[Dori]

Hi Betsy. I wish I lived closer to you too. I asked my traditional vet about chiropractic or acupuncture and could they recommend someone in the Atlanta area and I was told that No, they didn’t know of any. I love those guys and gals but I can’t believe that that was true so I’ve googled best chiropractic/acupuncturist for dogs in my area and it would just be a shot in the dark. I don’t want to wind up in any situation like Cyndi did with Bailey and some nut job quack who is going to do more damage than good but I don’t have much of a choice. I have swear by chiropractors for myself but don’t know anyone local that uses one for dogs. I’ve been thinking that it might be helpful for her just don’t know where to go. As I said, I don’t want to make her worse and we all know how many quacks are out there.

[Dori]

Hey Patti. Another quick question. Do you think a chiropractor or acupuncturist would help with Hannah’s condition or am I just reaching for straws?

[Dori]

So Patti. Are there any type or specific supplements that you can think of that might help Hannah? I’m having a hard time dealing with the fact that I can’t believe the years have passed so quickly. Seems like last week that she was a puppy. She’s totally healthy with everything. I mean, she runs around, plays, barks at anything that moves, plays with her toys and the other dogs. She runs up and down the stairs. The only thing she can no longer do is jump onto the sofa or the bed (our bed) so I’ve got the little doggy stairs all over the house so she can get to all her favorite places. Thanks for any help and advice. I know swimming would be good for her but I’ve been bathing her for over 14 years every 7 to 9 days and she has never ever been great with her baths. Actually she hates water, before we moved to this house we used to have a pool but the trauma she would undergo when I would have her swimming with me with incredibly difficult for her so I stopped. Now we don’t have a pool. She also hates going out in the rain.

[Dori]

And don’t forget to consider the ingredients in any treats you’re giving your dog. Sometimes we get so concentrated on the food we forget the treats we or others may be giving your dog.

[Dori]

Hi Pugsonraw. How did the Advanced Hip and Joint Springtime supplement work out? Have you seen any improvement? I’m thinking of using this on Hannah. She’ll be 15 years old on 9/9/14. I rotate her supplements as well as her foods so I’m always on the look out for supplements that some may be having some luck with. She’s got arthritis, a couple of degenerated discs center spine, but lately I’ve noticed that the swing in her gait seems to be coming more from her hips than her legs. She’s also developing a tremor in both back legs. She had it a while back but it would only be one back leg or the other. Now it’s both back legs trembling when she’s standing still. Thanks, Dori

[Dori]

Hey! C’mon Marie, we ‘ve got to sprinkle flowers and laughs along life’s path. And some vines.

[Dori]

LMAO! losul, maybe he did mean twolips? I’ll shall check further on this and report back.

Glad we could give you some chuckles losul we all know how much you are going through right now.

[Dori]

Ditto, Cyndi.

[Dori]

Hey Marie. Just checked my facebook and didn’t see anything from you. It’s now about 8:15 pm eastern time.

[Dori]

the wave petunias (my husband put tulips in my head. sorry.

[Dori]

Yep! Marie, we’ve got to come up with some other stuff for your naked front torso. And the wave tulips are gonna need a lot of hanging vines below the breasts. You’ll understand what I’m talking about when you get into your sixties. So, remember, wave petunias, and lots of hanging ivy. Love ya Marie. You make me not only smile but out and out laugh out loud. I really need you and your posts. I think we may be kindred spirits. Or another sister from another mother. HEE HEE! My email, by the way, is dora@hassett.com My Facebook is dorihassett. Love and chuckles. My husband loved the idea of the hanging petunias but was wondering if I thought I could make that happen with tulips (his favorite flower). I did mention that tulips wilt in a day and I was hoping not to emphasize the wilting part. Again, laugher from the man and he said, well, think about it, I love tulips. Ha Ha

[Dori]

OH!!! Did I forget to mention that I’m obsessed with Candy Crush? That’s typically what I’m doing between 3:30 – 4:30 a.m. I refuse to spend any money for the extras and some of the levels drive me crazy. I swear I’m done no more Candy Crush for me. But, come the early hours of the morning and I pick up my iPad thinking I’ll get through this level this time. No so. Been stuck on the same level for EVER!!!!

