PetMeds^® Blog

Environmental allergens (such as ragweed, pollens, grasses, trees, molds,  etc) have long been suspected as being a major factor in flare-ups of canine seasonal allergic dermatitis (known as atopy).  Multiple routes of exposure include ingestion and inhalation but most recently contact and skin exposure has been considered a major role in intensity of allergic symptoms.

This highlights the important need for frequent application of topical therapy to remove the allergens and decrease penetration of the skin and subsequent itching and inflammation from these allergens. Therefore, I recommend frequent bathing with low allergy products on a routine basis to help relieve clinical symptoms and also help cut down on drug doses needed to control allergies.

In some affected patients bathing up to 2-3 times weekly is often quite helpful. Some of my favorite shampoos for this include 1-800-PetMeds Oatmeal and Aloe Vera Shampoo and Conditioner or Epi Soothe Shampoo and Epi Soothe Oatmeal Cream Rinse to name a few.

As with people, pets can sometimes become constipated for various reasons. These can range from inadequate fiber in the diet, metabolic diseases of the liver or kidney, electrolyte imbalances, dietary indiscretion/foreign body ingestion, lower spinal cord disease, anal sac disease, compressive masses, ingestion of too much hair. In cats, constipation can be caused by a problem known as megacolon, where the muscle of the walls of the colon in essence stops working.

While most pets have usually one to three bowel movements a day, some pets may only have bowel movements every two to three days. As long as there are no signs of abdominal discomfort, ineffectual urging for stools , and appetite/energy remain normal, then I wouldn’t worry about pets going a few days without a bowel movement. For those pets that are straining or having trouble passing bowel movements, there are some home remedies that animal guardians can try at home first, as long as signs are not that intense.

Adding some extra fiber to the meals, whether in form of Metamucil as a source of soluble fiber, or bran as a source of insoluble fiber, may help some pets. There is a wonderful commercial pet product called Vetasyl which is often used. Even a teaspoon or two of canned pumpkin added to meals can help some dogs or cats. Adding a teaspoon or two of olive oil to the diet can also help in some cases. However, if symptoms persist or intensify, a full veterinary workup, including blood work and X-rays should be done to rule out underlying causes of chronic constipation.

An often overlooked hormonal disease of dogs today is a condition known as Addison’s disease, which is an under active adrenal gland and fails to product adequate amounts of cortisol. This deficiency in cortisol is necessary for an appropriate stress response, as well as hormones necessary for appropriate water balance in dogs. This condition, which is often overlooked by veterinarians as a possible cause of chronic disease symptoms, has often been called “The Great Imposter” by veterinary endocrinologists, because it can mimic so many other more common diseases.

Addison’s disease is most commonly seen in young to middle aged female dogs of all breeds, particularly in Standard poodles. However, either sex can be affected, and I have on occasion seen this disease in geriatric animals as well. Symptoms can vary widely from dogs who are simply “poor doers,” having poor appetites with trouble maintaining their weight, to dogs who present circulatory shock and kidney failure without warning. Between these extreme presentations, many dogs will have waxing and waning symptoms of various digestive symptoms ranging from intermittent vomiting to intermittent diarrhea.

Any pet with symptom histories like those stated above should have an ACTH stimulation test done at by their veterinarian to rule in or out this disease. Many vets will often only consider this disease when they find a low blood sodium and high blood potassium levels on routine CBC/chemistry blood screens. However, many dogs can have normal blood electrolyte levels. Again, it is important that if a pet has a clinical history possibly compatible with this condition, that an appropriate ACTH stimulation test be completed whether or not blood sodium or potassium levels are abnormal.

If your pet is diagnosed with Addison’s disease and is not in advanced kidney failure on presentation, than prognosis is usually excellent with once-a-month injections with a drug called DOCP. Some clients will opt for oral pills called Florinef as an alternative. Both are relatively expensive, and at the same time very low doses of prednisone are often prescribed as well. With early diagnosis and effective treatment, prognosis for a long life is certainly favorable.

As I have written in other blog entries, one of the most important health care decisions an animal guardian can make for their pet is the type of diet they feed their pet from puppy/kitten hood and as they grow up. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, was quoted as saying, “Let food be thy medicine.” Nutritional imbalances, as well as deficiencies and toxic ingredients are major factors in the increase in chronic degenerative, autoimmune, and cancerous diseases in younger pets these days.

Also, as I have previously stated, veterinarians receive minimal formal training on nutrition in veterinary school. As a result, some veterinarians often make pet food recommendations based on what sales representatives tell them. Fortunately, in recent years, there has been a great expansion of wonderful quality and natural brand commercial pet foods that I have discussed in previous blogs, such as Be Well, Pet Guard and Wysong

However, an alarming trend that I’m noticing in the pet food industry is the process of corporate companies buying out previously reliable and trustworthy pet food companies, who may be more interested in profit over quality, at least from my perspective. Many pet food company giants include companies whose initial business began in various industries including toothpaste, chocolate, and ketchup. Just because these companies have excessively large marketing and sales forces does not mean that they are the healthiest choices for your pets.

And while one must always be vigilant when choosing a smaller pet food company which may make several wonderful claims, I would strongly recommend a consultation with a more holistically oriented veterinarian. For more information, I recommend visiting www.AHVMA.org for any questions you may have regarding which diet you should choose for your pet.

One of the most painful and frustrating diseases to treat in dogs is degenerative disc disease.  This common condition can be seen in any breed, but is particularly common in long-backed breeds which tend to gain weight, such as Dachshunds, Beagles, and Bassett Hounds to name just a few.

In healthy dogs, the disc material between the spinal vertebrae acts like shock absorbers in allowing smooth movement of the body. A variety of reasons ranging from obesity, over vaccination, overuse of certain topical pesticides, and genetics, have all played a role in the degeneration and mineralization of this disc material, leading to protrusion of the disc material on the overlying spinal cord. This causes varying degrees of spinal cord compression, pain, inflammation, and gait abnormalities.

In the worse case scenario, complete paralysis of the limbs can occur, often requiring immediate emergency surgery.  In other more common cases, disc diseases will flare-up periodically with an unpredictable severity and course. Many dogs are in such pain that we are left prescribing either nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like Rimadyl, Previcox, Deramaxx, or even stronger cortisone type drugs.  Muscle relaxants like Methocarbamol, as well as mild narcotic derivatives such as Tramadol are also often prescribed.

It should be known, however, that none of these drugs are long term solutions for dogs because in some instances the pain returns with often worsening symptoms. That’s why there is no condition that is crying out more for complimentary or holistic veterinary medical options than dogs with chronic back or disc problems.  Modalities like chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy and physical therapy can all potentially help those cases where drugs alone have failed.

In situations where your only conventional medical option is a $10,000 dollar surgery, I would always try other holistic modalities first, unless surgery is absolutely necessary or your pet is in a paralysis crisis. Nutritional supplements, including Omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants like Proanthozone, as well as Yucca Intensive can also ease discomfort in some patients and be safely used long term.   To locate a veterinarian skilled in these modalities see www.AHVMA.org or www.theAVH.org