Update on Daisy The Obese Labrador Retriever

Above are the latest pictures of Daisy, the obese Labrador Retriever that Ariel Rescue saved from the shelter. It is now just 3 weeks later and Daisy has lost----drum roll please---16 pounds!!!!! Yes--it is possible and it is safe. Daisy's progress is being closely managed by our veterinarian, who is carefully monitoring her bloodwork and healing process.

 When Karen, our dedicated head volunteer at Ariel Rescue first saved Daisy, she weighed 119 pounds at the Orange County Shelter. Daisy could barely move. Her neck was so fat that a collar was useless because her head was smaller than her neck. Karen got her the veterinary care she desperately needed too, as Daisy's thyroid was not functioning properly, her coat was like steel wool and she was full of yeast.

 Daisy has been using our Ask Ariel's Amazing Omegas, K9 Yeast Defense and Power Probiotic and she is now yeast free. She is following our Ask Ariel diet program and getting plenty of exercise. What is so significant about the pictures above is that Daisy is MOVING!!! Although poor Daisy was only 4 years old, she was so neglected and looked like a pot belly big. Her owners bred her nonetheless and her nipples were hanging down practically to the ground. Daisy is now a dog on the mend and it is all thanks to Karen, the wonderful caring volunteer at Ariel Rescue who is fostering Daisy. Daisy is now 103 pounds. It won't be long until Daisy breaks through the 100 pound mark and we will all cheer!!!!!

Pet Obesity--It's Time to Take Action Now!

Pictured above is our most recent rescue dog Daisy who has been the victim of animal abuse. Why animal abuse you might say? Well......Daisy when first rescued weighed in nearly 40 pounds heavier than she should weigh AND she was so overweight, she could barely move her neck. She couldn't wear a collar because it would fall off due to the fact that her head was smaller than her neck. It took Daisy nearly 45 minutes to WALK ONE BLOCK! Yet, Daisy is a purebred 4 year old labrador retriever who should be running free and chasing around in the yard. Instead, what did her owners do? FED HER....all day long and on top of that, they bred her as well. Daisy was gasping for air just to take a few steps. Her coat was like steel wool and she looked like a pot bellied pig with her nipples hanging down so low, they nearly touched the ground. This is a disgusting example of how people can take a beautiful dog and terribly neglect it--literally ruining the poor dog's life. Her owners now had a problem--they sold all of Daisy's puppies, but what to do with her? So they decided to take her to the pound to euthanize her---all because of their own abuse! Fortunately, the shelter by law had to wait 2 days in which time Karen, our dedicated volunteer at Ariel Rescue saved her. She took Daisy to the veterinarian and we had her bloodwork done. Daisy's thyroid and other blood values were not functioning properly. Within 10 days, Karen has already trimmed 9 pounds from Daisy (pictured above after losing the weight) and her coat is now improving as well. She still has 30 pounds to go and we will be tracking her progress. We will all cheer for Daisy as she makes this incredible recovery, thanks to the incredible dedication of Karen and Ariel Rescue volunteers.

Many people don't realize the effect that obesity can have on their pets. It is not just a physical appearance issue. It is a very serious health concern. Obesity is linked to heart disease, cancer, liver disease, diabetes, joint problems--the list goes on and on. Giving your pet that extra biscuit which you might think is just a little treat, can pack on pounds year after year. Over 60% of pets in the United States are obese. Shower your pets with love and attention--go on a walk--play with them, please, please remember, just like you, your pets are what they eat!

Abandoned Husky Gets a New Leash on Life!

Pictured above is beautiful Sasha who was rescued by Ariel Rescue in the nick of time. Sasha is a 6 year old Siberian Husky who was found as a stray in a lower income neighborhood. She was brought to the Orange County Shelter. This sweet, lovely girl was so gentle and kind and ever so cuddly! But, the shelter found a mass on her back. Unfortunately, shelter dogs are put to sleep very quickly when something like this is discovered. Karen, our head volunteer at Ariel Rescue rushed to save her. We took her to the veterinarian and had the mass aspirated. It turned out to be an infected hair follicle---not cancer!!! We had Sasha's teeth cleaned, removed the mass and gave her a beauty bath. Poor Sasha was so filthy it took several baths to get the dirt out. Her fur had looked brown on the legs when it actually is white! Sasha was adopted by a lovely couple who had another Siberian husky and are very familiar with the breed.

If you are interested in adopting a Siberian Husky, please contact Rhonda at Husky Haven of La at www.huskyhavenofla.org

Dogs With Arthritis Slowing Down

Many dogs start slowing down with age, limping or showing signs of difficulty getting up and down. The effects can come on gradually and it is sometimes difficult to recognize until the problem becomes very obvious. It is important that you take your pet to the veterinarian for an examination. Quite commonly, your dog may be diagnosed with arthritis if the problem has come on gradually with age. In an effort to promote quality of life and keep the dog comfortable, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) will often be prescribed. Examples are Rimadyl, Metacam and Deramaxx to name a few. While these medications are helpful for chronic pain management, they do have side effects especially affecting the liver. This is why your veterinarian will often recommend that if your pet is using NSAIDs that your dog get a blood test every so often to check your dog's liver values. While NSAIDs can be very helpful and even critical for some pets that are in chronic pain, for most pets, there are holistic alternatives that should be tried first and/or in conjunction with their use.

It is essential to use Arthrosoothe For Pets to help your pet feel better. Arthrosoothe For Pets is the most comprehensive arthritis product available.

Many of our clients are confused about these medications and somehow think that because their dog is no longer limping or in pain, that the joint or limb problem has been cured. This is not at all the case--in fact, it is quite the contrary. The medication is actually reducing inflammation which is giving temporary pain relief.

