B-Naturals Newsletter – January 2010

Canine Cystinuria

By Lew Olson, PhD Natural Health

Canine Cystinuria

This month’s B-Naturals Newsletter is written by a wonderful guest author, Christie Keith, who is well known for being a contributing editor at Pet Connection, a pet columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle and her work with PetHobbiest.com. She has her own personal website, www.caberfeidh.com, with information on her Scottish Deerhounds and a wealth of excellent health articles. I am delighted she has agreed to write on Canine Cystinuria this month and I hope you all find this information informative and interesting. While Canine Cystinuria is not a common disorder in dogs, it is genetic and can cause serious health problems.

By Christie Keith

Cystinuria is a genetic defect in the kidney tubules; it can affect dogs, humans, and a few other species.

Normal kidneys filter the amino acid cystine and do not allow it to go into the urine. In individuals with cystinuria, this filtering action fails, and cystine passes into the urine, where it can form crystals and/or stones (uroliths). If stones form, they can block the urethra and obstruct urinary flow, especially in males.

There are at least two types of cystinuria that affect dogs, and one of them does not seem to occur in females at all. The other, which affects the Newfoundland and Labrador Retriever and perhaps some other breeds and mixes, is common in both males and females, however, females are less likely to obstruct due to their wider urinary passage.

Dogs who have this defect are born with it, although it can take years to cause symptoms – or never cause any. The Textbook of Internal Veterinary Medicine says, "Not all cystinuric dogs form uroliths; therefore, cystinuria is a predisposing rather than a primary cause of cystine urolith formation. In a study of five generations of offspring from one Scottish terrier, only one of six cystinuric males formed uroliths."

This can make cystinuria a particularly frustrating condition to manage, as even a dog known to have cystinuria may go his whole life without obstructing, while another dog, never diagnosed, can have a life-threatening obstruction as his first symptom. It's not known at this time why some dogs with cystinuria form stones and others do not. Genetic factors probably have the greatest influence on whether or not a dog with cystinuria is a stone former, but there are probably unknown environmental factors involved as well.

Obviously, knowing your dog has cystinuria can enable you to be particularly vigilant for symptoms of obstruction such as restricted urinary flow, reluctance to urinate, or bloody urine. And owners of Newfoundlands, Labradors, and possibly some mixed breeds, can find out if their dog is affected. In those breeds, cystinuria is an autosomal recessive trait, and there is a simple (http://w3.vet.upenn.edu/research/centers/penngen/services/deublerlab/cystinuria.html) genetic test that reliably determines if a dog is affected by, or carries, cystinuria.

Unfortunately, the mode of inheritance is unknown in other breeds, does not appear to be autosomal recessive, and there is no genetic test for the condition.

Diagnosis

It is currently possible to screen the urine of dogs for the presence of cystine, which is considered reliably diagnostic for cystinuria, as normal urine has no, or virtually no, cystine present.

There are three urine tests that can detect cystine. The first is a basic urinalysis. This is only reliable if cystine is present; a negative result doesn't mean your dog does not have cystinuria, but a positive result means he does. This is the least reliable test but the most readily available. Any vet's office can do a urinalysis.

The next-most-reliable test is the (http://research.vet.upenn.edu/SubmitaSample/tabid/554/Default.aspx) nitroprusside test being performed at the University of Pennsylvania. Owners can submit urine for testing without a vet and the cost is minimal, although overnight shipping and special packaging add substantially to the expense.

However, just as with a urinalysis, the nitroprusside test is only reliable if it's positive. A negative test does not mean your dog does not have cystinuria. There is no set number of tests that will "clear" your dog, and no age at which the test can be considered definitive if negative. Since the test is inexpensive and non-invasive, most breeders do at least three for each dog before considering them clear, while still realizing even these three tests might be unreliable.

There is a third test, the urine amino acid quantitation test, or quantitative amino acid analysis, which is performed only in a human medical laboratory. It is extremely expensive but is the most accurate. However, again, a negative test result is not absolutely definitive. Owners interested in this test should contact the University of Pennsylvania and try to arrange testing; a special rate may or may not be available if you go through them. Dr. Paula Henthorn is conducting research on canine cystinuria at the University of Pennsylvania and her address is:

Paula Henthorn Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Medical Genetics

3900 Delancey Street

School of Veterinary Medicine

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA 19104-6010

Dr. Henthorn's office may be contacted by phone at 215-898-9601.

The current state of testing for this condition is best outlined by Dr. Henthorn in  (http://web.archive.org/web/20070213000610/http://w3.vet.upenn.edu/research/centers/penngen/research/cystinuria_update.html) this article.

There is no question that the lack of a known mode of inheritance and a reliable screening test is a source of intense frustration for breeders.

Treatment and management

Even those dogs with a confirmed diagnosis are still difficult to manage. One reason for this is that the condition is extremely rare. Many veterinarians will go their entire careers without seeing a case, and will often rely on guidelines found in text books that are less than well-proven.

For example, because cystine is an amino acid, and amino acids are the building blocks of protein, a reduced-protein diet is usually prescribed for this condition. In fact, some veterinarians, including many well-known kidney specialists, feel strongly that cystine stones can be prevented, or the incidence greatly reduced, by feeding ultra-low-protein diets (such as Hills u/d) and alkalinizing the urine with drugs or supplements, and will put intense pressure on their clients to put their dogs with cystinuria on such protocols.

Other veterinarians believe that diet is of minimal or no use in controlling the formation of stones, and that only the drug Thiola is effective for this purpose. You can read some intriguing research on this subject (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11467594&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=4) here.

On the (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCystinuria/) Canine Cystinuria email list, which I own, most of us have found that diet and urinary alkalinization have failed to prevent our dogs from forming stones, and have sometimes caused other problems, including other types of stones that form in alkaline urine. Some of us are also concerned about feeding ultra-low-protein diets to dogs, particularly giant breed dogs, and dogs of breeds prone to cardiomyopathy.

Furthermore, since cystine stones do not dissolve in alkaline urine, if the urine goes into acidity even briefly, stones can form and will not dissolve just because alkaline urine is achieved shortly thereafter.

