How Can You Help Your Child Avoid Asthma?

The BBC recently reported that, in a large Swedish study, children were less likely to suffer with asthma by the age of seven, if they were exposed to dogs and cats during their first year of life.  The researchers tracked 650,000 children and found that the risk was lowered by 13%. The effect was even greater if they lived on a farm and were exposed to even more animals. 

However, a high percentage of asthmatic children are allergic to pet dander and acquiring a pet will not help desensitize them, but could make them worse. If you do have a pet, the following may help your asthmatic or allergic child:

• Try to keep pets out of your bedroom and where possible living area
• Regular grooming and bathing of cats and dogs can help
• You could try using air filters and an efficient vacuum cleaner. This might be helpful for people who have cat allergies; however the evidence on the benefit of these remains unclear
• No breed of dog is completely "non-allergic" because they all shed dander

The study just adds more evidence that having a pet can be good for the entire family. 

BBC news: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34697408

Ask Ariel's Dog Brain Booster Helps Senior Dog with Dementia

"Carson, my beloved 14 year old Jindo Chow, was showing signs of extreme dementia. He was pacing all night, barking at nothing and exhibiting other odd and upsetting behavior. His quality-of-life was terrible and my husband and I were at our wits end… no sleep and just so worried.  We tried Anipryl and while it helped his dementia for a while,  the side effects almost killed him. We did not know where to turn until a friend recommended Ask Ariel’s Dog Brain Booster. OMG, what a difference it has made… it is a miracle herb. Carson has no more dementia traits; he sleeps thru the night, doesn't bark at nothing, and all his other dementia behaviors have disappeared. I wouldn't believe it if I wasn't living it, but it is like I said a miracle supplement. I could not be happier and my husband and I also have our lives back. No words can express our gratitude.
Thank you Ask Ariel!!"
Michele and Carson   California, 2016

Spunky 12 Year Old Labrador Still Happy and Lively with the Help of Ask Ariel Products

Bailey

Our goal is to provide the highest quality products to help pets have the best quality of life possible. We recently received this email and it fills us with pride to know we are making a difference.

"Bailey is an amazing girl and extremely humanistic with a very happy and lively soul.  She is so full of spunk for the ripe age of 12.  She has been taking supplements from Ask Ariel for several years and I know they have helped with the aging process. Even Bailey won’t let you forget to give her the supplements and has quite the daily routine. She will follow you around and herd you into the kitchen until she gets them (however, it probably is because we give them to her in a bite of yam). The Power Probiotic for Pets, Liver&Gallbladder  Supplement  for Pets and Canine Cushing's Support  are a few products (of the many Ask Ariel products) that have been especially helpful in keeping Bailey healthy.

Thank You all for the love, kindness and support you give to each and every one of us." 

Laurie & Bailey     Calif. 2015

We Honor the Military Dogs Today

Today we would like to honor all the men,women and DoGS who have served in our military to help keep us safe. Here is the History as documented by the American Humane Association

2015 American Humane Association Military Dog Finalist

Rambo (Converse, TX) – Sgt. Rambo was an active Marine Corps military dog working in an explosive detection unit based out of Cherry Point, N.C. Rambo conducted 622 missions on base and in his local community. Rambo was medically retired due to a left shoulder injury and in November 2012 had to have that limb amputated. Rambo has gone on to be Alamo Honor Flight’s mascot, accompanying countless World War II veterans to Washington, D.C.and also serves as the mascot for Gizmo's Gift, a non-profit organization which supports retired services dogs.

Military working dogs first entered the service in 1942 to serve in the Army’s K-9 Corps. Today, these dogs, who have an actual military service record book assigned to them, are still playing an active role in searching for explosives and seizing enemies. Military working dogs have been used by the U.S. armed forces since World War I. In World War II, 436 scout dogs walked combat patrols overseas, often detecting the enemy at a 1,000 yards, long before the enemy became aware of them. Dogs continued to serve with distinction in other conflicts, such as Korea, where the Army used about 1,500 dogs, primarily for guard duty. During the Vietnam War, nearly 4,000 dogs were employed and, officially, 281 were killed in action. Today’s conflicts include dogs at every level, still serving our country, helping to protect our troops. American Humane Association

Is Your Dog Genetically Predisposed to Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis?

Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis (SAS) is a type of heart disease that can cause sudden death to your pet.  It is one of the most common types of inherited heart diseases found in Golden Retrievers, Newfoundlands, and Rottweilers. The disease restricts the blood flow from the heart to the aorta, due to a ridge or abnormal tissue growth. It can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Fortunately, genetic testing is now available and hopefully new methods of treatment can be implemented.

Symptoms and Life Span

• Mild- typically no observable clinical signs of disease.
• Moderate to Severe- difficulty breathing, weakness, fainting, and in extreme cases, sudden death.

Dogs with severe SAS usually have a lifespan of about 18 months without intervention and up to 5 years with treatment. Dogs with mild to moderate SAS have a longer life span, with some living to average age for the breed. Intervention can help significantly. It is important to work with your veterinarian for the best course of action.

Treatment:

In mild cases, your pet may not require treatment, however, in moderate to severe cases of SAS you should work with your veterinarian  to determine the best course of action. A combination of life style adaptions (limiting the workload on the heart by avoiding intense physical exertion), traditional treatment (beta blockers) and holistic support can improve the quality of life for your pet.  We recommend a heart healthy diet and including   Amazing Omegas for Pets, and Purrfect Pet CoQ10 into your treatment plan.

It is important to keep follow-up appointments with your veterinarian to monitor your pet’s progress, so that changes can be made to the treatment plan.

If your dog is having trouble breathing or collapses, even if they recover quickly, see your veterinarian immediately.

Beagle's Pancreatitis Helped with Use of Natural Supplements

Holly (on the right) with Daisy and Precious

"I just want to let you know I have a 13 year old beagle who was diagnosed with pancreatitis.*  She wouldn’t eat and she also already had congestive heart failure and liver disease.  Her liver score was so high it wouldn’t register on a chart.  I was desperate and searched the internet and found your product (Pancreatitis Support Kit).  I was worried it wouldn’t get to me in time to help her, luckily it did.  Twenty-four hours after giving her first pills, which I had to do by mouth, she very slowly started to improve.  I had planned to go away within the month and had someone coming in to take care of my dogs.  I typed up a daily chart to take care of Holly after the second week of treatment.  By the time I actually left and reviewed the chart to give my friend, it was completely different.  Holly has improved dramatically and has the energy of a dog years younger.  She is actually behaving better now than before she got pancreatitis.  Your pancreatic and liver care kit will remain a part of her daily care.

Thank you for giving me back my baby,

Lori

Williamsport, PA, (2015)

*Pancreatitis is inflammation and swelling of the pancreas. It can occur in mild or severe forms and can be triggered by eating table scraps or a fatty meal.  Pets can also get pancreatitis from eating spoiled food so be careful to keep trash tightly closed.

With a change to a hypoallergenic, low fat, high fiber diet and using Ask Ariel's Pancreatitis Kit, pets can recover and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Novel Protein Diets for Pets with Food Allergies

Have you noticed your dog excessively chewing on his paws? Is your cat vomiting excessively or missing patches of fur? Are your pets getting constant ear infections or smelling after a bath?  All these symptoms could mean your pet is due for a diet change.   A diet change will be necessary to eliminate potential offending foods, but what should the change be? One approach is to switch your pet to a novel protein diet.

What is a novel protein diet?

It is a diet that contains a protein source that your pet has not eaten before. The most common protein sources included in most brands of pet foods include beef, chicken, lamb and turkey.  However, these same proteins are common sources of food allergies or food sensitivities (from eating the same food for an extended period of time).  Your pet may exhibit symptoms that include upset stomach and/or skin problems. By substituting a new, exotic novel protein your pet's symptoms may be alleviated. Some proteins to try may include:   Bison, Rabbit, Salmon (dogs only--cats are often allergic), Venison, Ostrich, Quail and Kangaroo.  Select a LOW carbohydrate, grain-free diet such as a raw frozen diet .  We do not recommend any dry food for dogs and cats with allergies as they are high in carbohydrates that can also cause symptoms such as scratching, itching and ear infections.


You can get serum allergy testing done at your vet's office but we prefer Nutriscan.  Nutriscan is a new test that can help determine your pet's food allergies through saliva which is thought to be more accurate than blood.  It's important to remember two points though about food allergy testing for pets:  1) even the best tests can have false negatives if the pet or person hasn't ingested the food recently (meaning the pet is still allergic even though the test says not 2) often food "families" cause a problem.  It is quite common for a dog to have an allergy to chicken and perhaps even test ok on duck, but the intolerances are there for all poultry.  Generally if there is one type of food that is a problem, it's best to stay away from all of it.