To really help support your dog's long-term pain, mobility and joints, you need to use vitamins and nutritional supplements that are proven to help. Many minerals such as calcium, nutraceuticals such as glucosamine and herbs such as turmeric and boswelia have been shown to help. It is important to find combination formulas that contain a comprehensive mixture of vitamins, herbs and nutraceuticals such as Arthrosoothe For Pets, Special SAMe and Chinese herbal formulas such as Mobility 2 will also help. Omega 3 fish oils such as Amazing Omegas help reduce inflammation and provide valuable nutrients to the joints as well. Many times using these nutritional formulas can be enough that the dog may only require NSAIDs after heavy exercise.
It is important that you use these formulas, if possible, as your dog starts to age, rather than waiting until the arthritis has set in. But, it is never too late to start with them and they can certainly be beneficial to use in addition to using NSAIDs. Many clients report that they were able to greatly reduce the frequency of using NSAIDs on their dog because of the benefits achieved from using these nutritional supplements.

Finally, acupuncture and chiropractic for dogs are also very important considerations. Ariel (pictured above at age 14) was able to run and jump at 14 years of age because of her weekly chiropractic and acupuncture treatments with Dr. David Gordon, holistic veterinarian. Dr. Gordon performs both acupuncture and chiropractic at VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital in Lake Forest, California as well as stem cell surgery. We offer combination appointments which also include a nutrition consultation and supplements for optimal support. For more information about our services, please visit www.AskAriel.com If you live outside of the Southern California area, you can find a veterinarian who performs acupuncture in your area by going to http://www.aava.org

Mother's Day Tribute--Mother of the Year

Please watch this incredible story from CBS News entitled "Mother of the Year". This is a short video which is a real tear jerker! See animals, especially shelter animals at their best. Watch Lilly the dog nursing baby kittens. What a wondeful, heartwarming story. Enjoy!

Click here: YouTube - Mother of the Year

Happy Tails From German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County

What a wonderful happy ending for beautiful 8 1/2 year old Sasha (pictured above) all because of German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County and the caring heart of a wonderful Orange County resident Marcia Leong. Poor Sasha's owner passed away and Sasha remained loyally beside her deceased owner in the house for 4-5 days until a neighor discovered them. The owner, an elderly woman had a son who could not keep Sasha and she was brought to an animal shelter. The poor dog was so stressed from the situation and the loss of her owner, that she broke out in painful sores all over her back. She was very emaciated as well and had most likely not been cared for especially well due to her owner's ill health. Sasha's time was limited at the shelter but German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County saved her.

Sasha was taken to the veterinarian and treated for her sores but she was very sad and her health was declining. Marcia Leong, a wonderful woman and pet owner, gave dear Sasha a new leash on life. Marcia had recently lost her beloved German Shepherd Gretchen but has a lovely beagle Chuckie and several kitties. It was a miracle, but Sasha managed to get along with EVERYBODY! She is a sweet and loving dog that thanks to the kindess of all involved is getting the life she deserves. She is now thriving in her new home, gaining weight and getting the best veterinary care imaginable through Ask Ariel and VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital.

We can't say enough about the wonderful volunteers at German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County and especially Maria Dales, founder and director, who has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of all rescue animals throughout Southern California. We applaud Maria for all of her incredible efforts! To learn more about Maria and German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County, please visit their website http://www.gsroc.org/ They have beautiful dogs for adoption and even if you can't adopt, they would greatly appreciate any donations. All donations are tax-deductible.

Feline Stomatitis, Stomatitis in Cats

Dear Dr Gordon: I have a 3 year old Maine Coon cat that has a constant odor coming from the mouth. When I took him to the vet, she was able to look into the back of the mouth and show me my cat’s throat. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The back of my cat’s throat was raw and the gum tissue around the teeth was very red. The doctor convinced me to put my cat under anesthesia and biopsy the back part of the throat. All the teeth were cleaned and the biopsy revealed a disease (which I can’t remember) that the doctor says has no cure. I am worried that my cat will suffer his entire life with this sore mouth. Is there anything else that I can do? PB

Dear P.B.

Although it is possible that your cat may have some type of cancer in the back of the mouth (a disease that has no cure), I am hoping it is something else. You probably would have remembered if the doctor had said that your cat has a form of throat cancer. I suspect that the biopsy may have revealed a syndrome we see in a certain percentage of pure breed and mixed breed cats, called lymphocytic and/or plasmacytic stomatitis. Please call the doctor to get the name of the disease, for that can affect treatment and outcome.

It is essential to use immune support such as  Power Probiotic for your kitty to feel better. Probiotics can help restore the natural flora in the mouth and throughout the digestive tract.

Let’s dissect the words describing this syndrome. Stomatitis is an inflammation or infection in the mouth. Ok, so far so good. Lymphocytic and/or plasmacytic is a descriptive term illustrating the type of inflammatory cells that are migrating to this inflamed area.

What causes this infection/inflammation to occur in certain cats and not others? We are not sure.
Some viral infections are suspected of increasing the cat’s susceptibility to this disease. Your cat should be checked for the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV or Feline Aids virus) and the Feline Leukemia Virus. I suspect your doctor has already done this. If not, get it done. The virus does not cause the disease but makes cats more vulnerable to the disease. Others speculate that certain cats (ones that are genetically predisposed), are having an exuberant response to antigens or foreign invaders in the mouth. The suspected culprits are the bacteria inhabiting the tooth roots of some of these cats.

The syndrome is first recognized in fairly young cats that have halitosis (very bad breath, trouble swallowing, lack of appetite, and sometimes gagging). Examination of the teeth and back part of the throat reveals areas of extreme inflammation. It looks (and I am sure feels) like the worst sore throat you have ever had your entire life.

How is this dealt with? If the cat is FIV or FeLV positive, steps should be taken to insure your cat stays indoors and does not expose other cats to the disease. Oral antibiotics and frequent dental cleanings will help keep the mouth in good shape. Although controversial, acupuncture, interferon and lactoferrin can be used to improve the condition of the cat’s lesions. Supplements that we have seen help include Not Drops and Power Probiotic  If the cat is negative for these viruses, most veterinarians will use some type of strong immunosuppressive drug (like corticosteroids or others) to calm down the inflammation and analgesics to relieve the pain.

