Standar Process Nutritional Supplements

Great for FIV cats.

 
When my senior cat Chica was diagnosed 4 years ago with chronic renal failure, the first thing my vet put her on was Standard Process Feline Renal Support - she is doing well and is holding her own.  I still don't need to give her subcutaneous fluids yet.

The company Standard Process began in 1929 in Wisconsin, struggling to stay open during the Great Depression.  Founder Dr. Royal Lee dedicated his life to finding solutions for all sorts of challenges, but his greatest passion was improving the nation's health by providing high-quality, whole food supplements and educating others about them. He devoted the majority of his life to spreading the truth about nutrition. They grow all their plant products organically on local farms.  Quality is very important to them in their products.

While the company began by offering human supplements, they have expanded into veterinary supplements but either can be used on our pets.  Here is a testimony from another Standard Process Renal Support happy customer -

This product contains Standard Process's patented Protomorphogen (PMG) kidney extract, an extract derived from nucleoprotein-mineral molecules.

While this is decidedly a product in Standard Process's 'human' line, as a glandular extract it can also be used in animals. We have a cat diagnosed with early kidney failure and since starting to use this product and Standard Process Renafood 90 Tablets adjunctively with Standard Process Feline Renal Support we've seen her downgraded from early kidney failure to kidney impairment.

Having seen what it can do in cats, if (salt over shoulder) I should ever have problems with my own kidneys, I would use this and Renafood in a heartbeat. 

They offer 8 supplements for cats and 12 for dogs covering all health issues from heart, kidney, immune system and thyroid.  I also give the Feline Whole Body or Immune Support interchangeably to Ivy who has FIV.  Their products must be purchased through a veterinarian but I have found some places online that offer them.  I highly recommend any of their products for people and pets!

For more information about this product check out their website - Standard Process.

Oliver Alert - A Tool For Finding Lost Pets

One of the other pet bloggers I follow wrote about a great web site for finding lost pets.  The story begins with a young couple who adopted a Brussels Griffon named Oliver and while they were away on vacation he got away from his sitters and they have been searching for him since.  Along the way they realized that even tho there are so many ways to look for lost pets no one place offered a complete list of every method  so their web site Oliver Alert was born.

It is a wonderful resource for anyone who has lost a cat or dog.  They give pointers on how to post online, making fliers, who to contact and even have a number of success stories on their site from people who used their ideas and found their pets. 

Unfortunately they have not yet found Oliver but in looking for him have created a thorough avenue for others to use in their search. Please do help them find Oliver and check out their site.

The missing Oliver.

Give and Let Live

On our other blog, we just took part in Livestrong Day sponsored by the Lance Armstrong Foundation and are going pink for October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  If you love animals like I do, then this can put you in a quandary - so many of our loved ones have had or have cancer but did you know so many organizations still test inhumanely on animals for research?

Many people don’t realise that much of the money they give to medical research charities will be used to fund animal experiments. Apart from captivity and the suffering, animal experiments often give misleading results that cannot be extrapolated to the human condition. Even different strains of the same animal species can give a different reaction to drugs and different experimental results. Investment in humane non-animal based research may therefore be the best use of resources and lead to faster medical progress. 

According to many scientists, the best hope for the prevention or cure of many diseases is relevant and progressive nonanimal research methods, such as in vitro cell and tissue cultures, microfluidic circuits, computer modeling, microdosing, and epidemiological studies. This knowledge, as well as ethical considerations for animals, has led many people to be concerned about the continued use of ineffective and outdated animal methods in medical research. They prefer to support charities and corporations that sponsor more responsible and humane alternatives.

One web site I found, The Council on Humane Giving, offers an ever expanding directory of charities that fund only humane, human-based research or patient services, as well as a list of corporations that have pledged to support such charities. Your support of Humane Seal-certified organizations allows you to Give and Let Live. Check out their breast cancer listings for organizations that use non-animal research.

Beware of Counterfeit Flea Products

Have you ever bought a flea product online and when you received it in The mail the package did not look like anything you usually use or was not quite the same packet?  DO NOT use this product on your pet.  Many companies are selling cheaper products online using photos of Advantage or Frontline a to deceive you. I found this great article online about how to tell a counterfeit product and what to do about it.

