The Real Dr. Doolittle Show With Val Heart – Guest Kay Aubrey – Chimene on Reversing Animal Illness Through Detoxification and Internal Cleansing

This fascinating interview with Kay Aubrey-Chimene explores her extensive experience in reversing animal illness through Detoxification and internal Cleansing. Kay is a bio-nutritional consultant, owner & director of Grand Adventures Ranch and the Holistic Equine Wellness and Cancer Recovery Center.  According to Kay, cancer and other degenerative and terminal illnesses can be reversed by offering clean, natural diets and helping the animal detox their bodies.  Listen and learn what you need to know to avoid serious illnesses, cancer, diabetes, and many other problems like itchy skin, allergies, weight problems, and more.

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The Real Dr. Doolittle Show With Val Heart – Guest Temple Grandin on longhorns, autistic animals and a quick chat with Milo

Temple Grandin, longhorns, autistic animals and a quick chat with Milo, the dog, about why he runs into the glass door.

Today we talked about the revolutionary work Dr Temple Grandin is doing for the humane treatment of cattle.  Temple’s unique approach and insights to the world helps her understand animals from their own perspectives, and helps us be better humans.

Autism in people and animals is an increasing problem – there are many causes to be considered and ways to approach healing.  I shared the story of a dog who was autistic and what I did to help him recover.  I also shared the story of Bonnie and the injured longhorn – amazing!

Any animal lover can learn to communicate with animals, if they want to.  It’s critically important to learn how to talk with animals, to speak their language, to see life from their viewpoint.

Their health and well-being depends on us, as ours depends on them.  All are connected.  Enjoy!

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The Real Dr. Doolittle Show With Val Heart – Guest Mark Vincent on Living an Intuitive Life

Mark Vincent on intuition, seeing eye dogs, how animals reflect us… Mark is a reality designer and inspirational speaker who focuses on everyday solutions for everyday living.  Mark went blind when he was 5 years old, and has enjoyed the companionship of several seeing eye dogs.  Did you know your animals mirror you and carry your illness, stress and disease?  We discussed the Human Animal BodyMind Connections between us, and how they act as your teachers, healers and guides for our souls.

His unique, wonderful and very powerful perspectives on life, including learning to communicate intuitively with animals, will inspire and help you better manage stress — guiding you to create a healthier happier life!  We talked about what it is to be intuitive and how we can learn to listen to our intuitive voice, how to enjoy a whole body experience - resonating like a tuning fork!  Flow, Trust, and the art of Breathing helps connect us with our animals, learn from them and empowers us to discover our own soul gifts and life purposes.

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Tips in Dealing With Hot Spots On Dogs

Shandra Baker, author of Dog Grooming Secrets, brings us this important information on hot spots and what do about it if they show up on your dog(s).  Thank you Shandra!

HOT SPOTS

Hot spots are surface skin infections caused when populations of normal skin bacteria grow and overwhelm normal resistance.

They are generally circular patches that lose hair, can be swollen, may exude a smelly pus, and can be painfully itchy, causing the dog to scratch, lick, or bite to the point of self-mutilation.

Untreated hot spots can spread and provoke a normally even-tempered dog to growl or nip when touched.

These troublesome sores can seem to arise in a matter of hours with no warning, but they do tend to follow a pattern that helps in predicting their occurrence.

Dogs most susceptible to hot spots are those with heavy coats and histories of allergies, ear infections, flea infestations, irritated anal sacs, and grooming problems such as hair tangles and mats, but any dog can develop this infection.

http://www.doggroomingsecrets.org

Dogs in warm, humid climates may develop hot spots when they shed their undercoats if the dead hair is trapped next to the skin, and dogs with behavior problems may mutilate themselves by licking and thus encourage an infection to become established.

The most common locations for hot spots are the legs and feet, flanks, and rump areas that can be reached by licking or biting but these localized infections can also appear on ears, neck, and chest if the dog is continually scratching.

CAUSES OF HOT SPOTS

There is usually an inciting factor to initiate the extreme licking and scratching behavior. Look for fleas, mites, or other external parasites, an insect sting or bite, allergies or injury (skin wound, scrape, etc.).