Although it may sound very extreme, sometimes full mouth extraction of the teeth is the only thing that will bring about relief and return the cat to a decent quality of life. I have seen several cases over the years that have completely resolve only by removing all of the teeth. Most veterinarians will only do this as a last resort, when all other therapies have failed after repeated attempts. I personally have been reluctant to recommend this procedure because it is difficult for the pet in the short term, expensive for the owner, and time consuming for the doctor. The long term success rate, however, leads me to believe that this may be the only thing that will save the cat from life-long pain and suffering.

Hepatic Lipidosis "fatty liver" in cats

Dr. Dr Gordon: My cat is very sick. I took him to the vet because he had become very lethargic. After the vet ran some tests, he determined that my cat has “fatty liver” disease. My cat is very overweight to begin with, but I did not know that he could get this disease just by being “fat”. The vet said that treatment can be very difficult. Can you help me understand this disease? RK

Lypozyme

Lypozyme is recommended by veterinarians to help cats with hepatic lipidosis. Lypozyme optimizes fat digestion and metabolism. 

Dear RK: I am very sorry to hear that your cat is not feeling well. From time to time, veterinarians encounter cats that develop fatty liver disease or hepatic lipidosis. This is a disease that is specific to the cat, since its’ dietary requirements and metabolism are much different than the dog’s metabolism. Let me explain.

If a cat, especially an overweight cat, stops eating, it can suffer serious liver problems. Cats are extremely dependent upon having protein in their diets. Unlike many species, cats cannot adequately synthesize their own protein from other building blocks. If a cat is not taking in enough protein, it will start breaking down proteins from its body, including important muscle and liver proteins. At the same time, the body is starving for energy, so it mobilizes fat stores for calories, and carries this fat to the liver for processing. Normally, the liver would metabolize these fats to use them for energy, store them, or secrete them through bile. If the liver is missing some of the proteins needed for fat metabolism, all a liver cell can do is store the fat. The fat builds up inside the cells, a condition called hepatic lipidosis, or "fatty liver,"and the cells swell, pinching off bile ducts. Bile, with all its waste products, cannot empty from the liver into the intestine as it normally does, and the cat becomes jaundiced.These changes in the liver occur within 36 hours of not eating. Since the liver cannot metabolize the fat for energy, the cat suffers further starvation, setting up a vicious cycle of fat mobilization and liver damage. Although this buildup of fat inside liver cells is often associated with diseases that cause decreased appetite, or metabolic disorders such as diabetes, we also see cases that are idiopathic, or have no identifiable underlying cause.

The diagnosis is made by doing blood tests that may first indicate an increase in the liver enzyme values. Usually an ultrasound exam of the abdomen should be the next step, which usually shows the liver that is extremely “shiny” on the ultrasound image. A fine needle aspirate can then be sent to the lab so that the pathologist can definitively diagnose the problem.

Treatment of the condition can be difficult. If there are any underlying diseases that are causing the cat to have stopped eating (infection, inflammation, etc.), these must be addressed to allow the cat to feel better. But the cornerstone of therapy is to get the cat to eat once again. Many times, this is more difficult than it sounds, for the cats in this situation usually do not feel well enough to have any appetite  and they need a lot of calories to offset the metabolic effects of the disease. To counteract this, the veterinarian will usually suggest syringe feeding a very high protein and high carbohydrate diet up to 4 times a day. Sometimes appetite stimulants are used to encourage eating. If the patient is resistant to syringe feedings, a special feeding tube may need to be surgically placed in order to provide the cat with adequate nutrients to reverse the process. Once the cat starts eating on its own, the feeding tube can be removed.

Fortunately, most cases of fatty liver are reversible with intense veterinary care. Although most cats present being very ill and lethargic, the majority are able to recover as long as they begin eating on their own. This may take several days of hospitalization at the veterinary clinic however. This underlies the importance of keeping cats at a healthy weight and realizing that any change in the cat’s normal routine or food, can cause the cat to stop eating, possibly resulting in “fatty liver”.

In addition to getting the cat on a healthy diet, supportive care using liver supplements can help. Products such as Pet Liver Rescue, Special SAMe and digestive enzymes containing lipase such as Lypozyme may be helpful in addition to the care provided by your veterinarian.

Dodger--An Adorable Cute Cairn Terrier Mix Needs a Home

Adorable, sweet Dodger needs your help. Dodger is a 1 year old Schipperke/Cairn Terrier mix. He is a very loving, sweet happy dog who only weighs 12 pounds. His fur is short, chocolate brown and easy to groom. He loves to ride in the car, as shown above and is good with other dogs. Please call Ariel Rescue at 949-499-9380 if you live in Southern California and would like to adopt him. More information can be found on www.petfinder.com under Ariel Rescue.

Adoptions have been slow due to the economy so please spread the word!

Arthritis in Dogs--NSAIDS and Joint Support Supplements

If your dog has been diagnosed with arthritis, is slowing down with age, limping or showing signs of difficulty getting up and down, it is important that you take your pet to the veterinarian for an examination. Quite commonly, your dog may be diagnosed with arthritis. In an effort to promote quality of life and keep the dog comfortable, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) will often be prescribed. Examples are Rimadyl, Metacam and Deramaxx to name a few. While these medications are helpful for chronic pain management, they do have side effects especially affecting the liver. This is why your veterinarian will often recommend that if your pet is using NSAIDs that your dog get a blood test every so often to check your dog's liver values. While NSAIDs can be very helpful and even critical for some pets that are in chronic pain, for most pets, there are holistic alternatives that should be tried first and/or in conjunction with their use. Many of our clients are confused about these medications and somehow think that because their dog is no longer limping or in pain, that the joint or limb problem has been cured. This is not at all the case--in fact, it is quite the contrary. The medication is actually reducing inflammation which is giving temporary pain relief.

