Saturday, October 10, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Dear Ariel,
I have a 3 year old Golden Retriever, Oliver. He weighs about 115 lbs. He is a very tall Golden. However, his weight troubles me. I want him to live a long and enjoyable life. for most of his young life he has eaten 1 can of Wellness Turkey and 1 can of the same in the evening. He is given a 8-12 in. 'bully stick' after dinner. He has a Greenie sometime during the day. His 'treats' are blueberries and raspberries and carrots. He does not eat a lot of these.
His exercise regimen includes an hour long brisk walk in a park. Sometimes, he gets 2 walks a day, but mostly just 1. He is the only dog I have. He'll romp with my cat during the day for a bit of time.
Because of my concern over his weight, I recently changed his diet to: 1 cup of lite dry Wellness and 1/2 can of Wellness turkey in the a.m. and 1/2 of dry and 1/2 of wet in the p.m. I haven't seen any significant change since doing this. However, I have not weighed him. He has had his thyroid checked in the past and it was normal.
Do you have any advice for me?
Frustrated,
Annette
Hi Annette,
Good for you for trying to help Oliver! This is a commendable effort and you can definitely help him. I have seen miracle stories of dogs losing significant amounts of weight from concerned pet owners and I know you can do it! The first thing you do need to recognize is that while his food quantity may not seem like much to you, he has been substantially overfed. In order for him to weigh 115 pounds, this weight has accumulated over time from continual overfeeding. Yes, it is true that we can increase his metabolism using Vitality NOW! and Pet Liver Rescue but excess weight can only be eliminated by reducing his caloric intake and increasing his exercise. It is good that you are questioning what to do for Oliver, and ideally, I can assist you best in a telephone consultation where we can go into a lot more detail.
In terms of his overall consumption of food, you need to take a serious look at what other food items Oliver may be getting-- from other family members, going through the trash, jumping on counters, getting treats from neighbors and relatives. The first thing to do is for you to take control of the situation and honestly assess all the food that might be going into Oliver. When families do this, they often find that there are a lot of "missing links" they didn't anticipate such as improper measuring of the food or little treats that add up to full meals. Also, it is important to remember that while one dog may be able to eat 4 cups of food at 100 pounds, another one may have a much slower metabolism and only be able to eat 2 without gaining weight (just like with people!!!).
You need to be very careful about the treats. For example, bully sticks should be intended as an OCCASIONAL (not an every day) treat--1 12 inch bully stick is calorically the same amount as 3/4 can of dog food! And if you are giving him a greenie too, well that is also like another 1/2 meal.....One large dog biscuit can be over 100 calories!
Here is a diet you can try:
Oliver needs a high protein diet so that he feels satisfied. Try Natures Variety raw frozen venison or rabbit medallions. Give him 6 medallions twice a day along with 1/3 cup canned pumpkin + 1 cup steamed green beans or zucchinni per meal. You should also use 1 teaspoon Amazing Omegas per meal to help balance out his diet and to help his coat. Most overweight dogs and people are actually deficient in essential fatty acids (Omega 3s) and many Golden Retrievers have bad allergies. The Amazing Omegas has some calories but these calories are very important for his health and will help him stay on the diet.
You can give him 1 4-inch bully stick every few days and replace the treats with either 1-2 baby carrots or 1/4 sliced apple. No more greenies! Try the supplements mentioned above--Pet Liver Rescue and Vitality NOW! to help speed up his metabolism. They may seem like "supplements" but really, at this point with his weight, they are critical. Why? Because excess weight doesn't just affect his body frame..it collects around the organs as well. For example, Daisy, the 118 pound Labrador that Ariel Rescue trimmed down to 73 pounds was finally able to be spayed and when the veterinarian removed her uterus, he also removed 5 POUNDS of fat around it!!!! The Pet Liver Rescue will help clear toxins from his liver while the Vitality NOW! will help burn up the fat around his heart and other organs. If he weighs 115 pounds, chances are he is at least 20 -25 pounds overweight and has already accumulated fat around his organs.....
So, give these suggestions a try and if you need further assistance, please note in-person and telephone consultations are available to help you at: http://www.AskAriel.com.