The use of medications has been more successful. The drug Thiola is effective in preventing stone formation in many dogs, with few reported side effects. In fact, the single most frequently reported "side effect" is the depletion of the owner's bank account, especially for owners of large or giant breed dogs. Thiola is also an "orphan drug," and can be hard to obtain. Information on getting thiola is available from the FDA, (http://www.fda.gov/orphan/proceduresforthiola.pdf) here.

There is another drug that is easier to obtain and somewhat less expensive, cupramine (d-Penicillamine). This drug is associated with more side effects, but if your dog tolerates it, it might be a better choice.

Although it seems very extreme to some, many of us with stone-forming male dogs with cystinuria have had a procedure done on them called a "scrotal urethrostomy." In a nutshell, this is a surgery that redirects the dog's urethra away from the penis and out a new, surgically-created opening in front of the scrotum. This enables male dogs to more easily pass small stones, and can help prevent urinary blockage, the main risk from this condition. While it's not impossible they will still obstruct, it reduces the chances substantially. This surgery is not to be undertaken lightly, however.

The good news is that if your dog does not die of complications of his cystinuria, such as obstruction, recurrent infections, or surgical complications, there is no reason he won't live a normal lifespan. Many dogs, including stone formers and those who have had serious health problems when their condition was first diagnosed, have lived not just normal but longer-than-normal lives.

If your dog has cystinuria, you must watch him carefully for any signs of urinary obstruction: Frequent urination, blood in the urine, frequent urinary tract infections, difficult urination, scanty urination, dribbling urination, evidence of pain when urinating, a reluctance to urinate, or anything at all about their urinary habits that doesn't seem totally normal.

If your dog has formed stones, the most important thing to understand is that this is a life-threatening emergency and requires immediate veterinary attention. You have to get those stones out of there and treat or prevent any urinary obstruction.

The most urgent need is to unblock the urinary tract if it's obstructed. This can be done with a technique known as retrograde hydropulsion, which will attempt to push any stones blocking the urethra back into the bladder. This will relieve the immediate obstruction, however, the stones in the bladder still need to be treated. This is usually done with a procedure known as a cystotomy, where the stones are removed from the bladder surgically.

If the hydropulsion does not work, an alternative urinary tract will have to be created by the performance of a scrotal urethrostomy. This is difficult, complicated surgery and should be done by a board certified surgeon. It is expensive and the recovery period can be bloody, although in recent years new techniques have been developed that have reduced the bleeding. A cystotomy will also be performed to remove the stones in the bladder. There is a complete description of both cystotomy and retrograde hydropulsion  (http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00413.htm).

If the hydropulsion is successful and surgery is not an option or needs to be delayed, it is possible to dissolve the stones with Thiola. Existing cystine stones cannot be dissolved with diet or supplementation.

For more information on canine cystinuria, please visit http://www.caninecystinuria.com, or join the Canine Cystinuria email list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCystinuria/.

Happy New Year to everyone and may 2010 bring much prosperity, good health and good fortune!

Blue girl, born December 16^th, 2009. Life is good!

Product News

Berte's Flexile Plus: Berte's Flexile Plus will be undergoing a formula change that we feel will further enhance the current ingredient profile We are adding chondroitin sulfate back into the formula.  The newly enhanced Berte's Flexile Plus will be available to ship in late January.  We apologize for any inconveniences and appreciate your patience. We will post updates on our website as to product availability. Please feel free to contact us with any questions at servicedirect@b-naturals.com or toll free 866-368-2728.

Free Freight Friday is Friday, January 15, 2010. Any orders placed on this day only over $75.00 will be shipped freight free (continental US only) via UPS Ground.  Mark this date on your calendar!  NOTE:  Qualifying orders will have freight deducted at the time the order is shipped and processed.

Website News – Twitter and B-Naturals!

Have you heard of Twitter? Well, if you haven't go to https://twitter.com/BNaturals and see what it's all about. Now you can follow B-Naturals on Twitter for product updates, coupons, newsletter, and more! Go explore, see what's new, and as always, we welcome your comments. Please send your comments to B-Naturals Newsletter.

B-Naturals

PO Box 217

Rockford, MN 55373

1-713-303-5639 — Lew Olson

1-866-368-2728 — Toll Free – Product Orders/Questions/Comments or

1-763-477-7001 — Phone

1-763-477-9588 — Fax Product Orders

Click this link for Orders, Shipping and Product Updates – bnaturals1@aol.com

Click this link for Consults, Seminars and Catalogs – lewolson@earthlink.net

https://twitter.com/BNaturals

DotBravo Co.

You have permission to copy and distribute this newsletter to others provided it is not distributed for profit, proper credit has been given by the author, and the article has been copied and distributed in its entirety. You may not post this article on any personal or professional website; however with permission from the author, you can provide a link to the newsletter which will bring your readers to the B-Naturals.com website.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: You have been put on this email distribution list because you have previously contacted Lew Olson or B-Naturals for either consultative advice or product information. If you feel you are on this list in error or you would like to be removed from this distribution list, please send an email to B-Naturals Newsletter to unsubscribe to this newsletter.

Copyright Lew Olson 2009

B-Naturals Newsletter – November 2009

Struvite and Calcium Oxalate Urinary Stones and Crystals

By Lew Olson, PhD Natural Health

There are a variety of stones and crystals that can affect our dogs. I often get inquiries on how to treat stones when diagnosed during a veterinarian visit. The first question I ask is, “What type of crystal or stones was found?” Each type of crystal or stone is addressed in two very different approaches.

Struvites

These are most commonly caused by urinary tract infections. Bacteria in the urine cause alkaline urine (high pH) which creates the perfect environment for struvite crystals to develop. When struvite crystals are found in a urinalysis done at your veterinarian’s office, the next step is to have your vet do a sterile urine culture and sensitivity test. This test is done in house at the vet’s office.  The urine is collected in a sterile manner and sent off to a lab to grow and identify the bacteria that is present. This provides the information on which antibiotic would be the best choice. Usually the antibiotic is given for a month and then another culture is done when the dog has been off the antibiotics for ten days to make sure the infection is gone. Once the infection is gone, the urine returns to a normal pH and the problem is resolved. Keep alert to any symptoms that a UTI has returned.  The symptoms could include frequent urination, blood seen in the urine or pain upon urination. Always take your dog to your veterinarian should any of these symptoms occur.

