Cecsar Explains Accupuncture

So I was watching the dog whisperer today and it was really interresting. The feature was a dog who was basically afraid to be a dog. She didn't know how to act especially around other dogs, and didn't know how to be comfortable in her own home. Cecsar took her back to his dog rehabilitation center for a few months to rework her brain into a true dog brain.
So now your wondering why im giving you all this back story... ok so, this dog is full of nervous tension. Imagine that you were raised by wolves and now are suddenly asked to live in a house in the city. It could make you prety uncomfortable, right? So, the body is full of energy, and it flows throughout. With excess stress the body can trap energy in certian places which throws off your inner balance.
Inner ballance is very important for mental and physical function. With this particular dog, Cecsar did supplemental accupuncture treatments to help release some of her pent up nervous energy. It was amazing to watch how this dog, who had been such a nervous freak show was laying on the groud with her head in a therapists lap, just looking compleetely content. It really was amazing, and showed the power of accupuncture.

When East Meets West

So Saturday I was working on an appointment who has chronic urinary track infections. She is a very sweet girl who has had multiple tests to analyze her urine, kidney function and bladder. She has had complete blood counts done to look for other means of infection and profiles run to check the integrity of her organs as well as x-rays done to look at her from another angle.
The owner was concerned for her pet, as would any one, and wanted to know what we could do for her girl at this point. This is when the doctor recommended acupuncture! Her explanation to the puzzled owner really summed it up for me in a way that I hadn't really thought about before.
She explained that there is a reason for both Western (holistic) and Eastern (tests/antibiotics ect). They both work together. Just like the sun and the moon. Where one stops the other takes over. What most doctors like to do is exhaust all possible means under Eastern treatment; run tests and take x-rays and give antibiots and NSAIDS.
Where the East ends the West can pick up. It focouses on blance. Which is perfect. The accupuncture tries to re-focous energy and create healthy levels in every area of the body .
Using both modalities in medecine is the best way! Where you stop getting answers, or reach a wall, the other modality steps in and supplements the other.

Treats that don't Pack on Pounds pt. 2

Rice Cakes

Rice cakes are a perfect snack for any dog. Rice is relatively hypoallergenic so it works well for pets with the most sensitive stomachs.

Rice cakes are great for pet owners like myself, my terrier hound mix Booger has the sappiest face known to man, I’m sure that your dogs have also learned to make sad faces to coax you into giving them some snacks here and there too.

1 plain rice cake has about 40 calories. Regular medium size Milk Bones and other treats have the same, and a large has 115 calories!!! That’s about the same as a Halloween size Snickers Bar!

With rice cakes you can break them into multiple pieces (many more than u can a milk bone) and feed your dog about as many as you like during the day for relatively no calories.

The dog is satisfied and so are you, rice cakes are the perfect snack any time of day.

Any flavor is safe for your pet, excluding chocolate. I would recommend staying away from sugary caramel cakes however.

Treats that don’t Pack on Pounds pt.1

Fruits and Veggies

There are many options available to owners who love to pamper their pets and show their affection with food.

Fresh fruits and veggies are the perfect treat for those of us owners who love to feed our pets.

I personally love to feed my dog:

• Green Beans
• Carrots
• Cucumber
• Squash/Zucchini
• Tomatoes
• Apple
• Pear
• Blueberries
• Banana

There really is no limit to the fruits and veggies you can feed your dog. Well there is a couple that you shouldn’t feed…

· Grapes

· Raisins (dried grapes)

· Onion

· Avocado

You shouldn’t feed your pet these because they cause pretty severe kidney damage. This doesn’t mean that your pet will die if they eat 1 grape or raisin, however as a long term snack or if your dog goes on a grape eating bender it can be fatal. Avocado is not toxic in any way, it is just very fatty and can cause diarrhea.

Obesity

I can’t even begin to express just how many FAT dogs I see on a daily basis. It makes me sad to say the least. Its great that owners love their dogs so much that they keep them “well fed” but obesity in dogs can lead to so many costly problems.

Obesity in dogs can cause:

• Diabeties
• Torn ligaments
• Slipped spinal disks
• Kidney failure
• Lipomas (lump-like fat deposits that continue to grow and can cause mobility issues)

Overall obesity in dogs is not worth it. I am just as guilty as the next person when it comes to sharing my food with my dog. Booger (yes that’s my dogs name) gets the last bite of just about everything that I eat. However, if you’re going to share food with your pet, you need to take those calories from their kibble meals or add an extra walk to their daily exercise routine.

Supplements pt.4

Forti-Flora

Forti-Flora is a product created by Purina Veterinary Diets to help with digestive health.

