More often than not, my blog ideas are usually brought up by a real life situation. This one is not  an  exception.

Molly was a sweet  puppy adopted by my lovely clients, Nadia and Will. They are one of those clients who I want to live with if  I come back as a dog. She and  her husband Will were thrilled about getting a puppy and hoped to make Molly happy and healthy for the years to come. Part of the plan was Molly’s visit at my  office.

Nadia was told that the breeder was the sellers mom, who  couldn’t come to meet  Nadia. However, she swore that the puppy had been de-wormed, vaccinated, socialized and got free run to play with others.

As soon as I have heard the story of “the breeder was my mother who could not attend” I became suspicious that Molly was a puppy mill puppy. It was obvious that some of her baby  teeth had not even erupted. Her tummy looked like a little  inflatable balloon and her hind legs were weak and twisted in a awkward shape. She could barely walk.

What do I do now, I thought. Nadia was in love with Molly and ultimately, it was not Molly’s  fault that she was a product of a puppy mill and human greed. I could see that Nadia was very upset and all I could do is to say that “we all make mistakes and that all we can do is to learn  from them and accept our imperfections.”

The reality was that Molly was about 5 weeks old,  full of parasites and had most likely spent the first  part of her life locked up in a cage with her mother and siblings. Molly is one of hundred’s of thousands of puppy mill pets.

Blog writing is my way of overcoming the familiar: “ This problem is too big to be solved…” Perhaps it can be, one dog, one puppy mill at a time.

I trust that most of you have  no intention of supporting the shady and torturous business of  puppy mills and puppy brokerage for the sake of having the latest and the trendiest of breeds.

My plan is to ask you to  help me  put  these businesses that perpetrate despair, torture and suffering out of business.

Animals rescued from a puppy mill:

HOW TO AVOID  PUPPY MILLS

1. What  are puppy mills?
   They are  mass breeding stations with the sole purpose of breeding and selling puppies.
2. What is the life of dog used for  breeding like?
   Dogs used for  breeding are often  confined to small cages, get no attention  or exercise  and often sleep in their own waste or walk  metal cage screens.  They are fed cheap and nutrient  poor  pet  food, bred as often as 2x a year and get no  or minimal veterinary  care. The bitches are considered breeding machines.  They are the slaves of the modern times.
3. How does all this affect the puppies
   It comes without  saying that stressed malnourished mothers have puppies that are more likely to be ill. Lack of human contact and “family structure” makes them more prone to behavioral   problems. No or  very  little  exercise leads to disfigurement and poor development of joints – especially knees, elbows,  shoulders and the hips.This all  is just  the tip of the iceberg. Poor and uncontrolled breeding happens commonly between dogs  that  are  closely related.  This can lead to  genetic weakness and  serious health problems.
4. How do  puppy mills  affect the lives of other dogs?
   For  every dog  bred  in  puppy  mills, there is a one less home  for a homeless dog at your local rescue organization.  These dogs are often  euthanized.
5. What can you do  to  avoid  puppy  mills?
   The most  popular dog breeds are more likely  to come  from  puppy  mills. Smaller dogs are more likely to be breed in such facilities because they eat less and can be sold for  a hefty profit. Never buy a  dog from a pet  store  no matter how sorry you feel for the puppies in the shop window.  Your purchase will keep the vicious  circle spinning.Ask yourself  a question. Do you really need the latest and trendiest schmoodles, labradoodles, “bullshits”, cockapoos or whatever new flavour of the year comes up. I often find the best and healthiest dogs are the mixed breeds…If you are one of the people  who just  simply  fell in love with the more popular  breeds, it is ok,  own it  and  go for it. No one is perfect.   Just  make sure that you find a reputable breeder and that you meet the mother of the puppies in their  home.

   If the seller  makes  excuses,  doesn’t   want you to come to her or  his  home or  enter their  home.  Run as fast  as you can  and  tell  others.

   Yes,  I  know, we  feel sorry for these  puppies  and want to  rescue  them from the house  of  horror.  However,  the only way to stop the vicious  circle of puppy mill breeding is to stop buying them.

   If you are reading this blog  too late and you are pretty sure that you have a dog  from a puppy mill, you  may want to read the following section.

1. Do not  trust  what you have been told  by the seller and do the following:
2. Two fecal  sample  checks for  parasites as puppy brokers often lie  about puppies being dewormed.
3. Follow the holistic  approach  to vaccination link .  Puppy mill puppies are often vaccinated too early for the immune system  to respond.  Early vaccination wipes  out the maternal antibodies and leaves  puppies unprotected.
4. Gradually  increase the exercise.
5. Ensure that your puppy  socializes with other healthy dogs and puppies to gain  social skills and become well adjusted.
6. Forgive yourself.  I  believe that making mistakes is part of learning. No one is  perfect.  You can easily make  up for your mistake by passing  this message to  others who would otherwise fall in the  same trap.

With  gratitude,
Dr. Peter Dobias

Please share:

As a driver I have a bad  habit.  I don’t usually buckle up right away but a few minutes after I start driving and the car’s warning signal gets louder and more annoying. I finally listen and  with an attitude of a teenager I reluctantly buckle up.

I myself am puzzled by this. What  brings on the teenager like attitude within me? Why  do I  take the chances and believe falsely that accidents are less likely to happen in the first kilometer or two of the trip?  There is something in most of us that makes as do things that are thrilling and dangerous, no matter how much it doesn’t make sense.

In the 90’s, I worked in a vet clinic in Whistler, British Columbia, a beautiful mountain resort full of thrill seeking folks, who hurl themselves down the double black diamonds  runs  that are steeper than this letter A.

Before the local bylaws tightened up, Whistlerites were also infamous for letting their dogs roam freely around town especially on powder days. Dogs can walk themselves, especially with 3 feet of fresh powder waiting, right?

Unfortunately many dogs couldn’t and I remember hating the “hit by car” emergency calls.

Neither were cats spared of the thrill seeking attitude of their owners. One of them  refused to put  his cat in a carrier when driving and they hurled down a ravine. During the ride to the clinic his freaked out cat decided to latch onto my clients face. It was a miracle  that neither of them were hurt except the car was a total write off.