Some animals have been known to “start” a hot spot out of boredom or stress-related psychological problems.

TREATING A HOT SPOT

Two approaches are necessary for dealing with hot spots: treat the sore and remove the underlying cause to prevent recurrences.

* Trim the hair around the sore to prevent further spread of the  infection and expose the edges of the lesion.

* Wash the area in a mild water-based astringent or antiseptic.

* Be prepared to use antibiotics or cortisone if the washing does  not give results.

* Consult your vet

According to some sources using ointments or creams are discouraged because they can seal the hot spot which will hinder the recovery.

Cocoa Mulch May Lead to Death for Cats and Dogs

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Target, Home Depot, Foreman’s Garden Supply and other garden supply stores contains a  lethal ingredient called ‘Theobromine’. It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die.

Although the mulch had NO warnings on the label, upon further investigation on the company’s web site, …this product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs and cats.

Cocoa Mulch is  manufactured by Hershey’s, and they claim that “It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual dog).  However, 98% of all dogs won’t eat it.”

Snopes site gives the following information: http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp

Theobromine is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker’s chocolate which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.

New Study Finds Animals Are MUCH More Complex Than We Thought

The ACCAW (Animal Communicator’s Coalition for Animal Welfare) announced a new study that shines light on the fact that animals are much more than the average preconceived notion that they are less intelligent and have fewer feelings than we humans.

To the scientific community, an animal is essentially still perceived as nothing much more than a robot with an array of chemical processes, without the ability to register much more than the crudest pain or fear–certainly none of the more complicated human feelings such as excitement, boredom, annoyance, anger or suspicion. Click on the link and read about a new study that debunks this, and tells what we already know.

http://www.theintentionexperiment.com/feeling-like-an-animal.htm

Equine Stomach Ulcers Still at 60%

Some horses do tend to suffer in silence.  I thought this article said it quite well how many horses are suffering with hidden illnesses and may be acting out not from misbehavior, but from pain.  This is a shining example of why it’s so important to talk directly with your horse often!

For the second year, a nationwide series of more than 160 gastroscopy events showed 60% of horses were identified with stomach ulcers, according to a press release from Merial.

“This is the second year that these scopings were able to show horse owners the type of potentially painful stomach ulcers that their horses have been dealing with,” said April Knudson, DVM, manager of Merial Veterinary Services. “Many times, horses are suffering in silence from stomach ulcers due to their natural tendencies as a prey animal to mask pain.”

Veterinarians evaluated the horses’ stomachs using gastroscopy. Throughout the year, 1,532 horses across the country participated. Overall, 922 horses from 37 states had some ulceration as identified by gastroscopy.

There are many triggers for stomach ulcer development, and stress is an important factor, Knudson said. Horses may experience stress when exposed to such situations as competition, training, travel, lay-up due to sickness or injury, shows or events, limited turnout or grazing, and trailering.

Ulcers can develop quickly, too. One study showed that horses can develop stomach ulcers in as little as five days.

The Death of High Fructose Corn Syrup

If you’re wondering what that slight tapping sound is, that’s us at Health Freedom Alliance patting ourselves on the back. And please do the same for yourself! The double whammy announcements that PepsiCo (PEP) is ditching high fructose corn syrup in Gatorade along with the results of a scathing new study from researchers at Princeton make it official – allies of the controversial sweetener have lost the war.

For years, the Corn Refiners Association, a trade group consisting of companies like Cargill and ADM (ADM), has been hammering away at the bad press gushing out about high fructose corn syrup. In ads, in the press and online, they argue that the sweetener is a perfectly natural product and that it is no worse for you than regular old sugar.

To which we at HFA and consumers have responded with a collective “Yeah, right.” Con Agra (CAG) is taking HFCS out of its Hunt’s ketchup, Kraft (KFT) is banishing it from Wheat Thins and you will no longer find it in Snapple drinks. It’s all in response to what food companies say is overwhelming consumer demand. “We know moms don’t like it, and they don’t want to feed it to their kids,” supermarket expert Phil Lempert told Ad Age. Last month, outraged San Francisco parents forced high fructose corn syrup out of chocolate milk in the school system. More products are sure to follow.

