ANIMAL CPR

At the request of several users, we have translated the 3-fold brochure, published in Acrobat (pdf) format (click here) as a simple web page. As in the printed version, please do not modify the contents if you make a copy; but feel free to give links/printouts to anyone...

DOGS ON HOLIDAY

Been on holiday with your dog? Go to a swish doggy retreat? Camping? Caravanning? Whatever kind of holiday you had, did you enjoy it? Did your dog/s enjoy it?

Did your fellow holiday makers enjoy your dog's company? NO? Shame! Wonder why? Was it because

• the landlady found your dog sprawled out on her best duvet covers in your bedroom?
• your dog had commandeered the settee in the lounge and growled at any or every attempt to be dislodged?
• people complained at the camping site that your dog was
  (i) fouling the area and you hadn't bothered to clear it up?
  (ii) running free when cars were about or children were playing?
  (iii) made free with the bacon sandwiches left on a patio table in someone else's caravan awning?
  (iv) cocked his leg on towels and T-shirts left on a line strung from a tree to caravan or tent?
  (v) barked incessantly due to excitement when you were having a game of catch/football all afternoon?

Whilst we go away on holiday to rest/have fun, eat/sleep/walk our legs down to the knees (and the dog's!) it is still a priority that we control our dogs as much as if we were on home ground. Much as we enjoy window shopping, what is our dog doing whilst we gaze? Snuffling in someone else's shopping bag for a tasty salad sandwich or a bun? Pinching the ice cream cone from the kiddie in the push chair whose parents are also window gazing? Dangling on the end of a long loose lead in an attempt to trip up pedestrians gazing upwards at the historic facades of the shops?

Please, please, please! THINK DOG! What would you do if a kid waved an ice lolly under your nose, or if you were partial to a "99"? Slurp it down of course! Don't blame the dog. On holiday the environment changes for you and your dog. So;

• Keep your dog under control at all times
• Be aware that your dog, whom you regard with affection, could be regarded by others as an affliction!
• Ensure that your dog has been exercised and is comfortable before you go sightseeing and shopping, preferably in a specially designated place e.g. dog walk/loo/field etc
• Keep your dog on a leash on camping sites etc
• Always carry a pooper scooper
• Last but not least NEVER EVER leave your dog/s in a car. Even if the car is in the shade at 10 am, by 11 am the sun can be fully on the car and the heat will be unbearable. In hot weather the rule is "If it's too hot for the dog in the car, and where you want to visit doesn't allow dogs - DON'T GO!" Go at another time or leave your dog safely with someone reliable back at the hotel/caravan/tent.

Your dog relies on you for his health, well being and reputation. Don't let him down!

• pet friendly holidays
• quarantine/pet passport information
• home sitters for those occasions you can't take your dog along

Re-Printed Courtesy of PADS

http://www.gurney.co.uk/pads/

by Nancy Korman

Sometimes, our animal friends will become very frightened. There are many causes that may bring this on. A dog could be chasing your cat, or a trip in the car could bring on panting and nervousness. Many dogs especially are terrified when they hear loud noises like fireworks, thunder or gunshots.

An animal’s response can vary greatly to their fear. You must be very careful around scared animals, whatever the cause. They occasionally get so frightened they will snap and bite, even at those they know well who are trying to help them. If your pet is very frightened, try to get them to a safe, dimly lit place where there is no noise and no other animals or people. If you know what the cause is, and can remove it from their sight or hearing, do so immediately. A few minutes of rest in a quiet place will help them begin to feel better.

Do not attempt to give by mouth any of the remedies listed below while your animal is still extremely agitated. Flower essences can be rubbed into the ears if need be, and homeopathic remedies can be dissolved in a liquid your friend will drink and placed near them. If dissolved in water, you may also rub this on their ears if they are approachable

The first thing to reach for when faced with any sort of fear or fright is the flower essence combination, Rescue Remedy. A few drops in the mouth or on the ears given every few minutes, usually works wonders in calming a frightened animal. And if the trauma that has caused your pet to be fearful is upsetting you also, take a dose every time you give one to the animal. You’ll both feel better for it!

Other flower essences you may want to try include:

penstemon – trauma, for inner strength

mimulus – nervousness, jittery, shy, timid, fear of car rides

poison oak – fear aggression

aspen – vague fears, unconscious fears

cherry plum – extreme stress, trapped feeling

garlic – nervous fear

red clover – hysteria, good for cats

snapdragon – aggressive when fearful, biting

impatiens – nervous behaviors

filaree – anxiety with obsessive tendencies

rock rose - complete terror

These can be mixed, up to 5 essences in a small dropper bottle with spring water. Put 4 drops of each applicable essence in the bottle, fill with water, and shake gently. Administer 4 drops in the mouth or rub on the ears, as needed. It may take several doses within a few minutes of each other initially, and then only a couple of times a day thereafter. You can also put this mixture in a spray bottle and mist the room. This is much safer when dealing with very upset animals.

There are also many homeopathic remedies that work very well to calm a fearful animal. But these remedies must be matched carefully to the symptoms you observe. The first to be used in cases of shock or extreme terror is Aconitum napellus (acon). It is given for deep fear, panic, terror where the animal is agitated and moving about, breathing may be difficult. It is used for true shock where the animal is almost hysterical and restless. Natrum muriaticum (nat mur) is a good choice for vomiting brought on by fear. A choice for an animal this is scared and drools and pants is Cocculus indicus (cocc). Phosphorus (phos) is good for fear of noises, if they are also agitated, but refuse to be left alone, clingy. Arsenicum album (ars) animals also don't want to be left alone, but are very thirsty, and eventually will be tuckered out from the fear. If they are listless and quiet but still very frightened, trembling, maybe having bowel problems try Gelsemium sempervirens (gels).

It will probably be very difficult to give the pills of these remedies to your animal directly when they are fearful, so dissolving the remedy in a bit of water is the best way to go. Then that water can be squirted into the animal’s mouth or just left in a dish for them to drink. Rubbing the water into their outer ear may also be helpful. Give the remedy every 15 minutes for several doses until improvement is seen and then stop. Remedy strengths of below 30C are recommended.

A combination homeopathic remedy available in health food stores called Calms Forte is also very effective for many animals, particularly for insomnia due to minor anxiety.

Also for lower levels of anxiety, many herbs can be helpful. These can be made into an infusion and given in food or as a tea if the animal will drink it. Chamomile is very relaxing and peppermint will help with anxiety induced nausea.

Various forms of conditioning can be very helpful in training your animal friends not to be afraid. For instance, getting a dog to not be terrified by thunder involves playing a thunder recording very quietly for a few minutes while playing or petting the animal. Give them a treat when they are calm. And don’t reward anxious behavior. Over a couple of weeks, the volume is increased very gradually until at a loud volume, the noise no longer upsets the animal. This sort of behavior modification can be used for all sorts of fears.

Car ride fears can be overcome by having the animal sit in the car in the driveway for a few minutes, leading up to short drives, over many weeks. A little bit at a time is key to this technique. If your pet feels any discomfort, go slower with the distance travelled. And make sure that they get to go to fun places in the car – not always the vet office!