I have a 3 year old Golden Retriever, Oliver. He weighs about 115 lbs. He is a very tall Golden. However, his weight troubles me. I want him to live a long and enjoyable life. for most of his young life he has eaten 1 can of Wellness Turkey and 1 can of the same in the evening. He is given a 8-12 in. 'bully stick' after dinner. He has a Greenie sometime during the day. His 'treats' are blueberries and raspberries and carrots. He does not eat a lot of these.
His exercise regimen includes an hour long brisk walk in a park. Sometimes, he gets 2 walks a day, but mostly just 1. He is the only dog I have. He'll romp with my cat during the day for a bit of time.
Because of my concern over his weight, I recently changed his diet to: 1 cup of lite dry Wellness and 1/2 can of Wellness turkey in the a.m. and 1/2 of dry and 1/2 of wet in the p.m. I haven't seen any significant change since doing this. However, I have not weighed him. He has had his thyroid checked in the past and it was normal.
Do you have any advice for me?
Frustrated,
Annette
Hi Annette,
Good for you for trying to help Oliver! This is a commendable effort and you can definitely help him. I have seen miracle stories of dogs losing significant amounts of weight from concerned pet owners and I know you can do it! The first thing you do need to recognize is that while his food quantity may not seem like much to you, he has been substantially overfed. In order for him to weigh 115 pounds, this weight has accumulated over time from continual overfeeding. Yes, it is true that we can increase his metabolism using Vitality NOW! and Pet Liver Rescue but excess weight can only be eliminated by reducing his caloric intake and increasing his exercise. It is good that you are questioning what to do for Oliver, and ideally, I can assist you best in a telephone consultation where we can go into a lot more detail.
In terms of his overall consumption of food, you need to take a serious look at what other food items Oliver may be getting-- from other family members, going through the trash, jumping on counters, getting treats from neighbors and relatives. The first thing to do is for you to take control of the situation and honestly assess all the food that might be going into Oliver. When families do this, they often find that there are a lot of "missing links" they didn't anticipate such as improper measuring of the food or little treats that add up to full meals. Also, it is important to remember that while one dog may be able to eat 4 cups of food at 100 pounds, another one may have a much slower metabolism and only be able to eat 2 without gaining weight (just like with people!!!).
You need to be very careful about the treats. For example, bully sticks should be intended as an OCCASIONAL (not an every day) treat--1 12 inch bully stick is calorically the same amount as 3/4 can of dog food! And if you are giving him a greenie too, well that is also like another 1/2 meal.....One large dog biscuit can be over 100 calories!
Here is a diet you can try:
Oliver needs a high protein diet so that he feels satisfied. Try Natures Variety raw frozen venison or rabbit medallions. Give him 6 medallions twice a day along with 1/3 cup canned pumpkin + 1 cup steamed green beans or zucchinni per meal. You should also use 1 teaspoon Amazing Omegas per meal to help balance out his diet and to help his coat. Most overweight dogs and people are actually deficient in essential fatty acids (Omega 3s) and many Golden Retrievers have bad allergies. The Amazing Omegas has some calories but these calories are very important for his health and will help him stay on the diet.
You can give him 1 4-inch bully stick every few days and replace the treats with either 1-2 baby carrots or 1/4 sliced apple. No more greenies! Try the supplements mentioned above--Pet Liver Rescue and Vitality NOW! to help speed up his metabolism. They may seem like "supplements" but really, at this point with his weight, they are critical. Why? Because excess weight doesn't just affect his body frame..it collects around the organs as well. For example, Daisy, the 118 pound Labrador that Ariel Rescue trimmed down to 73 pounds was finally able to be spayed and when the veterinarian removed her uterus, he also removed 5 POUNDS of fat around it!!!! The Pet Liver Rescue will help clear toxins from his liver while the Vitality NOW! will help burn up the fat around his heart and other organs. If he weighs 115 pounds, chances are he is at least 20 -25 pounds overweight and has already accumulated fat around his organs.....
