"Ask the Vet" Says Farewell to Dr. Pat

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© courtesy P. Bradley
Dr. Pat  Will Be Missed

It has been an emotional week here at All Things Dog Blog--a roller coaster of questions. As Dr. Pat prepares to depart--not by choice, but by necessity--I am certain she had her own emotions, decisions and concerns. I have grown attached to her in our weekly ping pongs as we pass questions back and forth. It has been an endearing relationship, growing without effort, and now ending with an empty feeling. I have managed to remedy that by recalling our first Skype conversation when we bonded so quickly over a chat that you would think we were best friends meeting at Starbucks.


After I learned her departure was near, I choked back a few "Wish I woulda's", as always, wondering if anything I had done differently could have kept her here. I have loved working with her. Her words were sincere and nearly as disappointed as my own sinking feeling.


Dr. Pat has taken our readers on a wonderful ride. With a background in homeopathics, counseling, conventional veterinary medicine, and holistics, she showed us all many ways to care for our dogs more naturally. From massage to natural flea treatments, sun protection to diarrhea, Dr. Pat explained it all with a flair for care that always took me aback with amazement. I especially enjoyed her "South Bark Diet". When asked what makes dog food holistic, she helped us all--myself included--understand the ingredients and the processing that bring a food into the realm of treating mind and body together.


As a result of her time with us, Dr. Pat has helped us all understand and come to accept holistic medicine not as the voodoo we might have once envisioned, but more of a natural way of treating many of our pets' daily woes.


We must now bid Dr. Pat farewell, and wish her health and happiness just as she would have done for us and our pets. She got me through losing Xena with more care and understanding than anyone living 800 miles away should ever have been able to accomplish. Please join me in sending a fond farewell to Dr. Pat as she takes on new challenges, likely with the grace and ease of a yoga master. Best wishes, Pat; we will miss you.


To read Dr. Pat's many articles, you may simply click here: Ask the Vet Archives. In addition, the menu bar button for "Ask the Vet" will continue to carry Dr. Pat's archives.

Ask the Vet, with Dr. Pat:What's Safe for Fido?

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko
Tanner and Oliver
 Love Carrots for Snacks

Dear Dr. Pat:


We use different human foods to supplement our dogs' kibble, like chicken, turkey, pasta, cheese and rice. No bones or fruit or vegetables. My friend told me about All Things Dog Blog and I see there that sometimes dogs are given carrots and green beans and broccoli. No onions or garlic? What else? I would be able to give Angel and Skippy vegetables but I want to make sure I do not feed anything that is dangerous. I know about chocolate and read here about grapes and raisins. Can you tell me what else to avoid.


Thanks,
Penny T.

---------------------------------------

Believe it or not, Penny, this is not as straightforward a question as it sounds.  So I’ve grouped problem foods into "scientific" categories to help make it easier.

Category I: “If you know it’s not good for your baby, for goodness’ sake, don’t give it to your dog!”

Alcohol, coffee, candy, chocolate, tea, colas (especially sugar-free), fruit pits, any food that is moldy or nasty, or your prescription medicines. 

Category II: “You can’t believe how bad these can be for your dog!”

Avocadoes, macadamia nuts, persimmons

Category III: “Hysterical reactions in the news lately for causing toxicity in small quantities in a small percentage of dogs”

Onions, garlic, raisins, grapes, mushrooms

Category IV:  “Most dogs enjoy and tolerate well in moderation (if introduced slowly, or given  with digestive enzymes):

Milk, cheese, pasta, meat fats, eggs, cooked broccoli

Category V: “Some dogs have had bad reactions to in small quantities:

Everything else

Category VI:  “Foods that can be toxic in large quantities”:

See Category V, including water

So my advice is to memorize and avoid the items in Categories I and II. And even if Angel and Skippy get some by accident, chances are they’ll be OK.  

People have given beer and chocolate and grapes to dogs for as long as I’ve been around. And dogs have been getting into garbage and stealing food off the counters since…well, even before there were kitchen counters.  And probably 99% of them were OK.

Most dogs, like most humans, can tolerate moderate amounts of most things without long-term consequences.  But we all know people who are so sensitive to things like shellfish or nuts or MSG that even one bite can be life-threatening. 

I think it’s likely that the items in Category III are like that.  While I’ve never seen a bad reaction to grapes or garlic -- in fact, I recommended giving them for decades – individual dogs can be so susceptible that even a little can be life-threatening.  

A wonderful book to have as a resource for nutrition is Dr. Richard Pitcairn’s Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. And just in case…keep the number for the Poison Control Center handy:  888.426.4435*

For a visual aid on dangerous foods for your dog, check out the slideshow by WebMD, posted here at Doggie No-No's at Snacktime. 

* Check the Pet Emergency Resources page, here on All Things Dog Blog, to look for other poison control numbers, as well as many different types of emergency help.

Thanks for writing!