[Dori]

Oh Marie, that’s so funny. Yes, I’m face book. I don’t remember to go there as often as I should. I think I’m spending too much of my free time here. Hanging planters. LMAO! I LOVE IT! Can’t stop giggling. Gotta tell hubby, he’s gonna crack up.

[Dori]

Marie, ha ha. I’m 65 with sagging skin getting saggier by the hour. Of course if I wasn’t so opposed to excersizing (I’m lazy and would rather do other things) and getting all sweaty maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Ain’t gonna happen. I do rather like your idea of saggy decorated skin. I’ll have to rethink this issue.

[Dori]

My dogs, my dogs, my dogs. Let take a lot of my time. Researching dog nutrition, training them and lots of play time. I love to read, I’m a big fan of music, almost every type of music. I always have music playing in the house and in the car. I love to garden been now that my autoimmune illness has gotten so bad I’m not allowed in the sun at all even with sunblocks, hats, etc. So I’m an evening, nighttime gardener now. I’ve been an insomniac since my sons passing (8 years on Aug. 1st) so I’m obviously not a morning person and can’t garden in the early hours. Love old movies, the classics. Oh, and I paint. Haven’t done that in almost 8 years or so. I guess I should say I used to paint. I keep saying I’m going to get back to it but something else always comes up. Namely, the dogs, of course. Having three long haired dogs I’ve recently signed up for a course in dog grooming. It gets quite expensive having them professionally groomed every 6 or so weeks. The only thing I think I’ll leave to the vet tech is their nail clipping. All three dogs have black nails. I tried it once on a different dog with black nails, she bled and screamed, I screamed. Ain’t doing that again. We were both screaming. Now I look back and can giggle. Tracy would stop screaming but then she’d look at me and start screaming again so I would start again. That was my first and last attempt at clipping a dogs nails. For some odd reason all dogs I’ve had, that I can remember, have had black nails. Hmmmm?

Marie. I’ve only got one tattoo to your 30 or so. I’d love to get more but at my age and sagging skin I think they’d look pretty creepy in too short a time.

[Dori]

Great post Shasta220. You’re right about everything you said.

[Dori]

As far as I know it is also illegal other than your own fenced in property to have your dog off leash. For a self proclaimed dog whisperer he seems to be doing a lot of things wrong. As I’ve said before, there is absolutely no reason to use a pinch or worse a choke collar. If you spend the hours working with your dog on leash (a no pull harness if necessary) I’ve never known anyone who couldn’t train their dog to walk politely on their side or a little behind with a loose lead. Most people are just lazy and don’t want to take the time and effort. It’s a lot. The fact that he walks nicely off leash next to him is obviously not an accomplishment in my eyes. Fact is if you or others walk his dog for him when he’s not available you’re either being dragged down the street or the dog is constantly being choked. That’s not training, that’s punishment. The dog should not be continually punished because his owner didn’t take the time and effort to train him on a leash.

[Dori]

I meant to say I’m sorry your friend puts a pinch collar on his dog. I’m against any type of cruelty to animals and that is one I believe is cruelty. Your friend should have spent time training his dog not hurting him. Those pinch collars hurt, that’s how they work. A lot of people will say (people that use them) oh, no they don’t hurt the dog. He’s got a strong neck. Seriously????? They work because the dog is smart enough to know that he’s hurt and stops pulling for that moment.

[Dori]

Sorry I had missed the microchip part. Glad that he’s microchipped. Very sorry to hear that your dog puts a pinch collar on him. They actually make a “NO PULL” Harness for dogs that pull. It works like a dream. I had to use that for awhile years ago on our crazy Tibetan Terrier when she was younger. I used it for training purposes and so that I wouldn’t be pulled down and hurt. She eventually learned to walk like a lady on a regular harness. She was the only non toy/small dog I ever had. Tibetan Terriers are smart, stubborn, tough and incredibly strong cookies. But she was a dream come true. She’s been gone almost 8 years now and I miss her everyday.