Just like us, our animal companions feel stress and fear at times. With a little understanding from us and some simple treatments, we can easily make them much more comfortable. And then we can enjoy their wonderful company again.

http://www.critterhaven.org - please visit the site for more interesting articles

Have you ever seen a device or a program designed to correct a dog behavior problem that explained how smart dogs are and how they think? Most plans or gadgets enable owners, literally, to declare war on their hapless pets. Little or no concern is afforded to what the dogs happen to think about them. In fact, the implication is that dogs don't think at all ... either they just react to external stimuli like robots , or respond according to genetically controlled "drives." Dogs are rarely credited with the ability to solve a problem mentally; to analyze a situation; imagine ways to manipulate or control it, then take a pre-planned course of action toward a goal that was preconceived in the dog's mind. In short, the dog is considered a real dummy, then treated like a dummy. But this concept is not correct. Dogs are smart. They can, and usually do, think rings around their owners. And they can do it because most owners have never learned how to think like a dog.

We all wonder now and then what our dog is thinking. If we wonder aloud, perhaps when mealtime is approaching and the dog is looking expectantly at us, we might say something like, "I'll bet Tippy's thinking, 'When is my dinner going to be ready?' " In all likelihood, Tippy isn't originating any thoughts about 'when dinner will be ready.' It is more likely Tippy is imagining (or 'imaging' in his mind) the words and movements you usually say and perform before getting his dinner; something like, "You want dinner, Tippy?" All that tail wagging and those pleading eyes are aimed at stimulating you to say it.

But, an inability to originate thoughts in a spoken language does not make dogs unintelligent. Even people don't actively think in a spoken language unless they actively 'speak' it. For instance, during a short vacation to Japan, if you don't already speak the language, you'll probably pick up the meaning of a few words. After a few natives look at you in the morning and say "Ohio," you may eventually learn that they're not curious about where you're from, but are wishing you a "Good Morning." Still, you won't think in Japanese unless you live there a few months and actively speak it. Even a pet Akita will never learn to speak or think in the native lingo because their voice boxes, tongues and lips cannot formulate the sounds of Japanese ... or English, or French, etc, etc. The limit of our dog's language-learning is the meaning of the sounds of certain words. Luckily, dogs are quick to learn the sounds that are important to them.

With this in mind, when Tippy is prodding us about serving dinner, we'd be wise to discard ideas about complete sentences being originated and thought about, and replace them with the non-language concept of mental images. To illustrate this further; when most Tippys are asking for dinner they actually look from their owners toward the place where it is served, generally the kitchen.

Some very convincing research suggests that dogs think in sensory impressions; visual, sound and odor images, etc. This is not to say that they sit around on quiet days experiencing videos inside their brains. However, they likely share our ability to form and experience in their minds certain images, odors and sounds. The scientific basis for this idea came from Russia and was published in the US in 1973. A scientist name VS.. Rusinov¹ was studying the electrophysiology of the brain and had several dogs wired with brain wave equipment and radio transmitters. When the dogs were brought into the lab from the kennels for experimental conditioning tests, the electroencephalograph machine was turned on to record their brain wave patterns. This was done at the same time each day, five days a week. One weekend, purely by accident, Rusinov brought a group of visitors into the lab and turned on the EEG machine. Lo, the dog that was normally schedule for tests during the week at that time was sending wave forms nearly identical to his regular working patterns! When the testing time passed, the dogs' brain waves soon returned to their normal 'at rest' forms. I never found any mention by Rusinov as to whether the dogs out in the kennel were actually performing their conditioned laboratory behaviorisms. Chances are they were not, but one thing is almost sure; compared to human experience in similar types of studies, the dogs were apparently experiencing them mentally^2,3.

The late Polish scientist, Jerzi Konorski,³ taught dogs to salivate and expect food in their trays when a light flickered. This was done regularly every few minutes. However, after a few trials, the dogs started salivating and looking at the trays as if the food were actually there, even though the light had not flickered. Konorski ventured that the dogs were hallucinating about both the stimulus (the light) and the reward for salivating (the food). One thing is sure: Something was going on in the dogs' minds that made them behave as if they were happening.

Before going on with dogs, let us consider some facets of our own 'mind's eye,' as suggested by Konorski. Imagine we have a date to meet a loved one at a busy restaurant. We get there on time and sit at a table near the door. Fifteen minutes go by, but no friend arrives. We begin to wonder if they are coming at all. We start watching people approach the door. Pretty soon, people with similar features almost cause us to call out to them. The more concerned and anxious we become, the more apt we are to mistake strangers for our friend. When he or she finally arrives, the pleasure and relief we feel is often mixed with mild displeasure. We are ambivalent ... we have mixed emotions about meeting them in the future.

Almost everyone has mental imagery. Often, just the thought of a loved one conjures up their image. This can apply to sounds, as well. Think about your favorite musical piece and your can often hear it in your 'mind's ear.' These are positive images. They are emotionally pleasant. At the other end of the scale, recalling a terrifying experience can not only create its images, but sometime even make us shudder. This is an example of negative, emotionally unpleasant images.

So it is with our dogs. When we are late getting home, or if they over-miss us because we spoil them with attention and petting every time they demand it, they very likely worry in images, too. They may well recall images of us and our activities, such as fluffing the pillows on the sofa, putting away record albums, handling magazines and books, putting on shoes just before leaving, sitting in a favorite armchair, etc. As a result of this, they often engage in activities which involve them with these images: Pillows wind up on the floor, albums or magazines are moved or chewed, a chair seat gets dug up, shoes are brought out of the closet. If they can't have us there, they try to interact with things that symbolize us.

If dogs really do store up and recall images of us and life's other objects and experiences, it follows that we might use this to our mutual benefit. But since most owners do not understand how dogs think, this imagery is where the seeds of most behavior problems are sown. Dogs receive and recall conflicting images of owners and many important experiences.

Consider the new puppy whose owners come home at regular times and join in an ecstatically joyful greeting ceremony. This imagery is quickly ingrained, and the pup begins to anticipate the experience, just Konorski's dogs hallucinated about the flickering light and the food tray. However, as will happen in even the most well regulated household, one day the owner is late. The puppy begins experiencing the images of his tardy owners ... starts fretting, pacing. Well primed energies, ready for the greeting ceremony, demand an outlet as the adrenaline starts pumping.

What's going on in its mind's eye or ear? It probably imagines hearing footsteps, perhaps even sees the door open... which doesn't happen. But it should. This introduces conflict between what it wants and expects and what is really happening. Conflict creates frustration. Frustration produces anxiety, which triggers an even greater adrenaline rush. The pup searches for something real to satisfy its desire to 'experience' the owner ... a magazine or book it saw the owner reading recently. It is rich with the owner's scent. If it cannot have the owner there, it can at least have their genuine odor or taste. So it sniffs, tastes, maybe even swallows parts of the article. Naturally, this does not fully substitute for the whole owner, so the puppy's social appetite is not really satisfied.

