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Medicine versus Mom

How Important is it for You to Understand Your Dog’s Hormones?

October 24, 2016

Hormones! This is a word we often hear blamed for adolescent, or immature behavior for humans, but rarely do we stop to realize that hormones play a major role in our pet’s lives as well. Understanding your dog’s hormones is a critical aspect of caring for their health.

When I was completing my Animal Science degree, the endocrine system was a topic we studied in almost every class. Hormones are so significantly related to our health and the health of our pets, yet they are often not discussed.

Therefore, Carol from Fidose of Reality and myself, are here to discuss with you the importance of hormones to your dog’s health and what you as a pet parent can do to help them maintain ideal levels.

Firstly, let’s clarify some terminology:

Horomones: “Hormones are chemical messengers that have many different functions. The effects of hormones in the body are wide-ranging and varied.” – The Merck Manual

Endocrine System: “The endocrine system consists of a group of tissues that release hormones into the bloodstream for travel to other parts of the body. Most endocrine tissues are glands (such as the thyroid gland) that release hormones directly into small blood vessels within and around the tissue.” – The Merck Manual

Basically, throughout the post, when we refer to a hormone we are referring to a specific hormone with a specific function, but the term endocrine system will refer to how the tissues and hormones work together. Some hormones affect only one tissue in the body, where other hormones actually affect many different systems in the body.

The Problem Children

In my veterinary experience, there were some hormones (or lack there of) that cause many patients a variety of health problems, and can lead to an endocrine system disease. Some of the most common endocrine-related diseases that I saw were:

Hypothyroidism

According to Dr. Karen Becker, there are two ways that your dog can develop hypothyroidism. Either your dog’s body simply stops producing the normal amount of thyroid hormone, or your dog has an auto-immune response where their body is attacking their thyroid gland and depleting the body of the thyroid hormone.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism include: Lethargy, Depression, Weight-gain, Dry skin or Hair Loss, or Chronic infections

Breeds Most Commonly Affected: Airedale Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Dobermans, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Greyhounds, and Irish setters.

Diabetes

According to Pets.WebMD, diabetes can develop due to a lack of insulin production or a lack of response to insulin in the body. Most dogs with diabetes experience a lack of insulin production and need regular insulin injections. While the disease is manageable, it is important to be urgent and diligent about treatment and management of this disease.

Symptoms of Diabetes include: Increased Water Consumption, Increased Urination, Weight Loss, Change in Appetite, or Lethargy.

Breeds Most Commonly Affected: Australian Terriers, Standard and Miniature Schnauzers, Dachshunds, Poodles, Keeshonds and Samoyeds.

Cushing’s Disease

According to PetMD, Cushing’s disease is a disease associated with a benign tumor of the pituitary gland (occasionally on the adrenal gland) that causes hyperadrenocorticism. Hyperadrenocorticism describes a condition where there are excess levels of cortisone in the bloodstream, which interferes with the body’s metabolism and causes stomach upset and hypertension.

Symptoms of Cushing’s include: Lethargy, Increased water consumption, Obesity, Pot-bellied abdomen, Loss of hair & more

Breeds Most Commonly Affected: Poodle, Dachshund, German Shepherd, Terriers such as Yorkies and Dandie Dinmonts.

What Can You Do As a Pet Parent to Protect Your Dog’s Hormones?

1. Understand that many endocrine system diseases are treatable and manageable. Work with your veterinarian and their staff to come up with the best possible plan and solution for you and your pet.

2. Know what endocrine system diseases, if any, are common for your dog’s breed.

3. Understand the symptoms associated with the most common endocrine system diseases.

4. Don’t skip your dog’s annual exam! Because some endocrine system diseases affect the entire body, it is crucial to catch these diseases early.

5. Opt for the bloodwork. Pet’s can’t tell their veterinarian that their leg falls asleep every day, or that their experiencing some stomach pain. For this reason, bloodwork can be so important to assessing your dog’s health during an annual exam.

Just understanding the effect that hormone imbalances can have on your dog’s health is the first step to protecting them from endocrine system diseases.  

For Carol’s Mom perspective on this topic please visit her post at Fidose of Reality.

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Probiotics for Pets: Are They a Solution for Your Pet?

August 23, 2016

Medicine versus Mom is back to discuss another very important topic for pets; probiotics!

As a pet parent, you are probably receiving health information from a variety of sources; family & friends, pet blogs (oh, hey!), groomers, pet sitters, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, pet store owners & professionals, holistic veterinarians, integrated health veterinarians, and the list goes on…

When it comes to certain topics like food, or health additives like probiotics, you might hear a lot of different opinions. So today, we would like to provide you with information that can help you make the most informed decision for your pet!

The Importance of Digestive Health

Gastrointestinal upset was a very common symptom for many of the patients I saw at the veterinary hospital. In fact, no matter the reason for the visit, we always asked if a pet had recently had any vomiting or diarrhea. Why? Because any sign of gastronintestinal upset indicated potentially serious health problems for the pet. According to Healthy Pets with Dr. Karen Becker, it is important to understand two critical points about the GI tract:

  • “The gastrointestinal system must be healthy to avoid disease.”
  • “The GI tract is the body’s number one barrier to disease and disease processes.”

Dr. Becker clearly states that in order for a pet to be healthy, their GI tract should be healthy too! In some cases, this is where probiotics can help.

What are probiotics?

According to Nestle Purina, who makes one of the probiotic products I am most familiar with, FortiFlora, probiotics are defined as:

Probiotics are live microorganisms similar to those found naturally in the intestines, which help maintain balance in the digestive tract. After being consumed, they help to inhibit harmful pathogens from colonizing the GI tract.

The most important thing for you to know as a pet parent is that probiotics can do 3 things for your pet:

  • Improve food digestion
  • Assist and boost the immune system
  • Help your pet absorb more nutrients

Although probiotics can be very helpful to your pet’s immune system and integral to their overall health, it is important to not add probiotics to your pet’s diet as a solution to health issues without first discussing with your veterinarian.

Does my pet need probiotics?

This is an excellent question!

If your pet has any of the following symptoms, it might be worth discussing probiotics with your veterinarian:

Vomiting, Diarrhea, Constipation, or Excessive gas

brought on by:

  • Stress
  • Dietary problems
  • Changes in food
  • Antibiotics

The important thing to remember here is that probiotics are not always the solution to vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or excessive gas. If your pet is having these symptoms, a variety of issues could be causing these problems and should be discussed with your veterinarian to rule out other health issues before determining GI imbalance.

What you might not know is that probiotics are present in some pet food recipes, so your pet might already have some probiotics protecting their GI tract. Additionally, some food recipes contain prebiotics which provide food for the good bacteria in your pet’s GI tract. My point is that your pet might already be benefiting from probiotics, the question is, do they need more?

Are probiotics considered a treatment or prevention?

Another great question! In my experience, probiotics are a treatment and potentially a long-term preventative solution. However, as mentioned above, some veterinary and pet professionals might disagree with me.

According to The Whole Dog Journal, all pets can benefit from probiotics. Additionally, some research supports using them proactively during times of stress (i.e. boarding) or after antibiotics. This could be true, but I will once again caution every pet parent to discuss with their veterinarian prior to adding anything to your pet’s diet and overall health plan.

Are all probiotic products created equal?

The answer here is, no!

Not only are all probiotics different from one another, but all pet digestive systems are different. While many of the same types of bacteria are seen in pets, some pets might have a different mix of bacteria than others! Why is this so important?

One of the fundamental rules of holistic pet care is to always remember that no two animals are alike. – The Whole Dog Journal

In a story from The Whole Dog Journal, a pet parent named Tina provides nothing but the absolute best for her Standard Poodle, Curly. However, despite top of the line food and probiotics, Curly is thin, not putting on weight, and having trouble with bowel movements. While there were perhaps a variety of reasons why Curly’s mix of probiotics didn’t work for him, the most important takeaway for any pet parent is that probiotics are not all made equal.

If you are still not convinced, here is a quote from a 2012 article written by the Veterinary Practice News:

Not all probiotics sold in the veterinary market have evidence to support their claims, so veterinarians should make sure that the levels of microorganisms are guaranteed and that the manufacturer can provide support of efficacy. – Grace Long, DVM, MS, MBA, Director of Veterinary Technical Marketing for Nestlé Purina PetCare in St. Louis

What can you do as a pet parent?

  1. Remember, probiotics are an option and a potential additive for treatment of specific GI symptoms.
  2. Always discuss probiotics with your veterinarian!
  3. Make sure that you store your probiotics correctly!

The most effective way of keeping probiotics alive in the packaging process is in a cool, dry environment away from air exposure. – Grace Long, DVM, MS, MBA, Director of Veterinary Technical Marketing for Nestlé Purina PetCare in St. Louis

Do you use probiotics for your pet? If so, what brand? Any tips for other pet parents?

For Carol’s Dog Mom perspective on this topic, please visit FidoseofReality.com!

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What Pet Parents Have a Right to at the Vet’s Office

July 19, 2016

A visit to the veterinary hospital can be overwhelming.

You walk in confident and ready to discuss the list of items you brought to your pet’s annual exam, and then you are completely thrown off the second your vet says something like, “What’s this we found here?”.

Suddenly, your mind starts racing.

“What do you mean?”

“What did you find?”

“What’s wrong with my baby?” (this is the first thought I would have).

Amongst all of your emotions you hear your veterinarian say, “I want to take a closer look at this lump”. And, now you are wondering…

…”Why? Is it cancerous?”…and then panic ensues.

While even the best veterinarians provide the most thorough explanations intended to ease your worrying and provide you with sound reason, you can’t help but feel overwhelmed and agree to their recommendations immediately. Your hope is that there are more answers than questions provided by their initial tests.

After your pet is back in your arms and you have been reassured that everything is okay, you have been hit with a larger than expected bill. And your only thought is, “…wait, what’s happening?”

While many veterinary offices have no intention of overwhelming you, most days they are a place of well-organized chaos. Which can leave you feeling overwhelmed with perhaps more questions than you have answers.

Today, I would like to share with you some of the things you can keep in mind while at the veterinary hospital. Specifically, things I believe you have a right to:

A right to ask questions:

As a former veterinary professional I can tell you that we don’t mean to seem like we are in a hurry or that we don’t want to explain things further, it’s just that we do this for a living, so sometimes we forget to slow down and explain. Therefore, don’t forget that you can stop us at any time and ask questions!

Questions are important and your veterinary staff wants you to leave the hospital with all of your questions answered. Veterinary staffs are often on a very tight schedule, so you may have to wait a few moments to have a chance to speak with a member of the veterinary staff, but take your time and get all the info you need while you are there.

What Pet Parents Have a Right to at the Vet

A right to an estimate:

Always ask for an estimate! Estimates are particularly useful anytime your pet receives more treatment than you planned, i.e. when your veterinarian makes a discovery during their annual exam.

When I worked at the veterinary hospital we wrote an estimate anytime we treated a pet (ex. they needed more than just vaccines). We understood that everyone’s financial position is different and we wanted people to feel prepared when they went to pay their bill.

A right to alternative treatment plans:

Often, we would provide both a low & high estimate. The low end of the estimate would include any treatments deemed absolutely necessary to protect the health of your pet by the veterinarian. The high end would include some additional tests that would make the veterinarians diagnosis more accurate and might save money in the long run.

As a technician, I went over these estimates with our clients regularly and explained each item one by one. Specifically, I explained why the veterinarian wanted it and how the test was going to improve the health of their pet. If you aren’t sure about any of the items on your estimate, don’t forget to ask questions and ask for alternatives.

A right to the whole appointment time:

This point relates back to asking questions. While veterinarians may have very busy schedules, you did pay for their time so you have a right to use that time to ask questions.

Additionally, sometimes veterinarians have to be pulled away from appointments to assist in emergency cases. If this ever happens to you, be patient. If it was your pet having the emergency, you would want all veterinarians helping them too. However, you still have a right to your full appointment, even if you have to reschedule you should get the 20-30 minutes you paid for.

A right to purchase medications at a different pharmacy:

Some of the medications used to treat animals are also used to treat humans. Which means they might be available at your local Walgreens or Costco. Sometimes you can save money by picking up medications at these other pharmacies. Keep in mind this isn’t an option for every prescription.

Further, veterinarians might be willing to price match, so you might save yourself a trip by bringing up pharmacy alternatives.

A right to ask for a take-home guide:

At the last hospital I worked, many of the veterinarians provided take-home guides. The guide included a description of your pet’s condition, a summary of their medications, next steps for treatment, and follow-up care instructions.

While your veterinarian might not have take-home guides as a standard practice in their hospital, you can ask them to write things down for you if you know you are going to have a hard time remembering the course of treatment when you get home (remember the overwhelm we described above?). Many veterinarians are happy to provide you with this information especially if this means you are going to follow their treatment plan thoroughly.

A right to a demonstration:

There were 3 main training sessions (or demos) I gave pet parents while working at the hospital:

  1. Subcutaneous fluids
  2. Nail Trim
  3. Insulin injections

Each of these tasks can be daunting for a non-medical professional. If you know you need to perform these treatments at home, don’t hesitate to ask the staff to show you how to do it or at least, give you some pointers.

The above list represents my opinions, but I have been on the side of both client and veterinary professional and I can tell you that it is really important to advocate for yourself and your pet!

For Carol’s mom perspective on this topic, please visit her at Fidose of Reality.

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How Your Pet Might Benefit from the Latest Advancements in Veterinary Medicine

May 3, 2016

As pet parents, it is crucial that we stay in the know and keep up with the latest veterinary medicine advances.

Today, Carol from Fidose of Reality and myself are going to discuss the different ways that your pet can benefit from the latest Veterinary Medical Advances. For pet parents, this means that we have more tools in our toolbox so that we can advocate for our pets!

General Veterinary Medicine

Vaccines:

While there has been a bit of an anti-vaccine movement that has occurred in veterinary medicine, vaccines are still very important for the health of our pets and the health of our human-animal bond. Many of the vaccines recommended for your pet’s health are tried and true. You have your very typical; Rabies, DHPP, Lepto, Lyme, and Bordetella for dogs. However, outside of the standard vaccines are new vaccines that allow us to protect our pets from more diseases, like the rattlesnake vaccine.

“Approximately 300,000 dogs and cats are bitten by venomous snakes each year in the United States.” – Red Rock Biologics (Makers of the Rattlesnake Vaccine)

While this “new” vaccine (first available in the early 2000’s) does not make our pets immune to the devastating bite of a rattlesnake, it does buy time so that there is a better chance your pet can be treated and will survive (UCDavis Veterinary Medicine). While this vaccine is still rattlesnake specific (i.e. it does not vaccinate against all types of rattlesnakes), it is a huge improvement in the fight against rattlesnake-related deaths, especially in areas where they are prolific (Vetstreet).

What does this mean for my pet?

If the rattlesnake vaccine sounds like something your pet needs, please discuss the customized vaccine schedule with your veterinarian.

General Pain Management: 

New guidelines for pain management in veterinary medicine were released by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) in 2015 (the last version was released in 2007). The newest version includes emphases on an integrated veterinary approach (i.e. not all western medicine all the time), and a section specifically dedicated to treating the increase in feline degenerative joint disease.

Pain management is incredibly important in veterinary medicine. As a matter of fact, I spent most of my day as a Veterinary Assistant managing pain in for my patients, especially for post-surgical patients. Advances in this category of veterinary medicine are imperative for improving the quality of life of our pets.

