This is one of the scariest things to ever deal with in your beloved pet.  Your not sure what is going on ………

It is very important to keep a record of the events (or even better to video tape an event for your vet) in order to help find the reason for the seizures.  If you can’t video, try to write everything down as you remember it; the onset, what might have triggered it, how long it lasted, the dogs reaction (did it start with back end weakness, somewhere else, etc.)

This is all very important for diagnosis.

It can be a number of reasons; epilepsy, allergies, cilliac disease and others.

Here is a link for more info:

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/seizures-general-for-dogs/903

I recently read about using an icepack during an episode to cut down on the stress and duration of the seizure.  I know people on line that have used this method with success and it sounds great.

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/icepack.htm

I so hope this blog will help someone dealing with seizures in their beloved dog.

If you see some type of episode with your dog and you are not sure of what it is, or if it may be a seizure, please contact your vet immediately.

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

First of all your breeder (if you got your pup from a “reputable breeder”) should have informed you of the overbite prior to your picking up your pup.

Many overbites, seen at 8 weeks of age (by the breeder and their vet), will correct as the pup grows.

Some may not and may need surgery in the future, as young as 6-8 months of age.

Here are pics of a pup that needed surgery so you have an idea of what you are up against and/or if your pup may need surgery.

[IMG]http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r220/Snowco/RIMG0447.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r220/Snowco/RIMG0445.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r220/Snowco/RIMG0449.jpg[/IMG]

(I am sorry but you may need to copy and paste the pics above as I can not get them to come thru on the blog.  They are worth lo0king at)

If you look close the third pic you will see a spot on the roof of the dogs mouth where the canine was beginning to puncture the roof of the mouth. (upper right side of the roof)

This is the reason the pup needed to have surgery and have that canine removed, to prevent further damage.

There are other options for dogs with overbites.  You need to see a vet that has experience with this or a canine dentist.

Please do not let something like this go unchecked.  It can cause horrible health issues to your pup if you ignore it.

Ask your vet to refer you to a specialist or a dentist for a second opinion to be sure you are doing what is best for your pup.

I have heard that keeping a young pup with an overbite, from 8 weeks of age, carrying around a tennis ball as often as possible can help his overbite to correct as the pup grows.  But you must be diligent with that tennis ball.

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

Some of you may have read my blog on Stem Cell Injection (SCI).

RMR is less invasive as the dog does not need to be put under anesthesia to get their own cells for the SCI.

I know SCI does benefit arthritis and dysplasia, among other things.  But I am not sure that RMR would benefit dysplasia, although it seems from my research that it would benefit arthritis.

Individuals who suffer from arthris experience a loss of bone cartilage.

http://medivetdirect.com/index.php?main_page=product_music_info&cPath=37&products_id=124

“Growth factors and peptides proteins have been constructed to assist the repair of organs, damaged and injured muscles, tendons and bone cartilages, nerve tissues, skin tissues and to aid in the total rejuvenation of the body.”

I know a couple of people who have done the RMR with good results.

http://www.medivet-america.com/pdf/StemVetRMR.pdf

“It is designed to promote accelerated repair and effective healing of internal injuries and wounds to enhance and maintain general health and wellness in all animals.”

“StemVet science – RMR promotes the activation of the dormant stem cells existent in the animal’s body. It has been scientifically proven that dormant stem cells are more potent than active stem cells within the body. This extra potency, once activated, creates a boost in the immune system so the repair to damaged internal organs and muscle tissues are accelerated. There juvenation and regeneration of cells is also enhanced through the activation process.”

“All mammalian animals in the Animal Kingdom can benefit from the use of Stemvet science – RMR. Whether an animal is large or small, a performance animal, a breeding animal or a loved and valued pet, there is a version of Stemvet science available.”

“Tests have shown that, if used in accordance with the directions, the product has no known harmful side effects.”

From what I have read the cost is much less expensive than than SCI

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

Symptoms of the disease can be found in this article:

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/ThyroidDisease.htm

If you suspect your dog may have the disease a full thyroid panel should be done which includes T3, Free T3, T4, Free T4 and for dogs in a breeding program TgAA should be done.

Having full blood work is not enough as it will only give you the T4 reading. If that reading is out of range it is not a definitive diagnosis of thyroid disease and it would be important to do the full panel as well.

I recommend sending your blood to Dr. Jean Dodds in California. She is a thyroid specialist. Her prices are great and it is very inexpensive to ship via the USPS.

Here is a link giving all the instructions for your vet to draw the blood and how to package it properly.

http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/HEMOPET.HTM

Note in the above link what Dr. Dodds says about the THS blood test for thyroid.