To really help support your dog's long-term pain, mobility and joints, you need to use vitamins and nutritional supplements that are proven to help. Many minerals such as calcium, nutraceuticals such as glucosamine and herbs such as turmeric and boswelia have been shown to help. It is important to find combination formulas that contain a comprehensive mixture of vitamins, herbs and nutraceuticals.  We have had excellent success using Special SAMe along with the ArthroStride.   It is absolutely essential to use the Special SAMe if your dog has been using NSAIDs as long term use can compromise liver health.  Special SAMe is scientifically proven to help with arthritis and is a vital antioxidant to support the liver.  The ArthroStride includes key nutrients such as Curcumin and Omega 3s along with herbs such as bowelia and glucosamine to improve mobility and joint health. The Omega 3 fish oils found in Amazing Omegas help reduce inflammation and are derived from sardines and anchovies and are at a much more therapeutic level than salmon or other fish oils for pets. Many times using these nutritional formulas can be enough that the dog may only require NSAIDs after heavy exercise.

It is important that you use these formulas, if possible, as your dog starts to age, rather than waiting until the arthritis has set in. But, it is never too late to start with them and they can certainly be beneficial to use in addition to using NSAIDs. Many clients report that they were able to greatly reduce the frequency of using NSAIDs on their dog because of the benefits achieved from using these nutritional supplements.

Finally, acupuncture and chiropractic for dogs are also very important considerations. Ariel was able to run and jump at 14 years of age because of her weekly chiropractic and acupuncture treatments. To find a veterinarian who performs acupuncture in your area, go to www.ahvma.org

Canine Kidney Disease and Inappetance

Inappetance, particularly in the morning for an older dog may be an early sign that something is wrong. While there can be many causes of a dog not eating, this symptom, along with excess water drinking and frequent urination, is often a sign of canine kidney disease. First and foremost, take your pet to the veterinarian for a blood test--don't try to diagnose your dog yourself! Once you find out about your dog's condition and if canine kidney disease is diagnosed, it is important to make some dietary changes quickly. One pattern that we see frequently is where dogs may not feel like eating all day and then at night, eat too much. This perpetuates the cycle where excess phosphorous builds up in the blood during the night and then the pet will not want to eat in the morning. Purozyme, a proteolytic enzyme formula, given to your dog at bedtime can greatly help. In addition, it is important that the dog be put on a a low phosphorous, reduced protein diet. The dog needs some variety along with a reduced protein/phosphorous diet so that over time, the dog will be more inclined to eat in the morning too. You may need to find certain "comfort foods" such as dog biscuits that the dog really likes and offer them in the morning to get the dog started eating in the morning. Dogs can build up a lot of stomach acid too which can make them feel nauseated. This will affect their appetite too. Unfortunately, when pets have canine kidney disease, they can become very picky eaters. What they might have loved yesterday, they refuse to eat today and most of the time, they only want to eat what is not good for them---protein. Frantic pet owners have a tendency to give their dogs what they want and start giving them more and more protein---just exacerbating the symptoms as the phosphorous builds up in their blood stream. Ask Ariel can help you formulate a homemade diet and give you a number of tips to help with this inappetance issue. Canine kidney disease is tough and if detected early, can be managed but you need an expert veterinary nutritionist or holistic veterinarian to help you ensure you are feeding the appropriate diet.

Kitten With Irritable Bowel Disease, Diarrhea and Colitis Finally Gets Better!

"Dear Susan,

Corny, but in all my 61 years, I don’t believe that I’ve ever written a testimonial, so here’s my first go at one. We consulted a month or so ago via phone about my then 5.5 month old kitten, Misha. Misha, a rescue from our local Humane Society, was in serious condition with hemorrhaging from her colon. Her veterinarian and I had exhausted all possibilities.You quickly identified the cause: food allergies and made some dietary recommendations which I followed. Misha’s veterinarian then started her on Sucralfate and Pepcid AC. In addition, I am adding 1/3 capsule of your Probiotic and 1/3 capsule of digestive enzymes to her pumpkin TID. Within 24 hours, Misha’s bleeding stopped. She loves the pumpkin, but adjusting to canned food and to rabbit took some doing and required an appetite stimulant. Although she still craves other foods, she is now gaining weight. I’ve learned that the pumpkin is essential, not only for its soothing properties, but for the fiber it provides in the absence of grains. She poops only every 48 hours. Misha was, when we consulted, a frightened and very sick kitten. So much had been done to her in order to save her life that she was literally undone.

So was I.

In addition to excellent, compassionate and concerned counsel, you also were aware of my stress and addressed this, as well as Misha’s problems. More, you wrote a personal letter of directions and support along with the products I ordered from you. I was impressed by what you did, Susan. And I thank you. Thank you. And again.

My university career was spent counseling/advising students of all ages, as well as teaching anthropology, so I was aware of your therapeutic expertise as we talked. But you did so much more: the over-time you spent while we talked; your willingness to be a resource; your sending samples of other products; and your personal touches, like the hand-written letter. I am, in addition to my professional “history”, a permitted wildlife rehabilitator with almost 40 years of experience under my belt. Appropriate nutrition is an on-going concern for those who work with wild species; yet I had not ever before encountered so compelling a need in one of the many cats I have rescued and loved over the years.

The service you provide is essential. It’s a gift. I would recommend you to anyone, and have.

Thanks, Susan. With a hug, Marg Smith"

March 2009

Crystals and Bacteria in a Cat or Dog's Urine

Dear Dr Gordon: On a recent well-pet check at my vet, the urine analysis from the lab revealed that both my cat and dog have crystals in the urine and bacteria. Both my pets are happy and healthy. How significant is this? BK

Dear BK: First of all, crystals and bacteria in the urine MAY BE a significant medical problem, OR may be nothing at all. What do I mean by this?