Dr. Pat

(c) courtesy P. Bradley

Have a question for Dr. Pat? You can reach us at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. For a personal consultation about your pet's needs, visit Holistic Veterinary Services.


Dr. Pat's opinion or advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian

Are you interested in checking out other sites on the Internet? Let's hookup with another blogging group to see what's new with them. Feel free to follow the links below to see what's new. While you're there, be sure to offer a thank you comment at the host's site: Free Hot Samples.

Ask the Vet, with Dr. Pat:Safe or Overreacting?

by Pat Bradley, DVM

Tummy Troubles?
Get Fido Checked at the Vet

 Dear Dr. Pat,

After two of my four dogs showed symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting, I took them to my veterinarian. She ran some tests and prescribed medications that they took for about a week. Between all that and a follow up visit, I spent over $200. That is almost a week of pay which is more than I can afford. My friend told me about this column and suggested I ask what I can do next time. Here is the story:

Muffin and Cupcake each started their tummy issues within a few days of one another. I thought they might be related, and was worried I could end up with 4 sick dogs. Nothing turned up in their tests so they got antibiotics and anti-diarrhea food and anti-nausea drugs. I questioned the need for antibiotics and asked about over the counter diarrhea and nausea medicines, but she assured me that veterinary drugs were more "efficasious". (Did I spell that right?) I still have my doubts.

When both dogs were fine by the next morning I wondered if I over reacted. I could have saved the $230 if I knew more about what to do to help them. Can you give me some safe advice to use in this situation. It has happened before and turned out to simply be something they ate that didn't agree.

Thanks, Karen C.

--------------------------------------------

Well, Karen, you’ve touched on a problem that I believe may be at the crux of the health care crisis in America today: FEAR.   When we’re feeling fearful, we aren’t thinking at our best, and may take actions we later regret. We’ve become terrified not to go to the doctor and take medications for almost any health problem.  But then often the diagnostic procedures and medications themselves cause problems for which we need to take additional medications. And then we can’t tell whether the additional problems are from the medications or from the disease.  It can get confusing and complicated and very expensive in a hurry.

Your vet is doing what most conventional vets are taught to do:  diagnostic tests “just in case” and medications to “nip it in the bud”.  Holistic philosophy comes from the opposite direction: start with the treatments that are the least harmful, supporting the animal’s body while it heals itself. If there’s no improvement, then it’s time to call the doctor. It seems that we’re losing the knowledge that our animals’ bodies are not machines that must go to the repair shop with every problem. They’re self-healing in most cases. I sure wish my computer was…

The first time we see a problem with one of our animals, it may be best to err on the side of being overly cautious and take them to a doctor for a diagnosis.

But once we get some information, many things can be treated at home. One way to greatly improve our confidence is to -- like the Boy Scout motto says -- “be prepared”. And being prepared, for Muffin and Cupcake, means knowing some simple ways to treat diarrhea at home. 

Have some things on hand, or at least make sure you have quick access to them.  As luck would have it, I covered some of these in a previous post on this blog. So check out the “Ask the Vet” archives from August 11 called Natural Remedies for Doggie Diarrhea so in case there’s a next time, you’ll be prepared -- just like a Boy Scout.

Thanks for writing.

Pat

© courtesy PB

Have a question for Dr. Pat? You can reach us at 
LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com.

For a personal consultation about your pet's needs, visit Holistic Veterinary Services.

Dr. Pat's opinion or advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian

Check out Dr. Pat's related posts:

Natural Remedies for Doggie Diarrhea

A Primer on Probiotics for Dogs

Ask the Vet, with Dr. Pat: What EXACTLY is Holistic Dog Food?

by Pat Bradley, DVM

(c) Carrie Boyko

Healthy Food = Happy Pups

Dear Dr. Pat:  


My vet sells a holistic food in their practice. I asked the nurse what makes it holistic and got a blank stare. The doctor's answer was not much better, but he's not a natural doctor. Can you help me understand what makes food holistic? I thought holistic meant treatment that involves both mind and body.  Thank you, Petra

--------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Petra:

What a great question!  And oh, how I wish I could have seen her face!  How many times have I had that blank stare on my face after a client asks me a question that I realize I should know the answer to?  The veterinary profession owes people like you a lot for keeping us on our toes.  Our clients and patients are always our very best teachers!

You’re right about “holistic”. For humans, it generally means that “body, mind, and spirit” are taken into account.  I admire you for asking what it actually means, but the fact is it means different things to different people. 

“Holistic”, “wholeness”, and “healing” all come from the same root word, so you can get an overall sense of the direction this is going. In general, when a pet food manufacturer uses the term “holistic” it means “Our company understands there is more to making pet food than just putting the ingredients together into a can. We know and care about the newest research in nutrition as well as the impact of the whole manufacturing process on your pet, the environment, and other people.”