My memory also takes me back to Cass a beautiful German Shepherd who was adopted by my friend Pat. The previous owner tied her to the track canopy with rope attached to her collar. It took one sharp turn, Cass flew of the truck and was dragged behind for a while before he noticed. She miraculously survived but  the  owner could not pay the vet bills and gave her up.

The good news is that Cass has a better home now. Unfortunately, the consequences of this nasty accident will be with Cass for  the rest  of her life.

The person who finally inspired me to write this  blog is Anna,  a great friend and a dog lover who would throw  herself of a cliff if her dog was in trouble.  However, Anna too, as most of us, has a dangerous habit. She leaves her dog Sam sit on the front  seat because “ he is so  cute”  and he is too hot in the back of the car.

First, I wanted to tell Anna right there that her  dog’s nose is a few inches from the airbag. Then my voice budged  in: “Peter, it is not your business!”  “Well it is and it isn’t.” I argued, “A dog can’t speak for himself and what if there was an  accident?  The airbag’s release  would break Sam’s neck and…. Anna would never forgive herself.”

After this heated argument of me with me, I settled for posting a line on my facebook. Anna did find it and replied with a kind and  funny comment: “Busted!”

I hope that reading the above lines will either freak you out or inspire you enough to want to read the following lines to make your animal friend safer when traveling. Here is what  you can do…

1. Do not let your pet roam the car  freely when driving. Your animal friend doesn’t  have a driving license and has no concept of what would happen if it wedges under the break pedal or prevents you from steering.
2. A safely fastened pet carrier is a great option for cats and some dogs. It is a excellent way to prevent your car hurling down the ravine because your freaked out cat latched onto your face.
3. Dog owners – buy a car for you pet. I am not kidding! Get a car with a built in safety cargo net. It doesn’t  need to be brand spanking new. Just safe. Your dog will have both  the comfort and safety when contained in the  back of your car. Some people  think that driving BMW is an unnecessary excess. I bought it because it has the best built in cargo netting on the market. I can also fold the rear seats down and move the cargo net right behind the front seats if I want Skai to be closer.
   
   I  remember, one time,  a work crew was repairing the road. My  lane was open and as  I was slowly driving ahead. Suddenly, I saw a huge truck speeding in the opposite directions, going way too fast. In order for the truck driver to not  hit the crew, he  swerved the truck into my lane. In slow motion, I saw the truck hurling towards me, breaks screeching, tires  smoking… I stepped on the breaks with full force  and closed my eyes. The truck stopped 10 meters away. If  Skai was not safely contained behind the cargo net, he would have flown through the vehicle, possibly getting injured or killed. I will never regret spending the extra money for a car from a manufacturer who cares about pet safety.

4. If you can’t help it and love seeing Fido stick his head out the  window to watch the world whiz  by, get a dog seatbelt harness that can buckle in.
5. If you  want to give  your dog an even greater  degree of freedom,  you can use a nylon cargo strap or climbing rope and loop it  around the rear seat. Make sure that it is securely fastened.  Use a climbing karabiner to clip your dog to. This will allow him to move freely from  side to side.
6. If you are the one who loves to have your  best  friend on your  lap when driving or on the passenger seat, stop and think. Is it worth taking the risk that your best friend could be killed  instantly by  the airbag or by being catapulted out of the vehicle?
7. If you have a truck and  like to keep your dog in the cargo area, do this only  in the warm months. You dog should wear a proper seat belt harness  attached  to both sides of the canopy. The rope  must be short enough to prevent  your dog from  falling out.
8. Never leave your dog running freely in the canopy, attach the collar to the rope or tie him to only one side. Remember Cass. It only takes one sharp turn and  Fido will fall out,  to be dragged and likely killed or seriously injured..

I know, I know, we all love to seek  thrills once every while. We all break the rules.  How about finding other ways to get the “fix;” a ride on rollercoaster,  watching a scary movie  or sky diving.

Just  promise one think that you keep your animal friend out of it and safe…

With gratitude,

Dr. Peter  Dobias.

PS:  Save animal lives share this blog with others.

A friend of mine  called me recently and was very upset.  This was the second time his dog Barkley had eaten a mango pit.  The first time, he threw it up, but  this time,  it stayed down for more than a week.
The local vet recommended  surgery and my  friend was not  really happy about slicing Barkley’s stomach open. He called  me to see if there was anything else we could do.

The pit was large and flat and it was unlikely to go further than the stomach.  I thought  if  we made Barkley throw up, it could get stuck in the esophagus.  We had to find a way  that would  make the mango pit slippery enough  to make it slip out without complications.

I suggested  my friend  cook 2 cups of  squash  to make a puree and   add 1/3  cup  of  flaxseed steeped in the same amount of hot  water. The flax seed made the whole  mixture  slimy and slippery which was perfect to make  the pit  slide out.

To make Barkley throw up, we added ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide (to be  mixed in just before feeding).  When peroxide reacts with stomach juices it is know to   bubble up  which  makes most  dogs  throw  up.

My friend  and I  agreed that  he would call me if there was any news and that  he would  also be ready to see the local vet in the unlikely case of the pit  getting stuck. Finally,  an  hour later, I received a text message  from Elan:  “Peter, call me! “

“Oh no,”I thought, “Barkley may be in trouble!” I  called right  away, anxiously waiting for an answer. “Peter, we got the pit! ” my friend proclaimed victoriously.

We were both ecstatic .  Barkley didn’t  need to go under the knife plus 1 squash, flax seed and a little bit of peroxide are definitely  much less expensive than  abdominal surgery!

This whole  story  prompted me to write a little more on foreign body ingestion because this was not  the first time I have seen dogs eating strange things including  a fine china plate with the dinner, 10 golf balls or  corn cob.

The purpose of this blog is to give you an insight about what to do when  your dog  eats  non-toxic, indigestible objects.

If  your  dog  ingested a toxic substance or a poisonous  plant or you are not  sure what  exactly went  down Fido’s stomach, contact  your  local  emergency care  provider.  Otherwise,  read  on.

FIRST AID – FOREIGN BODY INGESTION

Ask the following questions:

1. Do you know what your dog ate ?

If the answer  is no and your dog has been repeatedly vomiting or having diarrhea for more than 1 day   or appears to behave strange,  contact  your vet immediately.