Should You be Concerned About Crystals and Bacteria In Your Pet's Urine?

Many veterinarians utilize veterinary reference laboratories to analyze blood, urine, stool, and other samples. If urine is collected on a pet that is completely asymptomatic for any urinary problems (no straining to urinate, no blood, no unusual urinary behavior) and submitted to a laboratory for analysis, the presence of crystals in that particular urine sample may have formed en route to the lab.

How is this possible? Sometimes crystals can form from the time the urine was collected to the time it was read at the lab due to changes in temperature and changes in the pH of the urine. Crystals that were soluble in solution at the time of collection can actually crystallize out in the solution over time. Is this significant? In a pet that is symptomatic, crystals in the urine are significant. If the pet is completely asymptomatic, then the crystals are probably not a significant issue. However, a fresh urine sample should always be re-examined at the veterinarian's office to make sure crystals are not present immediately after collection. If crystals are present in a fresh sample, these are a real finding and should be addressed. There can be many causes for the formation of crystals. Diet, genetic predisposition, and bacterial infection are some of the culprits. 

How Is A Urine Sample Collected?

The presence of bacteria in the urine can sometimes also be misleading. Veterinarians collect urine in a variety of ways. The best way to collect a urine sample is by a technique called cystocentesis. In this technique, the pet is allowed to build up urine in the urinary bladder and the urine is extracted from the bladder in a sterile fashion. This is usually done by cleansing the area of any surface bacteria on the skin and collecting the urine with a very fine hypodermic needle and syringe. If bacteria are found on this "sterile" collection technique, it is always significant. Sometimes when veterinarians are faced with a particularly uncooperative patient, we will ask that the owners collect a urine sample for us. Even though we hope the sample is collected a aseptically as possible, we realize that collection in this way is less than ideal, and will probably be contaminated to some degree. Almost any sample that is collected at home, by the owner, either by a "mid stream catch" (in the case of a big dog or via the litter box (in the case of cats) will be contaminated. Even though we realize this, it is important to analyze the urine anyway since other findings in the urine may be significant. We can still discern many important facts about the pet's health status from a urine sample collected by the owner. Significant findings could be sugar in the urine, crystals in a fresh sample, the presence of inflammatory cells or cancer cells, protein in the urine, and/or blood in the urine. All of these would be present regardless of how the urine was collected.

Is There Bacteria or Not?

Sometimes there actually will be the presence of bacteria, but the lab or veterinarian reports that no bacteria were seen. How is this possible? Sometimes the bacteria numbers are very small, or sometimes a very dilute urine will not show any presence of bacteria when examined under the microscope (although they are there). If the doctor suspects that bacteria may be present causing symptoms, and "no bacteria seen" is reported by the lab, he or she may recommend a culture and sensitivity be done on the urine.

How To Collect It Correctly?

To do a culture and sensitivity correctly, the sample should be collected straight from the urinary bladder to avoid environmental contamination. Once the urine is collected, it is transferred to a sterile test tube for transport to the lab. Once the urine arrives at the lab, special procedures are employed to enhance the growth of any bacteria that could be present. This involves placing the urine in a test tube containing a special broth to enhance the reproduction of any bacteria found in the urine. After the bacteria are grown in the broth, the bacteria is identified and this solution is "streaked across" a special plate containing another type of growth media. Special small discs, each impregnated with a different antibiotic, are then spread onto this plate. The growth pattern of the bacteria helps determine which antibiotic(s) would be effective in killing the bacteria.

As you can see, there is a big difference in the reporting and interpretation of crystals and bacteria in the urine. DrG

For more information on Urinary Crystals click here to visit AskAriel.com.

Author:  Dr. David Gordon, Holistic Veterinarian

Arch Beach Veterinary Clinic

Original post: 3/15/09

Updated: 4/29/24

Stem Cell Therapy Helps Pets In Pain

CHRONIC PAIN IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF EUTHANASIA IN PETS

Dr. David Gordon, Medical Director, VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital, Lake Forest, CA

Dear Dr Gordon: I am at the point of considering putting my 10 year old lab to sleep. She has had a history of moderate hip dysplasia that never seemed to bother her very much, but last year she blew out her knee or ACL. This was surgically fixed, but she seems in chronic pain now. The doctors have tried a variation of many different medications for her pain and nothing seems to be helping. Is there anything else that is available? I am at my wits end. AJ

Dear AJ: Is there anything worse than seeing your beloved pet in constant pain? It sounds as if you have been a very conscientious pet owner in dealing with your pet’s situation.
One of the most gratifying things I have been able to do is to help pets live with pain utilizing holistic medical therapies and acupuncture; especially the chronic nagging pain of arthritis.

Even though that has been very gratifying, it has also been the most frustrating. I realize that these therapies did not offer any long term solution for the patient’s pain UNTIL NOW.

There has been a recent scientific breakthrough to help pets deal with the pain associated with osteoarthritis as well as injuries of tendons and ligaments. A southern California company, Vet-Stem, has developed the technology to provide veterinarians a new and innovative therapy utilizing STEM CELLS. You can visit them on the web at http://www.vet-stem.com/. In addition to chronic arthritis, anticipated future uses for stem cell therapy could include autoimmune disease, liver disease, neurological disease, and kidney disease.

You may have heard about some of the scientific breakthroughs regarding the use of human stem cells. Stem cells are the “ancestral” cells that have the “programming” to turn into the specialized cells where ever they are needed in the body. But harvesting them has been difficult. One promising source of stem cells, human embryos, raises moral objections from those who consider the embryos human individuals. This has raised a lot of controversy and politics surrounding the collection of these EMBRYONIC stem cells. The beauty of pet stem cell therapy is that we are using the pet’s own adult body cells, or MESENCHYMAL CELLS, to collect the stem cells. Regulators don't allow stem cell therapies to be tried in humans until they are shown to be safe in animals. And animal treatments are not subject to the extensive regulation required for humans.