Finally, here comes the owner. The puppy innocently launches into its joyous, semi-hysterical ritual. The owner starts to join in, but spies the pulverized magazine or book. What's this? Naturally, if not wisely, the owner angrily grabs the pup, drags it to the demolished object and scolds it, or slaps it's snout or rump, or both. The pet's single-track mind is riveted on the owner. It yips, rolls over, or struggles vainly to escape. Punishment concluded, the owner angrily picks up the remnants of the article and storms to the trash basket.

The net result of this is a totally confused pup with a conflicting set of images of its owner. This sort of shock to the nervous system is called psychic trauma in both animals and humans. A conflict has been instilled between the positive image of the owner (happy Dr. Jekyll) and the negative (Mr. Homecoming Hyde). This creates frustration and anxiety about homecomings, growing in severity if the scenario is repeated a few times. (It is interesting that in many cases, owners tell us that the pup was fine for a day or so after the first punishment. This may equate to the human experience of repression, in which memory of the traumatic experience is suppressed, creating a sort of 'backwards amnesia.') Even when this occurs, since the punishment was not associated with the act of chewing up something, the puppy seeks out another article, perhaps a shoe, and the cycle is repeated until the total relationship between owner and dog is tainted with emotional ambivalence. Mixed feelings are eating away at the positive qualities of their relationship. Negative emotional impressions may start to dominate it.

At about this stage, many owners conclude that the punishment may not have been severe enough. That's why the correction was not permanent. So they intensify it. The relationship erodes further as weeks go by. Enough of this cascading negative effect and the owner is ready take drastic action. The dog, now hyper-sensitive to its owner's mood change, feels something is wrong. This often is reflected by new problems, such as submissive wetting when the owner comes home or approaches the dog at other times; off-schedule bowel movements or urination occur, etc.

Many pets act insecure, currying more favor when the owner is home, and hence, missing the owner even more acutely when left alone. Frustration and anxiety build, while the isolation-related, tension-relieving behavior mounts. The unwitting owner, who originally may have thought the dog is 'getting even' for being left alone, begins to consider it incorrigible.

This is when outside help is often sought. A book is purchased. The veterinarian, breeder, pet shop, a trainer or behaviorist may be consulted. If lucky, the owner gets advice that brings genuine insight into pet/owner relationships and dog behavior. But, more likely, they find traditional quick fixes and the dog winds up in a desensitization program; gets dosed with anxiety relieving drugs or barbiturates; is stuck in a cramped crate or cage all day, or banned to the yard or garage, or has its mouth stuffed with chewed debris and taped shut for hours. Since none of these approaches deal with the causes, the 'thinking dog' and the total relationship with its owners and the environment, success is rare. The majority of these formerly precious pets find themselves rejected ... relegated to the local pound for five to seven days, where the odds are 3-to-2 they'll suffer society's 'ultimate solution'. But things don't have to be so grim, if the owners learn some 'dog think.'

Dogs that misbehave when they are left alone are said to be suffering from separation anxiety. The term is a neat buzz-phrase; almost everybody uses it. It sounds professional. The trouble is, as a transplant from human psychiatry, it really doesn't convey much useful information. However, the term is here, so we'll use it in its broadest sense, which is; "a troubled feeling when left alone or apart from a certain person or persons." This allows us to recommend a remedial behavioral program that deals with the realities of the dog's total relationships. First, however, we must be sure that the dog's veterinarian has ruled out the many physical/medical causes for anxiety, such as thyrotoxicosis, hyperthyroidism, pre-diabetes, encephalitis, allergies, hyperkinesis, etc. etc.

Dogs that are unduly upset when left alone usually enjoy their owner's attention and petting whenever they ask for (or demand it) when the people are at home. To apply the imagery concept to this relationship, we could say the dog 'sees itself' as directing, or leading the owner. When it wants some petting, it nudges or otherwise stimulates the owner, and the owner complies. The dog wants out, whines at the door or at the owner, and the door gets opened. Mealtime approaches, dog whines and prances, and dinner gets served. When the owner goes from room to room, the dog is either ahead, leading them, or close behind. This is the reality of their relationship, at least in the dog's mind. But, when the owner leaves, against the dog's wishes, the pet is predictably upset, and problem behavior occurs. This can involve barking, chewing, pacing, self-mutilation, off-schedule bowel movements, urination around the house, etc.

The leadership problem can be turned about by presenting a different reality to the dog; one in which the dog is pleasantly, but firmly and consistently told to perform some simple act, such as 'sit' whenever it attempts to gain attention or affection, or whenever the owner wants to give the dog some attention. All 'sits', or whatever command is used ('down' is a good one for highly bossy dogs) are praised happily as 3 to 5 seconds of petting is awarded; then the dog is cheerfully released with an "OK" or "Free." (Free is a good release because OK is too common a word.)

If a really bossy dog refuses to obey, and many do when they realize their relationship is being turned around, simply ignore the situation, turn away and go on about some other activity, ignoring the dog. Some dogs have refused to respond for as long as four days before coming to terms with a follower relationship. However long it takes, after a few days the dog's image of itself seems to evolve from one of giving direction to taking it with compliance prior to being petted, getting dinner, going out the door, getting on the couch, etc.

In moving around the house, whenever the dog forges ahead, simply about-turn and go the other way. This must be repeated until the dog walks patiently behind or, better yet, doesn't even follow. It is also helpful, but not vital, to practice down-stays of increasing length during several evenings a week.

Most 'home alone' problem dogs get extremely emotional when their owners get home; some even get excitable when regular departure times approach. To supplant these emotionally over-stimulating images, sit quietly for about five minutes before leaving, in the area where the dog will be left. No eye contact or speaking is allowed. Then, get up and go without looking at or speaking to the pet.

At homecoming, enter quietly and ignore the dog until it quiets down completely. Then it is greeted happily, but briefly, away from the door of arrival. This subdued routine soon replaces the dog's highly emotional mental images of returns and departures with calmness and serenity.

Here's the tough part for most all dog owners: When coming home the place is a mess! Pillows have been chewed, or the chair is tattered again, or a pile of poop graces the doorway, or some other problem is evident. If we keep in mind that the dog has in the past suffered from conflicting images at homecoming, it is imperative that no emotion, or even attention, should be directed at the remnants of the problem; such as chewed up magazines, shoes, defecation, etc. Instead, after five minutes of ignoring the dog, it should be greeted away from the scene of the misbehavior, and then pleasantly taken outdoors or to another room and left alone while the mess is cleaned up. This avoids creating new (or reinforcing old) conflicting images of emotional reactions to, or interactions with, the debris, defecation, etc.

I have always called this 'the secret clean-up'. It has worked wonders as part of programs ranging from digging in the yard to housetraining puppies. Just why it is such an effective adjunct to correction programs remains to be satisfactorily explained. In the meantime, we'll have to say that the lack of an image of the owner and the mess is more beneficial to correction than is the image.

So, there it is. Dogs think in images and we can mold and change their behavior in hundreds of ways if we will think as they do. For instance, on the negative side, a set up whereby a car screeches to a stop, horn blaring, just as a dog starts toward the street from the sidewalk, then praising its retreat, is a valuable exercise in negative imagery. However, it must be repeated until the dog avoids the street when cars are not present, as well.

