"Speak!" The Blog

Max Testimonial; incontinence, diarrhea and constipation

12/27/2010 09:13:00

Here's a new testimonial from one of our clients in the Chicago area:

"In October 2010 I contacted you for help with my Max a 10 yo male cat that had been on progressively increasing doses of medication for both his bowels and bladder. His episodes of incontinence and alteration between severe constipation and profound diarrhea had been increasing for about 2 years. The last episode was coming home to finding that Max laying in a huge stool, and that he had defecated all over the house, and urinated in 3 different areas in a period of 4 hours; it was so bad that I had even asked the doctor if I was doing the wrong thing by keeping him alive. The vet had no answer for me. This is a very kind vet, she also sees my other four legged children and I do trust her. Max was given fluids and antibiotics, and he seemed to start moving around a little better. I found our next step was a colonoscopy - which would be thousands.

Once I contacted Alisa, we made some rather simple adjustments. We changed his diet, added pumpkin, added a couple of supplements, changed his cat litter, and waited. I did not want to put him down; when he is well he plays and snuggles. He greets me at the door, and says hi to all my visitors - even snuggling them. He is generally a happy cat, and a pleasure to be with. I had not seen my sweet Max's personality in probably a year. So I am so pleased to tell you that we have not had an accident in almost 1 month (when in distress we were having accidents 3 times per week). Max is defecating regularly. I have been able to decrease his medications by half. - which is a substantial cost savings (when I am having a pharmacy in AZ compounding Cisapride for him - which was taken off the human market for side effects) His Amitriptyline remains the same, his lactulose has been decreased by half. - and his bowels are more predictable.

Max has progressively started acting better. his abdomen is no longer bloated. He has gone from 19lb to 18lb - he could loose another pound without a problem. Last night he was playing and socializing again - like he used to. He is snuggly again. He is back to my old Max. My life no longer revolves around his bowels and bladder - and I am not entertaining the idea of putting him down any longer.

Thank you
Kathy F"

Thank YOU Kathy and Max - continued good health!

Alisa

Why animals need massages, too!

11/14/2010 19:34:00

Most of the work that we do involves helping pet owners help their animals through some type of acute or chronic conditions like allergies, thyroid imbalances, sensitive stomachs and arthritis symptoms. Sometimes we get a call for massage services for a dog or cat, and we appreciate these owners' understanding of how important body work can be for our animal companions.

Animals, like us, can experience severe back strain, leg cramps and other musculo-skeletal conditions that cause great pain and discomfort. Like us, massage and body work that helps put movement back into stiff joints, also has the added benefit of lowering blood pressure, increasing feel-good endorphins and de-stressing the body and mind. These effects are not exclusive to people; our animals share the same benefits of massage and other body work.

Just the other day I was working on a horse who had fallen onto her back almost a year and a half ago. It was the second session with her, and her owners had first approached me because they were concerned that, despite some treatments, the horse (a proud, beautiful Arabian) was unable to lift her tail into the air like Arabians love to do. I told them that this was, very often, a sign of lower back pain, and that it was likely that she was in some constant state of discomfort in her lumbar/sacral region (you know that feeling, don't you)?

After putting some movement into her sacrum area, and trying some techniques designed to relax some tight muscles and ligaments, I called the session done. As her owner released her into the corral, the horse trotted off, raising her tail at a 35 degree angle. "She raised her tail!" exclaimed the client. Needless to say we were very excited to see that tail lift, knowing that it was because that horse was in less pain than when I first arrived to work on her.

Remember that our animal friends can't tell us when something hurts, and they often try to 'hide' it as an instictual protection; they don't want the rest of the pack to know that they are weak, for example. If your animal companion shows any of these signs, body work, along with other holistic protocols, may help:

* General malaise - more 'tired' or 'lazy' than usual

* Slowness in rising in the morning

* Slowness in getting up, sitting down, or laying down

* Moodiness and/or a short temper

* Eating less, or getting more picky

* Biting or growling more than usual

* Limping, stumbling, or general lack of coordination

* Keeping the tail down and tightly tucked

* Whining or crying out for no obvious reason

When asked, every pet owner I've ever talked to desires to keep their pet free from pain. Many times, body work is a highly effective way to do just that.

