Arthritis? What Arthritis?

Jasmine is going on eight years of age. She's gone through two near death experiences, a number of surgeries (including bi-lateral knee surgery) and was diagnosed with arthritis in her knees, shoulders, elbows, neck and jaws.

Can you tell?

There were times in the past couple years when we thought we were going to lose her. And look at her now!

It was a long journey.

Every time we fixed one thing, something else popped up. Once the knees were working, she almost died as a result of severe drug-induced hyperthermia. Then she suffered a muscle injury. Then her elbow got sore. Then a muscle again ..

I thought that I might never see her without a limp on one leg or another again.

I am happy that I was wrong!

While there still are issues to be dealt with, she can enjoy what matters to her the most—her mobility!

Jasmine is not on any drugs, NSAIDs or otherwise.

She gets joint supplements and we keep up with physical therapy on maintenance basis. Of course, daily exercise is a must—she wouldn't have it any other way. We're also keeping her at optimal weight.

What I believe really turned things around though, along with stabilizing the knees, was the stem cell therapy.

We are incredibly thankful for every happy active day she gets. There is nothing like watching her living it up!

I don't know what x-rays would show today. I don't really care. All I need to see is my happy mobile dog.

***

With gratitude to all who helped make this possible:

Vet-Stem Regenerative Veterinary Medicine,

for bringing the magic of stem cell therapy to dogs and their true care for animals.

Dr. Rae Worden DVM, of Fergus Veterinary Hospital,

for being the most amazing and caring veterinarian we ever met.

Dr. Leslie Woodcock, of Woodcock Veterinary Services,

 for their loving care during Jasmines physical therapy and chiro.

Dr. Rob Butler, of Guelph Animal Hospital,

for his TCVM expertise.

and all my dear online friends who helped us through tough times.

Thank you!

Related articles:

Stem Cells for Dogs? Oh yeah, baby!
Interview with Dr. Robert J. Harman, D.V.M., M.P.V.M. - CEO and founder of Vet-Stem
Digging Deeper: The Science Behind Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child! 
Zeus Gets Stem Cell Treatment 
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment 
Jasmine's Stem Cells Are In 
Running With The Wind: Trago's Elbow Dysplasia Surgery And Stem Cell Treatment
Tell-tale Signs Your Dog May Have Arthritis
Nutrition and Dog Arthritis
Talk To Me About Arthritis
Acupuncture Is Not Voodoo
Don't Forget The Physical Therapy
Underwater Treadmill

Talking to Your Vet: How Safe Are NSAIDs?

 by Christopher Durin

As dog owners, we only want what is best for our dogs, so it is always advisable to consult your vet about any concerns for your dog’s health.

However always remember that vets are just people and that whilst their knowledge is great it is not perfect nor complete. 

This is especially true of chronic diseases such as dog arthritis where you as the owner will have a better instinctive feel for what treatments work, what medications are well tolerated and effective and of course what treatments you as the owner are comfortable giving.

I recognize that there is danger of misconstruing my message here.

As a vet for almost two decades, I hold a great deal respect for my fellow veterinarians. I want every dog owner to listen very, very well to what their vet has to say.


However I would also like every dog owner to be informed and to participate in every discussion about their dog's health.

Gather as much information as you can about your dog’s arthritis or joint problems, in particular information about any treatments that your dog will receive, as these treatments may well be lifelong.

Ask lots of questions and think carefully about the answers.

Within this it is perfectly okay to ask your vet if a certain treatment is safe or not.

A 'standard' treatment may not always be the safest treatment option and it is up to you (yes, you) to decide what is an acceptable treatment risk for your dog.

A case in point is the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs in the treatment of dog arthritis.

NSAIDs are the standard medication used to treat the symptoms of moderate to advanced dog arthritis. 

These drugs work by inhibiting the pro-inflammatory action of COX-enzymes. There is no doubt that NSAIDs are very effective in suppressing inflammation in the joints.

However in some dogs they also cause side effects which can severely compromise your dog's health. 

These side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, liver failure, anemia and even death.

Now, I am not telling every dog owner that NSAIDs should never be considered, just that these drugs are not safe for every dog. 

You should ask your vet whether NSAIDs are safe for your dog and if there are ways to increase the safety of these drugs. Your vet may suggest blood tests of the liver and kidneys before and after use, which will find out if the organs are healthy enough to deal with the drug’s effects.

You can read more about the side effects of the NSAIDs in my book "The Risks of Prescription Medicines for Dog Arthritis" on www.dogarthritisplan.com

Another question dog owners should ask is whether there are other treatment options. 

Of course there are countless treatments available but not all will be safe or effective. Your veterinarian or nearby rehabilitation center may be able to provide other services such as acupuncture, trigger point or other physical therapy.

Again, research widely and come to your vet with a whole bunch of questions :)

Of course you are very welcome to read my blog and you can ask me lots of questions about dog arthritis. Start by reading my free ebook at www.dogarthritisplan.com and we can talk from there :) Good luck.

Christopher Durin

***

Christopher Durin is a veterinarian and has been in practice since 1993, with his skill focus and extra qualifications in surgery. Joint problems are a big part of his day and he has cared for a LOT of arthritic dogs and cats over the years. He has recently been diagnosed with an immune mediated arthritis himself, the pain of which makes him appreciate the bravery of our furry friends all the more.

You can also check out his Facebook page Dog Arthritis Doc.

Risks of Prescription Medicines « Dog Arthritis Plan
www.dogarthritisplan.com

Articles by Christopher Durin:
Tell-tale Signs Your Dog May Have Arthritis
Nutrition and Dog Arthritis
Keeping Your Dog’s Muscles Healthy and Strong

Related articles:
Talk To Me About Arthritis
Acupuncture Is Not Voodoo
Don't Forget The Physical Therapy
Underwater Treadmill

Even The Best Veterinarian Can Make A Mistake

"Mistakes are as serious as the results they cause."
—Gregory House, MD

Just recently I read an article Dr. Tony Johnson wrote for Pet Connection blog: When veterinarians make mistakes.

For humans, medical errors injure more than 1.5 million people a year and result in 7000 deaths. No one knows the number of times it happens for for pets, or how many lose their lives as a result, but the numbers are certainly comparable. The government keeps numbers for human medical errors, but their attention for animals is usually limited to making sure they are relatively safe to eat.

Even the best veterinarian can make a mistake, just like anybody else. Veterinarians are humans too!

They can get sidetracked or they can make one with the best intentions. It happened to us, it can happen to you.

Getting mad at your veterinarian for making a mistake is of little use. Don't get mad—get diligent!

The following story is another excerpt from Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life by Dr. Nancy Kay.

If you think that eventually I'll publish the entire content, though, think again—go get your own copy!

For your dog's sake, this is a book you must read!

***

Remember, Your Veterinarian Isn’t Perfect
by Nancy Kay, DVM 

I remember a particular client and patient with a good deal of embarrassment.

A lovely gentleman asked me to evaluate his adorable Tibetan Terrier named Pirate because of a head-shaking problem.

As I routinely do, I performed a thorough physical examination. In the process, I was surprised to discover an enlarged lymph node, possible evidence of a cancerous process.

After we discussed this finding, I collected a small needle sample from the lymph node and sent it off to the lab.

Fortunately, the enlarged node was found to be completely benign.

When I called with the good news, the client expressed tremendous relief.

He also ever-so-graciously informed me that he had taken Pirate to an emergency clinic the night before because his head-shaking had intensified, and a foxtail (a grass-type foreign body) was removed from deep within his ear canal.

I was mortified.

I had been so sidetracked by the enlarged lymph node that I’d failed to examine Pirate’s ear canals.

I completely neglected to address the problem that brought Pirate in to see me in the first place!

“First do no harm.” This is the mantra that guides my professional life, and I’ll bet that your vet feels the same.

As much as we try to do no harm, the truth is that all veterinarians, myself included, have made—and will continue to make—professional blunders.

I am profoundly grateful to the savvy client who catches my error before any harm can come from it.

I’m certain that the majority of my colleagues feel as I do.

As your dog’s medical advocate, you should remind yourself that your veterinarian isn’t perfect (neither is the technician, receptionist, pharmacist, groomer, or anyone else who may be caring for your dog’s medical needs).

So when you recognize what you think may be an error or oversight, for your dog’s sake, speak up as loudly as necessary.


***

Dr. Kay  is the fortunate recipient of the 2011 Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award- presented by the AVMA to the veterinarian who promotes and exemplifies the human animal bond!

DR. NANCY KAY wanted to become a veterinarian for just about as long as she can remember. Her veterinary degree is from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, and she completed her residency training in small animal internal medicine at the University of California—Davis Veterinary School.

Dr. Kay is a board certified specialist in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and published in several professional journals and textbooks. She lectures professionally to regional and national audiences, and one of her favorite lecture topics is communication between veterinarians and their clients.   Since the release of her book, Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life, Dr. Kay has lectured extensively and written numerous magazine articles on the topic of medical advocacy.  She was a featured guest on the popular National Public Radio show, Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

Dr. Kay is a staff internist at VCA Animal Care Center, a 24-hour emergency/specialty care center in Rohnert Park, California. As a way of providing emotional support for people with sick four-legged family members, Dr. Kay founded and helps facilitate the VCA Animal Care Center Client Support Group.  She also facilitates client communication rounds for VCA Animal Care Center employees.

Dr. Kay was selected by the American Animal Hospital Association to receive the 2009 Hill’s Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award.  This award is given annually to a veterinarian or nonveterinarian who has advanced animal welfare through extraordinary service or by furthering humane principles, education, and understanding.  The Dog Writers Association of America selected Dr. Kay for two awards.  The first was the 2009 Eukanuba Canine Health Award recognizing Speaking for Spot as the publication that best promotes the health and well being of dogs. The second award was for the Best Blog of 2009 (www.speakingforspot.com/blog).

Dr. Kay’s personal life revolves around her husband (also a veterinarian), her three children (none of whom aspire to be veterinarians) and their menagerie of four-legged family members. When she’s not writing, she spends her spare moments in the garden or riding along the beach atop her favorite horse. Dr. Kay and her family reside in Sebastopol, California.

Articles by Dr. Kay:
Reasonable Expectations: The Ability to Discuss Your Internet Research With Your Vet
Finding Dr. Wonderful And Your Mutt's Mayo Clinic: Getting Started
A Different Way to Spay
Making Tough Medical Decisions For Your Dog: Lily's Story


Related articles:
Speaking For Spot: The Single Most Important Dog Book You Will Ever Read

Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Bad Odor

Is your dog stinky?

The average dog shouldn't be any stinkier than the average person!

In fact, I'd say much less so! (And I'm not even taking bad cologne choices into consideration.)

Of course, a bad cologne choice, at least according to our human standards, can make your dog quite stinky. A good roll in a deer poop or dead fish will certainly do the trick. So would an encounter with a skunk.

When the source of the bad odor is obvious, all you have to worry about is destinkifying your dog.

I am quite sure that a dog covered in something nasty won't escape your attention. But what if your dog is stinky without an apparent cause?

Bad odor can be a sign of a health issue!

1. Bad breath (halitosis) is most commonly caused by dental disease.

Do not take that lightly. Dental disease can cause a lot of pain, and the bacteria associated with dental disease can lead to life-threatening infections affecting the heart, kidney and liver!

Other oral diseases, such as mouth ulcers and melanoma or other tumors of the oral cavity can also cause very bad breath.

Even scarier—systemic issues, such as kidney failure or diabetes can be the culprit behind bad breath.

2. Infected ears (otitis) can generate quite a bit of bad odor.

Infected ears can be quite painful and if left untreated, you're risking serious complications, including deafness, problems associated with the sense of balance, and chronic ear inflammation that requires lifelong management.

3. Another common source of bad odor is anal sac disease.

Healthy anal sacs produce an incredibly foul smelling liquid, but under normal circumstances it is only released when a dog defecates or is terrified enough to use them as a defense mechanism.

If you are routinely smelling anal sac material during the course of day to day life, something is wrong. Impacted glands may releases at inappropriate times (like when your dog scoots across the carpet), and  the micro-organisms in an infected anal sac can produce quite a  pungent odor of their own.

4. Skin diseases

Allergies, seborrhea, and bacterial or yeast infections can also be behind your dog's bad odor. With Jasmine, I have learned to use my nose for early detection of skin in trouble.

The odors associated with skin diseases usually occur in tandem with other symptoms, such as an abnormally greasy coat, itching, flaking, or skin lesions.  But, many owners first notice the smell and often report that “I give my dog a bath and the smell is back the next day.”

5. Gas (flatulence)

Everyone farts, but if your dog produces immense amounts of stinky gas on a regular basis, something is amiss. Abnormal flatulence can be a sign of a dietary issue or of gastrointestinal diseases.

Healthy dogs don't stink!

Bad odor is just as important to pay attention to as any other symptom.

The number one rule when faced with a smelly dog is to look for and deal directly with the underlying problem, not to find a product that will mask the odor or to relegate your dog to the back yard.

It's your dog's health!
Jana

Further reading:
Dog odor
Unnatural Sources of Odor On Pet Dogs
Doggy Odor
Why Does My Dog Stink?
My dog smells bad and has itchy skin

Related articles:
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Drinking
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Panting
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Bad Breath (Halitosis)
Where There Is Smoke, There Is Fire: A Symptom Is Your Friend!
When Is It An Emergency?

Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog now available in paperback and Kindle. Each chapter includes notes on when it is an emergency.

Natural Flea Control for Dogs

by Lorie Huston, DVM

Fleas are a common parasite for both dogs and cats. As a veterinarian, my clients frequently ask me how they can protect their pets from these parasites. Normally, I recommend a monthly topical product, such as Revolution® or Frontline Plus®.

However, many of my clients are hesitant to apply these products to their dogs and cats and prefer a more natural means of flea control.

Can Natural Flea Control Work?

Natural flea control methods can be effective for some pets. However, pet owners need to realize that natural flea control methods are generally labor intensive and will require vigilance as well as time and patience on the part of the pet owner.

In cases where the pet suffers from severe flea allergies or flea sensitivity, natural flea control methods may not be enough in and of themselves to control the pet’s symptoms.

Are All Methods of Natural Flea Control
Safe for Your Dog?

Not all methods of natural flea control are safe for dogs.

Garlic is a commonly used flea preventive.

However, garlic can be associated with toxicities as well. 

Garlic can effectively destroy red blood cells and lead to hemolytic anemia. The toxic dose of garlic is dose related and the amount of garlic that is added to foods for flavoring is unlikely to be dangerous. However, there does some to be some variability between animals regarding the dose of garlic that will produce toxic effects. And the dose of garlic needed to repel fleas is likely to be far higher than that used for flavoring food.

For these reasons, garlic used for flea control is of questionable safety and, in my opinion, is not recommended.

Essential oils are also often used as natural flea control products. 

For dogs, some of these essential oils are safe and may be effective.

However, essential oils of any type should be used cautiously in cats due to the potential for toxicity. 

Pet owners that formulate their own mixtures of essential oils for flea control should be especially careful and should carefully research the effects of each essential oil used in the mixture.

What Methods of Natural Flea Control are Safe for Dogs?

1. Regular grooming is a frequently overlooked means of flea control but should be the mainstay of natural flea control. 

A flea comb used daily to check for fleas and flea dirt can not only remove live fleas from pets but can also give pet owners a good idea of the efficacy of their flea control methods.

Pet owners that frequently find flea dirt and live fleas while combing their pet with a flea comb should consider that their flea control may not be working well.

2. Bathing is another frequently used method of flea control. 

If your pet has large numbers of fleas and you need to remove the live fleas quickly for your pet’s health, a bath may help reduce the population of fleas on your pet directly after the bath.

However, it is important to realize that if the pet has been living in the house and has live fleas, there are also immature fleas, flea eggs and pupae present in the home. These immature life forms can live in carpeting, in cracks in hardwood and other types of flooring, and in upholstery and bedding and can re-infest your pet very quickly after the bath.

Therefore, bathing alone will not be effective in controlling fleas for your pets. However, in conjunction with other methods, you may have better success.

3. Natural pyrethrins, chemicals derived from chrysanthemums, can also be used for flea control and are commonly found in commercially available flea control products. 

(There are also products available with synthetically derived pyrethrins.) Products with pyrethrins should be used according to label directions to avoid toxicities.

4. Neem oil, a product produced by an evergreen tree, is found in numerous types of flea shampoos, sprays and powders. 

It has been used to control fleas in dogs and cats but seems to be variable in its efficacy. It does appear to be safe for both dogs and cats.

Ridding the Environment of Fleas

Though adult fleas live most of their lives on your pet, adult fleas produce eggs that fall off your pet into the environment, which is usually your home. These eggs live in the home as they progress through their life cycle and develop into more adult fleas, which in turn infest your pet. In order to prevent this re-infestation, it is necessary to remove the immature life stages from the environment.

Frequent vacuuming is one of the most effective ways to remove these immature fleas. 

Vacuum all flooring surfaces, including hardwood, tile and other types of flooring, in addition to the carpeting in your home. Be sure to use the vacuum on the upholstery in your home as well. Remove the contents of the vacuum bag from your home after you have finished vacuuming so the fleas do not continue to reproduce inside the bag.

Also, launder any bedding, especially bedding on which your pet sleeps.

Another technique that some people report success with is using a pan filled with water and a small amount of dish detergent placed under a night light. 

The theory is that the fleas will be attracted to the light and will jump in the water and drown. This method may or may not be successful but is unlikely to be dangerous.

Some sources advise using a candle placed in the center of the pan of water/dish detergent. However, especially with a pet in the area, I would be concerned about the potential for fire damage caused by an untended candle and urge caution with this technique.

Other products, such as diatomaceous earth and boric acid (borax), are also sometimes suggested for controlling fleas in the home. 

While boric acid appears to be safe, it is messy and some pet owners object to it for that reason. There is some concern about the safety of breathing the dust of diatomaceous earth for both pets and people.

Finally, nematodes are also available as a means of controlling fleas in the outdoor environment (i.e. the yard or garden). 

Nematodes are specific types of worms that live in the soil and ingest fleas, flea eggs and flea larvae. They can be purchased and seeded into the yard and garden.

In almost all cases, integrated flea control (controlling adult fleas on your pet as well as ridding the environment of fleas) is the most successful way to control fleas.

Have you found a flea control method that works well? Share your secrets with us. Let us know what methods have worked well for you and which ones have not by leaving a comment below.

***

Lorie Huston has been practicing veterinary medicine for over 20 years. Besides a successful career in a busy small animal hospital in Providence, RI, Lorie is also a successful freelance writer specializing in pet care and pet health topics. 

Currently, she is the feature writer for the Pet Care section at Suite101.com and the National Pet Health Examiner at Examiner.com. Lorie also publishes her own blog, The Pet Health Care Gazette and manages an increasingly popular facebook page, The Voice of Pet Care. 


Articles by Dr. Huston:
Lyme Is Lame (Pun Intended)
The Ticking Bomb
Don't Let Heartworm Become A Heartbreak!
Summer Perils: Blue-green Algae
Your Dog And Leptospirosis
Canine Parvovirus
Canine Distemper Virus
Why Is My Dog So Itchy? Top 5 Causes Of Itching In Dogs 
Vaccination Concerns and Potential Side Effects

Further reading:
Fleas: Know your Enemy
Plants that Repel Fleas 
Natural Flea and Tick Remedies at PetMD

Local dog rescue organization connects dogs with more than just happy homes

When Zoey was rescued by PUP Dog Rescue, it was unclear if her relationship with this organization would be that of hospice or hope.

In spite of a fractured jaw, suspicious breast tumors and severe gum disease, PUP was certain they could make a difference in this little dog’s life. 

Coordinating with California shelters, People United for Pets (PUP) was able to save her from the fate of being destroyed.

This older Chihuahua mix was likely worn down from overbreeding, malnourishment, lack of general veterinary care, and finally found herself in a shelter. 

But PUP saw a sweet dog who could flourish if “surrounded by people who placed her welfare and happiness at a very high level of importance.”

PUP Dog Rescue, a non-profit and foster-only dog rescue from Issaquah WA, has made it their mission to help homeless dogs connect with the right person or family so they can thrive as faithful companions.

Today, because of generous donations PUP has received, Zoey is recovering from surgery to remove and diagnose multiple mammary tumors and extensive dental work around her injured jaw. 

Her depression has lifted and she’s now a “loving, gentle old lady who is just now beginning to enjoy and trust in the possibilities available to her.” Zoey will finally have the opportunity to enjoy the love of a caring family.

Being a foster-only organization, PUP places each rescue dog in a home which provides socialization, training, and a glimpse into their unique personalities. 

PUP states it is “very important to make sure you find the right dog for your family, and personality and behavior play a big role in this.” Breeders often sell the book only for its cover, and unfortunately many of those dogs also find themselves in shelters because of poorly educated pet owners. According to the Humane Society, “purebreds account for about 25 to 30 percent of a shelter's dog population.”

Because of this, PUP is a full disclosure adoption organization, and is dedicated to educating the public and future owners about responsible pet ownership.

When asked about Zoey’s remarkable recovery, her foster mother says “there’s a road to be traveled by every living being… [we] need to make that journey as best possible for dogs who’ve not known what [a good life] can be like.” Since this article has been written,

Zoey has been adopted to a special family who will take care of her needs and appreciate all her special qualities.

How can you help? If you would like to support PUP Dog Rescues’ effort to rescue dogs from high-kill shelters, please visit their website and learn how you can donate to this cause.

If you are interested in learning how you can adopt rescued small breed dogs from PUP visit Petfinder or email adopt@peopleunitedforpets.com.

Written by Michelle Walls
Follow PUP Dog Rescue on Twitter!

Phoenix's Chronic Ear Infections

Phoenix's story is shared with us by Brook of ruled by paws. Thank you, Brook, for sharing your story!

***

Phoenix is a fourteen and a half year old male yellow Labrador Retriever. I received him in July of 1998 from the Lions foundation of Canada Dog Guides, when my first guide retired after only a year of working.

Phoenix and I bonded easily and became inseparable within months.  

He attended my final year of high school and then guided me through my Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Guelph.

Phoenix was always a great worker and wonderful companion, but he had one worrisome issue, constant ear infections. 

For as long as Phoenix’s puppy raisers could remember, he has always had problems with his ears.

They told me that they had to clean them at least once a week and he’d had at least two infections during the year they fostered him. When we were matched, I was shown how to clean his ears by one of the kennel staff members and told that I would need to purchase some ear cleaner and continue the weekly cleaning regiment they had been following because Phoenix had a tendency to get dirty ears.

I did not realize that he would end up getting almost bi-monthly infections, with major ones usually in the spring and fall. 

For the first five years, his vets just treated the symptoms, which usually meant antibiotics and Surolan.

But, after having watched me pay pretty much the same amount of money each visit, my now husband, suggested we try looking for a different vet to care for him. Phoenix was about seven and a half at this point and had been having the severe infections a little more frequently.

It didn’t take long with the new vet to have a new attack plan proposed.  

After the second time we brought Phoenix in to see him, he suggested the ear infections and constant paw chewing (a symptom his old vets did not notice) could be caused by a food allergy and not just because he was prone to getting them.

We immediately started Phoenix on an elimination diet and after three days of fasting, he began twelve weeks of just eating a hypoallergenic food. 

Within weeks we noticed Phoenix chewing his paws less and around the end of the twelve weeks, we realized that we hadn’t taken him to the vet in over two months!

We were then instructed to begin adding things back into his diet, leaving about three weeks between each new addition, and watching for signs of allergies to return.  We were told that if his symptoms returned to stop whatever we had added and only feed the food along with whatever had already been determined as safe for six straight weeks before trying something else.

This process helped us to determine that Phoenix’s constant ear issues were being caused by a gluten allergy.  

Phoenix’s ears remained almost infection-free for about five years, only having to take him into the vet for annual check-ups and one or two infections a year – usually after swimming, a bath or rolling in the snow.

He still got itchy ears during the summer, but by giving him Benedryl or Allegra from April until October, he never really had any major ear problems.

Shortly after Phoenix turned ten he broke a tooth and we learned it would need to be removed in order to prevent an infection. We discussed options with his vet and were told it would cost close to a thousand dollars for the procedure. My husband and I were still in school, so asked if there was a way to pay in installments.

The vet shook her head and proceeded to tell us that it had been our choice to keep him and that there was nothing they could do to lessen the cost. We were shocked by her cold response and decided then and there that we would be changing vets because obviously this one truly did not understand the bond between a retired service dog and their human. 

Phoenix ended up having his tooth removed by a dental specialist, who charged us half of what our vet was requesting, and while waiting for Phoenix to come out of recovery, we learned of Dr B and her more natural approach to veterinary medicine.  

Even though she does not provide the service dog discount our previous vet offered, we were attracted by the option to have her visit the house and her knowledge surrounding a more holistic approach to veterinary care.  We’ve actually enjoyed her service so much that we still bring the dogs to her, even after moving seven hours away.

In April of 2009, Phoenix started his usual seasonal allergy issues and for the most part we were able to control his ear issues with the daily dose of Allegra.

At some point though that summer, he started developing an ear infection and no matter what we did, it just wouldn’t clear up.  

It would get close to resolving itself and then flare up again, leading us to look at other treatment options. We tried a new ear cleaner first, which seemed to help a bit, but then Dr B suggested we try a different ear ointment from the usual Surolan we were using.

The new medication really didn’t seem to help much so we returned to the Surolan and just did the best we could to keep his ears from getting any worse.

In November of 2010, we were still battling the nasty ear infection of 2009 and were met with a new challenge...

... Phoenix had shaken his head so much that he had broken a blood vessel in his left ear flap and created a hematoma (his ear flap looked as though someone had inserted a small egg).

We were not able to get to Dr B until after the weekend so she instructed us to start cleaning his ears daily and try to keep him from shaking his head when possible.

When we finally reached her office, she inserted an IV catheter and withdrew over 20cc of blood and fluids.  

She then flopped his ear onto the top of his head and proceeded to wrap his head in a colourful vet wrap to keep it in place. With time, his ear flap sort of returned to normal, but has more of a crinkled look to it now. We also returned to using the Surolan, hoping it would finally resolve his infection.

Well, on the 1st of December, Phoenix came out of the bedroom, where his favorite spot to sleep is, and began trembling before he fell onto his right side.  

He tried to get back up, but couldn’t – we thought he had had a stroke!

My step-dad had been taking care of him for us while we were away, so did all he could for him until we returned the following night.

When we pulled up, Dad came out with a really upset look on his face and said that something had happened to Phoenix.  

He explained the whole scene and we rushed inside to be with him.  Phoenix could barely hold up his head (which was tilted to the right), he was drooling excessively, his eyes were twitching, his nose was running and he couldn’t get up at all, but he wagged his tail like crazy as I approached.

It was already 10:00pm so we knew there was nothing we could do until the following morning, so we put Phoenix on our bed and tried to rest up for the long drive.

It was a terrible night.  

Phoenix was having so much trouble staying comfortable because he couldn’t adjust himself and if he laid on his right, he had to hold his head in an almost upside down position.

Around eight o’clock the following morning, we put all the dogs into the truck and had Phoenix lie on a blanket between us in the backseat while Dad drove.

It was a tense ride, but we knew that we had to do what was right for Phoenix and that if Dr B said there was nothing we could do, then we had to let him go, it wasn’t fair to ask him to live this way.  Well, after a brief stop at his puppy raiser’s house for a “final” goodbye (we wanted them to be prepared), we arrived at Dr B’s office and carried him in.

After a brief examination, Dr B looked up and before I could say anything, told us it wasn’t as bad as it looked.  

Phoenix was diagnosed with Idiopathic Vestibular Disease.  

She explained that there wasn’t really any treatment and that it would just take time and patience for him to recover almost fully. She then looked him over a little more thoroughly before giving him a homeopathic remedy and instructing us to begin making his kibble into a mushy consistency and adding some canned food for palatability.

It was at this point that she suggested we begin looking into a homemade or raw diet. 

She was convinced it would help alleviate some of the ongoing ear issues and because she was concerned that he may aspirate on the kibble when vacuuming up his meals.

Within a few hours of getting his first dose of the homeopathic remedy, Phoenix became more alert and able to hold his head a little steadier.  

After about seventy-two hours, he was able to somewhat weight bare and continued to improve steadily from there. He was pretty much back to himself by Christmas and even joined us on a 3km walk we took Christmas Day.

I think the  most amazing part of this whole experience though, was to watch Phoenix’s high level of determination to get better and the fact he never once had an accident, but instead made sure we knew he had to go out and waited to be set down on the grass. 

Since then, we’ve started Phoenix on a raw diet and a semi-regular homeopathic regiment for his ears.

He got his first dose around the end of February and his energy level increased, along with some improvements in his ear health.

Then, around the end of March, we noticed his energy level decreasing and his ears backtracking, so we asked Dr B for a phone consult.  She instructed us to give him another dose of the remedy and then let her know what happened after two weeks time.

It has been three weeks since Phoenix received the second dose, and his ears are now at the same stage in healing, with very little inflammation or discharge – a drastic improvement!

I’m not sure if we’ll need to repeat the remedy again, but since the diet change and the implementation of the homeopathic regiment, we’ve noticed he sheds less, moves around easier and seems more alert and cheery, as well as, being more energetic and having his ears begin to clear up after a year and a half of issues.

I hope that Phoenix's story might help other dogs, who'd been suffering with a lifetime of ear problems.

***

Brooke is the human behind the blog ruled by paws. she lives in northern Ontario with her husband, four dogs and two cats. She has two university degrees, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph and a Bachelor of Social Work from McMaster University, but has been unsuccessful in her job search. 

She spends her days training for agility with her current dog guide, Cessna, a 7 year old female black lab and canyon, a 22 month old male golden retriever and hopes to enter competitions next summer. She received Phoenix and Cessna from the Liones Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. 

Phoenix has been retired since may 13th, 2005 and Cessna entered their lives just over a week later, on the 27th. In the future, she hopes to begin her own breeding program and small rescue, but for now she tries to learn as much as possible about dog nutrition, health and training, while supporting Golden Rescue through monetary donations when possible.

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