IF the answer  is  YES,  and  you  know what   your dog  ate, go to STEP 2

2. Is your dog drooling?

If your dog is hyper-salivating,  the object  may be stuck in the esophagus or your dog ate a toxin.  You should  see  your vet immediately.

3. The size of the object is more then 1.5 inches in diameter

it is unlikely that it would pass further in the small  intestine. If your dog  appears to be fine, is  calm. You can  prepare the following mixture

• 2 cups of cooked squash puree
• 1/3  cup of whole flax  seed steeped by the same volume of hot water
• ½  cup of hydrogen peroxide
• small  amount of smoked  fish or cooked  liver for flavor  only

Feed this mixture to your dog.  You should  see vomiting within 30 minutes and hopefully you will be the lucky winner.

If your  dog  doesn’t  throw  up and  appears  fine,  go to step 4.

4. The foreign body is  smaller  than 1.5 inches

If your dog is not vomiting and appears to be fine,  feed  him the following mixture

• 50% of meat of your choice ( raw or cooked depending on your preference
• 40% cooked squash puree
• 10%  flax seed steeped with  enough  hot  water to make the whole mixture slimy.

Feed this  meal for 2 – 3  days.  Many  foreign  bodies  pass with no problem

5. If your dog is restless,  or vomiting more than once or  having diarrhea for more than 24 hours, see your veterinarian.

If the foreign body is in the stomach,  your dog may have normal appetite with occasional vomiting. Intestinal  obstructions usually  cause lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of discomfort

6. If you know that your  puppy or adult dog  likes to  chew  on things, keep it  confined  in a dog pen when  away or in a  room  free of  hazardous objects.

Please  note that  the above information  is  not  intended to replace the care of experienced healthcare provider.

If you are put in  a situation where surgery may be needed, never go for an exploratory surgery unless the foreign body was confirmed.

Barium radiographs,  ultrasound or endoscopy are the first diagnostic steps that need to be taken first.    Foreign bodies in the stomach can  often be removed endoscopically to avoid the surgical trauma and risks.

If you find that your veterinarian is suggesting surgery while your dog appears fine or  a foreign body was not confirmed, seek a second  opinion.

Chronic kidney disease or chronic renal insufficiency is one of the most common conditions of cats and slightly less common in dogs. Symptoms include increased drinking and urination often followed by lack of appetite, vomiting, and muscle loss and general deterioration.

Kidney tissue is composed of very fine and sensitive kidney units that filtrate the blood, eliminate toxins and regulate water balance in the body. These units are highly prone to damage due to toxins or immune system dysfunction.

The conventional belief is that kidney disease is genetically predisposed and that other causes such as bacterial infections, poor diet and toxins, compromise the very fine and easily affected kidney tissue. While all these are true, the kidneys’ health mainly depends on the general health and harmony of the whole body. Back issues, muscles spasm, injury and stress especially in the region around the third lumbar vertebra appear to be especially connected to kidney health. The immune system plays an important role in protecting the kidneys, however, if not finely tuned, it starts creating antibodies against still functional kidney units and destroys these along with tissue that is inflamed. This leads to irreversible and often serious damage.The clinical signs such as increased drinking, urination and increased levels of kidney toxins, start showing up only after 75% of the kidney tissue is destroyed.

However, I have seen animals living good lives years after they reach this stage if treated properly. The damaged kidney units can never be regenerated and the main goal of the treatment is to stop the kidney destruction and preserve the remaining kidney tissue.

When I started practicing, I saw many cats looking like walking skeletons, wasting muscle mass and not doing well at all. I was taught that this is caused by the kidney disease itself however, I was not convinced.

I suspected that the low protein prescription diet was the main cause of weight loss. We were told by the pet food companies that low protein diets are important in reducing the kidney toxin levels. However, I could see that animals fed this food were showing signs of protein starvation and deteriorated fast.

It took me a few years to dare to go against the conventional recommendations and started suggesting high quality raw protein diets for patients with kidney disease. In addition to glandular supplements supporting the kidneys and homeopathic remedy individually selected for each patient.

The results were surprisingly encouraging. Most patients with mild or moderate kidney disease maintained good body weight, showed great energy and didn’t seem to deteriorate as fast as patients on low protein food. They appeared to live longer than expected.

My own cat Mina was diagnosed with kidney disease at the age of 10 years. When I adopted her in 1991, I did everything according to the book . I fed her dry processed food and administered yearly vaccines until I woke up and realized what was happening.

Mina was my great teacher and one of the first cats I have used my new treatment protocol on. She is 18 years old still enjoying her retirement.

Over the years, I have finely tuned my treatment protocol and despite the need for individual assessment of each patient, I would like to provide you with:

General guidelines for holistic approach to treatment of chronic kidney disease

DIET

• Feed a good variety of high quality protein diet, ideally raw.
• Do not feed beef , buffalo or bison as they have a higher content of inflammatory factors which affect the immune system function.
• Avoid so called low protein kidney or senior diets.
• Dry food especially stresses the kidneys by “absorbing” water creating a persistent state of dehydration.
• If you do not want to feed raw, canned diet is better however canned food can never measure up to what nature intended.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES

• Homeopathic remedies bring stability and neutralize the body’s energetic state that leads to the disease itself. It is important to work with an experienced animal homeopath to use this form of treatment.
• In my experience, internet reference is not a sufficient basis for homeopathic prescription and often leads to confusing the situation.

GLANDULAR SUPPLEMENTS

• Renafood for dogs or Feline Renal Support for cats protects the kidney tissue by neutralizing undesirable antibodies against the body’s own kidneys and provides necessary nutrients specific to the kidneys.

PROBIOTICS

• The beneficial bacteria from the right probiotics is capable of using excess kidney toxin called urea for their own growth. My favorite brand is Immunity Probiotic by New Chapter Organics. You may click here for prices 20% lower than suggested retail.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS

• GreenMin is a new generation of whole food, certified organic mineral supplement containing 20 essential trace minerals. Unlike many synthetic supplements, GreenMin is algae based, USDA certified organic product. It replenishes minerals lost through excessive urine production.
• Tiny Tabs by New Chapter (Dogs) and Feline Whole Body Support (cats) are my favorite vitamin supplements. They too are whole food based and I use them for my own pets and patients.