Teaching the 'panic' command to come needs the dog's name followed by a code word, a sound image that is exclusive to coming when it is absolutely necessary, and praise words or a vocal rhythm that is unique to that command, coupled with fast hand-clapping while taking a crouched position. These combined, positive images can create a dog that will dependably respond to your code word and come to your praise. It is especially important to teach this command when the dog is out of sight, as well.

copyright 1995 by William E. Campbell

Courtesy of:http://www.critterhaven.org

CLASSICAL AND CLINICAL HOMEOPATHY

After the loss of too many furkids, without logical explanation from the medical profession, I was faced yet again with another dying animal. It was then that I went on a mission to seek help via alternative methods, although I did not know what that would be when I began my search.
My mother has used all types of unconventional healing modalities since I can remember. She is a 41 year survivor of SLE - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
And yet, until 1982, I had never completely handed myself over to holistic treatment.
My little cat C.C., who had come down with full blow Aids, Leukemia and Peritonitis simultaneously. The vets had given him 4 days worth of antibiotics and assured me they would have to put him down if he did indeed survive the four days. That was when I experienced my miracle. And that miracle came in the form of woman named Lola. She is a clinical homeopath. She sent me 3 remedies Federal Express and within 24 hours all symptoms were gone!
As you can imagine, there is much more to this story. But I have taken every opportunity to learn and experience the wonder of these remedies and methods since then. And, knowing the subject is controversial, decided that it must be shared anyway. If one animal could be saved or at least have a better quality of life, I just had to share it with others and learn from others as well.

To that end, I have been confronted with much adversity regarding my methods of using homeopathic remedies.  It is not the Classical approach, it is the Clinical approach as I have been taught it.  And let me just say that one never completes learning something new or better every day.  When I began my group it was with the intention to help.  And I found myself up against something I had never anticipated, the classical/clinical debate.  There are no excused for either approach in my mind, simply a choice, a path and method to use.  Therefore it seemed natural for me to choose that which I was first introduced to and that which worked for me.

Clinical, according to what I've been taught, means to address the entire system that is being affected by the disease at one time.  This typically calls for more than one remedy at a time.  It also calls for using remedies that do not necessarily show symptoms.  For instance, in the case of arthritis/rheumatism....you will note that there is a uric acid build up in the system as well.  And while the animal/person may not be exhibiting any urinary disturbance as the first sign of discomfort, you can bet that by utilizing remedies, which assist the kidneys to work and drain all toxins from the body, the arthritic, rheumatic pain will be greatly alleviated.  These remedies would be used in conjunction with the remedy chosen to fit the predominant symptom of pain associated with the arthritis/rheumatism that is acting out as the first sign of discomfort.

Detoxifiers are the first rule of thumb.  Help the liver and kidneys work, and the body will have an easier time eliminating the disease.  There is less, if not NO healing crisis to speak of.  Experience has shown me over and over again that when the proper remedy is given, the body begins to eliminate the toxin/disease and this causes stress to the organs vital in the process of elimination.  When those organs are supported, the healing goes much smoother and quicker and the layers peel away as painless as possible.  Often I will give a detox in order to see the true underlying problem as it seems that when the kidneys and liver are made to work overtime in combating a disease, the true disease is not clearly presenting itself because what you have showing is an overtaxed system. And so, its been my experience, that when a detox is given, much of the symptoms showing are gone and you are able to see more clearly what the true dilemma is.  And therefore, you can offer help with greater ease.
I have asked my teachers when a detox is not called for.  Their reply is this, when we no longer have additives, carcinogens, fumes, pesticides, chemicals and contaminants.  When there is no longer a need for the kidneys and liver to work overtime.  As you can see, detox is here to stay in my book.

This is a day and age of chronic and critical disease.  I hear more complicated disease names then I care to mention.  I ask myself, how does a dog and cat get these diseases?  Some of the names I can't even pronounce!  Surely we have come a long way from the common cold, or cancer for that matter.  So just the same, we must approach disease in a new way using the old remedies.  And even that has changed.  There are now hundreds of new remedies emerging and books being sold with their explanations.

So it seems, until we as a human race, change the way in which we chose to live under the guise of convenience, where I suspect most of these toxins originate from, we must utilize a different approach to healing in order to accommodate our choices.
Its my feeling that there are many more miasms out there then the 3 originally discovered by Hannahman.  I believe that with all these toxins we have introduced into our lives, we have caused them to become a part of our genetic coding.  And it is acknowledged by some that Cancer is a miasm.

In any event, classical, clinical, homotoxicology or whatever you call it, I do hope that all of those people that have successes which bring about relief to someone ailing, continue to write, speak, share and work with their methods.  They may face many adversity and criticism, but the end will justify the means and the sick made healthy, and I'm sure they won't mind.
God Bless.

Copyright 2002 : Lita Radford

Almost every illness affecting animals causes a change in normal behavior patterns. In fact, many diseases go unnoticed until an animal shows behavior changes. Loss of appetite, decreased activity, decreased grooming, withdrawal from social interaction and hiding are common signs of illness in pets. Changes in feeding behavior, including increased or decreased appetite and a change in food preference, should prompt veterinary attention. While a behavioral change may be the only obvious sign of an underlying illness, not every behavioral disorder is associated with a medical problem. It is often necessary to investigate the possibility of a hidden physical disorder before a behavioral problem can be clearly diagnosed and treated. Irritable aggression may be the first indication of an underlying medical disorder or may accompany a recognized illness. A sudden change in a pet's temperament should be reported to your veterinarian. If your dog or cat suddenly resents having its ears touched, for example, the discomfort may be caused by an ear infection. A gradual temperament change should also be brought to your veterinarian's attention, particularly if this is accompanied by physical changes. For example, in cats, progressive agitation and irritability combined with weight loss despite an increased appetite may indicate an overly active thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). An aging dog may become uncomfortable and irritable during damp, cold weather because of arthritis pain. Some of the more common medical disorders that can cause behavioral changes are discussed below. This list is by no means complete, nor is it intended to be used for at-home diagnosis. Many diseases have the same signs and cause similar behavioral changes that must be distinguished by a veterinarian or a veterinary behavior consultant.

Skin inflammation can cause itchiness and irritation. External parasites (fleas, ticks or mites) and internal parasites (roundworms or tapeworms) can cause skin eruptions. Allergies to pollen and dust, certain types of food or direct contact with an irritant can result in skin discomfort. Metabolic diseases, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease, can result in hair loss and skin problems. Dermatitis can also be caused or complicated by infection from bacterial, viral or fungal agents. Excessive scratching and self-grooming may stem from anxiety or frustration. A pet may lick or chew at itself, damaging hair and irritating the skin. It may even pull out its hair, creating baldness. This behavior leads to skin inflammation, which causes the pet to scratch, sometimes long after the initial emotional upheaval has been resolved. Self-mutilation can recur in times of emotional or physical stress.