The EPA has issued a stop sale and use as well as a removal order to retailers and distributors of counterfeit flea control and tick control pesticides. This is in an effort to stop the distribution and sale of counterfeit Frontline Plus and other flea control and tick control pesticides. These products were unlawfully imported and designed to like legitimate Frontline plus. 

Many sites, selling foreign or counterfeit, products use pictures of the U.S. products to deceive the consumer. It is a good idea to contact the online merchant and verify that the product is labeled for sale in the U.S. before purchasing. You can also ask if the products they are selling are U.S. EPA approved. Asking these questions before purchasing will help ensure that you get genuine products for your pet.

How can I tell if The Frontline Plus is counterfeit?

There are several indications that you may have received counterfeit Frontline Plus. It may be difficult to distinguish the counterfeit products from the EPA approved product. If your package fails any of the following, it is likely to be counterfeit.
* The product may not be in the required child resistant packaging.
* The lot numbers of the individual applicators and the box do not match.
* A legitimate package should also have the following:
* After you open the package, each individual applicator has a label that includes the registrant's name "Merial;" the product name; percentage (%) of active ingredient(s) (fipronil for Frontline Top Spot products; and fipronil and (S)-methoprene for Frontline Plus products)
* The package should contain the instruction leaflets that are required by U. S. law providing emergency numbers, first aid statements, etc.
* The EPA registration number and the net contents in fluid ounces (fl. oz.) is on the applicator package (not in metric measure, i.e., ml)
* "To remove applicator, use scissors or lift and remove plastic tab to expose foil, then pull down." should be on the package. The writing should be in English only.
* U.S Products are E.P.A. approved and the E.P.A. DOES NOT give product expiration date.

Which products are affected?

The following are brand names and EPA registration numbers of legitimate products. The counterfeit products may use these same names and numbers.
1. Frontline Top Spot for Cats (EPA Reg. No. 65331-2)
2. Frontline Top Spot for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 65331-3)
3. Frontline Plus for Cats (EPA Reg. No. 65331-4)
4. Frontline Plus for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 65331-5)
.

How can I tell if the Advantage is counterfeit?

Inspecting the Tube (applicator) is the only way to identify counterfeit Advantage Flea Control. The box and package insert are identical, but by looking at the tube you can make sure the label has the following:

1. The first give away of a counterfeit is the language. It must be in English, If it is a foreign language (most likely French or German), it is counterfeit.

2. "Warning" and “Keep out of reach of children” will be on all legitimate products as well as “Bayer” the manufacturer and the EPA registration number.

3. The label will list the active ingredient and the box will match the ingredient and strength (such as 9.1% imidacloprid on both label and box).

4. U.S Products are E.P.A. approved and the E.P.A. DOES NOT give product expiration dates.

Which products are affected?

The following are brand names and EPA registration numbers of legitimate products. The counterfeit products may use these same names and numbers.

1. Advantage 10 for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 11556-117)

2. Advantage 20 for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 11556-119)

3. Advantage 55 for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 11556-120)

4. Advantage 100 for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 11556-122)

5. Advantage 9 for Cats (EPA Reg. No. 11556-116)

6. Advantage 18 for Cats (EPA Reg. No. 11556-118)

.

What should I do if I suspect that my pet has been harmed by one of these counterfeit products?l

Contact your pet’s veterinarian for medical assistance and advice as soon as possible. You may contact the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at 800-858-7378, an EPA-sanctioned toll-free helpline providing answers to most questions regarding pesticides and pesticide poisonings.

To Vaccinate Your Pet or Not

When I moved to North Carolina from Florida I had my two oldest cats Chica and Yoko then.  They had been getting their yearly vaccination booster shots even tho they are indoor only cats.  I took them to my first holistic vet in Boone, NC and she talked me out of these boosters saying she had seen too many animals have severe and long term reactions to them.  That was twelve years ago and since then none of my cats have gotten any boosters - just the basic first time shots required.  Chica is 19 now and Yoko 17 and in great health.

Everyone has to make the decision that feels right for them.  Don't let your vet bully you into getting shots you don't want - find another vet that will work with you.  I have copied below the recommendations of a holistic vet near Raleigh that I have worked with for seriously ill pets.  This sums up what a lot of veterinarians now feel about vaccinations.