How is this done? A small quantity of fat is collected from the pet and the sample is shipped priority Fed Ex to the Vet Stem laboratory. Fat is utilized because it is readily available, easy to harvest, and rich with stem cells. Within 48 hours of collection, the patient’s own regenerative stem cells are returned for injection into the affected joint or bloodstream. The beauty of this process is that we are dealing with the pet’s pain in a very holistic manner, utilizing the pet’s own body to heal itself. There may be no lifetime drugs to take and, best of all, there are very few, if any, side effects.

This process has been used in clinical trials for the past three years, and the results have been extremely promising. Over 2500 horses and 200 dogs have been successfully treated.
I am hoping that stem cell therapy will prove to be “the answer” for pet’s in chronic pain from osteoarthritis that do not seem to respond well to our normal protocols for pain relief.

Toxoplasmosis and Cats

Dear Dr. Gordon: My doctor has recommended I be extremely careful around my 2 cats. I have just found out that I am pregnant and he is concerned that I could become infected with Toxoplasmosis. Now I am worried that I could become infected and am thinking of finding homes for my cats. Is there any way I can keep my cats? PB

Dear PB: Your OB-GYN is being conscientious about warning you regarding the risks involved with cats and Toxoplasmosis. That being said, I see no reason for you to adopt out your cats if you take some simple precautions around the house.

First, let’s give you some background on this disease, which has been poorly understood for years. It was not uncommon, just a few years ago, that human medical doctors were insisting that cat owners rid themselves of their cats to avoid this disease. Fortunately, they know better now.

Toxoplasma infects virtually all warm-blooded mammals and birds, including about 50% of people worldwide. Transmission from cats to humans can occur if cat owners contaminate their hands while cleaning the litter box and accidentally swallow infectious cysts before washing their hands. Other more likely routes of transmission are underrecognized and include ingestion of contaminated soil or water, eating inadequately washed raw vegetables or fruit and consuming raw or undercooked meat and shellfish

It is true that infection by the protozoan organism, Toxoplasma gondii, can cause a variety of birth defects, especially if the mother is infected in the first trimester. However, avoiding infection throughout the pregnancy is very important because the probability of transplacental transmission increases as the pregnancy progresses.

Pregnant women are not the only individuals who are at risk. Most infected individuals have no clinical disease or only flu like symptoms. But, immuno-compromised individuals may suffer from severe, sometimes, fatal, toxoplasmosis when parasites are released from latent tissue cysts and travel to the brain.

So, how can you avoid being infected? Some of the recommendations require just good hygiene and common sense. You should wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating. You should never eat raw or undercooked meat , poultry, or fish. Restricting access to the outdoors is a key strategy to prevent cats from acquiring T. gondii and serving as a source of infection for people.

Cats that have access to the outdoors typically hunt and eat small mammals and birds which are the intermediate hosts for this parasite. Domestic cats begin shedding the eggs 3-5 days after ingestion of infected animal tissues, and the shedding period lasts about 8 days but may continue up to 3 weeks.

Another important strategy in minimizing exposure is how you deal with the cat’s feces. First and foremost, have your husband clean the litter box. He may not like doing this but when faced with the possibility of congenital birth defects in his first-born, I bet he will comply. If you must deal with the cat’s feces yourself, be extra careful. Changing the cat’s litter boxes daily as well as wearing disposable plastic gloves and washing hands after cleanup, considerably reduce the risk of contracting the disease from cat litter. Cat litter and feces should not be deposited in toilets or recycled into the soil around the home but instead should be deposited in garbage containers in tightly sealed bags. Proper disposal reduces the risk of ingestion and inhalation by other animals and people.

The domestic cat remains the most important vector in spreading the disease into the environment. Cats rarely exhibit clinical disease as a result of T. gondii infection but are implicated in human outbreaks as well as disease in food and zoo animals. Most cat owners probably do not recognize the potential risks to human and animal health posed by feral and owned cats that roam outdoors.

Until a vaccine is developed to prevent cats from shedding the eggs, the challenge for veterinarians is to educate cat owners about environmentally friendly cat management and safe methods for collection and disposal of cat litter. Strategies to manage feral cat populations, which may include adoption, sterilization, relocation, removal, and/or provision of indoor housing, also are needed. David Gordon, DVM

14 1/2 Year Old Dog With Arthritis Goes Hiking Now!

"I attribute the happy, active life that my age 14½ Lab/Shepherd mix, Kona (photo attached), enjoys today to the compassionate and professional assistance that Susan Blake Davis and Ask Ariel have provided over the last four years. I came to Susan in 2005 because my then-age-ten 80 lb. pet seemed like he was fading and even "on his way out". He couldn't jump up onto the back seat of my SUV and was taking Rimadyl for his hip pain/degeneration. He had become increasingly listless and just moving around seemed too much for him to bear.

The fantastic suggestions that Susan provided began showing results right away and Kona started a steady path towards a fuller, happier expression of himself. I have used the products she recommended (ArthroStride, K9 CurcuMagic) every day for the last four years and just placed another order so Kona does not run out. I believe in these products and couldn't imagine being without them.

Today, we go on very aggressive uphill hikes three times weekly. Kona always brings up the rear on the way up and is in pain with every step, but he wouldn't miss a single step for the world! He studies my every move when he thinks I'm putting my hiking clothes on and once I go for my hiking shoes (the final clue!), he goes ballistic. His excitement is more than he can contain and is ecstatic all the way up the trail and back.

I am so grateful to Susan and Ask Ariel for giving me my beloved Kona's life force back and all the comfort we have given each other during the last four years. Thank you so much, Susan. What you gave us is precious and irreplaceable."