So, give these suggestions a try and if you need further assistance, please note in-person and telephone consultations are available to help you at: http://www.AskAriel.com.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Oh no, this page has meow-ved!
Visit the new page here: https://www.askariel.com/natural-remedies-for-dog-and-cat-dandruff-s/1938.htm.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Q: My ten month old kitten is suffering from eye redness and green discharge from both eyes. His vet treated him with Terramicyn ointment. This started
late june 09, he gets well for one week then gets it back all over again.
Any suggestions?
Answer from Susan Blake Davis, Pet Nutritionist: The green discharge and eye redness is a sign of chronic infection. Your poor kitten has a weak immune system and you need to help him rebuild his health using improved diet and supplements. First, take a look at what you are feeding and try to use a good quality food that is free of byproducts and grains. Use a holistic brand such as Natures Variety, Primal, Wellness or Innova. Next, you need to use some supplements to help your kitten repair his immune system: Samento, Notatum, Power Probiotic, available on http://www.askariel.com/ are all good choices to start with and are easy to administer to cats.
Monday, September 28, 2009
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Dear Dr Gordon: I am having a real problem with my cat. She is a 4 year old, spayed female calico cat. I adopted her later in life from one of my co-workers and she has always been a little stand offish. Lately, she has started to urinate outside the litter box and there is a small amount of blood in the urine. I have tried everything to discourage this. I have changed the litter. I have purchased an additional litter box. I have even contemplated letting her go outside during the day because she used to be an outdoor cat and now is completely confined to the indoors. She has been to the doctor several times and the doctor is able to give medication to stop the bleeding and accidents, but it always seems to return. What is your take on this? TR
Dr. David Gordon, Holistic Veterinarian: Well my answer is going to come as quite a surprise to the majority of readers of this column and even to some veterinary old timers.
There are many things that potentially could cause bloody urine in your cat, and those should definitely be ruled out before proceeding. These include stones in the bladder, crystal plugs, bacterial infection, and congenital defects of the urinary system (like a persistent urachal remnant). But, given the age of the cat and the living circumstances, there is an excellent chance none of the potential causes listed above is the culprit. In fact, less that 1% of cats in this age group have bloody urine due to infection.
Well, if infection was not at fault, what was causing the bloody urine. Many hypotheses came forth by veterinary researchers in the field. Some doctors thought there was some mysterious viral disease that caused most of these cats to develop bloody urine. Others thought these cats must have some sensitivity to something in the environment, and this type of allergic reaction was causing the bloody urine. But we now know that these cats are not getting better because the antibiotics are making them better. It is true that veterinarians have been prescribing antibiotics and doing urine cultures on these cats for years and the cats invariably got better. The latest information reveals that the cats were getting better despite being put on the antibiotics.
We now know that most of these cats suffer from a malady that many women suffer from, called interstitial cystitis. By examining the interior of the bladder wall of affected cats, it was discovered that there were focal points of hemorrhage that mirrored what was being seen in these women suffering from a similar syndrome. Not only that, but the bladder wall was extremely inflamed.
The current theory is that STRESS is the underlying factor in the cat’s interstitial cystitis problem. Stress perceived by the cat causes the release of neurotransmitters that adversely affect different organs. In susceptible cats, this organ is the bladder wall. Once inflammation sets in, the bladder wall, in essence, loses its’ integrity and there is leakage of urine within the layers of the bladder wall itself. Urine is a very irritating substance, and the leakage of this urine further perpetuates the inflammation and leads to focal areas of hemorrhage.
Cats suffering from this syndrome have frequent attempts to pass urine, and this is invariably bloody. These cats are very painful and most women that have interstitial cystitis will attest to that. Cats may associate this pain with their litter boxes and could be urinating outside the box because they are associating the litter box with pain.
It makes sense then that to treat interstitial cystitis in women and cats, that the patient should respond to anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and analgesic medications. That is, in fact, the types of treatment that has been shown to be the most effective. Some cats will have repeated episodes of this over the course of their lifetimes but usually relief and amelioration of symptoms will occur with the above mentioned medications.