Dr. Charles Loops DVM:

Homeopathic veterinarians and other holistic practitioners have maintained for years that Vaccinations are doing harm. Aside from the immediate risk of vaccination side-effects, such as allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock, there are more compelling reasons to avoid vaccinations whenever possible.  Vaccinations represent a major assault on the body's immune system.  Attenuated organisms, or chemically killed viruses or bacteria, are injected directly into the blood stream via subcutaneous or intra-muscular injection, an unnatural route of infection.  This profound insult avoids the body's first line of defenses, flooding the system with millions of organisms or viral particles, causing irregularities and abnormalities in the immune system which then manifest as chronic diseases in animals.  This overall effect, while potentially protecting the individual from a specific, acute disease, is to weaken or create imbalance in the immune system so that underlying tendencies to diseases are brought to the surface. In other words, vaccinations represent a major stress.  Following vaccinations, we often see chronic problems begin such as epilepsy, skin allergies, persistent upper respiratory infections, irritable bowel syndromes, auto-immune diseases and cancer, just to name a few. 

    What we now confront in our animal companions are generations of over-vaccinated animals, and these current offspring are suffering the penalty of this medical abuse.  Where vaccinations have helped in eradicating or reducing the incidents of severe and acute disease processes, the result has been to plague us with more insidious, chronic diseases that are difficult to treat and often incurable and that lower that quality of life for many individuals and animals. 

    After more than thirty years of practicing veterinary medicine, I am observing chronic diseases that begin much earlier than before.  Cancer before five years of age in dogs and cats was a rarity, but now it is not unusual to see fatal cancers in two and three year old animals.  And the incidence or number of cases is definitely increasing. While poor breeding practices, poor commercial diets and other environmental factors play their part, I believe it is the practice of vaccinating an animal repeatedly, with multiple vaccinations throughout their lifespan that factors the most. We have genetically weakened our companions with this practice.  A normal dog or cat living to twelve years of age will receive at least twenty and possibly thirty vaccinations during their lifetime.  Fifteen or so of these shots will have four to seven disease fractions present in each vaccination. 

    In all of this, balance in nature has been lost to the pharmaceutical-medical complex philosophy, propelled in great part by monetary factors, leading us to believe that all vaccinations are beneficial. 

    Risk of Exposure should be the main guideline for consideration of whether to vaccinate and what to vaccinate against. If your cats are indoor only, or if your dogs' outside activities are on a leash or within a fenced area under supervision, there is little risk.  The other considerations for a vaccine's use are its proven safety, its effectiveness, and whether the disease so serious or life-threatening that vaccinating is necessary. Remember, VACCINES ARE NOT HARMLESS. Only vaccinate if the threat is real.

Natural Tips to Control Hairballs

When the seasons change I find my cats cough up more fur balls and I have to watch where I step so I don't end up with a slimy mess on my foot! 

If your cats are like mine, they don't care for the oral fur ball  treatment in a tube no matter what the label says about how tasty it is.  My vet suggested offering a dab of butter on your finger for the more finicky cats and mine love it.  Once or twice a week will make a difference. 

Another trick is to feed them oily fish - mackerel or salmon, once a week and that will keep their digestive system running smoothly with less fur balls being coughed up.

Doing these two things will save you money and offer the cats more natural preservative free options for  hairball treatment.

Acupressure for Lameness in Pets

 I use acupressure often for my cats.  It helps to relieve pain and boosts the immune system.  Here are some tips on doing this at home

Acupoints to use in helping to relieve hindquarter lameness, to strengthen the immune system and to reduce generalized pain


Acupressure Point Work Technique


• Begin point work on medium-sized dogs and large animals using the direct-thumb technique. Place the ball of your thumb on the acupoint at a 90-degree angle to the animal’s body. For small animals, place your middle finger on top of your index finger and hold the tip of your index at a 90-degree angle to the cat or dog’s body. Apply about one to two pounds of pressure, depending on the size of the animal. For small or delicate cats and dogs, use less than a pound of pressure. When you feel resistance, let up on the point slightly, then reapply pressure until you feel the resistance dissolving.