“Classic veterinary medical education places a strong emphasis on treatment of disease through pharmacology and surgery, the esoteric skills that are the domain of the trained clinician. Increasingly, evidence-based data and empirical experience justify a strong role for nonpharmacologic modalities for pain management. A number of those should be considered mainstream options and an integral part of a balanced, individualized treatment plan.” – Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats

The important takeaway in these advancements is not just that pharmaceuticals are improving from year to year in terms of their efficacy, but also, the outlook and integrative approaches are also improving.

What does this mean for my pet?

It means that your veterinarian is gaining access to more tools so that your pet can feel less pain. There are so many pets with arthritis or other forms of degenerative joint disease. Pending the onset of the disease and the average life span of your pet, your pet could outlive the efficacy of pharmaceuticals, or their body could stop tolerating the medications. This is where alternative and integrative veterinary medicine can step in to continue to treat the disease and minimize the symptoms.

If you are at all “nerdy” about veterinary medicine (life myself), I highly recommend you read the guide from AAHA/AAFP; it’s full of fun facts and science jargon!

Specialty Veterinary Medicine 

Stem Cell Therapy

When I was completing my undergrad in late 2010, I wrote a paper about the new stem cell therapy that was changing the way that veterinarians could treat degenerative joint disease.

“In fact, one in five dogs over a year of age will develop degenerative joint disease (DJD). And the number jumps to four out of five for certain large breeds.” – Dr. Becker 

How does it work? 

Adult stem cells have the ability to develop and/or replicate into many different types of cells. Specifically, their job is to continue to divide and replace cells that are dead or diseased. As a result of their specific abilities, they can repair damaged joints or tissue and improve certain types of diseases.

According to HealthyPets Mercola, as of 2015, several studies were underway to use adult stem cells to treat the following diseases in dogs:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Degenerative Joint Disease
  • Hip & Elbow Dysplasia
  • Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Are there cases and evidence that the treatment has improved the symptoms of DJD and other similar diseases?

While research is underway for stem cells, and some veterinarians offer this advanced therapy around the U.S., the number of conclusive studies and irrefutable scientific evidence is low. That being said, there are many owner and patient success stories available. If you are interested, Dr. Becker offers two anecdotal stories in her “An Innovative New Way to Repair Joints” article here.

What does this mean for my pet? 

If your pet is suffering from one of the above diseases, and you feel that their quality of life is suffering. You have an opportunity to seek out a veterinarian with experience providing stem cell therapy. Every single procedure has risks, old or new, so be sure to discuss those risks with your veterinarian prior to treatment.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy for pets is part of the “integrative veterinary medicine” approach that I mentioned above. The concept and purpose of animal physical therapy is the same as that of human physical therapy; regain muscle strength and balance in order to recover from surgery or injury. Specifically, in veterinary medicine, physical therapy is being used for post-surgical and neurological patients (MSPCA – Angell).

“Dogs can lose up to one-third of their muscle mass in the rear limb following surgery for a cranial cruciate ligament rupture and it may take over a year to regain the lost muscle.” – Roxanna Khorzad, DVM

Physical therapy comes in different forms. For some pets, balance and strength exercises are recommended. For others, hydrotherapy using an underwater treadmill is the most recommended form of physical therapy.

Here are a few potential benefits to physical therapy according to Dr. Khorzad,

  • Improved Muscle Strength
  • Reduction of Pain
  • Improved Muscle Tone
  • Improved scar tissue
  • Improved function
  • Improved biomechanics
  • Improved flexibility
  • Reduced Pain
  • Non-invasive

What does this mean for my pet? 

If your pet is has had a recent surgery or is suffering from a neurological disease, physical therapy and rehabilitation might improve their functionality and quality of life.

Pain Management 

Acupuncture

I had the pleasure of working with a veterinarian who practiced acupuncture. Our patients often received other medications to treat their disease, but used acupuncture as a more natural alternative for reducing pain and improving quality of life.

How does it work? 

Acupuncture draws the body’s attention to a place that needs to be healed by placing a needle into the body where blood vessels and nerve bundles meet. This action allows the body to heal itself. According to Dr. Patrick Mahoney, VDM, acupuncture can do the following for your pet:

  • Improve blood circulation
  • Improved oxygenation of tissues
  • Stimulated removal of metabolic wastes and toxins
  • Stimulate the nervous system
  • Stimulate the body to release anti-inflammatory and pain relieving hormones

What does this mean for my pet? 

While acupuncture is most certainly not a new practice, it’s integration into veterinary medicine is still considered new. However, in comparison to some of the other treatments in this post, acupuncture is more widely available in veterinary hospitals.

If you fee that this alternative form of treatment can benefit some of your pet’s chronic symptoms or diseases, I highly recommend discussing your options with your veterinarian.

Orthotics & Prosthetics

While our pets are amazing at adapting and moving forward after an injury or losing a limb, there are now more alternatives to manage their post-operative care in these situations.

Orthopets is a company that builds custom orthotics and prosthetics for pets to help them recover from injuries and adapt to limb loss. While I don’t have much experience with veterinary orthotics or prosthetics, I do know that these solutions will give you more alternatives to improve your pet’s quality of life and/or surgical recovery.

So there you have it. The above list includes some of the most interesting advancements in veterinary medicine. Do you have any experience with these new treatments?

For Carol’s mom perspective on this topic, please visit Fidose of Reality for more information.

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Can Pet Parents Prevent Cancer?

March 14, 2016

The dreaded “C”word.

I heard this word all too often while working in the veterinary hospital. Too many of my patients were diagnosed with various types of cancer, and it was terrible.

Each prognosis left pet parents wondering; Was there more I could have done to prevent cancer?

The answer is always, “Of course you couldn’t have prevented this cancer!”. While I firmly believe that absolute prevention is not possible, providing the ultimately healthy life and doing everything we can as pet parents can help. Every person or pet’s health, and how we can help them, is based on two major factors: their genetics and the environment.

Genetics

Under most circumstances, we do not know our pet’s genetic health history. Truth be told, most people don’t even know their own genetic health history. Of course, responsible breeding plays a role in whether or not pets become diagnosed with cancer due to their genetic composition. However, you as a pet parent rarely have that information. For example, I know that Rooney was bred to be a show Corgi. However, we adopted him through a breed specific rescue, and, therefore, have no contact with the breeder. If we don’t have an opportunity to stay up to date on the health status of Rooney’s relatives, my knowledge regarding his genetics is limited.

However, when it comes to protecting your pet against the potential downfalls of their genetic composition, knowledge is power.

If you don’t know your pet’s genetic history here is what you can do to make sure you proactively help your pet beat cancer:

  1. Stay in touch with your breeder. Responsible breeders (for more information on how I define responsible, please see this post on the difference between common breeder categories) keep track of their dog’s health history and remain involved and communicative with pet parents to avoid long-term genetic problems and to educate other puppy parents on possible symptoms.
  2. If the breeders information is unavailable to you, stay in touch with your puppy’s siblings: Sometimes breeders choose not to play an active role in the lives of their puppies. However, with social media and other forms of constant communication on your side, you can make a strong effort to stay in touch with the pet parents of your pet’s siblings. If one sibling is diagnosed with a disease, this can be powerful information for the other sibling’s pet parents.
  3. Genetic Testing: If you don’t have the option to contact your pet’s breeder, or you have no idea where your pet came from because you rescued your pet, you now have the option to genetically test for diseases. Products like Canine HealthCheck can help you protect your pet against possible genetic diseases. As many of you know, I had Rooney tested about 6 months ago and it turns out he carries the gene for degenerative myelopathy, a disease that cuts short the lives of too many Corgis. With this information, I made myself ultra familiar with the symptoms, and I take the steps below to hope that his environment doesn’t add to the risk.

Can Pet Parents Prevent Cancer?

Environment

Although genetics play a large role in whether or not our pets will experience a certain disease, their genetic composition is out of our control as pet parents. Specific to genetic makeup, all we can do is educate ourselves about symptoms and communicate those symptoms to educate other pet parents. However, when it comes to protecting our pet’s environment, that we can control.

Many of the items listed below are not perfect solutions to preventing cancer. However, they will help you provide your pet with the healthiest possible environment, which can help.

  1. Invest in Quality Food: There are certain ingredients in food that cancer cells can use to grow. Dr. Becker specifically recommends removing processed grains, starchy vegetables, and fruits that are high in fructose from your pet’s diet (Mercola). The elements of these ingredients can provide food for cancer cells and, therefore, put your pet at risk. If you are unsure about the composition of the food you are currently feeding your pet, discuss some high-quality options with your veterinarian.
  2. Don’t Overfeed Your Pet: Many pet parents make the mistake of investing and purchasing the healthiest food available, but then they overfeed their pet. In addition to putting pets at risk for diabetes and other complications associated with obesity, overfeeding also puts pets at a higher risk for cancer. Studies have shown that providing only the necessary amount of calories for your pet can prevent or delay tumor growth (Mercola).
  3. Don’t Forget About Supplements: Omega-3 Fatty acids reduce inflammation in the body. As of today, research supports that cancer is a disease of inflammation. Therefore, reducing inflammation in the body can ultimately prevent cancer (Mercola).
  4. Make Your Environment Chemical Free: Too many cleansers, pesticides, and other toxins plague our environment. These toxins may seem harmless when you are disinfecting the bathroom or doing your laundry, but the chemicals in our everyday life add up. Where you can, make an effort to eliminate chemicals from your pet’s environment. You can start by doing the following today:
    1. Stop using harsh chemicals in your daily cleaners and sprays. (more research and future blog post on this)
    2. Don’t purchase cheap flea & tick medication. Make an effort to educate yourself on the ingredients associated with each brand, and even consider a natural alternative.
    3. Switch to using natural soaps and detergents to wash your pet’s blankets and toys.
    4. Do your research on outdoor chemicals and toxins.
  5. Come Up With a Healthy Vaccine Protocol: I definitely believe that vaccines are necessary. However, I also believe that over-vaccination is possible. Discuss the alternatives with your veterinarian when you first adopt your pet. Many people don’t know that there are alternatives when your pet becomes a senior, and many vaccines are only necessary if your pet leads a certain lifestyle.
  6. Daily & Annual Exams: I have known dogs who have survived cancer because their pet parents knew every inch of their pet’s fur and were able to quickly detect abnormalities that were removed before the cancer became too big. I have also known pets who survived cancer because abnormalities were detected on their pet’s annual exam. Daily exams at home and regular veterinary exams are critical to your pet’s health.
  7. Provide Your Pet with Clean & Filtered Water: Of course, this step becomes increasingly important in areas where tap water contains more chemicals and minerals. Educate yourself on your local water quality and look into purchasing a water filter (Only Natural Pet). Talk to your veterinarian about the right water fountain and filter for your pet.
  8. Adequate Exercise: Not only does exercise prevent your pet from suffering from obesity and other diseases associated with being overweight, but it also boosts the immune system and reduces stress levels in your pet, making them overall happier and healthier.

No matter what action items you currently take to prevent cancer, it is important to know that everything you can do falls into the following categories; being knowledgeable and being proactive. If you keep yourself educated, and you have your pet evaluated regularly, your pet can benefit from early detection and treatment.

Additionally, I want to state that you can do all of the above, and your pet still might get cancer. I have seen too many pet parents beat themselves up because their pet has been diagnosed with a disease. It is not your fault. However, I write this post because I think all of us want to do what we can, even if we can’t protect our pets from everything.

For some fantastic ideas from a dog mom’s perspective on this topic, please visit Carol from Fidose of Reality.

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