The anal sacs are 2 small scent-producing pouches on either side of the anus. These are normally emptied with every bowel movement, but they can become inflamed and infected. "Scooting," or dragging the anal area against the ground, can be a sign of anal sac infection. In addition to scooting, your pet may exhibit tail-chasing, excessive grooming and self-mutilation of body parts near the hindquarters.

Pain and discomfort associated with problems in the mouth, including the teeth, gums and tongue, may be signalled by behavioral changes. Abnormal tongue, chewing or swallowing movements and salivation may indicate oral disease. The pet may develop a sudden change in food preference. A pet may begin to refuse dry food or chunk-style meals, preferring moist food of a smoother consistency.

Excessive thirst, or polydipsia, often accompanies disease of the kidneys, urinary tract or digestive system and hormonal imbalances. Excessive drinking may also be stimulated by emotional stress.

Abnormally high production of thyroid hormones is a relatively common problem, especially in cats. Confirmed by blood test, it often causes restlessness, vocalization, agitation and weight loss despite excessive appetite. Some affected cats can become aggressive.

Seizures may originate in the brain itself or may be associated with diseases elsewhere in the body, such as the heart, kidneys and liver. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), as seen in diabetes, can lead to seizures. Seizures may be very subtle, almost imperceptible, such as an eye twitch or a leg jerk, and may go unnoticed. Seizure activity can also result in unusual behavior. For example, a pet may suddenly begin "shadow chasing" and "fly catching." Jaw snapping, tongue rolling or a simple momentary blank stare may indicate minor seizures. Aggressive behavior may be triggered by a seizure. The animal may show uninhibited rage or only growling or barking, sometimes with a dazed appearance. Aggressive seizures can result in self-mutilation, as seen in some tail-chasing dogs. Not every episode of unexplained or bizarre behavior is provoked by seizures. Physical examination and a complete behavioral history are necessary for your veterinarian to make an accurate diagnosis. Behavioral (or physical) abnormalities related to seizures may respond to medical treatment.

Ear Infections

Head-shaking may be a sign of an ear infection. A pet may display its discomfort by suddenly shying away from you or by growling when you pet its head or touch the painful ear. (This is also seen in dominant dogs without an ear infection.) Infections of the inner ear and neurologic disturbances, such as vestibular disease in old animals, may cause circling and incoordination.

Inappropriate Urination or Defecation

Inappropriate elimination may be a sign of a medical or behavioral problem. When abnormal stools are voided in undesirable locations, an almost endless list of infectious or inflammatory bowel disease may require investigation. Inappropriate urination may be a sign of a urinary tract infection or hormonal imbalance. Neuromuscular diseases can affect the control of anal or bladder sphincters. Seizure activity can also be accompanied by involuntary voiding of urine and stool. This should not be confused with other forms of inappropriate elimination. Inappropriate elimination can also be an expression of territorial anxiety, inadequate exercise, a regression in house-training, and attention-seeking behavior.

dog owners are not mushrooms - we don't need to be kept in the dark and thrown manure from time to time!

by Catherine O'Driscoll

Vaccines protect our dogs against disease, helping to ensure they live long, healthy, happy lives.

Vaccines only sometimes protect our dogs against disease (if at all). Scientific studies into human vaccines have shown that just as many vaccinated people, and sometimes more vaccinated people, contract diseases as do unvaccinated people.

A study conducted by Canine Health Concern during 1997, involving 2,700 dogs, showed that 68.2% of dogs in the survey with parvovirus contracted it within three months of being vaccinated. Similarly, 55.6% of dogs with distemper contracted it within three months of vaccination; 63.6% contracted hepatitis within three months of vaccination; 50% contracted parainfluenza within three months of vaccination; and every single dog with leptospirosis contracted it within that three month timeframe.

So vaccines represent - at best - only a 50/50 chance of protection. But if you doubt the validity of the CHC survey, ask around. It won't take long to find people whose dogs contracted these diseases shortly after being vaccinated. In a parvo vaccine trial conducted by Dr Ronald D Schultz, head of pathobiology at Wisconsin University, three out of six parvo vaccine brands totally failed to give protection; two gave only partial protection; and only one was shown to be effective.

Vaccines have eradicated epidemics.

Vaccine manufacturers like to claim this. But research shows that vaccines are generally introduced after the disease has died out: diseases die out after 67% of a population has been exposed to it. The smallpox vaccine is often quoted as having eradicated smallpox. In fact, scientists stopped using it when they finally admitted that it was causing too many side-effects.

There are strong arguments to suggest that vaccines keep diseases in the eco-system. For example, the only cause of polio in the USA today is the vaccine itself. (You can get polio if you change the nappy of a baby who has recently been vaccinated against polio.) Vaccines also shed into the environment, so a vaccinated or unvaccinated dog or cat can contract a disease from the urine and faeces of a vaccinated dog or cat.

Vaccines are extremely safe.

No-one can legitimately claim that vaccines are safe - because no-one has conducted the necessary research to make that claim. There are no long-term studies to show the long-term effects of vaccines on humans, let alone dogs.

Only a tiny minority of genetically-susceptible dogs will suffer adverse reactions to vaccines.

Whilst some dogs will have genetic weaknesses that make vaccines more dangerous to them, there are many other factors which can put your dog at risk.

Vaccine manufacturers warn, in their data sheets, that the following factors can render vaccines harmful (they use the phrase, "immunocompetence may be compromised" ):

1. if the dog is genetically defective
2. if there is something wrong with the dog's diet
3. if the dog was unhealthy when vaccinated
4. if the dog is stressed at time of injection
5. if the dog's immune system is incompetent
6. if the dog is exposed to a virus shortly after vaccination
7. if the dog is taking immune suppressant drugs such as steroids
8. if the vet stores and handles the vaccine inappropriately
9. if the dog is incubating disease at the time of vaccination

And if no-one is recording the adverse effects of vaccines effectively, then how can anyone say only a 'tiny minority' have adverse reactions? In the UK, vets are asked (not compelled) to report adverse reactions if they suspect an adverse vaccine reaction. If a dog falls down having an epileptic fit within half an hour, ten days, or a month of vaccination, the vet very often fails to suspect a link - even though vaccines are known to cause epilepsy, and the human Vaccine Damage Compensation Unit has paid up to £30,000 to parents whose children were made epileptic by vaccines. Even if the vet does suspect a link, there is no law to make him report the suspected reaction. Many vets are too busy to complete the necessary paperwork. The same applies to other diseases which many scientists contend are vaccine-related - such as skin disease, arthritis, cancer, encephalitis, etc.

you only think you have seen one vaccine reaction in twenty years of practice! Vets have been trained to look for an immediate reaction - where the dog is allergic to the vaccine (this allergy is the basis for the genetic link claim). In the event of an allergic reaction - sometimes called anaphylaxis or a hypersensitivity reaction - the vet is advised to inject adrenalin into the animal to save his life.

Because vaccine components can remain in the system for long periods of time, and because most of these disease take time to show themselves, causal link is rarely established. Unless, that is, scientists take the time (despite fears that their funding might be withdrawn by the pharmaceutical industry) to study the facts.