[Dori]

Aleksandra. I’m glad you’re trusting yourself. Bruno should wear a collar ONLY for his tags when outside. A harness for walking always and “naked” at home. With the exception of one dog in my life all my dogs throughout my life have been toy or small dogs. It’s very dangerous to walk them on a collar and its not because they are puppies but because they are small dogs and their tracheas are prone to collapse. Your dog whisperer roommate may never had had truly small dogs or just doesn’t know any better. We don’t use collars on puppies because they’re puppies or harnesses on puppies because they’re cute. We use harnesses on small and toy dogs because it’s medical safer for the dog. It’s always important also to get the harness for his size. They’re always adjustable to a point but you don’t want one that is either too loose or too tight. When Bruno fills out completely then you’ll be able to get him a harness that will last him a long time. Also there are so many cute and fun ones out there. But for now while he’s still growing and filling out stick with one. So happy you decided on the harness for outside and “naked” indoors. I don’t remember whether Bruno is microchipped. If he’s not you may want to give that some thought. All my dogs have been micro chipped. I’ve been doing that with all my dogs since they became available many many years ago. None of them ever suffered any type of ill effects from being micro chipped.

[Dori]

Hi Lynne F. I would recommend that you purchase the PH strips readily available through Amazon and other sites. It would be less expensive in the long run than taking urine samples to the vet. Other than that I would follow pugmomsandy’s advice.

[Dori]

I rotate foods and supplements. Three of the glucosamine/chondrotin supplements that I use with my 14 1/4 year old Maltese are: Dasuquin with MSM, Actistatin Canine Extra Strength and GlycanAid HA. If your dog has a chicken intolerance then I would not give her the K9 with chicken flavoring. It may do more harm than good. I think she probably would have an issue with it. I have a dog with chicken allergies/intolerances and she cannot have anything with any kind of poultry flavoring or ingredients of any sort. The three above are very good. I’ve done a lot of research. I go through a bottle of one and then rotate onto another and so on and so forth.

[Dori]

Hi Kvee. I should also add that although initially raw (at least commercial raw) may seem more expensive than kibble, you feed much less raw than you would kibble so that makes up for a lot in the cost. Also it’s astounding how fewer visits you make to the vet which is always incredibly expensive. Since my dogs have been eating raw they only go to the vet for their annual physicals. My older girl (14 1/2 year old Maltese has hypothyroidism so she goes ever six months for a thyroid panel check).

[Dori]

I happen to think that The Honest Kitchen is a fabulous food. It’s not a raw diet. It’s dehydrated. You add water to it and let it rehydrate. It’s the only non raw food I feed my dogs. The Honest Kitchen is one of only two pet foods that can legally say they are 100% USDA human grade food, mostly organic fruits and veggies made in a human food plant. They other is Weruva canned foods. Weruva can no longer guarantee that their cans have no BHA so I don’t use them, besides the bha they also contain carrageen (sp?). I always keep The Honest Kitchen on hand in case I have forgotten to defrost raw. Typically I keep Zeal on hand. One of my dogs is allergic to ingredients in their other formulas. Another of their formulas that is good is Preference. All it’s missing is the protein so you an add any protein you want. It’s also good for a change for them to lower their fat intake. Raw has a high fat content. Darwin’s (a home delivered only raw food) has the lowest fat content that I am aware of. I rotate everything with my dogs. Food, supplements, oils, etc. Whatever ingredient they may be missing or low on one product I’m hoping they’ll get from the next. Also I feel it gives them a healthier gut and immune system.

[Dori]

I had a friend that had the sweetest Papillon ever. He was just adorable. Anyway he gave him a greenie jumped in the shower and when he came out Spenser was dead. Right outside the bathroom door. He suffocated on a chunk of the green it all happened very quickly. It wasn’t a small piece of one it was a whole new one he had just given him. This was about seven years ago. They claim they have changed the formula since then but I wouldn’t chance it.

[Dori]

I’m doing 100% raw. They seem to do best on raw. I’m not messing with a good thing. It’s taken me too many years and too many grey cells to get to this point. There’s no going back now. Also vet loves how healthy and great they look.

[Dori]

Patty’s absolutely correct. Your vet didn’t tell you what type of crystals they were? I don’t understand how you’re going to prevent the crystals in the future if they didn’t tell you what kind of crystals they are.

[Dori]

What type of water do you have? Is it well water? In any event you should test the ph level of the water. Dogs oh requirements are different than ours. I once had a dog many years ago that would develop urinary crystals. After many vet visits many many different foods and lots of money and specialists it finally occurred to me that it might be our well water. Well water contains many many minerals. Anyway, I started giving him bottled water and voila. No more crystals in his urine. I don’t know why it took me so long to figure it out. He was subjected to more than one surgery for crystals until suddenly it hit me that I’d done everything that I could think of other than the obvious. His water was the culprit. I then started having water delivered because it was easier and less expensive than buying and lugging individual bottles of water home as I knew this would be on going for either the rest of his life or until we moved. He never got crystals again.

[Dori]

Please know that you are in my heart and in my prayers. Having lost dogs, I know that right now the pain seems inconsolable but words are all we have to offer. The excruciating pain lessons through time but Dixie will be forever with you. I’m so very sorry. Dori

[Dori]

I’m so excited for you and the lucky new addition to your family. Keep us posted.

[Dori]

The only time any of my dogs have ever had to be dewormed was when they were new puppies. Other than that they get a fecal exam done once a year during their annual physical. Always negative.

[Dori]

I’m so happy to hear that Bruno is on the mend. As soon as you seen that Bruno is back to normal you can start reintroducing the stuff you were adding to his diet. I would start slowly just as you did in the beginning and let him adjust to additives one at a time. Just not too much too soon. Before you know it he’ll be back to enjoying everything the way he was before. Just make sure all the chews are USA and nothing from China (re the fine print). Sometimes there’s like a big american flag on the front only to read in the fine print that it was packaged in the USA but ingredients are from China. Again, happy Bruno’s getting better.

[Dori]

Hi Aleksandra, was thinking of you and Bruno and wondering how the little guys doing? How was his night? Hope things are getting better. Dori

[Dori]

Awwww. He’s still a baby. You have to be careful at this stage. Too many different types of treats at the same time will always upset their tummies. Do forget he’s still a puppy puppy and not completely fully developed with everything working as it should. At first when I have puppies what I use for treats is their own kibble. For one. They don’t know the difference and dogs love to eat anyway. Second is that you know it works, he’s not allergic to it and his system tolerates him. When he gets older if you want to use something else as a treats for training find one that is teeny tiny since you’ll be giving him quite a few and keep his training sessions initially to around 10 minutes at a time. They say that the first 10 minutes in training is when they get the most out of it. You can then let him rest or play for a couple of hours and then train again for another 10 minutes. You can lengthen his training time once he’s older. Just keep in mind that he’s a baby. Small dogs mature way way slower than large dogs. Some small dogs are still considered puppies until they reach the age of four. Some really large dogs at four are almost considered middle age. I’ve had some dogs that I’ve always trained with their own tiny kibble. It’s almost still so surprising how much effort they’ll expend to get a tiny piece of treat. But they love the praise from mommy and daddy. I’m telling you, they really are like little babies and toddlers. That’s a good thing for you to always remember. They are helpless and you have to pretty much always make the right decisions for them. A lot of people through the years have made statements to me that they didn’t realize they were doing something wrong, that their dog really liked it. Just cause he liked it doesn’t mean it was good for the dog or that maybe one would have been good but more…not so good. I love hot fudge Sundays but I’m pretty damn sure more than one is gonna make me really really sick.

[Dori]

I’ve forgotten, how old is Bruno now?

