Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 23, 2013

10

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

 Mountain Views News Saturday, February 23, 2013 


HELPFUL HOMEOPATHIC HINTS

FOR YOUR PET’S HEALTH

PET OF THE WEEK 

JESSOCA: #A4541628

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

 
Few pet owners I know are fortunate 
enough to say that their dog or cat has had 
no need to go to the vet for anything other 
than annual checkups or vaccinations. For 
whatever reasons that may apply, it seems 
we animal lovers are often off to the doggie 
doctor due to symptoms that require more 
healthcare attention than we ourselves feel 
qualified or knowledgeable enough to give. 
On the other hand, there are times when 
we might find an alternative that works 
even better than what the veterinarian 
recommends, but it just doesn’t come to 
mind. This is not so much because the 
doctor wants to keep things a mystery, but 
more because medicine is not necessarily a 
perfect science. We are all individuals with 
bodies that react uniquely to medications 
and treatment, therefore there are times 
when we must try various potential 
remedies before finding the one that works 
best for us.

 My bloodhound Tater has had an ear 
condition all her life. It is a perfect example 
of the point I attempt to make regarding 
potential alternative cures for canines. 
Bloodhounds tend to have ear infections 
more than most dog breeds, because 
their ears are so long and they have lots 
of extra skin around the scruff of their 
necks keeping moisture trapped inside the 
ear canal. This past year, we had quite a 
quandary with trying to clean up a vicious 
infection in Tater’s ears, mostly on the left. It 
started with a relatively mild yeast infection 
which rendered a rather disgusting black 
pasty substance that eventually made its 
way out of the ear canal, down the cheeks 
and to the chin, where it eventually infected 
the skin. Of course, I took Tater to the vet 
and followed all the proper protocols to get 
the infection cleared up, but at one point I 
got very busy with other things and let it 
go longer than I should have. As a result, 
Tater’s left ear ended up so sick with a green 
mucous growing in there, that I had to take 
her to emergency.

 Following that ordeal, there were yet more 
months of going to the vet to have Tater’s 
ears tended to and trying a plethora of 
meds with little or no lasting results. Finally, 
I decided to seek out some alternative 
remedies in hopes of finding a permanent 
cure. It’s a good thing I did, because I 
found something that not only helped heal 
Tater’s ears, but it also helped clear up the 
mucous that tends to gather around her 
eyes, as well as the itchy spots on her skin. 
The “miracle” remedy is so basic that it was 
hard to convince my fellow pet owners it 
actually worked. The solution turned out to 
be nothing more than a pro-biotic powder 
for domestic animals, designed to help 
maintain a healthy balance in the digestive 
system. “Geneflora” from cycles-of-life.com 
came highly recommended by my trainer, 
Connie Mackie (Dream Dogs Training Co. 
310-927-1508) and at first I was skeptical, 
having tried every anti-biotic available from 
my vet, and the product being so affordable 
it seemed there was no way it could possibly 
make a difference. Well, let me tell you, it 
worked!

 Allow me to clarify that I can’t give credit 
strictly to the pro-biotic product for the 
success I had with Tater’s ears, but I know 
it played a major part. I also continued to 
administer the ear drops recommended 
by the vet, and I added a daily regimen 
of cleaning her ears with a home-brewed 
concoction I conjured up myself. The home 
brew starts with about 5 cups of tap water in 
a pot on the stove, then I add a tablespoon 
of Dr. Bronner’s liquid peppermint soap 
along with clippings of fresh rosemary, bay 
leaf and eucalyptus from my yard. Finally, 
I add a few drops of bergamot essential 
oil (available at Carob Tree on Santa Anita 
Ave.) and a dash of white vinegar. I bowl the 
brew for a minute or two, then drop a soft 
cotton rag into the pot and let it soak. I use 
tongs to ring out the rag 
slightly and while it’s still 
steaming, I place it inside 
Tater’s ear until it cools, 
then I repeat the process 
until the ear appears 
clean. Afterwards, I apply 
the medicine prescribed 
by the vet, and give Tater 
a hug and a treat for 
being so patient with the 
process.

 Having had such a 
positive experience with 
an alternative treatment 
for Tater, I was inspired to look up more 
home remedies that might help keep our 
beloved pets healthy and happy. Here are 
a few morsels of holistic health wisdom 
I found. (Credit: animals.howstuffworks.
com/pets/home-remedies-for-dogs.htm)