Research papers published by eminent scientists show that the following diseases can be caused by vaccines:

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

- a dreadful disease that usually kills a dog within days. Progress of the disease closely resembles the last stages of AIDS. Cancer - Dr Denis W Macey was reported in an American veterinary paper as saying that up to 22,000 cats develop cancer at the site of vaccination every year in the USA.

The Salk Polio Vaccine

administered to thousands of people in the 1950s and '60s was contaminated with a Simian (monkey) retrovirus (called SV40) that has been found at human cancer sites. An Avian (bird) retrovirus has also been found at human cancer sites, suspected to have come from the MMR vaccine. Monkey kidneys, chick embryos, dog brains and kidney, and cat brains and kidneys are all commonly used as vaccine culture media. If the animal used as a culture medium for vaccines carries a retrovirus and this is undetected and left in the vaccine, the vaccine can permanently alter the genes of the animal or human receiving the vaccine.

Genetic defects

- The significance of vaccines' gene altering potential is alarming. For example, SV40 has been found at cancer sites belonging to the children of people who received the SV40-contaminated Salk Polio vaccine. SV40 switches off the part of the DNA that protects from cancer, and this defect can be inherited.

Although the British government was informed that the polio vaccine was contaminated at the time, they took the decision to use it anyway. Records have now been destroyed (to protect the guilty?). Once it was decided it was too risky to continue using the contaminated vaccine on the UK population, it was sold overseas to unsuspecting 'foreigners'.

So God help your dog. Thyroid disease is inheritable; and this can be caused by vaccines. Once a dog has underlying thyroid disease, he or she only needs a trigger - from a vaccine, an environmental pollutant, from stress, or from dietary inadequacies - to develop full-blown autoimmune diseases. Thyroid disease can often be undetected. For example, behavioural problems, hormonal imbalances, nymphomania, and coat loss can by symptoms of thyroid disease, but are often treated at face value without establishing the underlying cause.

Leukaemia

- Dr Jean Dodds, one of the world's foremost experts in canine vaccine reactions, says: "Recent vaccinations with single or combination modified live virus (MLV) vaccines are increasingly recognised contributors to immune-mediated blood diseases, bone marrow failure, and organ dysfunction."

Dr Dodds lists leukaemia, thyroid disease, Addison's disease, diabetes, and lymphoma as diseases that can be triggered by vaccines.

Parvovirus

- yes, parvovirus was created by vaccines. This disease didn't exist prior to the 1970s. In fact, scientists tell us it was created by vaccine manufacturers who cultured the distemper vaccine on cat kidneys that were infected with feline enteritis. This cat-enteritis-diseased distemper vaccine was then injected into dogs around the world, and parvovirus reared its ugly head around the world at the same time. Similarly, human AIDS is thought by some scientists to be a vaccine-induced plague. HIV (humans), FIV (cats), and SIV (monkeys) are closely related viruses. Two separate scientific papers link the emergence of HIV in humans with the use of SIV-infected polio vaccines (cultured on monkey kidneys) on male homosexuals in New York, and innocent citizens of the Belgian Congo.

Arthritis

- If there is a history of arthritis, epilepsy or allergies in a human family, doctors will often refrain from vaccinating a child. Arthritis is an inflammatory (hypersensitivity/allergy) disease. Vaccines contain various components, including serum (often bovine serum posing a BSE type threat), formaldehyde, aluminium, and mercury. Is it any wonder that an animal might become hypersensitive or inflamed after having these poisons injected into hm? According to one vaccine manufacturer, vaccines that are cultured on animal tissue can contain 'extraneous proteins' that can cause autoimmune diseases. Arthritis is an autoimmune disease, and it was found in the CHC survey to manifest in clusters nine months after vaccination. Animals with a genetic pre-disposition to allergies (ie 'people' from families with a history of irritable bowel syndrome/Crohns disease/enteritis, asthma, hay fever, eczema, and so on), can become more allergic, or become highly sensitised, when you inject foreign proteins (serums and organ tissue) into them. Veterinary manuals talk openly about serum reactions.

Allergies

- There are many, many research papers showing a link between allergies and vaccines.

In 1983, for example, Frick and Brooks published a paper to show that inhalant allergies (such as atopic dermatitis) have developed in dogs when vaccinated with distemper, hepatitis and leptospirosis vaccines just prior to, but not after, exposure to pollen extracts. 'Atopic' means an inherited pre-disposition to produce excess amounts of IgE antibodies in response to antigens (the things the animal is allergic to such as pollen, flea bites, dust mites, etc.). As a result the allergic individuals suffer chronically irritating skin inflammations. Other organs may exhibit signs of hypersensitivity causing, for example, conjunctivitis or rhinitis. Homoeopathic vets treat a large proportion of skin problems as 'vaccinosis' (a morbid reaction to vaccines).

Epilepsy

- As stated earlier, it is scientifically recognised that vaccines can cause epilepsy in humans. Dr Hans Selye published a famous paper in 'Nature' in 1936 which explained how an organism will react to a massive challenge (such as a vaccine). Every system of the body springs into action, and a hormone called DOC can be released. This hormone can cause brain lesions and destruction of large parts of the brain. Epilepsy is a neurological (brain) condition. In addition, this brain damage can lead to behavioural problems. Harris L Coulter has published a very convincing argument to suggest that unprovoked aggression in humans has its base in encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) caused by vaccines.

 

Vaccine manufacturers have to undergo stringent procedures and tests to ensure safety.

OK, partly true . . . vaccine manufacturers have to go through safety procedures and tests, but to claim that these tests are stringent is highly subjective. How, then, did SV40 get through; how did the avian virus get into the MMR vaccine; how did parvovirus slip through the net; and how did AIDS suddenly arrive from nowhere? In actual fact, no-one is permitted (in the UK at least) to test the viral component of a veterinary vaccine except a vaccine manufacturer. They are the only ones with a license to do it. This means that if you suspect a vaccine killed your puppy, you have to take the vaccine company's word for it if they say it didn't.

It's better to risk a vaccine reaction than subject my dog to these deadly killer diseases.

Parvovirus is only generally deadly to puppies and, as maternal antibody can be present for as many as 22 weeks, and as maternal antibody cancels out the vaccine, vaccinated puppies are unlikely to be protected from parvovirus. Adult dogs rarely die from parvovirus.

Distemper kills only half of affected dogs. Indeed, dogs most susceptible to disease are those who are fed poor quality processed foods (and don't imagine that price equals quality). A dog fed a natural diet, containing 'real' food, is most able to combat any viral challenges. Also, please be aware that there is an alternative to a highly risky vaccine - this is discussed later. Clinical signs of hepatitis and parainfluenza range from mild and invisible to death (the flu rarely kills; hepatitis can be caused by a range of factors, including poor diet, and the vaccine doesn't protect against all of the other dangers). Secondly, no-one knows how common these diseases are. No-one records their existence.