[Dori]

Yep. I think it would be best to just feed him twice tomorrow. Space out his meals to give his system a chance to heal and settle. Don’t be surprised if the first few poops tomorrow and the next day are soft. That’s just his system healing and trying to work again. Take it slow and he’ll be just fine. I’ve had many dogs throughout my life and sometimes these things happen. If he does ok tomorrow then the next day you should be able to work him back to three meals and then four if that’s his usual routine. I really would advise against adding pasta or anything else. Remember you don’t want him to have to work overtime right now digesting different things. You’ll see Bruno is going to be fine.

[Dori]

Oh! Uncooked rice is a DEFINITE no no. You don’t want the rice or anything else for the matter, swelling in his stomach. That’s exactly why theBCnut said to use 1/4 of his kibble, soak in warm water and mush it up. You want it to be easy for him to eat and digest. I would not feed him again at lunch time. I would definitely wait until his dinner time. It takes a while for the gut to heal (just like people when we’ve had a bad reaction to something we’ve eaten, we usually just start with a little bit of food and wait quite a while until we eat again). His digestive system has to adjust again. And please don’t over feed him. Again, it will make matter worse. Also, don’t feed him anything new. Just his regular kibble. Once he’s well completely, just feed him his regular food for a few days. I think you gave him all together way to many treats and too much variety and his system couldn’t take it.

[Dori]

Hi Aleksandra. If I were you I would follow Patty’s (theBCnut) instructions to the letter. Don’t add pasta, bread, rice cooked or uncooked, whatever. It’s going to make matters worse. He’s gut has to heal and you’re just going to make it worse instead of better. What I’ve done in the past that has worked is exactly what theBCnut (Patty) suggested.

Good Luck
Dori

[Dori]

Forgot to mention I’m glad your getting x-rays taken. If it shows nothing then that’s another thing to check off the list. Finger’s crossed. Thank God Turbo’s young and healthy. I think he’s going to be just fine. I’ve been reading a lot about Turbo’s condition and apparently HW is quite treatable and there have been more successes than not. The ones that were not successfully able to be treated were starting out with other underlying conditions and/or old so organs were already compromised.

[Dori]

Hi Losul. First, how’s Turbo doing and have you been able to calm down a little? I hope so.

I really appreciate that in the midst of what you’re going through you’ve taken the time to get info for me and pass it along. I came out at the same conclusion that you did but you have no idea how gratified I am that they are your findings also. I’ve been doing a lot of research also on the different HW meds since Turbo was diagnosed and decided that since I have to do something, and living in the South, I will do it all year long long.

I do have another issue that I’m really taxing my brain over. I know a lot of you don’t like the idea of HW med that includes the flea ingredient. But living here in Georgia we have a lot of mosquitos, and fleas. Because we don’t normally get cold freezing weather for enough days in a row (this winter being the exception) nothing, and I do mean nothing, seems to die. I’ve gotten mosquito bites myself in the dead of Winter here. Fleas are pretty much a year round thing. Ticks? Not so much. I need some thoughts on my situation and my girls. Do I go with just the HW med or HW and flea? I’m mostly concerned about Katie getting flea bites with all her allergies she would probably have a pretty bad reaction. Good Lord! I sometimes feel this will never end. I go to sleep thinking of all these issues and wake up with the same thoughts wondering “Did I actually fall asleep?” or has these been some really long nights. Of course, if it’s not only these issues then there’s the food issues (allergy dog to food and environment, scents, you name it she can’t handle it). Then there are the supplements. Katie has started scratching again, no change in food, no fleas or anything on her. I started removing supplements one at a time for a couple of days and it seems she’s not doing well with the Mercola digestive enzymes. The other two are doing fabulous. I didn’t know they could have a reaction to digestive enzymes. I swear this little girl is going to have me pulling out what little hair I have left. Shawna referred to Katie as a delicate flower. I wish those were my kind thoughts of Katie. But she’s so damn cute, sweet, and with all her issues she’s just the happiest “go with the flow” little girl I’ve ever had the pleasure of having in my life. Not to mention it was because of her that I found this site (whilst pulling some hair out, mine, not hers) and my other two girls have been the beneficiaries of this fabulous site and my goto fabulous/wealth of knowledge posters. Thank you again for being so caring not only about your dog but all dogs. Some of you posters are so amazing.