Thanks for reading!

De-matting a cat (or dog, for that matter!)

10/22/2010 10:33:00

Morning Alisa.

What is the best way to brush out matted down hair on the back of my cat? I don;t know what caused it. I hope it doesn't hurt him. It's matted on the dorsal coat and only there on the back, where the cat can't get to it.

Jim

Hey Jim; best way to deal with those is to get some blunt nosed scissors and some talcum powder or cornstarch. Put some starch/powder on the mat, and massage it gently into the mat - this tends to attract any dirt or grease that might be trapped into the fur, and makes the mat more 'slippery.' Gently pull up the mat away from the skin so you can see where the skin is. Holding the scissors perpendicular to the skin, slide the bottom part of the scissors against the skin, and cut up into the mat - try not to pull the hair while cutting. Repeat the above, moving the scissors a quarter inch or so over until you've cut into the entire mat. Separate the mat the best you can with your fingers, and then use a fine toothed comb to remove the rest of the mat. If it's a really bad mat, you may have to do this a few times, giving the cat a break, and not trying to tackle the mat all in one sitting - REALLY bad mats can take a couple of days.

The bottom line is to keep the cat as relaxed and de-stressed as possible. So pick a time to do this when your cat is relaxed, and move slowly and gently as you work with the mat. Mat's can and do hurt the animal, so they usually appreciate your attention to this painful, but common condition. If your cat is a long-hair, regular brushing will keep most mats at bay; but sometimes you miss a developing mat despite your best efforts and intentions.

How old is the kitty? Sometimes as they get older, they get arthritis and can't reach all the places that they used to be able to reach. A cat can pretty much reach every part of his body - so, if he's unable to reach a part of his body, I would recommend a natural food supplement to help with his flexibility and to keep arthritis at bay.

Keep me posted, and good luck!

Alisa

Food No-No's for Cats and Dogs

10/09/2010 06:33:00

So, you're ready to start giving your cat or dog some real food instead of processed commercial food? Awesome - a healthy diet is the fundamental basis for a healthy animal (or person)!

Be careful, though, to avoid the following ingredients that can be dangerous:

Onions, onion powder, chives: can lead to gastrointestinal irritation, damage to red blood cells, and severe anemia; all types should be avoided (raw, cooked, dehydrated,powdered, etc). Cats are more susceptible than dogs, but it can be toxic for both.(Garlic is often well-tolerated by cats and dogs; use sparingly at first to determine ifthere is a sensitivity)

2. Grapes and raisins:can cause kidney failure in dogs, although only certain dogs are affected.

3. Uncooked yeast dough:can expand in your pet's stomach, causing pain and possibly rupture of the intestines.

4. Left over bones:can splinter and cause damage to internal organs; may also be a choking hazard. Raw bones are safer as they don't tend to splinter - but, always supervise carefully.

5. Foods with high salt or fat content: excessive fats can cause upset stomach and potentially inflame the pancreas (pancreatitis). Salty foods can cause sodium iontoxicosis, and lead to hypertension.

6. Chocolate and coffee: chocolate and coffee contains methlxanthines, and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, tremors,seizures, and potentially death in pets. The higher the cocoa percentage, the moredangerous the chocolate is, making dark chocolate more toxic than milk or whitechocolate. All these products can cause vomiting, diarrhea and even death.

7. Sugarless candies sweetened with xylitol: can cause liver damage and death in more vulnerable dogs. This sweetener is in candy, gum, toothpaste and sugar-free cookies.

8.Macademia nuts:can cause weakness, vomiting, tremors, and hyperthermia in dogs.

We've seen some information regarding avocadoes, but the research didn't support not using the flesh of this fruit; however, be aware that the other parts of the avocado (leaves, skin, pit) do contain a potentially toxic compound. As you can imagine, though, any animal can be allergic or sensitive to a number of ingredients; so always observe your animal carefully whenever adding to his or her diet. A reminder that all the information on this website, and in this blog, are not intended to diagnose or treat an animal. It's important that you work closely with your veterinarian when making any change to your animal's health protocol.

In future posts, we'll be featuring some easy to make recipes, and sources for ideas on home cooked meals for your loved ones! (Your dogs and cats, that is)

Sources:

www.drpitcairn.com

www.peteducation.com

www.aspca.org

What to Avoid in Commercial Pet Foods

10/03/2010 06:29:00

We all want to take the best care of our pets, and the best place to start is with a quality diet. However, many commercial pet foods contain ingredients that you certainly would not feed your pet if you were aware of their source. The following items are things to avoid in commercial pet formulas - read the labels, and check them every time you buy...pet food manufacturers DO change their formulas, so a brand and recipe that meets your criteria today, may not tomorrow.

1. “By-products” of any sort: These ingredients are what is rejected for human consumption such as feathers, beaks, feet, waste, dead, disabled, dying and diseased animals.

2. “Meat” or “Animal” ingredients: In other words, the specific type of animal is not specified. There is evidence (via the presence of sodium pentobarbital in the foods)that some pet foods contained euthanized animals, including household pets, strays, zoo and shelter animals. Although industry representatives deny the use of household pets, the rumors persist in part because video evidence shows euthanized animals from shelters being taken by vehicle to a rendering plant that supplies ingredients for pet food manufacturers.

3. Corn, wheat and soy: These ingredients are not inherently bad for your pet, but they are common sources of allergens and food sensitivities. They are used primarily as a cheap source of inferior and/or incomplete proteins.

4. “Digest” ingredients: Such as, chicken digest, animal digest, etc. Digest is a polite term for waste.

5. Artificial color or preservatives: Some of these artificial ingredients have been known as carninogenic for some time, but are permitted in pet food (BHT, for example, an artificial preservative).

Love Your Pet Natural Therapies recommends a home-made diet as the best diet for your loving companion animal. The next best option would be occasional 'real-food' meals (2-3x week) followed by supplementation of commercial food with 'real-food.' Int he very least, a nutritional supplement should be added daily to your pet's food. Commercial varieties are available (Missing Link, for example), as well as customized blends from Love Your Pet Natural Therapies, or homemade blends can be made. Our next posting will include ingredients to avoid in home-cooked meals for your pets.

There is much more information available on this topic. We recommend you conduct additional research. Some places to start:

Foods Pets Die For, by Ann Martin

Born Free USA, API Report, “What's Really in Pet Food,” http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts.php?more=1&p=359

Dog Food Advisor http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com

What Does "Holistic Health" mean?

09/28/2010 09:45:00

You may be wondering what the term "holistic" means when it comes to your pets and companion animals. Lately, this term has been thrown around as synonymous with "natural," "organic" or "healthy." It goes without saying that, although these terms are somewhat related, they do not mean the same thing.

Holistic health is beyond looking at symptoms, but rather looking at the entire animal, its environment, diet, sleeping area, habits, and other factors to see the whole (or "holistic") story of what that animal or pet needs the most. Too often in the health field we make a list of symptoms and then form a diagnosis based on that list. From there we "attack" the symptoms by suppressing them. This traditional view of health services actually focuses on the disease and the symptoms (short-term) over the optimal health of the animal (long-term).

Practicing holistic health is a completely different process; we look at systems over symptoms. What system in the animal needs support? Is it the immune system that needs some assistance, the digestive system, the overal constitution of the animal that needs some help? What in the animal's life needs to be changed and improved to support optimal health? Is there an emotional component involved? Has something changed recently in the family or home that may be causing stress that leads to physical symptoms being displayed?

There is a very specific reason that we prefer to see our animal clients in their homes; yes, it's for your convenience and to help the animal feel more comfortable; but, we also feel it's the best way we get to know your pet, so that we can help your friend feel better.

Homemade Cat Food Recipes

09/27/2010 06:22:00

Here are some delicious recipes for you to make for your cat(s) - if your cat is on a special diet, consult with your veterinarian first.

Kitty Un-kibble

2 eggs
4 cups cooked potatoes
2 tablespoons of olive oil (Less if fatty meats are used)
2 pounds of minced meat red or white;(liver/heart/kidney/tripe) or fish or a combination.
4 tablespoons of food supplement powder
2 tablespoons of bonemeal (3,000mg of Calcium or 1 3/4 teaspoon of eggshell powder)
10,000 units of Vitamin A (fish oils)
150 IU Vitamin E
1 teaspoon of raw, grated fresh veggies with each meal.

Directions:Feed 3/4 to 1-1/2 cups at each meal. Oats (2 cups before cooking) or rice (2 cups before cooking) can be used as a grain substitute or a combination. Always add about 500 mg of Taurine to cat recipes if you cook the meats.

Remember to add an additional ½ teaspoon of food supplement powder to each serving.

Feline Hash

1 cup cooked or raw ground beef (93% lean, minimum)
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
6 tbsp. alfalfa sprouts
3/4 cup cream-style cottage cheese
1 tbsp food supplement powder
2,500 IU Vitamin A (fish oils)
Drizzle of Olive Oil on each serving (for vitamin E)
(125 mg Taurine if cooking the beef)

Directions:Mix together and serve. Most cats enjoy ¾ – 1 ½ cups per meal.

Remember to add an additional ½ teaspoon of food supplement powder to each serving.

You can also supplement processed food by adding 2-3 teaspoons of any of the following to 1/2 cup of a high quality (no byproducts, no wheat, soy or corn, no 'animal' or 'meat' ingredients) kibble or canned food:

Fresh meat supplement

1 lb ground turkey, chicken, lean burger, lean chuck or lean beef heart (raw is best)
2 tbsp vegetable oil (cold pressed, organic, olive oil is best)
1 tsp food supplement powder
1/2 tsp eggshell powder
1,000 IU vitamin A with 50 IU vitamin D (or alternate with a fresh egg)

Remember to add an additional ½ teaspoon of food supplement powder to each serving.

Fresh egg supplement

1 tsp vegetable oil
1 tsp food supplement powder
3 tsp eggshell powder
200 IU vitamin E
4 large eggs

Remember to add an additional ½ teaspoon of food supplement powder to each serving.

Herbs for Animals

09/24/2010 03:48:00

Aloe (internal or external)

To soothe upset digestive tracts and help restore mucous membranes. Also helpful for external minor cuts, burns, rashes and irritations.

Vitamin C

Its reputation as a powerful vitamin helpful for many conditions is well deserved. Essential to the production of collagen (the glue that keeps cells together), vitamin C is also a natural anti-histamine, anti-inflammatory and anti-biotic. Dogs and cats can make their own vitamin C, but larger amounts are helpful in times of stress or illness.

Cayenne

A natural anti-inflammatory, cayenne is very helpful for arthritis, general inflammatory conditions. It also stimulates digestion, and helps the body absorb other herbs.

Chamomile

A nervine that helps settle down almost all bodily functions so can be helpful with stress, diarrhea, gastrointenstinal upset, respiratory infections and the like. Can be administered as a capsule, mixed in with food supplement, tincture or as a strong tea.

Cod Liver Oil

A natural source of vitamin A and D, plus omega-3 fatty acids and other nutritional benefits. Excellent for overall health, including shiny fur, healthy skin and internal health. Use sparingly, and select brands that are 'low mercury.'

Echinacea

Great for infections, echinacea can be taken alone, or with other infection fighting herbs like goldenseal and garlic. In the case of an infection that does not improve, or the cause of the infection is unknown, it's important to consult with your veterinarian.

Garlic

Most pets tolerate garlic well, but use cautiously until you can determine if your pet has an intolerance of garlic. Used for pest control, infections, general immune system support, and digestive aid.

Lavender

Known mostly as an aromatheraphy, lavender essential oil is also helpful for mild wounds, cuts and skin condition. Lavender can also be (very sparingly) used internally for situations that require calming, such as digestive upset, nervousness, etc.

Nettle

An effective relief for arthritis pain and anti-inflammatory, nettle has also been extensively used for allergies.

Peppermint

Used as a tea, or as an herb added to food, peppermint is an excellent digestive calmative and gentle anti-inflammatory.

Please note: the above information is not intended to diagnose or treat an ill animal. Use any of the above in conjunction with appropriate veterinarian advice, and not as a substitute for medical support. Use caution, especially if your animal is on a special diet. For specific information on how any of the following herbs can be used for your pet, please contact your veterinarian or Love Your Pet Natural Therapies.