How can we prevent this from occurring in susceptible cats? Provide many litter boxes and clean them daily in addition to trying to eliminate stress. That is easier said, than done because each cat is probably being stressed out by his or her own individual circumstances. Is it the neighbors loud rock and roll band? Is it the construction going on outside? Is it the neighbor’s barking dog? Are outdoor cats that your indoor cat can see teasing?
Some veterinarians also hypothesize that there is a certain group of cats that feel frustrated, unfulfilled, and downright bored with their sedentary lifestyles that we offer. Providing these cats with play time and stimulating their hunting and predatory instincts can help alleviate their frustration and boredom.
Patience and understanding is the key to living with these cats.
Author: Dr. David Gordon, Holistic Veterinarian
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Q: My 10 year old GSP started having seizures and tremors just in the past week. The vet has ruled any Lyme disease and her blood work shows that her liver and kidneys are fine. She has been on the steroid Temril P for several years to control chronic allergies. My husband is concerned about her suffering more seizures and the vet has prescribed phenobarbitol. I am very hesitant to start giving her this. I am wondering if there are any supplements or diet changes we could try 1st.
September 24, 2009 2:22 PM
A: So sorry to hear your dog is having seizures and tremors. I know how frightening this must be to witness. It is terribly upsetting to see our beloved pets experience seizures and tremors. There is a lot you can do to help your dog from a natural, holistic standpoint. You are right to be concerned about rushing to use medications when you may not have explored all of the natural options first.
We work with many patients that have epilepsy and seizures and there is a definite link with allergies. Food allergies can definitely be a trigger for seizures. No question--feeding a hypoallergenic diet free of preservatives, byproducts, artificial ingredients can help any pet, especially when a dog is having seizures. While some dogs have such severe allergies that after exhausting every possibility of using holistic care (e.g. changing to a low carbohydrate, hypoallergenic diet and using supplements such as Amazing Omegas, Myco-zyme, Notatum, Proaller) and still no improvement in allergy symptoms (unlikely.....)....then the use of a steroid-antihistamine drug long-term such as Temoril P may be warranted. But, too often, in my experience, there is a rush to find a quick fix for the itching and unfortunately pet owners like yourself end up committing your dog to a long-term program of medications that can have side effects. It would be highly advisable for you at this point to consider speaking to a holistic veterinarian or scheduling a telephone consultation with Dr. Gordon and myself to learn what you can do to help your dog. There are many treatment options we can teach you about but without reviewing your medical records and speaking to you in depth, it is hard to know the exact regimen that would be best for your dog. We can offer you an enhanced diet to address your dog's allergies and seizures, detoxification supplements and other treatment alternatives that will help. Seizures are a symptom that your dog's body may be overloaded with toxins and and while using medications such as phenobarbital to treat the symptoms may be necessary as a last resort for quality of life, you first need to stop exposing your dog to chemicals and allergens that are possible triggers. Thus, you need to look at both conventional alternatives (for treating symptoms) as well as holistic veterinary treatments which will help improve your dog's health and address the underlying health issues.
September 24, 2009 2:22 PM
A: So sorry to hear your dog is having seizures and tremors. I know how frightening this must be to witness. It is terribly upsetting to see our beloved pets experience seizures and tremors. There is a lot you can do to help your dog from a natural, holistic standpoint. You are right to be concerned about rushing to use medications when you may not have explored all of the natural options first.
We work with many patients that have epilepsy and seizures and there is a definite link with allergies. Food allergies can definitely be a trigger for seizures. No question--feeding a hypoallergenic diet free of preservatives, byproducts, artificial ingredients can help any pet, especially when a dog is having seizures. While some dogs have such severe allergies that after exhausting every possibility of using holistic care (e.g. changing to a low carbohydrate, hypoallergenic diet and using supplements such as Amazing Omegas, Myco-zyme, Notatum, Proaller) and still no improvement in allergy symptoms (unlikely.....)....then the use of a steroid-antihistamine drug long-term such as Temoril P may be warranted. But, too often, in my experience, there is a rush to find a quick fix for the itching and unfortunately pet owners like yourself end up committing your dog to a long-term program of medications that can have side effects. It would be highly advisable for you at this point to consider speaking to a holistic veterinarian or scheduling a telephone consultation with Dr. Gordon and myself to learn what you can do to help your dog. There are many treatment options we can teach you about but without reviewing your medical records and speaking to you in depth, it is hard to know the exact regimen that would be best for your dog. We can offer you an enhanced diet to address your dog's allergies and seizures, detoxification supplements and other treatment alternatives that will help. Seizures are a symptom that your dog's body may be overloaded with toxins and and while using medications such as phenobarbital to treat the symptoms may be necessary as a last resort for quality of life, you first need to stop exposing your dog to chemicals and allergens that are possible triggers. Thus, you need to look at both conventional alternatives (for treating symptoms) as well as holistic veterinary treatments which will help improve your dog's health and address the underlying health issues.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Q: My 7 year old cat (Tiki) get chronic UTIs. I feed her fancy feast canned food. Is there another food that would be better? I heard food can be a problem.
A: This is an excellent question. There is a definite link to pets getting chronic UTIs and diet. One of the links is food allergies and inflammation. Your kitty may be eating a high quality food, even organic but could be allergic to it. In addition, there are many hidden low quality ingredients found in pet food which could be a culprit too. These include grains, byproducts, chemicals, preservatives, wheat, gluten--you name it. So....the first step is to look carefully at what is really in your pet's food and clean up your pet's diet. I prefer hypoallergenic diets that have "novel protein" such as venison or rabbit. Also, be sure there are no grains in the diet. I have seen tremendous success in resolving chronic UTIs using raw food diets along with the supplements. The most important supplement program that will start to help immediately is the veterinary-recommended Pet UTI Prevention Package that allows you to order from a selection of research based products.
Diets too high in carbohydrates break down into sugar and can also contribute to yeast overgrowth. Wheat and grains, for example can be high allergen foods and also contribute to yeast growth. Also, kibble and/or dry food can be problematic for both cats and dogs because of its low moisture content.There is no “one” hypoallergenic diet that works for all pets but trying one with rabbit or venison is a good start. Scheduling a telephone consultation with us or another veterinary professional can also be helpful if you feel you need assistance getting your kitty on the right track once and for all.
Nutritional supplements can greatly help reduce the frequency of urinary tract infections and in some cats in combination with diet changes, can eliminate them completely. Be sure to talk in depth with your veterinarian to understand the issues associated with your cat'surinary infections. For example, are there crystals present, very high pH or is the urine pH acidic? In terms of supplements, Ask Ariel has a comprehensive pet UTI prevention program. The Pet UTI Prevention Formula is excellent for cats and dogs that get chronic UTIs and who have a tendency to have high urinary pH as the product helps to acidify the urine (contains cranberry and Vitamin C). The Probiotic and Renelix are helpful for all types of urinary support. Finally, for tough infections, Notatum and Samento have always been especially helpful for cats with chronic urinary tract infections (UTIS).
Diets too high in carbohydrates break down into sugar and can also contribute to yeast overgrowth. Wheat and grains, for example can be high allergen foods and also contribute to yeast growth. Also, kibble and/or dry food can be problematic for both cats and dogs because of its low moisture content.There is no “one” hypoallergenic diet that works for all pets but trying one with rabbit or venison is a good start. Scheduling a telephone consultation with us or another veterinary professional can also be helpful if you feel you need assistance getting your kitty on the right track once and for all.
Nutritional supplements can greatly help reduce the frequency of urinary tract infections and in some cats in combination with diet changes, can eliminate them completely. Be sure to talk in depth with your veterinarian to understand the issues associated with your cat'surinary infections. For example, are there crystals present, very high pH or is the urine pH acidic? In terms of supplements, Ask Ariel has a comprehensive pet UTI prevention program. The Pet UTI Prevention Formula is excellent for cats and dogs that get chronic UTIs and who have a tendency to have high urinary pH as the product helps to acidify the urine (contains cranberry and Vitamin C). The Probiotic and Renelix are helpful for all types of urinary support. Finally, for tough infections, Notatum and Samento have always been especially helpful for cats with chronic urinary tract infections (UTIS).
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