Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Cat with Diarrhea and IBD Losing Weight

Q: How do I get wet diarhea off my cats butt and back legs. She has lost a lot of weight and is very frail

A: Sorry to hear your kitty is so sick. There are quite a few things you can try to help stop your cat's diarrhea. First and foremost, be sure to take your cat to the veterinarian. Your cat could be very dehydrated and may need fluid therapy and/or medication. Also, using a few supplements such as Power Probiotic or the IBD Kit would really help too.

Cats often develop diarrhea and IBD due to the food you may be feeding. Do not feed your cat food that contains grains such as wheat, gluten, oats, etc and also for some cats, poultry may be an issue. Be sure to watch this: 
You can also try giving your cat a teaspoon of canned pumpkin with each meal. Canned pumpkin helps to regulate bowel function and firm up the stool.
Friday, December 9, 2011

Golden Retriever Getting Recurring Ear Infections

Q: I have put both of my Golden Retrievers on a grain free diet. Both are doing well including improvement of a loose stool issue with my senior dog. My youngest dog is 3, he has has also improved in some areas but does get reoccurring ear infections from yeast even on a grain free dog food. What are possible other causes for him to get recurring ear infections?

A. Ideally, for pets that are getting recurring yeast and ear infections, you want to use a raw frozen diet, if at all possible. Raw frozen diets are highly digestible. You can use a raw frozen diet in combination with homemade. You just need to be sure the proteins are completely hypoallergenic. You can learn more about food allergies in pets by watching the Food Allergy Webinar.

In addition, for Golden Retrievers and dogs prone to allergies and ear infections, it is a good idea to use K9 Yeast Defense. K9 Yeast Defense controls yeast overgrowth and helps prevent recurring infections. Using a good probiotic, such as Power Probiotic,  along with the product will boost your Golden Retriever's immune system. Finally, Amazing Omegas reduces inflammation and allergic response. Many Golden Retrievers are prone to allergies so using the raw food diet (hypoallergenic proteins) along with the recommended supplements should prevent any future ear infections and yeast.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Hypothyroidism in Dogs Can Be Helped with Diet

Q: Is there a relationship between my dog's hypothyroidism and his diet? I have a 7 year old labrador retriever who has just been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. He is about 10 pounds overweight and has been eating a commercial kibble.

A: This is a great question. Yes, there is absolutely a relationship between the quality of a pet's diet and thyroid health. Your labrador retriever's hypothyrodism can definitely be helped using an improved diet, plenty of vegetables and a few supplements.

Dogs with hypothyroidism can benefit from BioThyroBioThyro is a natural glandular product that supports thyroid function.

Imbalances in the thyroid occur differently in dogs and cats. Dogs can have a tendency to become hypothyroid while cats can become hyperthyroid. Some pets may have allergies or food intolerances and when the food is ingested, it can cause inflammation and a heightened immune response. If your dog has skin allergies, ear infections and/or is itchy, the food you are using could be a problem. It is important to give all allergic dogs and cats a grain-free, hypoallergenic diet. In addition, using a purified omega oil such as Amazing Omegas can make a big difference, too.

In addition, giving pets foods that contain chemicals, byproducts and other unhealthy ingredients can cause digestive problems. All of these factors; namely; inflammation, heightened immune response and digestive problems, can affect a pet's thyroid function. If your labrador retriever is hypothyroid, I would recommend using a using a grain-free, low allergen diet (such a Natures Variety Instinct raw rabbit and canned) and consult with your veterinarian about adding a thyroid supplement such as Biothyro.
Saturday, November 26, 2011

Diet For Bichon Frise Bladder Stones (Calcium Oxalate Stones and Struvite)


Q: We have a lovely soon going to be 8 yr old Bichon Frise that has had 3 operations to remove bladder stones. I believe the first two were Struvite in nature but the last one was Cal Oxalate. She is scheduled for another surgury next week for more Cal Oxalate stones. Are there any proven diets that you are aware of that reduce the chances of forming Cal Oxalate stones? We love our dog but aren't sure how many surguries she can take without harming her??? Thank You, Ron & Carolyn Began

A: Sorry to hear that your dog has had constant bladder stones (struvite and calcium oxalate stones). While it is true that some breeds such as Bichon Frise are more prone to developing bladder stones, we have worked successfully with many of these pets to prevent future bladder stones from reoccurring. Diet has everything to do with it! Using the appropriate diet along with some key supplements can make a tremendous difference in preventing future bladder stones. From a conventional veterinary perspective, pets are given prescription diets that manipulate the urinary pH which are often unsuccessful. These diets contain corn, byproducts and other fillers and there are much healthier, nutrition options. In addition, by altering the pH of a pet's urine one way using prescription diets (e.g. in your dog's case, she had struvite which grow in alkaline urine) the pet then becomes too acidic and develops calcium oxalate stones which grow in acidic urine. The key is to get your pet on a diet that is pH neutral using wholesome, hypoallergenic foods.