. Bad Breath - Digestion can be 
partly to blame for a dog’s bad breath, so 
it can’t hurt to pep up the digestive process 
with whole grains. Try adding a little brown 
rice to your dog’s daily rations. Parsley is 
always a great way to hold halitosis at bay, if 
your dog is willing to eat it, so why not add 
a handful of that healthy leafy green to your 
dog’s dinner bowl?
. Constipation - Try adding a 
teaspoon of oatmeal or high-fiber cereal 
to your pet’s favorite nighttime delight. 
Pumpkin also helps keep things regular and 
most dogs love the taste of it, so including a 
tablespoon of cooked pumpkin is bound to 
do the trick. (No pun intended!) Also, don’t 
forget to fill Fido’s water bowl regularly and, 
one more helpful hint, give milk in limited 
rations.
. Worms & Other Parasites - Pets 
get parasites either from eating something 
containing the eggs of the perpetrator 
or being bitten by a carrier such as a fly 
or mosquito. As disgusting as it sounds, 
sometimes they contract worms from 
eating their own feces. Over the counter 
de-worming meds work pretty well, if 
administered correctly and consistently. 
In terms of prevention, clean up your pet’s 
poop immediately, add small portions of 
garlic to the diet to deter insects, and don’t 
allow your pet to drink from ponds, streams 
or lakes where insects and microscopic 
parasites breed.


 Lovely things do come in small packages! Meet Jessica (A4541628). 
Jessica is an endearing two year old red spayed female Teacup 
Chihuahua who was brought to the Baldwin Park Animal Care 
Center on February 8th. Weighing only four pounds, this well 
behaved girl trots well on the leash and is highly treat motivated 
so she will learn tricks quickly. Jessica is initially timid when 
meeting new people, but once she gets to know someone, she is a 
non-stop kissing machine! She is an affectionate and sweet little 
girl. Good with other dogs, we think Jessica is so tiny that she 
should not be around little children. Jessica is the ultimate purse 
and lapdog, and will make a phenomenal pet for an adult in any 
living situation. To watch a video of Jessica please visit: www.
youtube.com/watch?v=-AOhhnbWd2Q

 To meet Jessica in person, please see her at the Baldwin Park 
Animal Care Center, located at 4275 N. Elton St., Baldwin Park, 
CA 91706 (Phone: 626-430-2378 or 626-962-3577). She is 
currently available now. For any inquiries about Jessica, please 
reference her animal ID number: A4541628. The shelter is open 
seven days a week, 12 pm-7 pm Monday-Thursday and 10am-
5pm Friday-Sunday. This is a high-intake shelter with a great 
need for adoptions. For more information about Jessica or the 
adoption process, please contact United Hope for Animals 
Volunteer Adoption Coordinator Samantha at Samantha@
hope4animals.org. To learn more about United Hope for Animals’ 
partnership with the Baldwin Park Shelter through its Shelter 
Support Program, as well as the many dogs of all breeds, ages, 
and sizes available for adoption in local shelters, visit http://www.
unitedhope4animals.org/about-us/shelter-support-program/.


HEARTWORM 
DISEASE IN DOGS 
AND CATS

By Dr. Nicole Gueniat

Household pets can be hosts to 
many different parasitic organisms, 
internally and externally. A parasite 
that is potentially lethal occurs in both 
dogs and cats in Southern California. 
This parasite was not found west of the 
Rockies for many years, but as long 
ago as the1980’s it began its insidious 
and silent migration to the west coast. 
The parasite is the heartworm, its hosts 
are dogs and cats, and its carrier is the 
mosquito. Heartworm disease is also 
found in coyotes, foxes, and wolves and 
these wild animals serve as a reservoir 
for our pets.

Dogs and cats become infected when 
they are bitten by a mosquito that 
carries the larvae. After the bite, it takes 
about 7 months for the larvae to develop 
into adult worms that live in the heart, 
filling the chambers, obstructing blood 
flow and causing blood clots to form. A 
heavy infestation can be fatal. In cats, 2 
worms are enough to cause the death 
of the cat. The worms can get up to 7 
inches long. The treatment is unpleasant 
and has some 
risk as well, and 
in dogs consists 
of several doses 
of an arsenic 
compound. 
There is 
no specific 
treatment for 
cats. The adult 
worms lay eggs 
in the blood 
and these hatch 
into microscopic 
organisms called 
microfilaria. 
When a mosquito bites the infected dog 
or cat, it ingests the microfilaria in the 
blood and becomes infected.

The best way to protect your dog and 
cat is to start giving the preventive 
at 2-3 months of age and continue 
for life of your pet. There are oral 
monthly tablets and spot-on products 
that protect your pet for one month 
per dose. They should be given year-
round as mosquitoes can be present 
any time of the year in our climate. 
Heartworm preventatives are usually 
combined with products that treat pets 
for roundworms, hookworms, and 
whipworms, and sometimes external 
parasites too. Dogs should be tested 
every year to make sure an infection 
hasn’t occurred. Because heartworm 
tests for cats are not always reliable, the 
disease is commonly underdiagnosed. 
Sometime, sudden death is the only 
sign.

Your veterinarian is the best person to 
educate you about parasitic diseases 
in pets, the risks parasites present to 
people, and prevention strategies. The 
use of combination products that cover 
multiple parasitic organisms makes 
heartworm prevention simple and 
economical.


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