How Long To Use Pet Supplements For a Dog's Urinary Tract Infection and Struvite Crystals

  
Dear Ask Ariel:   My dog Chelsea was having chronic urinary tract infections--3 infections in 6 months!  She also had struvite crystals.  You recommended that I use a few supplements and make some diet changes.  I have been using the Renelix, Pet UTI Prevention Formula and Power Probiotic for several months now with my dog.  I also made the diet changes you recommended.  My veterinarian just repeated the urine tests. The test results from the last urinalysis shows no crystals. Does this mean she is cured and I can reduce the supplements I currently give her?

Ask Ariel:
So glad Chelsea is feeling so much better! This is a very good question.  Supplements are very different than medications.  Medications treat a problem and when the symptom goes away, you stop the medication.  So for example, you used antibiotics to treat Chelsea's initial infection and once the bacterial overgrowth subsided, you stopped the medication.  However, since there was a high likelihood the bacterial overgrowth could occur again,  we introduced the supplements to try to prevent another infection.  Pet supplements are needed more from a preventative standpoint than medications which work from a treatment perspective.  Pet supplements help the body to heal and when you stop the supplement, the problem can usually return because the body is no longer getting the support it needs.  So for example, if you stop the Renelix, given Chelsea's propensity to get bladder struvite crystals, there is a good chance she will get them again.  Thus, it is best to stay on the supplements to prevent these type of health issues from recurring.

Watch Your Cat's Litterbox Habits for Signs of Cat Health

Watching your cat's litterbox habits is an important part of monitoring their health.   Sometimes cats will literally  urinate in a place you see in order to get your attention.  While this could be behavioral, it could also be that your cat is trying to tell you something. If you notice that your cat is going outside the litter box, it could indicate that your cat is stressed, or may have a UTI.   If there is diarrhea,  it could be IBD . If at anytime you see blood in the urine, be sure to take your cat to the veterinarian as this could be a sign of an infection. Diet and nutritional supplements such as Power Probiotic, Notatum and Akutur are very helpful (and easy to administer) to cats with a history of urinary tract and bladder infections.. 

Kitty Litterbox Etiquette:  Helpful Hints for Monitoring Your Cat's Litterbox

• Be sure to place litterboxes in a place to make your cat comfortable.
• If you have multiple cats,  have at least one more than the number of cats in the household—more is better. 
• Keep the litterbox away from noisy appliances as it can make your cat nervous
•  Keep the litterbox far away from food and water 
•  If you have multiple stories, be sure there is a litterbox on each floor.

French Bulldog with Allergies Stops Scratching

Maestro

"Dear Susan: 

Our sweet French Bulldog Maestro was scratching his face and tearing his fur out.  He is very sensitive and we didn't want to keep giving him prescription medications.  Benadryl would just knock him out and we wanted our doggie to feel better. We tried several diet changes and a few itch-relief supplements from other brands but nothing worked.  Then, we found AskAriel.  I am happy to report that after using the Pet Allergy & Skin Supplement Package, Maestro started to get better right away.  He loves the Amazing Omegas on his food!  A patch of fur that he kept chewing on is finally growing back.  Thanks for the diet tips too.  We are very happy we found Ask Ariel."

Amy Elder  November 2013

Finicky Cats May Have Acid Stomach

"Many cats are a little bit finicky about the textures and smells with their food. If your cat is finicky, one way to keep up their interest is to use alternating flavors, textures and forms of food. Be sure to avoid grains such as wheat, rice, corn and other fillers.  Cats are carnivores and need a high protein diet.   Use different flavors such as lamb, venison and rabbit---sticking with just fish or poultry can lead to food allergies.  Use canned and raw frozen food for best results.

If your kitty is acting extra finicky, be sure to take her to the veterinarian. Finicky eating, accompanied by weight loss in older cats can be a sign of kidney disease.  Kidney disease is very common in senior cats and to help slow the progression of the disease and the picky eating, use Power Probiotic, Gastro ULC and Kidney Terrain.  Power Probiotic repopulates friendly intestinal flora which supports kidney health and improves digestion.  Gastro ULC contains soothing nutrients to coat the stomach and ease pain which can increase a kitty's appetite.  Kidney Terrain provides nourishment for the kidneys, is easy to use and is good as a preventative for senior cats even if kidney function is still normal.

Torn ACL in Dog? Canine Comfort Offers Natural Pain Relief

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Dog Daycare: Reducing Stress Can Keep Your Dog Healthy

Dog daycare can be a great option in today's busy lifestyle, but is it right for your pet?  We all face times when we need to be away from our dogs and help is needed.  The options include friends and family, pet sitters, traditional boarding facilities and now dog daycare.The main benefits of dog daycare are:

• Less boredom, greatly reduces stress
• Help with loneliness and the anxiety that loneliness can cause in dogs (including separation anxiety)
• Socialization with people
• Exercise and socialization with other dogs
• Burning off energy can curb destructive behavior vs. in the house when unsupervised
• Removal of guilt for pet parents who feel badly about leaving their dogs home alone all day
• Happiness that they are having FUN

There are many daycare facilities available.  Some pet hotels offer day play and then cage boarding at night.  Leaving a dog in a cage can cause such distress that it weakens a pet's immune system.  Pets that are stressed can develop digestive disorders and skin infections.  People don't realize that our sweet furry friends can become very stressed which makes them sick.  It is quite common for pets left in cages (especially at veterinary facilities) to come home with illnesses.  Pets, even young pets can develop a variety of health problems so keeping your pet happy will make a big difference.

Halloween and The Black Cat

Halloween brings thoughts of iconic symbols: jack-o-lanterns, ghosts , goblins and black cats. Although Halloween can be a fun and festive time for friends and family it can be especially dangerous time for black cats. Most shelters won’t adopt out a black cat for a few weeks before Halloween in an effort to protect them.  There is a lot of mythology and superstitions about black cats which can make them very vulnerable at this time of year.  To be safe, it is recommended that you keep your kitty inside (even if they enjoy the great outdoors)  for a few weeks leading up to Halloween.  On Halloween night,  make sure your cat is in a safe place, as the noise from trick-or-treaters and doorbells can frighten them.