The term, “holistic” has a “feel good” quality to it currently, so people are more likely to buy a pet food when this term is on the label.  When you read the label carefully, you might find such things as:

• “natural” ingredients and preservatives, such as vitamin E
• organic ingredients (no pesticides or chemicals have been added)
• human-quality ingredients
• protein from animals that have been treated humanely, such as free-range eggs
• recyclable packaging
• above-average treatment of employees
• donations to animal welfare organizations
• “antioxidant” fruits like blueberries
• additives for health, such as glucosamine and chondroitin for joint problems

I recommend buying and feeding “holistic” pet foods, if they really are holistic.  Great quality ingredients cost more, so the price will likely be higher. But always read the label to find out what that company actually claims. You may or may not agree that it’s worth the extra cost.

Pat

(c) courtesy P.Bradley

Have a question for Dr. Pat? You can reach us at 
LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com.

For a personal consultation about your pet's needs, visit Holistic Veterinary Services.

Dr. Pat's opinion or advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian

Helpful Resources:
You may wish to check out All Things Dog Blog's Food Choices for Every Fido, a page where you can find many holistic, organic or natural dog foods to investigate. All Things Dog Blog does not sell or profit from this information; we simply provide the resource for your convenience. We encourage you to visit the websites of the products you are interested in and read their ingredients. Good luck--Carrie


Have you visited 5 Minutes for Fido lately? Tanner and Oliver like today's blog topic and Dr. Pat gets kudos from them. Woo hoo!

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Holistic Pet Care 101, by Dr. Pat Bradley

by Pat Bradley, DVM

Our Ask the Vet columnist is really on fire. She's launched a video series, beginning with this one, to help educate pet owners in holistic pet care. This is a much needed service, and I, for one, will be panting until each is released. Keep 'em coming, Dr. Pat.


To check out Dr. Pat's Archives of answers to our readers' questions, you can visit them anytime via the link at the top of the blog, or here. And, of course, don't miss my packs' commentary on Dr. Pat's new video at 5 Minutes for Fido.

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ASK THE VET: Natural Options for Dealing with Your Dog's Seizures

by Pat Bradley, DVM

(c) C.A., reader copyright on file

Molly is a Sweet, Happy Girl

Hi Dr. Pat,

I was wondering if you could give me some ideas or “natural” ways to assist with my 4 year old, lab-mix dog, Molly, with her seizures. I’ve been to two vets, and they have recommended that we continue to log Molly’s seizures before we decide on Phenobarbital. (They’ve informed me of possible liver damage from Phenobarbital as well.) Molly has had 3 seizures over 2 months ~ about 16 days apart.

Thanks,

C.A.

----------------------------------------------------------

Hi C.A.

Is there anything more frightening than seeing your dog have a grand mal seizure in front of you for the first time?  It’s the stuff nightmares are made of!  It’s comforting to remember that the animals aren’t aware or suffering.  But we onlookers sure are: our eyes are popping out of their sockets and our hearts are beating out of our chests!  We feel the need to DO something.  And FAST!!

So I really appreciate the calm attitude of the vets you’ve seen so far.  Anti-seizure medications can take away a dog’s fun-loving personality. We vets HATE that.  But we also hate the possibility of the brain damage that can result from frequent seizures. If Molly’s seizures occur only once or twice a month, no medicine may be the best choice for now.

And, once your dog is on Phenobarb, it’s hard to track the frequency and triggers for the seizures. Sometimes you can pinpoint what triggers the seizures: flashing lights, over-excitement, loud bangs, vaccines and anesthetics are some I’ve seen, and these can be controlled. For instance, you could just move the loud July 4^th and New Year’s Eve parties to someone else’s house (and what better excuse to keep from having to spend the first day of the New Year cleaning up a huge party mess: “I’m only doing it for the well-being of my dog”.)

Some people are not satisfied with the choices that conventional medicine offers, so this is a great opportunity for me to introduce you to some of my favorite organizations:

·         The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association     

·         The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy     

·         The National Institute of Health  is currently sponsoring a 5-year study of popular herbs, examining, among other things, their effects on seizure disorders.  I’d definitely recommend that you follow this study.

But hold onto your hat!  These veterinarians not only have more options to offer you for Molly’s seizures, but also new ways to think about health and healing. You may find, like Dorothy, that you’re not in Kansas anymore!  And you might just find that you like it there.

Pat

Write to LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com with your question for Dr. Pat.

For a personal consultation about your pet's needs, visit Holistic Veterinary Services.
Dr. Pat's opinion or advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian

* A NOTE FROM CARRIE: To make it easier for readers to find Dr. Pat's healthcare resources, I will start a sidebar list of these sites, with a picture of Dr. Pat to help you locate it. Can I help with anything else?

The books I share from Amazon can often be purchased in used form, making them much more affordable. For instance, the price for Natural Dog Care is less than $1, as I write this. Wow!

Visit Adopt a Dog Park

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