Guy Richardson, Los Angeles, CA

Beloved Ariel--The Dog Who Taught Me So Much

Pictured above are two special shots of Ariel larger than life. In the lefthand picture, Ariel turns 14 and is blowing out her birthday candles at her party. On the right, she is wearing a T-shirt in front of PETsMART at age 13 trying to help homeless dogs get adopted.

Yesterday was the 4th anniversary of Ariel's death. Ariel was so much more than "just a dog". She was the love of my life. She was such an incredible inspiration that our rescue and my business is named after her. For 6 years, she sat in front of PETsMART helping homeless dogs find their families at last. She greeted everyone in front of the store and had her own special friends that I later discovered after she died. Ariel was one of those one in a million dogs who taught me so much and showed me how wonderful life really is. No matter how sick she was, no matter what happened, my beautiful girl was always on the go, tail wagging, joyously greeting the day. She was such a happy creature.

Even as 4 years have passed, it still hurts so much to be without my special girl. I know there are many, many of you who have lost your beloved pets and my heart goes out to all of you. I wish there was something that could really make the hurt go away but what I found was that the best way to get through it is to honor them each day so that you will always feel they are with you. And so, with that, here is my tribute to my beloved angel who taught me so much---I love you Ariel and miss you so much. You are forever with us and we will never forget you! Your Mom and Dad

Cat Upper Respiratory Infections--Feline URI

Dear Dr. Gordon: My cat must have the worst cold of all time. She has been sneezing with a runny nose for well over 3 months now. The antibiotics the vet prescribed did not work. What can I do to stop it? I have tried everything. TB

Dear TB: First and foremost, any cat that has chronic "cold symptoms" should be evaluated by your veterinarian again. It is very likely something other than a "common cold."

Upper Respiratory Infections In Cats and Dogs

Think about it. Pets get colds just like people do and exhibit many of the same symptoms. Colds are caused by upper respiratory viruses that we contract through exposure when these viruses are expelled by others when they cough and/or sneeze. We currently do not believe that human cold viruses can cause upper respiratory illness in dogs and cats (and vice versa). The signs and duration of cold symptoms are fairly classic: first, there is the scratchy throat which then progresses to the stuffy nose, sneezing, and (sometimes) coughing phase. The good news is that most cold symptoms are gone within a couple of weeks (at the most). This holds true for our pets as well.

Occasionally, in weakened, geriatric or debilitated people and pets, an upper respiratory illness can progress into the lower respiratory tree and create pneumonia. Pneumonia is sometimes very difficult to detect (evidenced by people who sometimes carry out their normal activities despite having "walking pneumonia"). Usually, however, pneumonia presents with a deep, productive (or wet) cough, sometimes with fever, and usually with lethargy and lack of appetite. All pneumonia is serious and requires long-term care and physician follow-up. Although the doctor is sometimes able to detect changes in the lung fields when listening to the patient breathing with a stethoscope, this is sometimes very difficult to detect. After all, I can't tell my patients to "take a deep breath and hold it" like our human counterparts can. The best way to determine if pneumonia is present is to take x-rays of the chest. Bacterial pneumonia usually responds to long-term antibiotic therapy, but follow-up x-rays are essential in following the course of the pneumonia.

What If Your Pet Is Not Responding To Antibiotics?

If the pneumonia is not responding to antibiotics, there is probably another cause for the pneumonia. Through sophisticated testing, the veterinarian hopefully will be able to determine the cause. Sometimes, allergies, fungi, inflammation, or cancer can cause pneumonia. The doctor may recommend diagnostic procedures like bronchoscopy or a "tracheal wash". This requires that the patient be sedated and a flexible endoscope in placed into the respiratory tree to obtain samples for analysis. This procedure is usually done if symptoms of pneumonia persist, without improvement or resolution.

The pet with chronic "cold symptoms" ( sneezing, nasal discharge, and coughing) that is unresponsive to medical management, presents a huge challenge for the veterinarian. In recommending more sophisticated diagnostic procedures, the doctor is hoping to find a cause to the problem that can be cured. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, as cancer becomes more and more prevalent in older pets with unresolved or chronic nasal discharge.

Is It A Cold or Allergies?

One additional possibility for the "cold symptoms" could be a food or environmental allergy. This can be a likely cause if your cat is young and displays gastrointestinal issues as well (diarrhea, for example). Work with your veterinarian or seek the advice of a holistic veterinary professional to develop a hypoallergenic diet for your cat. In addition, you can try using immune support supplements available at AskAriel.com to see if they will help.

Author: Dr. David Gordon

Arch Beach Veterinary Clinic

Orignal post: 3/6/09

Updated: 4/29/24

Question Regarding Canine Kidney Disease Diet

Q: Thank you for the very informative article. You mentioned that the pet should have a high quality, low protein phosphorous diet, do you suggest any particular dog food? My current vet has her on Hill's k/d diet which I have heard some negative things about. Thank you again.
~One nervous pet owner

A: Thank you for submitting a question about such an important topic. You are correct--when a dog or cat has kidney disease, the diet is of utmost importance. Giving too much protein at any one meal can elevate the phosphorous and BUN levels in the blood and make the dog or cat feel sick. Symptoms of canine and feline kidney disease can include excessive thirst, excessive urination, lethargy, inappetance, nausea, etc. So to keep your pet's phosphorous and BUN levels as regulated as possible, the diet needs to regulated too.

Several considerations regarding diets for dogs and cats with kidney disease: pets often become inappetant and need variety; avoid using any type of treat or food that contains preservatives or chemicals, try to use a homemade diet if at all possible and avoid giving the pet high protein/high phosphorous foods such as milk products and fish.

There is no "canned" recipe or commercial dog food that works for every dog or cat with kidney disease. The reason for this, is that kidney disease is often accompanied by other health conditions. These can include pancreatitis, anemia, heart disease, liver issues, allergies, etc. It is not advisable to use a recipe or commercial diet intended for any pet with kidney disease because it may not be the right one for your pet. I have seen many dogs with kidney disease get worse from being on so called "homemade canine kidney disease diets" because they are too high in fat. Your best bet would be to seek out the advice of a veterinary professional and get a custom-tailored diet specifically for your dog. We offer this service through Ask Ariel and there are other pet nutritionist services available online.