HYDRATION

• If you pull the skin on the neck and it stays up for longer than 1 second, your pet may be dehydrated. Simple administration of electrolyte solutions under the skin such as Lactated Ringers or Sodium Chloride (0.9%) will help pets in more advanced stages of kidney disease.

BACK HEALTH

• Check your pets spine especially around the 3rd-4th lumbar vertebra. This region directly supplies energy meridian flow to the kidneys. Increased heat, inflammation, muscle pain, spasm and sensitivity of this area will compromise the kidneys.
• The best techniques for treating the back are physiotherapy, intramuscular needle stimulation ( a form of acupuncture technique ), gentle chiropractic treatment and massage.
• Ideally, do not use any anti-inflammatory drugs such as Aspirin or Metacam as it is contraindicated in patients with kidney disease.
• I have neither seen any clear benefit of Enalapril, a drug that modulates the blood pressure. It is my experience that these drugs are detrimental to the long term prognosis.

WELL BEING AND FAMILY

• Don’t forget to do all you can to look after your own needs. I see direct correlation between the degree of health of people and their pets.
• Good exercise, at least 2 walks a day for dogs and access to the outdoors or the balcony for cats makes a big difference.
• Pets who spend a lot of time alone, do not get walks , play time and attention are more disease prone in general.

FURTHER SUPPORT AND RECHECKS

• If your pets condition is stable, a quarterly or semi annual recheck is highly recommended. This way, you can adjust the treatment and supplements as needed and avoid unnecessary complications.
• If your pet is vomiting, lethargic and has no appetite, hospitalization and further diagnostics may be needed.

If you are unsure what the best treatment decision is, especially because of the pressure from a conventional practitioner to follow the conventional drug and processed food route, you may be interested . If you are interested in how to choose the right vet click here to read my blog post.

I almost answered her question privately and then I thought,  it is a perfect opportunity to get a few  things of my chest, write a blog and hopefully help at the same time

Over  the course of the past  months of blog writing,  I  have found a new passion for writing and bringing more clarity into animal healing. I like to question and challenge beliefs of others and also my own. This way I keep my ego in check and keep on learning. In the big scheme of things,  we humans, know very little.

My friend has a bumper sticker on her truck that says: “Don’t always believe  what you think”.  I love this quote  because it reminds me  how often we construct  false beliefs  about many things in life.  Veterinary medicine is no exception.

So how  shall we  approach life and make important decisions or even foot fungus?  You can either approach it from “a rigid smart ass”  point of view or be flexible by combining a reasonable degree of knowledge,  experience, observation and  intuition.

Several months ago,  I wrote  a blog  called “Tribute to our bacteria superheroes.” There I mentioned  that despite  all the negative publicity bacteria gets, the whole world would cease to exist if bacteria disappeared.

So here is the scoop on nasty dog foot fungus:

1. HIBITANE ( chlorhexidine) SOAP IS TOXIC to bacteria and it is also toxic to other cells especially if applied on regular  basis.  IT  SLOWS DOWN AND SOMETIMES PREVENTS  HEALING.
2. Many dogs who  with front foot  lesions  have issues with their NECK. They often  suffer neck injuries from pulling on the leash,  inappropriate collars  (barbaric restraint collars as choke collars or even prong collars), carrying heavy logs or hitting their head.
3. Dogs that have hind  foot  lesions usually have suffered a LUMBAR SPINE injury
4. What  follows such neck or back  injuries is muscle tightness,  which leads  to restriction of nerve  function, energy and blood flow to extremities and especially  the feet.
5. This often creates unusual sensations such as referred pain, pins and needles or numbing which can make some dogs lick their feet. However, even if they don’t  lick, the skin on their  feet is weaker and MORE PRONE TO INFECTIONS.
6. Frequently,  bacteria or  fungus has been detected however, they are usually SECONDARY and because the primary issue comeS from the spine, antibiotics and antifungals are usually ineffective.

What  is  the Natural Healing Solution?

1. Stop using Hibitane and start  using  Healing Solution to promote skin  healing naturally
2. See an experienced  animal physiotherapist  or chiropractor for a neck assessment.  If you  contact me,  I will be able to connect  you with the right person.
3. The most  important  part is to get  any pressure off the neck  by replacing your dog’s  collar  with a harness  such as  Sensation or  Easy Walk harness that attached in the front.
4. For dogs with hind feet  issues, any sprinting, ball retrieving and back stressing activity should be avoided.
5. Ideally,  your dogs  general  health , diet and supplement schedule  should be reviewed as well.
6. If you would like to speak to me. All new clients are eligible for 15 minute Free Consultations  at www.peterdobias.com/services

Do you have any other examples of  how dogmatic, rigid approach to life leads to trouble?  How  do you make life’s important  decisions.  Share your insights in the  comment in the section below.

Thank you for making a difference and sharing  this article with others.

Imagine,  your   heart  is  pounding, you feel like it  is  going to explode,  you feel hungry all the time and can’t  keep any weight  on;  you are restless and can’t  sleep at night.  After a while,  the high blood pressure affects  your kidneys,  you  feel  restless, crabby and unwell.

Welcome to the world  of hyperthyroidism in cats,  one of the most  commonly diagnosed  conditions in veterinary practice

The conventional  approach to treatment  includes  some of the following:

1. Radioactive iodine  injections  that selectively “kill” the thyroid  gland  cells but also expose  the whole body to radiation.  You  would not be able to touch your cat for a few weeks. It would be locked in isolation with minimal  human contact.
2. Tapazole is a conventional drug that selectively poisons the thyroid  gland.  It  affects  the liver and increases the chances  of other health problems.
3. Surgically removing the thyroid gland.   This results in the need for supplementing the necessary thyroid hormone with another  drug.  There is also a risk  that your  cat’s  parathyroid gland ( the calcium regulator )  would be damaged  during the surgery and  a life threatening low calcium crisis may follow.

Wondering, if there is something simpler and safer than the above treatments?

More than 10 years  ago,  I asked  exactly  the same   question  when  my  cat  Mina  was  diagnosed  with  hyperthyroidism.