Diet changes aren’t helpful for this problem, as most often the struvites are responding to bacteria in the urinary tract.

For more information, please visit this website:

http://vettechs.blogspot.com/2005/05/so-your-dog-has-struvites.html

Calcium Oxalates

These are most common in dogs over five years old and most frequently seen in males. It is common in certain breeds, such as Miniature Schnauzers, Miniature Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, Bison Frises, Lhasa Apsos and Shih Tzus. It is thought this may be a genetic condition that causes a lack nephorcalin, which inhibits calcium oxalates from developing.

Steroids can aggravate a calcium oxalate former which can create more calcium excretion in the urine. Cushing’s disease may also lead to calcium oxalate stone formation, as the increased cortisol production causes calcium excretion. Other medications to avoid for dogs prone to calcium oxalates besides steroids include furosemid, also known as lasix.

Symptoms can include difficulty in urinating, blood in the urine, inability to urinate in a steady flow or even increased urination. With any of these symptoms, please have a complete check up on your dog by your veterinarian.

Unlike struvites, diet changes can be helpful for dogs prone to oxalates. The primary foods that contain oxalates are grains and vegetables. Since dog foods are primarily grains, the best way to achieve a good diet is to offer a homemade diet. In this way, the ingredients and quality of the foods can be monitored.

Foods to avoid would include barley, corn, brown rice, wheat, soy, most beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach and nuts.

http://www.ohf.org/docs/Oxalate2008.pdf

http://www.lowoxalate.info/food_lists/cat_lod_food_chart.pdf

A good proportion to feed would be approximately 65% to 75% animal protein, and 25% to 35% carbohydrate (vegetables listed above or white rice). Approximate feeding amounts are 2% to 3% of the dog’s body weight daily. On average, a 100 lb. dog would get 2 to 3 lbs. of food daily (approximately 4 to 6 cups), a 50 lb. dog would get 1 to 1 to 1-1/2 lbs. daily (2 to 3 cups) and a 25 lb. dog would get 8 oz. to 12 oz. daily (1 to 1 ½ cups). You would also need to add calcium carbonate, at a rate of about 900 mg per pound of food served.

A sample diet for a 25 lb. dog for one day (divided into two meals) might be:

¾ cup cooked hamburger

2 eggs

1 tablespoon yogurt

4 oz steamed and mashed cauliflower

Another sample diet might be:

¾ cup cooked chicken breast

4 oz chicken heart

1 tablespoon cottage cheese

4 oz white rice

Meat suggestions include ground beef, ground chicken, ground turkey, ground pork, baked white fish, beef, chicken, pork or turkey heart and lamb.

Carbohydrates to use include white rice, Brussel Sprouts, canned pumpkin, green peas, white cabbage, zucchini, acorn squash, Bok Choy, melon and egg noodles,  Do COOK (boil, not steam) all vegetables (and the rice) before serving. Cooking is thought to reduce some of the oxalate content, and raw vegetables contain a higher oxalate value on most oxalate food level charts.

Additional Methods to Help Resolve Crystals and Stones

Both struvite and calcium oxalates prevention require having water available around the clock and a moist diet to help flush the crystals. This would include offering water around the clock, giving treats of beef or chicken broth and allowing the dog many opportunities to urinate during the day. All of this helps to flush the crystals and keep the dog hydrated. Holding urine or water can cause increases of crystal formation, leading to stone formation.

B Vitamins are thought to help fight crystal development and EPA fish oil (omega 3 fatty acids) are renal protective.

Treats can be offered in the form of baked liver, hard boiled eggs and jerky treats. Do avoid grain laden dog treats if your dog is prone to calcium oxalates.

Meet Buck.

Why do people spend so much time on the computer?

Product News

- Free Freight Friday is Friday, November 20, 2009.  Any orders placed on this day only over $75.00 will be shipped freight free (continental US only) via UPS Ground.  Mark this date on your calendar!  NOTE:  Qualifying orders will have freight deducted at the time the order is shipped and processed.

Website News – Twitter and B-Naturals!

Have you heard of Twitter?  Well, if you haven't go to https://twitter.com/BNaturals and see what it's all about.  Now you can follow B-Naturals on Twitter for product updates, coupons, newsletter, and more!  Go explore, see what's new, and as always, we welcome your comments.  Please send your comments to B-Naturals Newsletter.

Product Coupons

B-Naturals

PO Box 217

Rockford, MN 55373

1-713-303-5639 — Lew Olson

1-866-368-2728 — Toll Free – Product Orders/Questions/Comments or

1-763-477-7001 — Phone

1-763-477-9588 — Fax Product Orders

Click this link for Orders, Shipping and Product Updates – mailto:bnaturals1@aol.com?subject=B-Naturals%20Inquiry

Click this link for Consults, Seminars and Catalogs – lewolson@earthlink.net

https://twitter.com/BNaturals

DotBravo Co.

You have permission to copy and distribute this newsletter to others provided it is not distributed for profit, proper credit has been given by the author, and the article has been copied and distributed in its entirety.  You may not post this article on any personal or professional website; however with permission from the author, you can provide a link to the newsletter which will bring your readers to the B-Naturals.com website.

Copyright Lew Olson 2009

B-Naturals Newsletter – October 2009

Fats and When to Reduce Fats in Diet

By Lew Olson, PhD Natural Health

Animal based fats are essential for dogs. They need fat for energy, to absorb fat soluble vitamins (vitamins E, A and D), protect the nerve fibers in the body and to protect the body from cold. Fat is also the ingredient found in food that makes it tasty for dogs. In the winter when wolves take down prey, the fat becomes a premium item to help keep them warm and give them energy.