• Contains probiotics that help intestinal health and balance
• Has live active cultures
• Promotes a healthy immune system
• Contains high levels of antioxidant Vitamins A, E, and C

It works much like yogurt for balancing digestive health. It can be used before, during and after stressful situations such as boarding and surgery to help maintain proper bacteria in the digestive tract.

The supplement is in a powder form. You just sprinkle a packet over your pets food one meal a day.

It makes a wonderful everyday supplement or just an occasional use aid. At $3-4 for a box of 10 pouches it is relatively affordable.

Supplements pt.3

Benefiber/Pumpkin/Metamucil

Ok, ok, ok, get your laughs out now. I know it may seem a little ridiculous to put your pet on Metamucil or Benefiber but it really can work wonders. There are a few reasons to use these supplements in your pets diet.

1. Chronic anal gland issues

2. Loose stools

3. Irregularity

4. Overall digestive health

For any owner who has a pet with chronic anal gland issues these supplements can work magic. Anal glands are located on either side of the rectum and fill with fluid typically used by wild dogs to mark their territory. As stool passes the glands a few drops should release from the sac, however many domestic animals no longer need to do this and loose the instinct to do so.

Pumpkin and other fiber additives bulk up stools so they push against these glands to release the pent up fluid.

Without bulking up stools, animals (yes, even cats) will find their anal glands swollen and over full with fluid. This can be painful, and occasionally can go un-noticed, even by the most observant owner.

Added fiber helps increase digestive health, animals need a good dose of fiber much like their human counterparts.

Dosing is a touch and go process, for dogs under 30lbs start by adding 1 teaspoon to their food once daily. For dogs over 30lbs start adding 1 tablespoon to food once daily. Over time increase until you find a level that works well for you and your pet.

Supplements pt.2

Glucosamine and Chondroitin : C

Glucosamine and Chondroitin, I really can’t say enough about this one supplement. It really works wonders for old age problems.

However, this double whammy wonder can also be used as a preventative! There are many ways to go about using it as such.

A: Use it for puppies. I highly suggest starting any large breed puppy on it immediately. Large breed animals develop just as fast as small breeds but grow much larger much faster than their pint-size counterparts. And when your bones and joints are growing that fast your ligaments could use a little more support than what the body is offering.

B: Use it for highly active animals (Greyhounds, Whippets, Labradors and pretty much any terrier) to support healthy joints. These and many other breeds were born to wear and tear all day long. However, sometimes energy levels can exceeded the abuse that the body can take.

C: Use it for dogs that are known for terrible joints (German Shepherds, Great Danes, Mastiffs, etc). Knowing these dogs are born to have problems, do them a favor and help their joints stay at 100% for as long as possible.

Glucosamine/Chondroitin has no known long term use medical side effects. It truly is wonderful to use for any domestic pets (yes, even cats).

Supplements pt.2

Glucosamine and Chondroitin : B

Glucosamine and Chondtoitin and I’ve said is amazing for joints. I had a boxer who tore his cruciate ligament slipping on ice about 5 years ago when he was 2. The surgery to fix the one knee was going to cost about $5,000 and being an active large breed dog the vet told me he would tear the other knee within 6 months of surgery. BUMMER! So then I was faced with a dog that needs $10,000 of surgery that may or may not work 100% and hold forever. I talked to the vet about non-surgical treatments we could pursue and he pointed to glucosamine&chondroitin along with fish oil twice daily. Toby (my dog) continued to live out the rest of his days happy and healthy. The supplements really did wonders for his knees.

Supplements pt.2

Glucosamine and Chondroitin : A

First, what is glucosamine? Glucosamine is a combination of an amino acid and sugar. Glucosamine is found in cartilage and connective tissues.

Now, what is chondroitin? Chondroitin is much like glucosamine in that it is a naturally occurring enzyme that decreases the activity of enzymes that break down cartilage in a joint.

You can find these supplements most commonly together, if you prefer to use one or the other they can be found separately.

Glusocamine and Chondroitin are excellent supplements to use if you have a pet that is experiencing arthritis or any other joint/spine related issues.

60 mg per 10 pounds is the proper twice-daily dosage for your pet.

125 mg per 10 pounds is the proper once-daily dosage for your pet.

Supplements pt.1

Fish Oil

Many animals, seasonally and with age develop dry and flaky coats. Fish Oil is an amazing little supplement you can add to your pets diet morning and evening.

This little pill does more than just give your pet a pedigree sleek coat but also helps to keep eyes healthy and moist. Fish oil is also a great joint supplement. It aids in keeping the cartilage in the hips and knees nice and supple and acts as an anti-inflammatory.

On average you can start your pet on 1500 mg of Fish or Cod Liver oil twice daily.