What Helped Murray?

In 2021, our sweet Murray was suddenly diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and he had a tumor the size of a honey-dew melon in his abdomen! At age 12, we were told he might not be a candidate for surgery so we were mentally devastated. With an amazing medical team, the tumor (an entire lobe of his liver) and his gallbladder were successfully removed, and Murray is about to have his 13th birthday! In his recovery process, it was hard to determine the root cause of cancer, but tests identified that he has acute Pancreatitis and with his gallbladder also removed, we had to make significant adjustments to his diet! As I was researching his condition, I stumbled into the Ask Ariel website and felt like I found a miracle! Today Murray gets a blend of the K-9 Pancreatitis and Liver Kit as well as Gastro ULC. Overnight, his stool changed dramatically, and he has had more energy than he’d had in the past 2 years! I am so grateful for Ask Ariel’s products and also for the incredible team who always offers thoughtful feedback and support for Murray!! Thank you Ask Ariel!! 

Wendi, CA 

The Importance Of Lab Testing- Legend's Scare

When you have an older pet, every day is truly a gift. We had a little scare with Legend but everything is ok. Older pets should get laboratory testing more frequently even if your pet feels fine. The lab testing and exams provide a baseline so that health issues can be caught early AND so that you can know if something new needs investigating. Since Legend is 13 1/2 we bring him monthly to Dr. Gordon Arch Beach Veterinary Clinic. Legend needs to have a small growth removed next week so we repeated bloodwork. His blood work had been done 3 months before and several new issues cropped up. One was really scary: elevated calcium. Elevated calcium can be related to health issues like kidney disease but most often is a marker of cancer, specifically lymphoma and sometimes anal gland cancer. We are so thankful to Dr. Gordon, as he had a packed schedule the next day, but he squeezed us in for a second more accurate test called ionized calcium which had Legend’s value in the normal range (high end). All I can say is PHEW! I was so glad we had done the lab test 3 months prior as it gave us a baseline. We were able to eliminate other issues quickly because of the other tests and exams. If there had been cancer, we would have been in a much better position to find it quickly as early diagnoses can provide the best prognosis. Thank you all so much for your support. We want to urge you to please get your pets their laboratory testing more frequently. The tests are expensive but they can provide a myriad of information and give you more time with your pet.

For more information and pet health conditions visit askariel.com

Does Your Dog Have Stinky Ears?

Does your dog have stinky ears? Ear infections are one of the most common reasons for foul doggie odor. They are often caused by allergies, bacteria or yeast overgrowth and can become a chronic problem. Other signs of dog ear infections are: head shaking, pawing at ears, goop or redness inside the ears. Contact your veterinarian right away if your pet has ear issues. If left untreated, ear infections can cause deafness. Use K9 Yeast Defense, AlllerEaze and Power Probiotic along with treatments from your veterinarian to control yeast. Change your dog’s diet by avoiding foods high in carbohydrates. Avoid allergens such as poultry and beef. Please include your dog’s diet and treats on the order form at checkout. We can provide diet tips for chronic ear infections on the packing slip that comes with the product directions.

National Pet ID Week April 17th - April 23rd

This week is National Pet ID Week. It's a good time to review an incredibly important safety tip--making sure your pet's ID tag is current. As pets are outside with the warmer weather, the potential for them to get lost increases. It can happen in an instant--even indoor pets can get lost. A door or gate is accidentally left open, a leash breaks or your pet hears a loud noise and gets spooked. Please take a moment and double-check your pet’s ID tag. Are the address and phone number current? Have the letters become worn and illegible on the tag? Having a visible and easy to read ID tag will encourage someone who finds your dog or cat to contact you immediately rather than keeping your pet or taking your pet to the shelter. Having a tag is important even if your pet is microchipped.

Do Pets Have Feelings?

 

While animal lovers recognize our pet’s unique personality and emotions, there are many people who still view pets as “just a dog" or "just a cat". Sadly, they are mistaken. Pets have feelings just like people do. A pet’s emotional and stress levels not only impact their behavior, but they can affect their health too. Cats and dogs want to be near us, they want to please us and they can get lonely and scared like we do. To the surprise of many people, cats and dogs perceive and internalize their owner’s feelings and behavior far more than their owners may know. They feel sad when we are sad, they feel stressed when there is discord, sickness, or fighting in the household and they know far more than people give them credit. Cats and dogs are creatures of habit, in-sync with their people and the everyday routines that go on in their households. Changes to your work schedule, changes to their feeding or exercise schedule, or introducing new people or pets to the home can create stress and anxiety for your dog or cat. Yes, pets have feelings and if your pet has anxiety, Ask Ariel’s calming drops: Happy Paws and PSY-stabil can keep your pet feeling content and stress-free.

National Dog Fighting Awareness Day

 

April 8th has been designated as National Dog Fighting Awareness Day by The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to help educate the public on the prevalence of dog fighting in the United States. Although dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states, it still can occur in every part of the country in all types of communities. Dog fighting is a horrendous blood sport that only exists for entertainment and gambling purposes. The dogs are "trained" under cruel and hideous conditions only to be pitted against each other to fight for their own survival.

Both dogs will come out of the fight with injuries, some dogs will succumb to their injuries and others (often the losers) will be discarded or killed when they are no longer useful for fighting. If you suspect dog fighting (or any type of cruelty) in your neighborhood, please report it to Animal Control in your area.

National Raw Feeding Week

The first week of April is National Raw Feeding Week. It’s the perfect time to celebrate raw food! Raw frozen pet food is the gold standard in pet nutrition as it contains real meat, vegetables and omega 3s. Raw frozen diets are especially helpful for pets with allergies, digestive problems and chronic infections. Raw freeze-dried diets are a great option for treats and for pets that don’t like raw frozen. Feeding your pet a raw diet doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Try mixing a small patty or raw freeze-dried pieces into your pet’s regular diet. Since raw food is more expensive due to the higher meat and vegetable content, many pet owners incorporate these diets with canned food and homemade vegetables. This coming week, we encourage you to consider adding raw food to your pet's diet for superior nutrition and health benefits. 

To learn more about the benefits of feeding your pet a raw frozen diet and how to make the transition, click here.