Fat also contains essential fatty acids, such as omega 6 and omega 3. These help with healthy skin and coat. Dog’s deficient in these fats (most often omega 3) may show skin problems, seborrhea, dermatitis and poor hair coat. It is always important to add EPA fish oil capsules to any dog’s diet. Most foods are abundant in omega 6 fatty acids, so it is necessary to add omega 3 to the diet to help balance these two important essential fatty acids.

Lastly, fats offer a good source of calories. So not only do they add flavor to your dog’s food, plus give them what they are craving, they are also what helps to keep a healthy weight on your dog. And unlike us, dogs don’t get ‘hardening of the arteries’ or have to worry about cholesterol clogging the arteries.  They are carnivores and are designed to digest and utilize animal fats. If you see high cholesterol readings in your dog’s blood work, it doesn’t mean to reduce fats in a dog’s diet. But it can mean hypothyroidism or Cushing’s Disease so be sure to have your dog tested for these if cholesterol is elevated.

Fat is what dogs crave most and need, but there are times when we need to reduce the fat in our dog’s diet. We can reduce fat content by:

-Removing the skin from chicken (in poultry, the fat is mainly attached to the skin)

-Using low fat or non fat yogurt or cottage cheese

-Selecting low fat meat and trimming excess fat

-Draining and rinsing canned mackerel, salmon or sardines before serving

-Feeding egg whites but not the yolk

Irritable Bowel Disease, Colitis and other gastric problems

Fat can be hard to digest when the intestines are inflamed. The intestinal lining becomes angry and fat is harder to digest. At these times, I would suggest a lower fat diet and feeding small, frequent meals. This is equally important to help this intestinal lining heal. The small, frequent meals help by putting less stress on the intestines with smaller food amounts.  Also helpful are probiotics, animal based enzymes and l-glutamine. Probiotics help restore the good flora and fauna, while animal based enzymes help predigest fat in the stomach, which makes for easier digestion in the intestines. And l-glutamine helps to heal the lining of the digestive tract.  The Bertes Digestion Blend is a good source for all of these helpful nutrients.  Please refer to the low glycemic, low fat diets link for home cooked recipes.

For more information on gastric problems: http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/gastric-problems/

Pancreatitis

While pancreatitis isn’t caused by fat, fats can aggravate an already inflamed pancreas. As with IBD and gastric problems, it is important to feed smaller, frequent meals and to reduce fat in the diet. Animal based digestive enzymes, such as the Bertes Zymes are important to add to the diet. For more information on diet and causes of pancreatitis:

http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/pancreatitis/

Diabetes

This a condition caused by a loss to control sugar intake and a dependency on insulin. Since the pancreas is involved, the fat in the diet needs to be reduced. Diet recommendations include low carbohydrate, medium protein and reduced fat. A low glycemic (sugar) diet along with reduced fat is helpful and recipes can be found here:

http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/low-glycemic/

Cushing’s disease

This disease is caused by adrenal malfunction, in that the adrenals are producing too much cortisol. Dogs with Cushing’s disease are more prone to develop pancreatitis.  Symptoms of Cushing’s Disease includes weight gain, a ‘pot belly’ appearance, increased thirst and urination, hair loss, darkening skin pigmentation and panting. It is important to get a diagnosis if your dog exhibits any of these symptoms. Blood work, urinalysis and an ACTH stim test are needed. The low glycemic, low fat diet would be useful for this condition as well.

Hypothyroidism

Sometimes dogs prone to pancreatitis are found to be hypothyroid. This means the thyroid gland isn’t functioning properly and isn’t producing enough hormones. The cause is not understood, but it may be part of an autoimmune disease, where the body attacks the thyroid gland. Symptoms can include hair loss, weight gain, fatigue, high cholesterol readings on blood work, darkening of the skin and occasionally anemia. If you suspect your dog may have some of these symptoms, be sure to have your veterinarian run a 6 panel thyroid blood work to test for this problem. Medications can help bring a dog back to good health. Since weight can be an issue and hormone fluctuation can affect the pancreas, the low glycemic, low fat diet would suit these dogs best.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy can be one of the most puzzling disorders in dogs, when it comes to trying to find the cause. Sometimes poisons or chemicals can cause them, or an injury to the head. Newer research suggests some foods may trigger seizure activity, such as glutens (found in many grains) or a high sugar diet. It is thought too much sugar in the diet (found in grains and starches) may cause triggers to seizures to occur. Eliminating grains and starches, using low glycemic vegetables and relying on a good bioavailable source of proteins (containing taurine and l-carnitine) may help inhibit seizures.  The Immuno DMG liquid (Dimethylglycine) may also help control seizure incidence. This tincture is made from glycine, an amino acid found in protein. And the low glycemic, low fat diet is useful for dogs prone to seizures.

Weight Loss

Time and time again, I see weight loss dog food products on the supermarket shelves and at veterinarian’s offices. When I inspect the label, I see fat and protein are reduced, while carbohydrates and fiber are increased. While we can’t argue these diets are lower calorie, they are certainly offering fewer nutrients and less appetizing foods. When a dog is overweight and most certainly when a dog is a senior that is not the time to reduce nutrients. Senior dogs need *more* protein than adults. Good quality proteins are important for keeping the heart, liver, kidneys and lungs healthy, as well as maintaining a strong immune system. Fat is what satiates a dog when eating, or in other words, satisfies their hunger. Feeding senior diets or weight loss diets keep a dog hungry and searching or begging for food.

Rather than reduce nutrients and lower fat, feed a slightly less amount (10%) and be sure the diet is high enough in proteins and fats to offer nutrients and satisfy the appetite.  The goal is to feed a dog between 2% to 3% of their *ideal* or target weight. For more on weight reduction, read here:

http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/pudgy-pups/

While I am not sure if the below YouTube short is funny, or perhaps sad, but it portrays a few examples of what overeating can mean to our dog and cat companions:

“Really Fat Cats and Really Fat Dogs”, with music, “Fat”, by Weird Al Yankovich

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DWb99KSmf0

Fall is here! Don’t forget to keep your dogs warm, and always keep fresh water available for them whenever they are outside. While fat helps keep dogs warm, hydration is equally important.