Adorable Yorkie Layla Sees Improvement with Pancreatitis

"Layla is a 3 year old Yorkshire Terrier who was diagnosed with pancreatitis in October of 2008. Our vet wanted Layla to be put on canned prescription formula to manage this and I knew I couldn't do that because I didn't agree with the ingredients in these foods. I talked to a friend who had used Susan in the past for her Yorkie with great success. Our vet was quite sure that Layla's issues could not be managed with a home cooked diet but we were determined to try. From the moment I talked to Susan in our first consultation I knew that Layla was in good hands and that through her help, everything would be fine. Layla was put on a strict diet with Susan's LypoZyme and Probiotics Layla's Spec numbers went from 740 (under 400 is considered normal) in October, down to 164 inFebruary. Our family is beyond thankful to Susan and all that she has done to save our girl from a lifetime of horrible canned food. I recommend Susan to anyone I meet who is considering home cooking or who is dealing with a dog with health issues- I just can't say enough about how knowledgeable Susan is and how deeply she cares."

The Pluss Family, Canada, Feb. 26, 2009

Homemade Cancer Diets for Pets

There are many "homemade" diets on the Internet for dogs and cats with cancer but unfortunately most are not accurate. When your pet has cancer, you need to be sure you are providing the right BALANCE of nutrients that support your pet's particular situation. For example, we have many patients who come to us who are following a "cancer diet" they found online that advises them to use an overabundance of fatty protein when their pet has elevated liver or kidney blood values. We strongly urge you to seek the advice of a veterinary professional to get the exact percentage of ingredients based on your pet's bloodwork and symptoms. At Ask Ariel Your Pet Nutritionist, we do not have "canned diets" because every pet needs a different ratio and we use mathematical models to calculate the precise amounts specifically for your pet.

Ideally, most dogs and cats with cancer can benefit from a homemade prepared diet. However, this can be very tricky since the diet depends upon many factors such as the age of the pet, the type of cancer (e.g. liver cancer vs osteosarcoma) and the condition of other organs (e.g. many pets with cancer also have kidney issues as well.). DO NOT just go by a homemade recipe for cancer that you find in a book or online. While there are many "cancer" diets focusing on low carbohydrate, high protein---this may not be the right diet for your pet. All components of the diet should be balanced and proportionate to the needs of your pet.

Tribute to Andy--A Precious Rescue Kitty

Andy 02/05/09

This little soul came into my life one rainy, stormy night as an adult kitty (age unknown), nearly starved, and weighing less than three pounds. He had no whiskers and badly mattered eyes. Was it was a coincidence that I went to a birthday dinner the same day that he showed up at the house of the hostess? I don’t believe that it was.

I took him home and wanted only to keep him warm, dry, comfortable, and safe for the rest of his life. He expressed determination beyond belief, got well, and turned into a beautiful cat. He gave me more love than one could ask for. Full of games and with a great sense of humor, this little guy taught me my most valuable lessons. He brightened my life for twelve years.

I wanted to have him forever, but Andy knew when he was ready to leave. In spite of the best efforts of Dr. David Gordon and Susan Davis, he passed on February 5, 2009. This little soul has been, and will always be a light shining brightly with love in my life.

Marcia Leong

Giving Peanut Butter To Dogs--Scratching, Itching and Ear Infections

 

Thanks for visiting our blog.  We appreciate your interest and understand the importance of addressing your concerns about dog peanut butter allergies and how to stop your dog's itching and scratching.  We have all of the information you need and can provide you with the most accurate and helpful information at our newly revised website page. 

Click here to learn about peanut butter allergies in dogs, signs of a peanut butter allergy and what you can do to help your pup.

If your dog is getting ear infections, peanut butter as well as other food allergens can definitely be a contributing factor.   Changing your pup's food to a low carbohydrate, novel protein diet, avoiding common food allergens and feeding alternative treats that don't contain peanuts or peanut butter can greatly help.   Learn more about holistic treatments for dog ear infections.

While this particular blog page is no longer active, we have these new dedicated pages that specifically address the topics you were searching for. Ask Ariel Your Pet Nutritionist has been helping pet owners find natural solutions for their pets health issues since 2005.  Recommended by veterinarians nationwide, our website AskAriel.com contains a library of pet health articles to help you treat your pet's health issues naturally.  If you need immediate help, please feel free to reach out to us by email:  Support@AskAriel.com  Our compassionate staff will answer promptly!

Originally Posted:  2/6/2009

Updated: 2/9/2024

Tribute to Nero--K9 Iraq War Hero

Our hearts go out to the Jackson family, whose beloved dog Nero has succumbed to hemangiosarcoma. Dear Nero, a beautiful German Shepherd, served all of us in Iraq for two tours of duty as a bomb squad dog. After he finished serving our country, dear Nero was adopted by the kind Jackson family in Texas who gave him a loving home.

According to his military records, Nero led an active life as a bomb dog in Iraq, helping to save many lives with his intelligence and training, as well as “training” new airmen in the canine program at Lackland Air Force Base. Nero was deployed in 2007 and was spending a wonderful retirement with the Jacksons who cherished him.

The Jacksons, being in the Air Force, had heard Nero was to be released from service and spoke with his handlers about adoption. Nero served his new family with the same loyalty, protection and comfort that he provided all of us as Americans during his tour of duty. He was a great friend and comfort to Grace while Nero's dad was serving in Iraq. He even managed to get along with the cats!

We are so sorry to hear of Nero's passing. Hemangiosarcoma is a very aggressive form of cancer and can be a silent killer. All of us at Ask Ariel extend our heartfelt sentiments during this very difficult time.