Now I personally think that’s news worth passing on to my blog readers!  HFCS is way high on the list of food NOT to eat!

Labrador Retrievers: Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy

There are various reasons why dog owners purposely breed their Labrador Retrievers. One reason is that their dog is up to breed standard and they want to produce a litter. Some dog owners want to improve the breed. In some instances unknown to the owner, breeding may also take place despite the fact that dogs may be carefully confined when they are in season. No matter what the reasons are, it is important to know the signs if your Lab is in the family way.

A female dog can only become pregnant if she is bred during her heat cycle. Canine cycle, referred to as the estrous cycle, has four stages. The first stage is proestrus in which the female dog is attractive to males, but not receptive to them. This stage generally lasts six to eleven days. This stage has already ended when the dog becomes receptive to the male and will stand to be bred.

The next stage is the estrus, the actual fertile stage in which the female dog is now receptive to male. This stage lasts five to nine days. This stage has ended when the female is not receptive to the male anymore. The third stage is the diestrus, a non-receptive time.  The last stage of the estrous cycle is the anestrus in which no ovarian activity took place.

Dog pregnancy generally lasts 60-65 days. Early signs of pregnancy in dogs include loss of appetite, sudden decrease in activity, nipple growth and behavioral changes. As the pregnancy progresses, further signs occur.

Three to four weeks into the pregnancy, you will notice an increase in appetite and weight gain by one month. Around five weeks, your dog’s nipples will develop and she will begin to look broader. Increase in abdomen size can be seen and uterine swelling around the placental sites that feels like firm and discrete lumps exist. During the last few weeks of pregnancy puppy movement can be felt and milk production begins.

Dog pregnancy can also be detected through x-rays, ultrasound or a blood test.  A blood test can be done by a veterinarian 30 days after being bred. In some cases, a female dog will display signs of dog pregnancy without actually being pregnant. That is why it is important to visit your veterinarian to confirm the pregnancy and that proper care will be given. Dog owners should always remember that their pregnant Labrador Retrievers need special care to make sure that they are ready when the time comes.

Richard Cussons writes articles about Labrador Retrievers and other dog breeds. Discover essential Labrador training tips at labradorsavvy.com.

What to Include in a Dog First Aid Kit

What is Dog First Aid? 

First aid involves removing the dog from the source of harm, preventing the worsening of the condition, restoring vital bodily functions, alleviating pain and distress, and helping recovery to begin.

Over-enthusiastic first aid can do more harm than good. Limit yourself to determining the seriousness of the dog’s condition, providing essential treatment, and then getting immediate professional help.

It is a good bet to create a pre-assembled pet first aid kit, and have it handy in case of emergency. Basic first-aid equipment should include:

1.  Adhesive tape

2.  Bacitracin ointment or antiseptic cream

3.  Bandages

4. Charcoal suspension – Administered orally to adsorb certain drugs or toxins to prevent or reduce their systemic absorption

5.  Cotton

6.  Diarsanyl for stomach soothing and rebalancing

7.  Ecotrin (or generic) coated aspirin  for pain or fever

8.  Gauze

9.  Hydrogen peroxide

10.  Kwik stop powder or cornstarch for bleeding nail/faulty pedicure administered by owner

11.  Muzzle

12.  Pepcid AC  for upset stomach

13.  Petroleum jelly

14.  Rectal thermometer

15.  Rubbing alcohol

16.  Scissors

17.  Tweezers

First Aid 101

The following steps should be following during any emergency situation with your pet.

1.      Remove dog from source of harm

2.      Prevent worsening of the condition

3.      Restore vital bodily functions

4.      Alleviate pain & distress

5.      Provide essential treatment

6.      Get immediate professional help

7.      Don’t panic, keep your wits about you

8.      Never use hydrogen peroxide or ointment on a wound

You can learn more about dog care in (yes dog care!) in The Dog Food Secrets.