        Cicely, 9-1/2 Years Old

 

   "Who Said Reduce Fat in my Diet?"

Product News

- Free Freight Friday is Friday, October 16, 2009. Any orders placed on this day only over $75.00 will be shipped freight free (continental US only) via UPS Ground.  Mark this date on your calendar!  NOTE:  Qualifying orders will have freight deducted at the time the order is shipped and processed.

Website News – Twitter and B-Naturals!

Have you heard of Twitter? Well, if you haven't go to https://twitter.com/BNaturals and see what it's all about. Now you can follow B-Naturals on Twitter for product updates, coupons, newsletter, and more! Go explore, see what's new, and as always, we welcome your comments. Please send your comments to B-Naturals Newsletter.

B-Naturals

PO Box 217

Rockford, MN 55373

1-713-303-5639 — Lew Olson

1-866-368-2728 — Toll Free – Product Orders/Questions/Comments or

1-763-477-7001 — Phone

1-763-477-9588 — Fax Product Orders

Click this link for Orders, Shipping and Product Updates – bnaturals1@aol.com

Click this link for Consults, Seminars and Catalogs – lewolson@earthlink.net

https://twitter.com/BNaturals

DotBravo Co.

You have permission to copy and distribute this newsletter to others provided it is not distributed for profit, proper credit has been given by the author, and the article has been copied and distributed in its entirety. You may not post this article on any personal or professional website; however with permission from the author, you can provide a link to the newsletter which will bring your readers to the B-Naturals.com website.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: You have been put on this email distribution list because you have previously contacted Lew Olson or B-Naturals for either consultative advice or product information. If you feel you are on this list in error or you would like to be removed from this distribution list, please send an email to B-Naturals Newsletter to unsubscribe to this newsletter.

Copyright Lew Olson 2009

B-Naturals Newsletter – September, 2009

Allergies, Itching, Eye Staining, Yeast and Antibiotic Resistance

By Lew Olson, PhD Natural Health

I hope everyone and their dogs have survived this hot, and in many cases, dry summer. My newsletter this month turned into a ‘stream of consciousness’ that puts many thoughts and suggestions together regarding skin and allergy conditions and cautions regarding antibiotic use for these conditions. Oftentimes, antibiotics are prescribed for various skin conditions without any thought to the consequences. I hope you find this information useful.

Please scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for valuable B-Naturals.com coupons

.

This summer has appeared to be a particularly bad year for both skin issue and allergies for our dogs. With fall coming, this should help reduce itching and skin irritation if it is caused by the environment. Some simple steps can help with these types of allergies. These include:

-Frequent brushing to help remove dead hair and dander.

-Weekly bathing (or more frequent if needed) to help wash away the allergens that produce the itching.

-Keep the affected areas clean.  Bacteria and yeast are opportunistic and love finding a moist, warm place to grow. A good solution is to use 3/4 witch hazel and 1/4 aloe vera (or the Thayers Witch Hazel with Aloe). This stops the itching, helps kill yeast and bacteria, and helps cool and heal the affected area.

If the itching and skin problems are caused by food, most often the ears and face will also be involved. This can include face rubbing and eye discharge. The insides of the ears may be red and they may have a brown discharge with a yeasty odor. What you feed is a consideration, and I generally advise folks to feed either a home cooked or a raw diet so there is control over the ingredients that are fed. Commercial dog foods often contain so many ingredients that it is too difficult to pinpoint which foods or ingredients are causing the allergic symptoms. Preparing food at home helps reduce the amount of food types included in the diet and helps to discover and eliminate the foods causing the reaction.

In either event, if the dog develops sores or skin lesions, have a skin culture done at your veterinarian’s office to check for bacteria and/or yeast. These two issues can increase the problems created by the allergy. And remember, if your dog has a yeast problem, using antibiotics only helps to make a better environment for the yeast to thrive.

Eye and Mouth Staining

Another coat and skin issue is red or brown staining around the eyes, mouth and occasionally the feet. Often veterinarians will prescribe antibiotics for these conditions. I have even had people email and tell me they have permanently put their dog on Tylan for this. However, I don’t believe this issue is caused by bacteria, nor would I recommend a dog be put on antibiotics for this issue. Staining on the coat around mucus membranes and the feet (generally caused by licking) comes from dietary issues. Many dogs react to diets high in carbohydrates, either through yeast infections or perhaps diets lacking good protein. I have found removing commercial diets and placing the dog on home cooked (low carbohydrate) or raw diets helps to eliminate these staining issues.  And continued use of any antibiotic will result in killing off the good bacteria, which sets up the perfect environment for yeast to grow and proliferate. And this in turn will cause more staining, foot licking and the possibility of yeast moving to the ears, causing a brown discharge.

High carbohydrate diets are high in sugars, which in turn create a good environment for growing yeast. An overgrowth of yeast can cause a brown or red discharge from the mucus membranes. Removing the offending substance can solve this problem. It is also helpful to add probiotics to the diet. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria, which help fight yeast overgrowth. Giving a small amount of the Berte’s Ultra Probiotic Powder in each meal will help restore balance to the body.

This blend contains live cultures of 100 Million CFU Units/Gram (CFU=Colony Forming Units) of Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Enterococcus Faecium and Bacillus Subtilis. These all help keep the beneficial bacteria in good numbers in the gut which helps the immune system, reduces gas and aids in firm stools.

Antibiotic Resistance

I mentioned Tylan in the above paragraph. Tylan is also known as tylosin. It is in the class of antibiotics known as erythromycin family. It is used in large animals for antibiotics, but for small animals it is marketed as an anti-inflammatory, even without much formal research or evaluation. And even The Veterinary Partner website (http://www.veterinarypartner.com/) warns:

“Casual use of antibiotics is responsible for antibiotic resistance of bacteria in the environment and, in general, bacteria that become resistant to tylosin also become resistant to erythromycin. Since tear-staining is simply a cosmetic issue, perhaps non-antibiotic treatment could be used instead.”