It's essential to give your Bichon supplements to prevent future bladder stones.  Renelix 
is a veterinary-recommended product used successfully with cats and dogs that have recurring crystals and stones.  This natural remedy is beneficial for cats and dogs with urinary tract crystals, stones, kidney disease and accumulation of toxins in the urinary tract.  Power Probiotic  is a must for any dog or cat that has stones, crystals or chronic UTIs.  These pets have taken multiple rounds of antibiotics which can destroy the beneficial bacteria in your pet's immune system.  Many probiotics don't survive a pet's stomach acid and are manufactured in such a way that they are only "live" at the time of manufacture.  If your Bichon has had constant infections, then it is essential to keep your dog on Power Probiotic, a multi-strain probiotic to help fight infections and recurrences.  Using herbs such as cranberry, uva ursi and d-mannose found in the Pet UTI Prevention formula will also help.  Finally, for dietary assistance, there are much more natural alternatives. Ask Ariel 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.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Dangerous Foods For Pets - Keep Your Pets Safe on Thanksgiving!


At Thanksgiving, it is very tempting to want to “treat” our pets to something special such as gravy, turkey drippings and table food. These high fat foods can cause diarrhea, vomiting and overload the pet’s digestive system. Many small pets, especially, can be adversely affected from what might seem, is a tiny piece of Thanksgiving dinner.

It is quite common for emergency animal clinics to be filled with dogs and cats suffering from a severe bout of pancreatitis during the holidays. 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.

If you really want to give your pet an extra snack, then please plan ahead. Keep safe treats such as your pet’s favorite treat available or consider having fresh vegetables (steamed or raw), a piece of baked yam or a small piece of LEAN meat set aside. Show family members the "safe" treats for your pet and have an appropriate amount clearly displayed in a special dish. Once the treats run out, be sure the "treating" stops.
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Dangerous Foods For Pets

The following foods can be dangerous to pets:

* Chocolate

* Grapes or raisins

* Onions (cooked or raw)

* Sweets (cookies, cake, ice cream, etc.)

* Rolls/bread (many pets are allergic to gluten)

* High fat foods such as butter, gravy or drippings

* Cooked bones (they can cause choking and tearing in the GI tract)


Monday, November 14, 2011

What's In Pet Food? Ingredients That Should Not Be Included In Pet Food

Recently I spoke at the Pet Food Industry Advisory Committee Meeting at the Palms in Las Vegas. Many of the leading pet food industry manufacturers were present. I spoke about the ingredients that should be included and NOT included in pet food. Specifically requested that corn, byproducts, wheat, gluten and chemicals such as ethoxyquin be eliminated from pet food. Explained to them about how these ingredients are not natural foods that pets should eat and how they contribute to health problems in pets.

At Ask Ariel.com, we focus on holistic pet care and pet nutrition. Pet nutritionists play a crucial role in guiding pet owners on proper dietary choices to address various health issues in animals. Our goal is to  provide specialized nutritional advice, supplements, and holistic approaches to support the overall well-being of pets.  Our website has a complete library of articles about how you can use holistic pet care to improve the health of your pets.  What you feed your pets is very important and greatly affect their overall well being.  


 Here is a clip:




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Thursday, November 10, 2011

Malamute with IBD--What diet and supplements can help?

Q: My 8 y/o Alaskan Malamute has IBD. He is currently going through a flare up due to stress because we recently moved to New Mexico from Nevada with the military. Lab tests have ruled out parasites and other diseases so the vet diagnosed it as stress induced IBD flare up. I agrees since I can see that he is stressed at home. What can I do to calm his mind and digestive tract? Please help. when my baby is not feeling well I don't feel well.

A: IBD is generally a result of food allergies. There are supplements that will definitely help your malamute such as the Ask Ariel IBD Kit. In addition, it is really important that the diet you give your malamute avoids the allergic foods indicated in this webinar: