The vaccine debate ended in 2006 – Don’t let fear tactics by a vaccine junkie shoot your dog!

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scared_dogThe next time you find that familiar vaccine reminder postcard in your mailbox warning you about soon to be expired vaccines …STOP! While I strongly advocate yearly physical check-ups, don’t give your vet carte blanche to update vaccine protocols that may be outdated. Rising concerns about how often dogs and cats should be vaccinated, safety issues, and which vaccines to use prompted a three year research study in 2003 by a special veterinary task force. In 2006, their findings resulted in new vaccine guidelines published by the American Animal Hospital Association.[1]

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Dog Food Debate – cost, convenience and what’s in the bag?

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Dog_forkThere are basically 5 ways to feed your hungry hound: homemade meals, canned, kibble, raw or some combo – like adding fresh foods (meat and veggies) to kibble. Being a skeptic of the pet food industry (quality control issues and use of inferior ingredients) – I have moved in the direction of the crockpot. I feel better about feeding USDA human grade meats than what can pass for pet food. That said, I also understand the realities of adding another chore to our multi-tasking lifestyle. Fortunately, consumer demand for healthier choices has birthed a new generation of pet foods to meet the challenge of more animal protein and less carbohydrates – doing away with meat by-products, corn, wheat, glutens and other low cost indigents that add nothing of value.

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Purina’s Recipe Trades Sick Dogs for Higher Profits

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Beneful_PackageBuy any brand of pet food sold in the U.S.A. and the package will read: “meets AAFCO nutritional standards for a complete and balanced diet.” This stamp of approval is based on two nutrient profiles: 1) adult maintenance; 2) growth and reproduction (puppies and pregnant or lactating females). However, manufacturers are permitted to market dog food as suitable for “all life stages” so long as it meets the more stringent guidelines for growth and reproduction. Here is your first detective clue, before scrutinizing the list of ingredients. If you guessed that “all life stages” has a higher amount of protein and other nutrients than foods labeled for adult feeding, you are right! In fact, the higher quality foods have proudly adopted this newer terminology – doing away with adult versus puppy formulations.

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Lasers that stop pain, heal wounds and speed recovery!

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k-laser_photoThe concept of using light-based energy for therapeutic purposes was first proposed by Albert Einstein in 1917, but the technology was not developed until the 1960s. Laser therapy has been utilized in Europe as far back as the 1970’s. The laser got its mainstream start in the United States after FDA clearance in 2002.

Therapeutic lasers focus a beam of light that travels at specific wavelengths (red and near infrared) – emitting energy that can penetrate tissue. This energy accelerates the body’s natural healing mechanism by increasing circulation – bringing more blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the damaged area. Resolving inflammation (the root cause of pain and loss of function) begins with the first treatment. Laser research reported on PubMed documents how it can stimulate tissue repair and new growth, making it useful in a wide arena: faster healing post-surgery, bone fractures, tendonitis, nerve damage, and can even help grow new hair!

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Carbs – Do dogs really need them?

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Dog_FoodSome people say they’ve switched to grain-free diets because “dogs don’t need carbs.” While that’s true – both dogs and cats have no nutritional need for carbohydrates – the term ‘grain-free’ is not a statement for zero carbs. In fact, kibble based diets can contain plenty of carbohydrates in the form of vegetables like white potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas and tapioca. So, while grains may be out, don’t be fooled – carbs are not!

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My dog is going blind and my vet says she has cataracts. Is there any treatment other than surgery that might help her?

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10 year old dog's eye showing signs of nuclear sclerosis.

10 year old dog’s eye showing signs of nuclear sclerosis.

The most common cause of blindness in our aging canine population, like us humans, is the progression of cataracts. Early cataracts cause the lens to become cloudy, which begins to blur vision. It’s a bit like constantly looking through a pane of frosted glass. As the cataract progresses, shutting out more and more light, the pupil begins to show a snow-white opaqueness. However, if you notice a color change when you gaze into the eyes of your beloved canine, an eye exam by your veterinarian will help distinguish whether it’s a cataract or the more commonly diagnosed lens disorder nuclear sclerosis, occurring in all older dogs – especially noticeable between the ages 8-10 years. Age-related nuclear sclerosis is often described as bluish-grey haziness engulfing the circular pupil. Vision is not affected and there is no treatment. It’s more of a wake-up call that your canine pal has jumped to the rank of senior status but won’t be enjoying any senior discounts.

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How risky are heartworms?

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Here is a question I received last week: “My vet wants to sell me heartworm drugs to be given every month. I live in Palm Springs and don’t travel much.  What do you think?”

mosquito-BWYes and no. The best predictor of your dog’s true risk for heartworm infection is to know something about mosquitoes, geography, and climate. Worldwide, over 3500 species of these blood sucking insects have been identified. In California, only three species of mosquitoes may carry the heartworm larvae. First, the mosquito itself must become infected by taking a blood meal from an infected animal. So, not all mosquitos pose a risk. An infected mosquito serves as the vector – helping the heartworm parasite to complete its lifecycle in its target host (furry mammals such as canines, coyotes, foxes and felines) where the larvae grows into adulthood and can compromise the heart and arteries.

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Happy New Year, Dog-Breath Readers!

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It’s now three years since my last post and here’s why: I have been chasing my goal to become a modern day female version of James Herriot (veterinarian and best-selling author of All Creatures Great and Small and other inspirational writings) since my early college years. So, at the AARP ripe age of fifty five, I needed more than one week of vacation time – sabbatical was more like it!

courtyard-4I began flirting with the idea of semi- retirement as the cure for professional burn-out.  Wanting to re-locate to the desert, I purchased a 1957 abandoned hotel in 2009 called The Beat. I affectionately came to call it the Beat Up Hotel; others called it a Real Dump. But here’s the great thing about it – location, location, location! Located 15 minutes from Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs is a little town sitting on a lot of hot water. Chocked with minerals, our water is some of the best spa water in the world, attracting visitors from around the globe. And, it’s only a two hour drive from LA – an oasis of healing waters awaits, a real stress buster.

Since then I have invested most of my retirement money, a mountain of true grit, and talent for decorating on a shoe-string budget, to create a one of a kind place for dog lovers. A relaxing place where dogs hang out with their people around the pool courtyard, enjoy a small private dog park, and there are no stinking leashes. Yep – it’s off leash and doggy social. Guests of the DogSpa Resort & Wellness Center will find that “pet friendly” has been redefined – No pet fees, No size limits, No breed restrictions! So, start planning your next escape for some R&R doggie style and visit me!

Affordable Pet Insurance – never worry about costly vet bills again

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Sick_dogWhat have I been up to (the one thing I will admit to, anyway) for the last 3 months? Well, without the need for my medical bag – just my medically trained mind – I morphed into an investigative

reporter to get the real poop on pet insurance companies. I wanted real answers to these two questions: should you buy pet insurance and what should you buy? The first question returned an automatic yes and I bought (surprisingly so) my first pet insurance policy! But which type of policy and which company to choose would turn out to boggle the minds of those (my staff and I) supposedly in-the-know! No wonder so many of you are confused and/or disappointed with polices you have purchased – it’s a minefield loaded with restrictions, limits on coverage and what-if case scenarios.

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“Up to 8% of clinically ill dogs may die from complications of canine influenza, H3N8…”

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scared dogWhat’s the implication of that jaw dropping statement — or this quote by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): “The AVMA believes there is urgent need for an effective canine influenza virus (CIV) vaccine to improve the health and welfare of animals and reduce the financial impacts of canine influenza.” Good grief! Will our dogs drop like flies? What’s up Doc?

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