Leptospirosis, for example, is extremely rare (apart from which, leptospirosis is a range of over a hundred bacterins; the chances of the strain in the needle matching the strain in the field are remote; and the vaccine only confers protection for between three and six months, leaving vaccinated dogs 'unprotected' for up to nine months anyway). Vaccines have also been known to cause the diseases they were designed to prevent. This happens when a vaccine is injected into an animal with a suppressed immune system (caused by genetic factors, poor diet, stress, existing illness, etc.); or when the vaccine manufacturer fails to render the viral component of the vaccine harmless in the lab. In the latter instance, the vaccine is withdrawn after it has killed 'more dogs than normally expected' (in the words of one vaccine manufacturer as it withdrew its vaccine).

Canine Health Concern's vaccine survey indicated that at least one in every hundred dogs is damaged by vaccines. As no-one has any statistics to suggest otherwise, it should be up to vets and vaccine manufacturers to prove vaccines are safe - and not the other way round. We whose dogs have died or suffered chronic debilitating diseases shouldn't have to take their word for it when the vaccine manufacturers deny responsibility. Our concerns should be taken seriously, and not strenuously denied in the face of overwhelming evidence.

The homoeopathic vaccine alternative is unproven.

Existing research and experience shows that the homoeopathic nosode is as protective - but probably more protective - than vaccines. Whereas the medical and veterinary 'professions' receive huge sums of money from international multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical conglomerates, please note that homoeopaths do not. Rather, vets who trust the less expensive homoeopathic alternative suffer serious financial loss by refusing to sell highly lucrative annual boosters. A growing number of dog lovers are beginning to choose the homoeopathic alternative to vaccines. Some have been using the nosode for up to twenty years, and claim that they have never had a problem.

You should vaccinate your dog every year.

If you hear nothing else, if you can accept nothing else, please know that annual vaccination is not necessary. Please do not subject your dogs to the vaccine risk year after year until they drop.

Once immunity to a virus exists, it persists for the lifetime of the host. In the case of leptospirosis (a bacterial disease), I have already explained that the vaccine is virtually useless and therefore not worth the risk.

One American veterinary vaccine manufacturer has made a public announcement, saying that it no longer recommends annual vaccination. Several American veterinary colleges have announced the same, in reaction to consumer pressure and fears over adverse reactions. One veterinary college said that annual vaccination has no scientific basis, and we might as well have chosen 'every full moon' to stick the needle in. And please be aware that a vaccine administered to a puppy, when his immune system is immature, is probably the most harmful jab of all, capable of wreaking havoc - havoc that you might not be able to detect immediately.

My doctor/vet knows best.

Doctors and vets are trained in a very specific healing discipline. They know a little about pharmaceuticals, and some of them know about surgery.

But they rely upon the pharmaceutical industry to tell them which drugs to use in which circumstances. When a conventionally trained scientist tells you that homoeopathy doesn't work, you may as well ask your butcher whether electricity works - the fact is, conventional vets rarely have any knowledge of homoeopathy to base their opinions on. Homoeopaths do not claim to be able to reverse all vaccine damage, and conventional vets - not even recognising vaccine damage - have little success.

Once you've administered the needle, you can never change your mind. Please STUDY THE FACTS, don't live to regret it.

The facts contained in this article are substantiated in the book, 'What Vets Don't Tell You About Vaccines'. It is available for £16.45 including post and packaging from Abbeywood Publishing, c/o Longnor SPO, Longnor, Derbyshire SK17 OJJ.

• Europe - £19.95 including airmail delivery
• Australia - A$49.97 by airmail
• New Zealand - NZ$57.97 ny airmail
• In Canada or the USA - click here for local supplier

For less than the price of one vaccine jab, you can save yourself years' of expense and heartache, and your innocent animal friend the agony of vaccine damage.

Canine Health Concern fulfils three functions:

1. To gather vital independent data about the health of dogs.
2. To educate and inform: share information with dog 'owners' so that they can better care for their friends.
3. To act as a consumer action and protection group - providing a much needed check on the big businesses that make money from dogs.

For details of membership, please write to the above address, enclosing a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Canine Health Concern is a non-profit making organisation dedicated to the health and wellbeing of dogs, and to the peace of mind of their 'owners'.

CHC membership.  £12 a year for the UK, £16 overseas.  Send cheque to Longnor
SPO, Longnor, Derbyshire SK17 ONS, England.  

http://www.asr-svcs.dircon.co.uk/

This information is produced and distributed by Canine Health Concern, c/o Longnor SPO, Longnor, Derbyshire SK17 OJD. Telephone 01298 84737.

Sometimes you just know it isn’t going to be your day! The alarm clock fails to go off, husband is late for an important meeting at the office, the toast gets so burnt that the smoke alarm goes off and the kids suddenly announce that they need a clean football kit and they told you thousands of times. Finally, when they are all out of the house and peace reigns at last the dog picks a well-chosen moment and the newest carpet and is violently sick.
Up to the vets’ and you are instantly dismayed by a waiting room bursting at the seams with clients and their pets. The smiling receptionist (an American Express girl look-a-like) tells you that your vet has been called away and you will be seeing Mr X. Your heart sinks, Mr X is not your favourite vet, he’s fiercely efficient but rather brusque and, to be honest, scares the living daylights out of you.
You can’t "take a seat", not yet anyway, and are stuck in a corner next to a rather angry looking Rottweiler with a suspicious itch (let’s hope it isn’t mange!). For the next 45 minutes you wait. Fido seems to be feeling much better and is already doing his utmost to embarrass you. He’s stuck his nose into a cat basket much to the disgust of the rather haughty lady owner and has been lusting after a very pretty bitch on the other side of the room. You are hot, bothered and embarrassed and the dog is straining on the end of the lead in an attempt to reach his lady-love and doing Torville and Dean impersonations on the lino.
Suddenly, the door opens and the vet calls you in. Standing, your stomach goes weak and the dog puts down its anchors and refuses to budge. It feels as though everyone is looking and you wish the ground would swallow you up.
Once in the consulting room Fido does his "poor little thing" impersonation you make a complete hash of trying to explain the problem.
You can’t answer any of the vet’s questions and you leave 5 minutes later with some outrageously expensive pills feeling that you have "blown it"!

Firstly, a couple of drops of Bach Rescue Remedy (for you) is always a good start!
Before going to the surgery for the appointment, just take a few minutes to write down a few notes – remember, it may not be your usual vet:

• Dog’s age. Are his inoculations up to date?
• When did the problem start?
• What exactly happened – did something spark it off?
• Has he had this problem before? When? How was it treated and by whom?
• Is the dog currently on any medication?
• Have you given him anything to treat it either from the pet shop or homeopathic or natural remedies?
• Did this improve, temporarily improve, aggravate the condition?
• Has he been wormed recently?
• Are you using any flea, tick or other parasite treatments?
• Has the dog had a change of diet?
• Does he drink out of stagnant ponds or rivers?
• Is he in the habit of scrounging from the rubbish bags put out for collection?
• Has he recently been in kennels? Were any other dogs ill/affected? – try to find out.
• Are any other dogs in the neighbourhood ill?
• What is his usual weight? What is it now?
• Is he eliminating more or less than usual?
• Do you know if the sire and dam suffered similar problems?
• Is it evident that he has been slowly deteriorating but that you haven’t noticed until now?