• Keep both hands on your animal. One hand does the point work while the other feels the reactions such as muscle spasms, twitches and other releases.The hand not performing the point work also soothes the animal and provides an energy connection.


• Point work is generally performed from front to rear and top to bottom.


• Breathe out while moving into the acupoint; breathe in when letting up on the point.


• Use partial body weight; this ensures a smoothness of motion and protects your thumbs and wrists from stress.

This article is from Animal Wellness Magazine.

Alternative Cancer Treatment for Pets

Cancer seems to be on the up rise for our pets - both dogs and cats are getting cancer at younger ages. Some of this can be traced to over vaccination, other culprits are poor food, nutrition and environmental toxins.

After having two cats with intestinal cancer, I saw how ineffective western medicine was as far as treatment goes - chemo/radiation which didn't offer much quality of life. I chose to go the holistic route using mainly homeopathy.

My vet Dr Maggie Federhart began the treatment for Clarence, a lovely stray cat I took in. Dr Federhart has had success attaining remission with certain kinds of cancers. She felt I would be best served working with Dr Charles Loops. I worked extensively with Dr Loops and the tumor we initially found in Clarence's intestines was gone after months of homeopathic treatment. Clarence later passed of a heart condition he had all along.

One year later, I found my Nick had the same symptoms as Clarence and went back to Dr Loops - who works mainly through phone consultations. Nick went into a short remission and had a good quality of life. He lived several months past what western medicine may have given him but with a better quality of life without chemo.

Speaking from this experience, if your dog or cat has been diagnosed with cancer, find yourself a good holistic vet to work with - it can add years maybe to his life and give him and better quality of life. Check out the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association to look up a vet with good credentials that is located near you.

The book Why is Cancer Killing Our Pets? by Deborah Straw explains the different kinds of treatment and how to protect them from getting cancer.

Both the veterinarians I used do phone consultations to pet guardians. Dr Federhart, who trained with Dr Pitcairn, (Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health of Dogs and Cats) has a web site - Animals Naturally.

Dr Loops also trained with Dr Pitcairn but then went off on his own to develop a unique homeopathic treatment plan by treating and curing himself of chronic ailments. His web site is here. Dr Loops also treats other chronic conditions successfully - in fact he takes on many cases that other vets have given up on.

Another resource for holistic treatments is Shirley's Wellness Cafe online. My vet told me about this and it gave us some other alternatives to try with testimonials from other pet guardians.

I hope that with better quality food, less vaccinations and better overall health, my other cats live to an old age without getting cancer or any other chronic disease.

Pets Overheating - An Emergency!

With summer comes high temperatures and while uncommon, our pets can overheat just like us if they are tied in a spot outdoors with no shade or left in a hot car.

These situations should be avoided at all costs - our pets deserve humane treatment and should never be left outdoors without shade and water on hot days. Even with the windows open your car will quickly overheat causing their body temperature to rise resulting in brain damage or death.

The first sign of overheating will be panting, sometimes intensely. The mucus membranes and skin become deep red as the body shifts circulation to superficial areas to increase heat loss. Nausea, dizziness and weakness quickly ensue if the body temperature does not drop. High temperature can impair the regulating center in the brain causing greater danger - the skin may become cool and the animal is usually faint or may lose consciousness.

This is an emergency situation and veterinary action is needed immediately. Rapid cooling is necessary to avoid damage such as rinsing or emerging in cool water. Do not use ice water as this will worsen the situation causing shivering and constricting the surface blood vessels, both canceling out the body's cooling mechanism.

Simply by providing shade, water and cool temperatures for your pet you can avoid a very life threatening situation on hot summer days.

TNR - It Saves Money!

How to handle feral cat colonies is a topic of controversial debate. Some groups advocate using archaic and cruel methods to kill them while the flip side offers to trap, neuter and release them back to the colony where they are fed, sheltered and cared for by volunteers.

According to an economic study commissioned by Best Friends Animal Society, trapping feral cats to kill them is not only inhumane but is a useless waste of tax dollars.

The study found that given the estimated 87 million homeless cats in the US, it would cost government agencies about $16 billion to trap and kill them as opposed to approximately $9 billion for supporting Trap, Neuter and Release programs run by rescue organizations and individual volunteers.