Tylan can also cause elevations in ALT and AST (liver values found in blood work).

I would certainly recommend trying a low sugar (glycemic) diet, which means a diet low in carbohydrates, no grains and good quality proteins. I have some easy to follow recipes here:

http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/low-glycemic/

Another antibiotic frequently prescribed is metronidazole. This is commonly prescribed for diarrhea, gastric inflammation, irritable bowel disease or parasites such as giardia. It is interesting to note that metronidazole has never been approved for use in dogs or cats, but it is utilized frequently.

It is thought to have some anti-inflammatory effects, which may be why it seems to help diarrhea so quickly. However, the underlying cause of the diarrhea still exists. So often, when dog owners stop using the metronidazole, the diarrhea reoccurs. Using metronidazole is not recommended for the same reasons Tylan is not recommended. Long term antibiotic use can cause antibiotic resistance. It also has a long list of side effects, including:

Depression, ataxia, disorientation, head-tilt, tremors, bradycardia, rigidity, stiffness, and seizures. It is also processed through the liver and kidneys and should never be used in dogs with renal or liver issues.  Metronidazole can cause liver toxicity in some dogs. It can also cause birth defects in pregnant dogs. It is recommended on most drug websites to never be used in puppies or kittens.

Diet changes are helpful in the case of diarrhea as well. Using more digestible foods (home cooked or raw) with less amounts of carbohydrates and fiber often help with intestinal inflammation. The dog’s short intestinal tract labors with high fiber diets. This often creates spasms, diarrhea, gas and stomach aches. Adding probiotics, along with digestive enzymes that help predigest fat and protein in the stomach will help combat gas, assist in firming stools and ease spasms. L-glutamine given at 500 mg per 20 lbs of body weight also helps heal the digestive tract. All of these can be found in the Berte’s Digestion Blend.

Metronidazole is used for giardia (a protozoa), but studies show it is less than 60% effective in getting rid of this parasite. A more effective and safer drug to use for Giardia is Panacur (fenbendazole) for giardia. For more information on giardia and treatment:

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/giardia.html

Please meet Willow, the newest member of my household! She is half Haflinger and half Friesian. She is six years old, 14 hands tall, and is a real sweetie!

We will see you in October. Please enjoy these last days of summer, even though I am sure our dogs are looking forward to fall and the cooler weather!

Product News

- Free Freight Friday is Friday, September 18, 2009. Any orders placed on this day only over $75.00 will be shipped freight free (continental US only) via UPS Ground.  Mark this date on your calendar!  NOTE:  Qualifying orders will have freight deducted at the time the order is shipped and processed.

Website News – Twitter and B-Naturals!

Have you heard of Twitter? Well, if you haven’t, go to https://twitter.com/BNaturals and see what it’s all about. Now you can follow B-Naturals on Twitter for product updates, coupons, newsletter, and more! Go explore, see what’s new, and as always, we welcome your comments. Please send your comments to B-Naturals Newsletter.

Product Coupons

http://www.b-naturals.com/aspen-cranberry-extract-90-tabs-p-3

http://www.b-naturals.com/digestion-blend-16-oz-p-101

http://www.b-naturals.com/flexileplus-180-caps-p-56

http://www.b-naturals.com

http://www.b-naturals.com/bertes-immune-blend1-lb-p-17

http://www.b-naturals.com/bertes-ultra-probiotic-powder-digestion-aid-1-lb-for-cats-and-dogs-p-16?cPath=31

http://www.b-naturals.com/bertes-ultra-probiotic-powder-beneficial-bacteria-5-lb-for-cats-and-dogs-p-61?cPath=31

http://www.b-naturals.com/bertes-zyme-100-caps-p-79

B-Naturals

PO Box 217

Rockford, MN 55373

1-713-303-5639 — Lew Olson

1-866-368-2728 — Toll Free – Product Orders/Questions/Comments or

1-763-477-7001 — Phone

1-763-477-9588 — Fax Product Orders

Click this link for Orders, Shipping and Product Updates – bnaturals1@aol.com

Click this link for Consults, Seminars and Catalogs – lewolson@earthlink.net

https://twitter.com/BNaturals

More news and coupons on Twitter

DotBravo Co.

You have permission to copy and distribute this newsletter to others provided it is not distributed for profit, proper credit has been given by the author, and the article has been copied and distributed in its entirety. You may not post this article on any personal or professional website; however with permission from the author, you can provide a link to the newsletter which will bring your readers to the B-Naturals.com website.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: You have been put on this email distribution list because you have previously contacted Lew Olson or B-Naturals for either consultative advice or product information. If you feel you are on this list in error or you would like to be removed from this distribution list, please send an email to B-Naturals Newsletter to unsubscribe to this newsletter.

Copyright Lew Olson 2009

B-Naturals Newsletter – August, 2009

Bodie's Story

By Lew Olson, PhD Natural Health

We continue this month with another special story about a cancer survivor, named Bodie. Bodie and his family live in Brisbane, Queensland Australia. We received so many emails regarding July's Newsletter on Benny that we decided to share another great story with you this month. This story is about Bodie, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier/Cattle dog mix who is a survivor of Mandibular Osteosarcoma cancer thanks to his caring parents, Margaret and Dean Paris, his Oncologist, Dr. Maureen and help with a natural diet and supplements. We'd like to offer our thanks to them for bringing us Bodie's story and giving us permission to share it with you.

Please scroll to the bottom for B-Naturals.com coupons.

Bodie's Story by Margie and Dean Paris

Our darling Staffordshire Bull Terrier/Cattle dog is our courageous boy who is 8 years old, although my husband says he is nearly 18 months old since his new style of life began. In April 2008, we noticed Bodie had what looked like an ulcer by the side of a small molar tooth with a piece of bone sitting in it. We took him to the vet on April 11th, 2008 to have his tooth removed. During the surgery, the vet noticed problems with Bodie's jaw, so he put a probe into the jaw and discovered he had Mandibular Osteosarcoma. When the vet broke the news to us, he told us that Bodie probably had about two to six weeks to live.