My chiropractor uses this non invasive therapy on humans and dogs with great results.  It is also used on cats and horses.

“Veterinary cold Laser Therapy (VCLT) developed by William L. Inman DVM, CVCP, is the culmination of over twenty years of experience and application of healing technologies using a non-cutting or “cold” lasers on human beings and animals. This author has seldom seen a technology as valuable and inspiring, as this particular technology appears to be. Suffice to say you are witnessing the emergence of a completely new age in healing and certainly a total paradigm shift in veterinary health care.”

Veterinary treatment protocols that are used consistently:

Arthritis

Neuropathy

Lymphatic Drainage

Immunity

Liver Detox

Acute Pain

Allergies (specific or general)

Infections

Disease Specific Canine Protocols

 1.      Canine Hip Dysplasia Syndrome

2.      Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy

3.      Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease

4.      Cushing’s Disease

5.      Canine Wobbler’s Disease

6.      Hypothyroid

7.      Progressive Degenerative Myelopathy

8.      Urinary Incontinence

                Plus many others 

Here is more info:

http://www.vomtech.com/vetcoldlaser.html

And here:

http://www.vetinfo.com/cold-laser-therapy-for-dogs.html

“Cold laser therapy is used to treat multiple ailments and injuries and is also beneficial to dogs recovering from surgery. The treatment is particularly useful for dogs that have a painful condition or injury.”

Treatable ailments include:

• Joint injuries
• Ligament or tendon injuries
• Bone fractures
• Muscle sprains or strains
• Skin lesions or abrasions
• Haematoma (swelling of blood in body tissue)
• Post-trauma wounds
• Post-surgical wounds
• Arthtritis
• Musculoskeletal diseases
• Nerve injury

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

Is your dog crying when he wags his tail or when he sits down?

This is often a case of swimmers tail or cold tail.

It happens when the dog has been swimming a lot (over use), usually in very cold water, but not always the case.

I give a bufferin (one per day) for 2-3 days and it clears up.

Never give regular aspirin, tylenol or advil to your dog.

There are other common names and reasons for this condition that

you will see in this article:

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/8_1/features/15685-1.html

If you suspect something else causing the pain p1ease consult your vet.

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

White vinegar is a wonderful non toxic product.

Most important are the floors in your house.  

You and your dogs absorb products thru the feet/pads so its best to use none toxic products on floors.

I mix 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water for mopping.  I have also read 1/4 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of water.

I fill a spray bottle and keep it on hand.  Its easy to spray the floor for mopping.  Or you can buy a mop (like Swiffer sp) that allows you to refill the container.  Swiffer mops don’t have this option.  You have to keep buying their refills.

More uses:

1 cup vinegar and 5 cups water to clean windows.

Use full strength to rid kitchen containers of stale food odors.

Dilute vinegar with water and boil on the stove to remove cooking odors.

Moisten a paper towel with vinegar and wrap around faucets to remove hard water deposits.

Clean your dishwasher: fill a bowl with vinegar and place on bottom rack of dishwasher with no other dishes in the machine and run the cycle, turning off the machine before the drying cycle.

I read that when vinegar comes in contact with copper or lead it van create a deadly poison, so store vinegar in glass containers or the original jug it comes in.

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

Rosemary and garlic biscuits

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup ground sunflower seeds

1 tspn kelp

1 tspn rosemary

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup chicken stock

2 cloves pressed garlic

Combine all dry ingredients and mix well.  Then combine wet ingedients until well blended.

Mix both together, adding more chicken broth as needed, to form a stiff dough that can be formed into a ball by hand.  Set dough aside for 30 minutes

Roll dough out to 1/4″ thick and cut into squares.

Place on baking sheet, they can be crowded and bake 30 min. at 350 degrees.

For firmer buscuits turn off the oven and leave them in the oven until it cools.

Yields 4 to 8 dozen depending on the size.

Whenever we have a big storm here I lose a lot of pine branches from my trees.  My one girl , Miya, always loves to lay out in the sun and ends up on top of these sap filled branches making a mess of her coat

There are a number of suggestions on the internet, most of which require bathing the area after removal of the sap:

Olive oil

Peanut butter

Mayonnaise

Butter

Coconut oil

Baby oil

Tree sap removal products : be very careful that the product you choose is safe for dogs or cats.

Here’s a better idea and one I have not tried yet, but recommended by a friend who has.

Flour or baby powder:  massage into the sap with fingers and work in well to absorb the stickiness.  Brush the area with a fine tooth comb.

No bathing needed!

Please post if you try this method and let me know how it works.

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com