Obviously you may add or ignore some of these but they are a starting point and the more detailed, relevant information you can give the more helpful it will be for the vet. It is useful to keep a notebook listing all your dog’s ailments, visits to the vet, medication and so on.

• What sort of medication the dog has been prescribed?
• How often it should be taken and when?
• What to do if you miss a dose.
• What sort of reaction you should see in the dog – will he be drowsy, aggressive, hungry, thirsty, will he need to eliminate more often, does it cause constipation?
• If the vet wants to keep him in under observation: why? what will they look for?
• What tests might they want to perform – what will the results show?
• If an anaesthetic is to be used, could this be dangerous for the dog?
• What would be best for the dog and his quality of life?
• If it is something like epilepsy, diabetes etc., is there a support organisation where you could obtain information and help?

If you are asked to make a follow-up appointment, make sure you note any changes in your dog’s condition and when they occurred. Make a summary of the vet’s diagnosis and treatment in your notebook – you may not see that vet next time.
Try to remember; the more informed and interested you are in your dog’s health and treatment, the more likely it is that you will get the best from your vet. Your time in the consulting room is short – make the most of it!
If the waiting room is very full and you feel it will "stress you both out", ask how long the delay is likely to be and go for a walk or sit in the car (if it’s not too hot). Alternatively, if you have the time, rearrange the appointment.
A lady who rang me on my CALL line told me how useful it was to have made a list of symptoms as I had suggested. "I always feel a bit flustered and overwhelmed when I go to the vet", she said.

Re-Printed Courtesy of PADS

http://www.gurney.co.uk/pads/

The Canine Health Concern is an independent survey that seeks to discover how we can help our dogs to live long, healthy, lives.

They started asking why? Why do nearly a quarter of all dogs die of cancer, rising to 46% of those over the age of ten? Why do so many dogs suffer from hot spots and allergies and arthritis and fits and thyroid problems and heart problems and leukaemia and diabetes and . . . . what is happening to our dogs? Do you remember when dogs used to die of old age? Why is it always the special dogs that die so young? Why is it always the dog who has been loved and cared for; who was always taken to the vet; who received the best care money could buy? Why? What is happening?

Why do we need an independent survey organised by dog lovers for dogs? Why not leave it to the experts? Because the experts disagree with one-another! and because the there are no proper follow up procedures to ensure compliance with standards etc. A fact that has been recently admitted by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate!

Diet

Ian Billinghurst, an Australian vet and author, believes adamantly that commercial pet food can take five years off the average dog's life. He believes that many of the problems our dogs face in the modern world - infertility, periodontal disease, arthritis, hip dysplasia, etc. - are a direct result of inadequate feeding. But ask your vet what he thinks - he's probably selling selected processed pet foods. see Give your dog a bone

You could also check out:

Dr Tom Londale's site

Alfred Plechner, an American vet and author, believes that processed pet food, plus in-breeding of pedigree dogs, is causing an "epidemic of death and disease". He bases his theory upon years of practice as a vet. But he is rarely listened to by his fellow Vets.

Vaccinations

If you love your dog, and listen to your vet's advice, your dog is vaccinated annually. Why do we need to vaccinate dogs every year? Why do children only get vaccinated once or twice? Does your dog get sick and have diarrhoea after he's vaccinated?

But dare you ignore your vet's advice? If you love your dog, what do you do? Already, over two thousand four hundred dogs have taken part in the Canine Health Census. Many of their owners are telling us that their dog started limping three days after their booster shot, and the limping turned out to be arthritis. Others are saying that their dog developed colitis or had fits after their annual vaccination. Is there a connection, or is it just coincidence? Other dog owners have told us that they never revaccinate their dogs, and they say that the dogs are living to 15 or 16 years of age, with rarely a need to visit the vet.

Do you live in a town or city, or do you live in the country? Our city-dwelling Concern participants often tell us that their dog is affected by petrol fumes, with post-mortem results to prove it! Country-dwellers have recounted tales of their dog being deluged with crop spray. They wonder whether this is why their dog later died of cancer, or aborted a litter. By adding your dog to the information pool, we might be able to discover how dangerous agricultural chemicals, or vehicle emissions, really are. We might, together, do something to make the world a safer place for our pets, and for our children. At the very least, we might educate ourselves to think twice before using certain chemicals.

Already, we know that certain commonly-used chemicals can cause cancer and leukaemia - in dogs and humans. Certain garden chemicals have been directly linked to cancer in dogs. The same chemicals, used in agriculture, are thought to increase the incidence of cancer in farmers. Some dog owners have been able to stop their dog having epileptic its, simply by changing from a plastic food or water bowl to a metal or ceramic bowl. Others, notably the Oregon Greyhound Rescue, say that thyroid problems have been cured by filtering the dogs' water.

consider flea collars: did you know that many flea collars contain carbaryl? Do you know what carbaryl has been shown to do to animals in laboratories? It causes cancer, mutates cells, and causes birth defects. How safe is it for your dog to wear a flea collar around his neck for up to four months? And why do the manufacturers tell us to stop our children touching the collar?

And the flea sprays - read the instructions. Are you told not to breathe in whilst spraying your dog? Can you tell your dog not to breathe? And what's in all the flea killing shampoos? One of them, at least, contains a chemical that has been shown to cause cancer if taken in through the skin! The manufacturers say they're safe if we use them correctly - but are they? You can help us to find out.

You take your dog to the vet with a skin infection. Your vet gives your dog a steroid injection. The skin infection clears up. Later, you discover your dog has kidney disease. Is there a clear connection between the steroid injection and your dog's diseased kidneys? You don't know. But we do know that steroids are known to damage kidneys. We also know, from the drug manufacturers' own data sheets, that steroids can cause liver damage, brittle bones, diabetes, adrenal insufficiency, an inability to deal with stress, and damage to the immune system.

But, again, we have a dilemma. If your dog has a skin infection, you need to do something about it. You need to help your dog to get better. Many participants of the Concern have been telling us that they used herbs and homoeopathy, as well as diet, to cure their dog. By sharing knowledge, dog owners may be able to find a safer way.

Quite a few Concern participants have questioned the 'family planning' injection. They wonder whether hormones might have something to do with their dog's early demise. Jean Dodds says that hormonal imbalances are connected to diseases of the immune system. Ian Billinghurst says that hormonal imbalances arise from faulty diet . . . Again, by comparing notes on a large scale, WE CAN DISCOVER HOW TO CARE FOR OUR DOGS BETTER.

Did you know that a misalliance injection - to stop your bitch having puppies - has a one-in-a-hundred chance of causing bone marrow failure? Death? How safe are other drugs? Do we dog owners understand the risks, or do we abdicate responsibility for our dogs' lives?

Your dog looks at you with love and trust in her eyes. It's time we dog owners stopped handing that trust over to strangers. Did you know that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate - which is the UK's 'official watchdog' for drugs used on animals, is financed through the payment of fees from industry? Did you know that industry employees sit upon 'expert' panels at the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food?

Not your problem? You don't l