I  adopted Mina  in 1992.  She  was a stray cat brought  to the clinic  where I worked.  I was determined to  avoid any of the above treatments for as long as I could.

I came across Natrum  Muriaticum, a homeopathic remedy derived from  plain and simple Sodium Chloride – common table  salt.  I was  skeptical but decided to  try it.  I gave Mina 2 doses, 2 weeks  apart.

My skepticism soon faded away when I started to see Mina being less cranky, her heart rate dropping back to normal  and to my big surprise, the test  results  showed normal thyroid values. I was stunned.  A homeopathic remedy made of CHEAP TABLE SALT  CURED MY CAT.  How crazy was that?

Because I still  wasn’t  convinced that I this was not a coincidence, I treated more cats and saw a very  clear  and predictable pattern.

Cats that  responded  well to this treatment were:

1. middle aged  (less than 12 years old)
2. their T4 (thyroid hormone)  values  were  over the normal but  not  more than 60mmol/l
3. behavioral  change usually happened within 1 – 2 weeks  with cats being less cranky and their  heart rate  dropping to normal.

Note: Cats  over 10 – 12 years  of age or those with T4  hormone values over 60mmol/l  did not  respond  well  and had to be  treated with Tapazole, the least damaging of the 3 conventional treatments.

Seeing these results, I decided to publish my study on hyperthyroidism in cats and my  presentation was accepted at  The World  Small  Animal Veterinary Conference.  My lecture was scheduled just after another one called  Supplementary, Complementary and Alternative Medicine. A SCAM in Flagrant Violation of Veterinary Ethics and Science.

It was presented by a veterinarian, who had, as I learned later,  ties to the pharmaceutical industry.  Apparently, he goes around the world and lectures against holistic veterinary medicine. ( I  asked my  Canadian born friend,  what  flagrant  meant,  he  didn’t  really know but  we both assumed that  it is something “nasty.”)

There is still a lot to clarify and explain and if you know of someone who would be willing  to provide research  funding for such an important  and interesting  study, I hope you will let me know. I have no doubt that the sponsor  will not  be the “Big Pill Inc.”  Table  salt  is cheap and  there is no money to be  made!

My cat is  now 18 years, to my amazement, her thyroid values continue to be normal.  There are few  other cats from the study that are still  well and  alive and I see them regularly.

I often wonder,  how many undiscovered, inexpensive solutions there are for many medical conditions.  Wouldn’t  be great if there was a system of unbiased medical research in place? If we allow drug companies to  control the single most important area of our lives, it is  the same as  making a goat  a gardener?

Dr. Peter Dobias

PS:

If you have a hyperthyroid cat, please  feel  free to contact me at www.peterdobias.com/services.  See text  below  for detailed data of my study.

Homeopathic treatment of feline hyperthyroidism

Peter Dobias, DVM

Dr. Dobias Healing Solutions Inc,  North Vancouver, BC,  contact@peterdobias.com

The selection of the homeopathic treatment was based on the principles of classical  homeopathy. Only one single remedy was used at the time of treatment and no other methods were used. A dose of the remedy was repeated only when laboratory values confirmed increased thyroxin values or if clinical signs of hyperthyroidism recurred.

The homeopathic preparation of Natrum Muriaticum[1] was administered in the form of pellets in 200c potency.  There was one  cat (see Table 1) that received a higher, 1M, potency later  on  during the  treatment.

The goal of this study is to demonstrate the use, efficacy and long term effect of homeopathic treatment in cases of feline  hyperthyroidism. The second goal is to compare the patients whose values had gone back to normal with the patients that did not  respond to homeopathic treatment.

Results:

• A total of 13 cats were treated.
• The age at the commencement of  treatment ranged from 5 to 17 years
• Thyroxine values in the treated cats ranged from 39nmol/l to 175nmol/l (normal reference range is 18-40nmol/l).
• Symptoms of hyperthyroidism seen in the treated cats included tachycardia, weight loss, restlessness and increased appetite.
• The thyroxine values of 8 cats from this group returned to normal and the clinical signs of hyperthyroidism also disappeared.  The average age of these cats was 7.4 years (5 – 12 years). Their initial thyroxine values did not exceed 60 nmol/l and ranged from 39 – 59 nmol/l
• There were 5 cats that did not respond to treatment and were prescribed  conventional therapy of methimazole.  The average age of this group of cats was 13.8. The thyroxin values ranged from 55 – 175 nmol/l with the average of 97 nmol/l.
• One cat, the oldest in the test group, LaRue (age 17), was originally diagnosed as sick euthyroid due to an advanced stage of chronic renal insufficiency. This cat’s thyroxin value initially increased to 55 nmol/l and later returned back to normal. Unlike the other patients that responded to therapy, this cat continued to be unwell and later had to be euthanised.   We have put this patient in the non-responsive group.
• All cats that responded well to therapy maintained normal thyroxin values for at least 1 year and up to 5 years.  The average number of years each patient was followed was 2 years with the average frequency of administration of 1.875 doses/year.
• 1M potency was used in 1 cat where fluctuation between a normal and a hyperthyroid state was noted. This cat’s thyroxin values returned to normal and the clinical signs also resolved.

Study Data:

Table 1:

** 1 M potency was administered

Table 2:

*** Methimazole started

Conclusions:

This retrospective clinical study demonstrates that Natrum Muriaticum (homeopathic preparation of sodium chloride) can be successfully used in the treatment of feline hyperthyroidism without the  high cost and undesirable side effects of conventional use of Methimazole or radioactive Iodine 131. It appears that early diagnosis and the age of cats  are  important factors in successful treatment.

Comments:

Despite the fact that Natrum Muriaticum has proven to be effective, other homeopathic remedies may be needed in individual patients to achieve curative results. It is important to remember that proper use of homeopathic remedies is absolutely essential and treatment should only be performed by a veterinarian who has deep knowledge of the principles of classical homeopathy. I would like to emphasize that there is a tremendous need for  open minded, objective and unbiased research and cooperation in the field of veterinary medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, physiotherapy and other modalities for the sake of the health and wellbeing of  the patients – our animal friends.

What  are veterinarians afraid of ?