Tell this to any group trying to kill ferals rather than manage the colony - money talks! For more info on TNR contact Alley Cat Allies.

Information from Feline Wellness magazine.

Dangers of Third Hand Smoke

We have all heard the dangers of second hand smoke for pets and people but studies now show that third hand smoke is also really bad for our pets.

According to a study done by Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and reported by Mulligan Stew pet foods, third hand smoke is comprised of the toxins that settle in the carpets, walls, upholstery, clothes and even skin and hair.

Second hand smoke is inhaled but third hand smoke is absorbed into the body by skin exposure, dust inhalation and digestion. Cats and other animals are at risk because they are closer to the surfaces that these toxins settle on.

If you smoke or live with a smoker...you could be endangering yourself and your pet...so QUIT!

Shirley's Wellness Cafe

If you are looking for options for traditional Western medicine to treat your pets - check this web site out. Shirley's Wellness Cafe offers all sorts of options with testimonials from people who tried the treatments. Everything from acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy and nutrition is covered with references to vets who use these modalities.

I use this frequently even with all my many vet books at home. People write in with new ideas and treatments and how to use each one. They cover cancer treatments, liver issues...all sorts of serious and mild pet illnesses. Takes some reading to go through it all but well worth looking into!

Flower Essences for Geriatric Pets

Is your pet elderly but not seriously ill? Maybe she just sleeps too much, and is not interested in things like she used to be? I combined a few flower essences to help my 18 year old cat Chica and 17 year old Yoko that you might find helpful.

Both were not being as active as usual - not surprising given their age but I did see more spark in their eyes after giving the remedy for a few days.

I combined Bach Flower Remedies Wild Rose (restores the life force and the will to live), Olive (restores strength and capacity for revitalization), and Clematis (restores alertness and focus). For Chica who also has chronic renal failure I added Crab Apple (remedies toxicity). I make up a dropper bottle using two drops of each remedy in water. Then I dose two drops several times a day.

I add this to their food, milk or water for 4-5 days several times a day, whenever they seem less perky or more inclined to sleep rather than participate in activities. It does seem to restore their zest in life. Try it!

Homeopathy for Feline Agression

A few of you have mentioned having problems with aggression in your cat or cats in the household. I have listed some suggestions in other posts but recently found this forum that really hits the nail on the head. The most important thing after choosing the right remedy is the dose - this is crucial for getting to the root of the problem.

I am having difficulties with Al our deaf cat being very aggressive to anyone he comes near - his most obvious symptom is dilated pupils right before he attacks. I gave him Belladonna 30c three days ago plus put flower remedies in the water for all and so far all has been calm! If he acts up again, I will go up to the 200c strength, dosing once and see what happens. I use 30c often as finding 200c is not easy - some stores will special order it for you but others usually don't carry it.



I have included the info in the forum below (in italics) for you all to have for reference. If you want to read it yourself click ABC Homeopathy. My comments are in regular script.

Teach yourself T-Touch (short for Tellington Touch) There are books and classes on this. Very easy, and you can use it on them, while you are sitting with them, instead of just petting them as it will retrain their brains, not to fight or flight but to calm down. (I have read this book and used it int he past - will give it another try. It is a very simple technique to calm animals by massaging small circles all over their bodies.)

I mainly use 200C remedies with my animals, one pill diluted in four ounces of water and I dose them one teaspoon as needed.

-Belladonna-Pupils are dilated, glassy-eyed look, anger, flies into a rage,they may have red, hot, ears, or eyes, and may tear up bedding or furniture, inflammation, restless, delirious, aggressive.

-Hyoscyamus-Hypersexual, animals that hump legs, or whatever they can, even if neutered, suspicion, jealousy.

-Lachesis-They hate anything around their neck especially collars, are jealous and suspicious but not as intense as Hyoscyamus, aggression comes from a perceived threat, think of a snake striking its prey, worse when sleeping, be cautious when dealing with them just waking up.