Our family was totally devastated! We all spent that weekend totally indulging him with every mortal food or treat we could get our hands on. Then the determination to help Bodie get better set in. We got histology tests done and a young vet friend of ours contacted his Professor, who taught him at University, for advice. Before we knew it, we were taking Bodie to an Oncologist. On April 23, 2008, we had our first visit to the Oncologist. This woman was such a wonderful gem. Bodie's jaw surgery was April 25th and the vet was able to remove the cancer with good margins and off we all went, this time on a new mission! After the surgery, Bodie had to obviously make some adjustments for himself, like drinking – he used to loose a lot of water lapping it up as it just fell out the other side of his mouth, but that was OK. It just took him longer to take in the water he needed. His diet was changed a lot too. We fed him two meals per day, with no complaints from him! After doing a lot of research on the internet, my husband, Dean discovered Lew Olson, PhD, and we are forever grateful as she helped us fine tune the diet we chose for Bodie.

Bodie with his cancer	Kisses from Bodie's buddy, Buffy

We converted Bodie to a raw natural diet and added in several supplements to ensure he would be getting all the required nutrients and the immune boost he needed.

We fed him a variety of different meats, such as beef, lamb, salmon or chicken. I would sometimes cook the chicken breasts in unsalted butter, as he needed the extra fat. Basically we aimed for a variety of foods to make it more interesting for him and we are fortunate, because he is such a good boy and will eat everything, however he seems to know not to eat the cracker or bread pieces that fall to the floor! He is just a treasure and so clever.

Some of the whole foods we feed him include natural yogurt, cottage cheese and a variety of different vegetables. We give him Asian greens, broccoli, cauliflower and garlic. The vegetable combinations depended on what was available at the shops, but we always added in garlic. I'd put the vegetables in the food processor for a smaller consistency and I'd make up enough to last a few days in the fridge for easy use.

Bodie is on a variety of supplements. We gave him Flax seed oil for about three months. We give him Vitamin A once a week, a half a tablet of Vitamin B in the morning, Vitamin C and Vitamin E tablets each morning and night, A Selenium tablet in the morning, Essential Enzymes at night and also give him Salmon oil Capsules and Glucosamine powder.

Of course you can't forget the treats! For Bodie's treats, we cook beef liver in unsalted butter and cut it into bite size pieces. We would make up a nice batch, keep them in the freezer and take out a handful at a time for easy use to the fridge. We also give him cubes of cheese and cut up hard boiled eggs. He truly loves his treats!

Bodie after surgery	Bodie today – Look at him chew!

We have maintained Bodies exercise, which consists of a walk nearly every day, and general running around. When all this began, his games were limited to very soft balls that he could roll around and fetch with so he would not do any hard biting or chewing. Today, he chews on dried pigs ears (takes him a while and has to be watched – due to overprotective parents!) and Marrow bones! (raw beef bones the butcher cuts in half). He chews and licks to his hearts content.

We made other adjustments too, like raising the height of his water and food bowls onto a higher stand, which seemed to help his dribble, however today, he hardly dribbles at all. We also had to educate other family members and friends on his limitations.

Bodies Oncologist, Dr. Maureen (and we refer to her with such admiration and gratitude) keeps a close eye on him. Bodie saw her every three months for the first six months and then every 6 months. We had an x-ray done of Bodies lungs and jaw midway through these visits and all was clear. YAH! Our next visit is in October, and if all is still clear, Dr. Maureen will give Bodie the 'ALL CLEAR!'

We have noticed that as Bodie gets older, his jaw does go to the side a bit, but it doesn't matter to us. He will always be our beautiful 'Pin Up Boy' who is full of love and life.

A Very Grateful Bodie!	Bodie and his family

Notes from Lew:

Bodie’s story is remarkable, and shows the love, devotion and determination of Margie and Dean Paris for this wonderful dog!

Recently, I have had a lot of email questions about the difference between flax seed oil and animal based oils, such as EPA Fish Oil Capsules and Salmon oil capsules. I noticed in Bodie’s story, about the use of flax seed oil. While it is a source of omega 3 fatty acids (and not harmful for dogs), animal based oils work more efficiently. This seemed a good time to repeat information on using omega 3 fatty acids for dogs and its wide array of benefits. What follows is an excerpt from the B-Naturals January, 2006 newsletter:

The two essential fatty acids that are most commonly discussed for nutrition are Omega 6 fatty acids, and omega 3 fatty acids. The omega 6 fatty acids are found in animal sources, such as chicken and pork. Smaller amounts are found in beef. Larger amounts are found in plant sources, such as olive, safflower and other plant oils. Omega 3 fatty acids are less common, found in fish oil, flax seed oil and marine sources, such as spirulina and blue green algae. (4)

Since the omega 6 fatty acids are found naturally in the diet (animal fats and plant sources) it is not necessary to add this fat to the dog’s diet. Research is still incomplete on the optimal balance of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids, but currently it is thought to be approximately 5:1 to 10:1. (1) Since most foods already contain high amounts of omega 6 (meat, fat and plant matter) it is important to add good sources of omega 3 daily to your dog’s diet.

The best sources for omega 3 fatty acids are found in fish body oils, such as fish oil or salmon oil. Cod liver oil is quite different, as it is lower in omega 3 and very high in vitamins A and D. Fish oil has a readily available form of omega 3, called EPA and DHA. Plant based oils such as Flax Seed Oil contains ALA, which needs to be converted in the body to be of use. Most dogs are unable to do this conversion which results in high amounts of omega 6 from this source, but not much omega 3. A high omega 6 to omega 3 ratio promotes inflammation, poor coat, allergies and skin conditions.