A couple  of  weeks  ago, I got a call from a new client, let’s give her a fictional name Paula.  She got my  name from her friend, Andrea, a Great Dane breeder and  a long time client of mine, who’s dogs have been known to live well into the teens.

I can only think of  two things that she does differently:

1. She doesn’t  vaccinate routinely and  measures her dogs’ antibodies against the most common diseases  like parvo and distemper  instead.
2. She feeds her dogs natural raw or cooked food.

I have always admired Andrea for having the guts to go with what felt right despite  being ostracized and looked down upon by many of my colleagues.   Her reward for holding her ground  is that  her  dogs are healthier and live longer.

Vaccination  has always been a  very controversial topic of many discussions and a few months ago, I posted a  blog on how to reduce vaccines and keep your  dog safe. However,  what I forgot to  mention in the blog was that if you decide to follow my recommendation, many of my colleagues  will tell you that you are risking the health of your dog.

Paula’s problem was exactly that. Her personal decision to not vaccinate her puppy and instead do titers at  the first vet check-up.  The issue was that she could not find any vet who would agree.

What  is my experience with this alternative approach?

For years,  I have been seeing many puppies  in my  practice.  Instead of vaccination,    the antibody levels for parvovirus and distemper  are measured at  the age of 12  weeks.

What I have seen  is that  puppies that are vaccinated early,  around the age of 6 – 8 weeks  havemuch less protection than the puppies that  have not been vaccinated at  all.

Wondering Why?

There is a relatively  simple  explanation.   Very young puppies have a very  immature and dormant  immune system and are incapable of making any  antibodies.   Their  protection  comes from the mother’s milk in the form of  maternal  antibodies.

What  happens  to the maternal antibodies after premature vaccination?

The vaccine simply neutralizes  the antibodies  which, ironically, makes a large number  of the early  vaccinated  puppies  unprotected.

Why is this  not  common  veterinary knowledge?

My sense is that  for years  most vets have simply followed the vaccine manufacturers’ guidelines without asking if their recommendations  have  solid ground. There is also the  fear of making a mistake and being  held  liable or  loose their  license, which   would  threaten their reputation or license.

What is the Healing Solution?

1. First,  read my  blog on vaccination.
2. If you would like  to vaccinate,  wait  until your puppy is at  least  12 weeks  old  when the immune  system is more mature and can  create new antibodies.
3. If you prefer avoiding unnecessary vaccination -  check antibody levels at 12 and 20 weeks of age.  Many  puppies  are fully  protected first with maternal antibodies until they build  up  the new  antibodies.  It  may surprise you that some  dogs never need any  vaccines  at all.
4. Talk to you practitioner and explain to them that you have decided to do titers with your puppy and request them to be done.
5. Be  prepared  for your vet to disagree. Tell  him or her that you  appreciate the opinion,  however,  you would like to get titer tests done and  base your decision on the results.
6. If your vet is unwilling to follow your wish, consider going elsewhere.

How  to  interpret the titer test  results.

I have never seen any  puppies getting  sick if they are tested  even with low  levels  of antibodies. Some  people  say that lower  levels are not protective, however,  it doesn’t  appear to be true in  real  life.

If your  puppies  test comes back negative, you may want to vaccinate  with one antigen for Parvo and then  one  antigen  for  Distemper at  least 2  – 4 weeks apart.

Rabies  antibodies will always  be negative in  animals  who have not been  vaccinated.   However, quite often,  one vaccine at  six months of age or  later, often provides  lifetime  protection.   I recommend  running rabies titer  test   3  years  after the first vaccine  and yearly thereafter to ensure good  protection.

Final conclusion

As  in many  other  areas of life today,  vaccines are a hot and confusing topic.  Some vets  are afraid  to challenge  the status  quo,  others simply  believe that  repeated  vaccines  are necessary and only a few vaccinate  to make the extra dollar.

What  you need to do is to inform yourself,  make the decision and go to your   vet determined that you have made your mind up.

Remember that you are the decision maker and  that  you are not there to please your vet. If you still find  it  challenging to make the right  decision, go  with your gut. Deep  inside, you know what  feels  right…

Dr. Peter Dobias

This is one of the most common replies when my clients see a quote for a broken tooth repair from a  dog dentist.  Yes,  repairing a dental fracture can be very expensive.  That is why reading this blog  post may save you lots of money.

What  you need to know to reduce the risk:

Avoid feeding beef, buffalo or bison shank bones.   They are often harder than dog teeth. Most dogs  will get  simply carried away chewing on a large bone and may crack one of their teeth.  This is how a  2 dollar marrow bone can turn into a painful and  very expensive adventure.

I already hear  some some of you protesting: “But my dog loves big bones!! He likes to work at the bone marrow!”

Solving the dilemma

In reality, nature intended canines to hunt for birds, rodents , rabbits, goats and perhaps deer. Most dogs would  simply  not dare to come even close to a buffalo or a cow.  With the exception of a pack of hungry Chihuahuas, most dogs simply do not like hanging on the ankle of a angry bull.

The right  sized  bones can be very beneficial

However,  if you want to avoid regular dental cleaning under anesthesia,  the right  sized  bones can save Fido a lot of dental trouble and save you tons of money. I usually  recommend feeding lamb or goat   bones twice a week.  The abrasive action  of these  hard but  not too thick bones is perfect for keeping your dogs teeth shiny  without the risk of dental fractures.

Why I do not  recommend junky dental bones?

Many companies  have come up with alternatives to dental bones.  However most of them are  innefective and  loaded with artificial preservatives, wheat, starches and ingredients of  questionable origin.

Real bones are the best option!

What to do if you discover a fractured tooth?

Since my clients have learned about feeding the right bones, the number of  fractured teeth has dropped sharply.  However, no matter what you do, your dog can crack a tooth by munching on a rock or having an accident of some sort.

I remember Roz, a German Shepherd that chased a ball and tried to catch it mid air. Unfortunately, she missed the ball  and bit a big cement block instead. She fracture several teeth  and needed a medical attention.

The rule of thumb is if you can you should repair it. If a veterinary dentist is available in your area, he will give you the right suggestion.  Many general practitioners have also suitable dental equipment however, some over-prescribe extractions because they are not trained to do root canals.

Also, if a tooth is removed, the opposing one is usually affected by  increased tartar build up and gum disease.   It will frequently be lost a few months or year later.

Timely response is   important

The sooner you can get the fractured  tooth  examined  the better because because a freshly fractured tooth can regenerate and stay alive by applying a  cemment cap. In most fractures  older than a few  days, a root canal is most likely needed and sometimes, an extraction may be the only solution.

Summary

1. RAW BONES ARE SAFE TO FEED.
2. NEVER FEED COOKED OR SMOKED BONES  – THEY ARE  HARD AND INDIGESTIBLE
3. Feed the bones of medium sized  animals for optimal and safe  cleaning effect
4. Large beef, buffalo and other large bones are too hard and can cause dental fractures.
5. RAW Chicken  bones  are safe  to eat but  too soft to  clean teeth
6. It is ok for a dog to eat bone fragments. The stomach  acids disolve them and aid complete disolution and digestion.
7. Fractured  teeth should be restored if possible.
8. Raw dental bones should fed 1 – 2 a week

The  statistics show  clearly that cancer “fights back”  at  an ever increasing rate and intensity.  It  appears that no matter how many times we  say “ No” to cancer;  cancer’s  reply is often “Screw  you!”

My life is far from being untouched by cancer.  Both of my grandmothers died of cancer, my brother passed away from a brain tumor and my father died from prostate cancer. To add to all this, my brother in law was diagnosed with a brain tumor  a few years ago. His  diagnosis was a  real shock to me. I wanted to cry out” Oh no, not again!  However, deep  inside I felt a shift. It was then  that I realized,  cancer can’t  be fought, it has to be understood.

Over the years in my veterinary practice,  I have always been puzzled  as to why there were clients who’s animals were  more prone to cancer than animals of others. There was no correlation with regards to  the breed or even species.  Gradually,  I started to see that while so much research has been  focusing on the development of new  drugs,  chemotherapy, surgical techniques, the effect of environment and our diet,   the most  important factor is commonly forgotten.   Our  lifestyle, our  state of mind  and the energetic  connection between  us and  our  pets.

During the past 100 plus years, the  discoveries in  genetics and DNA led us to believe that if we or our pets inherit a certain gene or disposition,  we and they will suffer from the  same conditions as ancestor. However, the more recent  findings confirm that genes  will remain dormant and unexpressed  unless they are  turned on by an impulse from the outside.  This impulse can be from a biochemical,  chemical, physical influence or even more subtle energy generated by our fears and  thoughts.

Despite the old  saying – “ healthy mind, healthy body”  many people  still believe that the “cure for cancer” comes from the outside and is dependent on the discovery of some sort of “miracle drug”  that will “fight  cancer.”  The reality is such that  despite the advance of medical science and technology,  we can extend  and prolong lives, but  have neither found the cure for cancer nor have paid sufficient attention to its  prevention.

What can you do?

Here are your 12 steps to cancer prevention…

#1 Face your fears

If you catch yourself  worrying about you or your loved one getting cancer, do not  push the thought aside.  Just stop for a moment, close your eyes and invite the fear to come closer to look at  it.  Face it ,  do not  run away.  Challenge it with kindness, firmness and compassion as if the fear was a troubled bully that you try to understand.

Explore the fear, imagine, that you turn the fear  around,  upside down and  look at  it as if it was an object,  a seashell, a rock, a leaf or a flower.

You will notice that if you do not “fight” your fears, they will become less  intense and less frightening. You will discover a newly  found freedom and plenty of  energy  to  shift from just worrying to planning or taking action on how to prevent  or treat cancer in the best possible and least harmful way.

#2 Do the emotional inventory check

Another important  step in  cancer prevention is not to forget but  forgive. No matter whether we like it or not,  suffering from  hurts and emotional pain is  part of the human condition. The event  could have happened a long time ago,  perhaps your best friend had an  affair  with your partner or your parents were neglectful or your spouse told your friend that  she married you only  for material gains.  Perhaps you have suffered  a loss of  a loved one or were  a victim of abuse.

No matter  what the injury was,  finding a  way of neutralizing this experience is absolutely essential in reducing your risk of physical disease and cancer. Constantly replaying what happened, carrying the heaviness within will have the opposite effect. Yes, it may take time to let go of these  patterns but  it  is definitely  worth the effort.  Forgiving will neutralize the pain much faster than feelings of hatred or revenge.  It is your cells that bath in the sea of stress hormones and you decide what “ bath you prepare”

#3 Be nice to yourself

When working with my clients and their  pets,  I often  see  people blaming themselves  for their pets’ disease.  They feel that  they didn’t  look  after  their  pets  well or they go into  the world of ’should have’  and ‘would have’

We are our  own  worse enemies when it comes to being loving , compassionate and forgiving towards ourselves. This too generates a block of the healing energy.

Life is simply such that  it  brings  us  challenging times  and as painful as it may be, it is  a part of our learning on a journey to become better and more aware human beings.  Our animals have  their own journey and  we are not always responsible for their problems.  However, we can be their  source of positive energy if we put our life on the right track

#4  Surrender to mortality

Imagine  if  someone  gave you the gift of being immortal. I can’t prevent  myself from thinking that if I was 5000 years old,  I would get  bored with the same old friends,  the same  family , the same bad  habits.  As much as we may hate the thought of  mortality, it is exactly what makes being with our loved ones and definitely with our pets so special.

It is simply a part of the Universal plan of being human – experiencing the temporary nature of everything around us and  coming to terms with it.

It helps me to believe that the souls of our animals   come back  again in another body.   If you haven’t  read the story of my horse Alfa and Skai you can find it  here. Of  course ,  no one knows if it is the truth, however, I love the thought.

#5 Be aware of the possibility of your own sabotage.

It baffles me that so many  people miss out on the opportunity to take  simple and inexpensive steps  to living healthy lives and take chances that clearly lead  to disease, pain and  suffering.

Perhaps that is also part of the Universal plan of learning.  Many  people like to  play with  fire knowing that  their smoking ,  bad eating habits,  lack of   exercise or  a bad relationship are not healthy; however they  subconsciously maintain and are possibly addicted to these states.

