural oil and prevent oxidation which can result in the terrible odor we often smell in rancid oils.

Dog Brain Booster--contains scientifically proven ingredients to help dogs with epilepsy, stroke recovery, seizures and other neuropathy.  Excellent results with many dogs with unusual neurological conditions.  Safe for small and large dogs.

Happy Paws Drops-- A recent pilot study at Colorado State University found that 89% of dogs that received CBD in the clinical trial had a reduction in the frequency of seizures.*   Happy Paws Hemp Extract contains full spectrum hemp oil with CBD, CBG, CBN, and CBDA. Grown in Colorado and 3rd party tested for safety. Made with non-GMO all organic ingredients.

If your French bulldog is having seizures, there is so much you can consider to help your dog feel better.  An integrative approach combining conventional veterinary care along with diet changes and supplements can help.  Even dogs taking several medications may continue to have seizures, so it is important to consider everything you can do to try to help.  Holistic treatments for canine epilepsy  can greatly improve your dog's quality of life.


Originally published: 9/1/2013
Revised: 3/8/2024