-Staphysagria-Females or males who spray, have aggression, resentment that another animal is brought into the house, any changes in their life that result in anger of the animal, anger, a must to use after any female has been spayed. Also good for decaying teeth where the tops are blackened and yes, it will reverse it. They also cower/shake/startle at loud voices or sudden moves, like if you go to pet them, from their memories of previous abuse. I helped a dog over come his abuse with this remedy, and he would not let anyone get within 10 feet of him. Now he is like a barnacle on my leg and plays again like a puppy.

-Nux Vomica-Chilly, thin, wants to be left alone, bossy, first in line for food and attention. Great for hairballs, constipation or diarrhea with lots of straining and detoxing.

-Stramonium-Post-rabies vaccination aggression, fear triggers the aggression, fear of the dark or bright lights.

-Merc Viv-They are worse from discipline, may bite and snarl when disciplined, tend to have mouth problems, do not like the extremes of hot nor cold.

-Phosphorus-Narrow-bodied, very vocal especially with food, vomits water or food within 30 minutes after eating, class clown, life of the party, burn out quickly, bleed easily. Fear of thunder and fireworks as well.

-Pulsatilla-Shy,sweet, affectionate, dogs that bark when you leave because they don't want to be left alone, prefers cool surfaces to lie on, eye discharges.

-Natrum Mur-Worse from consolation, they are fine when you pet them, and then they lash out, and sulk afterwards. Likes salt, worse from heat or sun, good for any animal that has been abandoned, separted from mom too early, or siblings too early. Works nicely in conjunction with Ignatia if needed.

-Ignatia-Good for any animal who has grief, sadness, loss of appetite from this, any animal that has been abused, neglected, abandoned, lost a loved one, etc.

-Sepia-Animals that are difficult to medicate, very chilly, sad, like to hide, and have dirty, waxy, itchy ears. I use the 30C daily here, until resolved.

Arsenicum Album-Poisoning, very thin animals, who have a fear of being left alone and worsen when left alone, solitude is a no-no because of their anxiety, obsessive cleaning of themselves, very chilly, thirsty, but drink little sips of water often, may or may not eat, and hangs head over food but does not eat, they are restless and change positions often, weakness, symptoms worse before midnight.

I use a spray bottle of water with Rescue Remedy in it to discipline my cats when they are out of line. It seems to set them straight and calm them. It gives them a stern warning without inflicting fear in them.

Ignore bad behavior when possible and reward, reward, reward good behavior.

Every group of animals has its dominators and non-dominators, it is how they survive in the wild. The goal is to make the best life possible where all these creatures can live in harmony.

I recommend the book written by a homeopathic DVM Homeopathic Care for Dogs and Cats by Don Hamilton. (Great book - my bible for homeopathic treatment!)



Let me know if I can be of help to anyone with more info or suggestions!

Valerian - Herbal Nerve Tonic

Valerian is synthesized to make Valium but the herb itself is safe and non-addictive for epts and people.

Valerian is an antispasmodic, and nerve tonic. It allays pain and promotes sleep and is non-narcotic.

I use it to help calm pets with anxiety and over active personalities. It is a sedative and pain killer - stronger than other herbal sedatives. It soothes the nervous system and reduces high blood pressure. Valerian slows and strengthens the heart and calms palpitations.

It is useful for muscle spasms, arthritis pain, and spinal injuries. It aids digestion and gas. For people it can help promote sleep.

Cats love the smell almost like catnip - to me it smells like very stinky feet! I use the capsules to avoid the smell and sprinkle a little bit in the wet food, stirring it in.

Help for Easily Frightened Pets

Does your dog or cat startle easily at any sound, even sounds they hear every day? Does your pet spend a lot of time hiding or slinking from one safe spot to another?

Bach Flower Remedies can offer help. Aspen (Populus tremula) calms fear and apprehension when the cause is unknown. It helps sudden anxiety, trembling, shaking. Aspen restores calm and normal breathing and reduces muscle tension.

This remedy works well for animals that have been skittish since birth, for pets that easily freak out when something new happens in the house and for those who fear going outside.

I suggest to give the remedy several times a day or put a few drops in the drinking water for at least five days in a row to seee the best results. Aspen works well when given with the remedy Mimulus.

For more information about flower remedies I recommend Bach Flower Remedies for Animals by Helen Graham and Gregory Vlamis.