[Dori]

I agree with Marie. I too believe it’s a neurological disorder. You should, though, have her thyroid levels checked just to rule that out. I once had a Tibetan Terrier, Tracy, that was as sweet a dog you could ever want, also at the same time a Maltese (she’s now 14 1/2 years old). They were best buddies, played together, slept together on our bed, loved each other. Then one day for no apparent reason whatsoever, and trust me, I’m very observant and a great detective when it comes to figuring out why my dogs do what they do and where and what they’re up to at all times, Tracy went after Hannah. Grabbed her, started shaking her and scared the crap (literally) out of Hannah. Hannah was unhurt thank God but at that point Hannah was terrified of her. She was very careful to take the long way around a room, behind furniture, etc. if she wanted to go anywhere. Tracy also was in wait trying to attack her. It was a horrifying situation for all of us, obviously, most of all for Hannah but I have to say that I always felt that poor Tracy seemed like she didn’t know what was coming over her and what was happening. Finally at the age of 10 she was diagnosed with Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL). Common signs of NCL is the development of aggressiveness toward other dogs and sometimes eventually, but not always, people. She was diagnosed after seeking help from a neurologist. Tracy finally succumbed to liver cancer which I was later told could also have contributed to her developing aggressive behavior. NCL is a neurological disorder that is prevalent in some breeds. It breaks my heart to have to tell you that Corgi’s are one of those breeds. There is no cure. It is what it is. If you google the disorder in canines, there is a site that will give you the list of the breeds. I believe that you are dealing with NCL.

[Dori]

Have you tried feeding her a commercial raw for cats? There are a few out there. She might like that. I don’t have cats but I thought I’d put that suggestion out there for you. My sisters and brothers have cats. I’m the only dog person in the family now. I’m allergic to cats, also to dogs which is why I have “hypoallergenic dogs” Maltese, Maltipoo, Yorkipoo.

[Dori]

I, too, use much lower doses than suggested on the different supplements. My girls are all toys, and I feel that they don’t need the dosing recommendations of the jars. I also don’t add them to every meal (they eat twice a day). Depends on what I’m feeding them on any given day. I don’t use a protein booster because they are all on a raw diet and their diets are all pretty high in protein to begin with.

[Dori]

I like Mercola supplements. I use Mercolas complete Probiotics for Pets and Mercolas Digestive Enzymes. I trust both Dr. Mercola and Dr. Karen Becker. I also supple with Nature’s Logic Sardine Oil two or three times a week. If I give my girls whole canned sardines in water than I don’t add the Sardine Oil. I do supplement with Coconut Oil every day. Coconut oil does not, it is my understanding, interfere with their diets or any other oil. Coconut Oil is more of a antioxidant. Works differently than fish oil. I prefer sardine oil to other oils and my girls do well on these supplements. One of my girls gets glucosamine/chondritoin daily and supplements from Ark Naturals (Grey Muzzle) for heart and cognitive function (that’s my 14 year old girl). Oh, my 14 year old Maltese gets Nzymes antioxidant daily. Hope any of this helps. It’s what I do for my girls. Works for them anyway.

[Dori]

I feed commercial raw as well as home cooked raw. I feed both Primal Pronto Beef, and Lamb. They make other proteins but one of my girls has allergies to all things poultry so those are the two I stick to. I also feed Darwins. Darwins is less expensive and also less in fat content. I have three toy dogs. One is a 14 1/2 year old Maltese, 4 1/2 year old Maltipoo and 4 year old Yorkipoo. I have to admit that they are all chow hounds and have never met a meal they don’t inhale and certainly haven’t turned down. They have done equally as well with Primal as they have with Darwin’s. I feed a rotational diet so both Darwins and Primal as well as other commercial raws are in my freezer. Primal Prontos are geared to be able to scoop and serve. It is raw but little bits (somewhat like the size of kibble) and defrosts very quickly on the kitchen counter in their bowls which is really very convenient when I’ve forgotten to take some other raw from the freezer. Doesn’t happen often but it does happen.