It is an irony that  the biggest personal transformations happen as a result  of  very challenging and turbulent  times and falling  down right to the very bottom. All we can do is to be there for our friends but telling them what  to do often generates more resistance. This may be one of the most difficult  parts of being a care giver – watching others hurling to disaster while they stubbornly refuse to listen to our warnings.

#6 Eat healthy, feed your pet real and natural food

This one is a  real  no brainer.   Eating junk makes your cells get all clogged up,  intoxicated and ready to turn their division into chaos and anarchy – cancer.  If  we add the sleepy, intoxicated and weak immune  system into  the  equation, the  chances of cancer  are many times greater.

My favorite  book for people is called “Anti-Cancer   -  A New Way of Life”  by  Dr. Servan- Shreiber

When it comes to  your pet, I am in the final stages of finishing my upcoming book “ If Dogs Could Cook “  that will give you a simple and clear outline  on feeding your pet naturally.

In one sentence.  If you want to reduce the chances of cancer, do not  feed processed  food , no matter how  natural it is claimed to be.  There is nothing better  than whole food.

#7  Chemicals do not  belong  in our household or bodies.

Whenever I visit my friends or  family,  I find it so interesting that the degree of their  health  can often be measured  by the kind of cleaning products they buy for their household.

Most  chemical cleaning  products  do not  have all the ingredients  listed and buying them is a real crap shoot.  Many of them  are  carcinogenic or at least toxic and they  wreck  havoc  in the body.

The safest  way is to  simply avoid  any chemicals.  There are many natural and healthy alternatives  that  may be just  a few dollars more.  If you are on  a budget,  most  cleaning can be done with  vinegar, soda and natural castile soap.

I am sure your pets will also appreciate the absence of chemical odors and deodorants.

#8 Exercise

I  see physical activity,  fresh air or yoga as a form of flushing and purifying the body.  Every  cell  gets  more  blood and oxygen which increases cleansing.  Cells,  tissues and organs also love to be bathed in endorphins which our the “feel good “  mediators  released by  exercise.

The most difficult  part is to  get  used to the exercise and also stop listening to the voice in our head that tells us that we should not go because “everyone will be better than us, which you know is a big part of dodoo or an excuse to sit on the couch, watch TV and be miserable.  Remember that our ego thrives on the addiction to  suffering and will try to play game with us all the way.

Luckily, most dogs are always  in for a walk or a run.  We would do anything  to see  the happy  face and tongue  hanging out.  Cats  enjoy a regular outing  too and if it is cold or rainy, play with them indoors to make them move.

If you do not  exercise  regularly,  I  suggest you  stick it  out  for 2 – 3  weeks  until  a  good  habit  forms,  join a  yoga  or  gym class to get in the routine and don’t  forget to take your  best  friend out  for walks or  runs.

Pets can be the  best exercise plan you have  ever had.

#9 Do you do what you love to do?

I often wonder how  many people really love what they do.  Not that long  ago,  my nephew  came to me to share his  small business idea that  he and his  friends  came up with.   He was passionate about  his  plan and I could  see that he  loved the  idea.   Then he  paused  and said  something that  I will not  forget:  “ This business will be  a kind of  hobby that I don’t  intend  to make much money with.  I am also planning to get another job to earn a living.”

The crazy thing is that  there are many people who live their  lives  like this.  They have things  that  they  love to do  and then they have a job.

I urge you to not waste  one more day and start planning  your future work based on what you love to do… I know, it may not be as easy to get up and quit  the job that you don’t  like,  just  do not  wait too long and at least develop a plan.  I have seen many people who’s  work is their  hobby and they are the happiest and healthiest   folks  walking this  planet.

Sometimes, a radical  “job amputation”  is not really needed and a slight modification  to  your current  job does wonders.    In my case, I  have always loved working with people  and their  animals but  didn’t  like  managing my clinic and dealing with a high volume of  work  in order to  cover the high  clinic overhead.

All I needed to do was  to plan a gradual exit, sell my  clinic and  keep a small number of clients to carry me over while I started to work on  creating an  income flow  from  lectures,  writing and a natural animal supplement line that is presently  in the making.

As a result, the  weekends  and  weekdays merged  into  one  word  – life.

To summarize, do not waste your life with work that you do not like. Your hobby and your job should be one, if you go  against the flow of the river, your health will suffer.

#10  Let your gut  and your  heart guide you.

I am sure you know that voice in your head;  your ego, that constantly  tells you what you should or  should not  do,  how you should or  should not  behave while  deep inside,  you feel that this  voice doesn’t really know what is good for your soul. “

My favorite authors on this subject are Eckhart Tolle and Adya Shanti , who’s teachings provide such a great resource for living a simple life in alignment with your true self.

I often teach my clients,  how to recognize the right  answer  in  any decision making.  Just try to think of  a question and listen to the answer that comes before your mind starts interfering and editing it..

This  includes decisions about your  pets medical  care  and treatment.   Ask yourself if you are you trying to please someone or following your vet’s  suggestion  just  to please him or  not to  feel guilty.

Just listen to your gut and make decisions from your  heart.

#11 the connection between you and your pet

If you have ever seen a musician or a teacher using two  tuning forks,  you know that  if you hit  one , the  other will start resonating on the same  frequency.    If you have never seen this,  perhaps you have seen a married couple where both people start looking and acting the same after a certain  time.   They  simply start resonating  on the same frequency.

Your pet is not  any different.  It  absorbs your love and  joy  but also the  stress or unhappiness that you may feel.   If you want to have healthy pets,  make  sure that you look after your health first  and happiness first.  Their health and well being will follow.

#12  Law  of attraction

It is becoming clear that as much as we sometimes do not want to believe it,  we usually  get what we wish  for or  what  we fear.

I am  not  writing this blog post to make you suppress your fears  of  disease and  cancer in anyway.

Worrying about the health and safety of our  loved ones  is natural and all we  need to do is face our worry,  be kind to ourselves when it  happens,  explore the fears until they fade away  and replace them with our vision of the best possible outcome.

The truth  is that  cancer can happen to anyone – you, me or our  pets.  However,   if you live our  life doing what  you love, eat healthy food, exercise regularly and face  your fears instead of burying them , the likelihood that  we will hear the  C word  diagnosis is much, much less.

Remember, your pet is like a tuning fork. It resonates on the same frequency..