[Dori]

Losul. I’ve learned from, as you called them, my trials and tribulations that if your not moving forward, you’re standing still. Looking back is not a good thing. What you could have done differently does not change the outcome that you are now living. All we have is the here and now which is why I’ve urged you to look forward optimistically and know that you are making the best decisions for yourself and for Turbo. Second guessing yourself at every juncture will not move you forward that will only keep you and Turbo at a stand still and that’s not of any help to anyone. I have a feeling that my knowledge of you from all your previous posts is that you’re a pretty together person and you know the path you think is right. Just take it and be well.

[Dori]

OMG! Losul. It takes a lot to offend me at my age and my life experiences and I never took offense to anything you said or any advice you asked for. As I said, I’ve gone through a lot in my life at my age very little, trust me, offends me and it would certainly not be from someone who is genuinely seeking help for a loved one. Please don’t give it a second thought. It didn’t even occur to me to be offended. My life experiences could be coming from a unique experience as my son had been born with Hemophilia (spontaneous mutate when I was born) and at the age of 3 years old I took medical courses and took over his home intravenous infusions and then in 1997 I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder which I believe were due to going through enormous amounts of stress with my son, my mother was diagnosed at the age of 90 with ovarian cancer, and I was going through menopause all at the same time. Both my mother and my only child, my son, have since passed. I say all this to let you really know. No offense taken, just trying to help with whatever I can do.

[Dori]

Again, Losul, I would insist on x-rays and ultra sound. Yes, doctors can listen to you with a stethoscope but can they REALLY know what’s going on with further testing be it x-rays, ultra sound or whatever. I can only go by what I go through myself with my medical issues but are we really so different than our furry family members. Not really. Not in diagnosing illnesses and the extent to which they have ravished our bodies or not. I certainly would not be content with a doctor holding a stethoscope to me listening to my heart and lungs and giving me a diagnoses. I want details. Some doctors are excellent and they still order tests. My doctor is head of his department at Emory Medical University Center in Georgia but he would still and always does order every test under the sun. X-rays, ultra sounds, CT scan, MRI’s. Funny thing is, if he made suggestions without further testing I would follow his lead. But, he’s been my doctor for this illness for the past 11 years and he was a student of my doctor at Cornell with I lived in NYC. Gottta trust your doctor (vet) or go with more testing.

[Dori]

I’m not Aimee, Patty, HDM or Shawna. Just me. Though I may choose to vaccinate in some areas and not in others, one thing that I always do is yearly blood work. In Hannah’s case (14 1/2 year old Maltese) I have blood work done every 6 months. In my estimation it’s very important. It’s the guide we have to go by. It’s just too dicey too let much time go by. I always go by what my dogs look like and their behavior but I need to trust blood work to catch anything going on internally. I don’t want to come late to the party if you get my meaning. I want to catch things earlier rather than later. I don’t do much vaccinating other than rabies (it’s the law and I do try to be a law abiding citizen….the 60’s flower child in me has somewhat left me) but there are so many other issues that can crop up undetected.

[Dori]

Sentinel. milbemycin oxime/lufenuron/praziquantel. Dosing is every 30 days for the area of the U.S. that I live in. Even Dr. Karen Becker states that at Healthypets Mercola. She suggests milk thistle (has dose on her site) starting the day after for seven days. It’s all so confusing. Some say yes and agree with her and others state that it changes the efficacy of the Sentinel. Can increase or decrease it’s effects. Exhausting. I cannot imagine how you’re holding up. Make sure you keep yourself nutritionally well, you’re going to need it. You need to keep in good shape for yourself, family and Turbo.

[Author]

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