“While flaxseeds or flaxseed oil is not harmful to pets and does supply some essential omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed oil is a source of alphalinoleic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid that is ultimately converted to EPA and DHA. Many animals (probably including dogs) and some people cannot convert ALA to these other more active non-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, due to a deficiency of desaturase enzymes needed for the conversion. In one human study, flaxseed oil was ineffective in reducing symptoms or raising levels of EPA and DHA. Therefore, I do not recommend flaxseed oil as a fatty acid supplement for pets with atopic dermatitis (skin problems caused by environmental allergies). Instead, look for fish oil, which provides EPA and DHA.”(5)

Other benefits of fatty acids include controlling inflammation, aiding in heart disease, cancer therapy, arthritis and renal disease. In heart disease and cancer, cachexia (muscle wasting) can cause a severity of side effects. Cathexia is caused by excess cytokine production. High doses of fish oil (1,000 mg per ten lbs of body weight) have been found to suppress cytokine, thus increasing life expectancy by maintaining integrity of the heart muscle and reducing loss of muscle mass in some types of cancer.

Because high doses of omega 3 fatty acids are found to reduce inflammation, fish oil is helpful for dogs with arthritis and orthopedic problems. The anti-inflammatory properties have also been found helpful for dermatitis and other skin conditions, as well as for certain gastro-intestinal disorders such as Irritable Bowel Disease and Colitis.

Lastly, omega 3 fatty acids are beneficial for kidney disease. They have been shown to be renal protective, and in certain kidney disorders such as glomerular disease, fish oil helps to reduce inflammation. (4) (6)

(4) Kendall, Robert V. PhD Therapeutic Nutrition for the Cat, Dog and Horse, (Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine, Mosby Press, 1997) 62 (5) home.ivillage.com (6) http://www.dvmpharmaceuticals.com/pdfs/EssentialFattyAcidsupdate.pdf

Product News

- Whelp Help is back in stock!!

- Free Freight Friday is Friday, August 21, 2009. Any orders placed on this day only over $75.00 will be shipped freight free (continental US only) via UPS Ground. Mark this date on your calendar!

Website News – Twitter and B-Naturals!

Have you heard of Twitter? Well, if you haven't go to http://twitter.com/BNaturals and see what it's all about. Now you can follow B-Naturals on Twitter for product updates, coupons, newsletter, and more! Go explore, see what's new, and as always, we welcome your comments. Please send your comments to B-Naturals Newsletter.

B-Naturals

PO Box 217 Rockford, MN 55373

1-713-303-5639 — Lew Olson

1-866-368-2728 — Toll Free – Product Orders/Questions/Comments or

1-763-477-7001 — Phone

1-763-477-9588 — Fax Product Orders

Click this link for Orders, Shipping and Product Updates – bnaturals1@aol.com

Click this link for Consults, Seminars and Catalogs – lewolson@earthlink.net

http://twitter.com/BNaturals

DotBravo Co.

You have permission to copy and distribute this newsletter to others provided it is not distributed for profit, proper credit has been given by the author, and the article has been copied and distributed in its entirety. You may not post this article on any personal or professional website; however with permission from the author, you can provide a link to the newsletter which will bring your readers to the B-Naturals.com website.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: You have been put on this email distribution list because you have previously contacted Lew Olson or B-Naturals for either consultative advice or product information. If you feel you are on this list in error or you would like to be removed from this distribution list, please click the "opt out" links at the top or bottom of this email to unsubscribe to this newsletter. Or visit http://www.b-naturals.com/index.php?main_page=newsletter_subscribe any time.

Copyright Lew Olson 2009

Scroll down for coupons

New! Coupons! Please find below six new coupons as our "thanks" for being a B-Naturals.com Newsletter reader.

To redeem multiple coupons in one order calls us at: Monday to Friday, 9:30 – 5:00 Central Time 1-866-368-2728

B-Naturals Newsletter – July, 2009

Benny’s Story

By Lew Olson, PhD Natural Health

This month’s article is a special story about Benny, a Great Dane puppy who was near death before he was surrendered by his owner. We’d like to offer our thanks to Sarah Hamilton and Benny’s new owners, Jillian Morin and Phil Roach, for bringing us this story and giving us permission to share it with you.

By Sarah Hamilton, Jillian Morin and Phil Roach

Benny was a Great Dane puppy that was surrendered by his owners to their veterinarian. Benny was diagnosed with severe malnutrition and hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD), which is a common disease of rapidly growing, large and giant pure breed dogs.   This vet thought Benny could survive given the proper care. A volunteer from Upper Midwest Great Dane Rescue (UMGDR) picked Benny up from the vet and took him to see another vet. This vet thought Benny was in such bad shape that he should be put down. Sarah Hamilton, also a volunteer for Upper Midwest Great Dane Rescue picked Benny up a few days after he had been seen by this vet. She was expecting the worst, Sarah got in touch with Lew Olson, PhD in Natural Health, prior to picking Benny up, to see if she might have some recommendations for his condition.

Lew Olson recommended removing all commercial food from his diet and putting Benny on either a raw or home cooked diet immediately. She also suggested giving him Bertes Daily Blend vitamins, Bertes Ultra Probiotic and Bertes Fish Oil at 1000 mg per ten pounds of his body weight. She also thought he would benefit from Immuno-DMG and recommended 2 ml of that per day.

Benny wasn’t eating on his own, so she bought a baby bottle too! She put all these food items into a blender, added the Bertes Daily Blend, Bertes Ultra Probiotic and Fish Oil and made a soup-like mixture for Benny. She bottle fed him every two hours for two days. He would not drink water on his own either, so she gave him water from a syringe during feeding times. He could only handle a few ounces at a time.

On the second night home with Sarah, Benny spiked another fever, started coughing, and had mucus coming from his nose. More symptoms of distress! Sarah’s heart was breaking for this boy. She was becoming eager to get him back to the vet so he could be put out of his misery. But, miracles do happen. Benny was a fighter! On the third night with Sarah, Benny managed to get up on his own and started moving around! He found his way to Sarah in the middle of the night and gave her a little ‘muzzle snuggle’ to let her know he had to go outside!

With this progress, Sarah continued feeding him the ground foods with the supplements and pain medications. He continued to improve so much that she cancelled the vet appointment. On day six, Sarah switched him to a completely raw diet and Benny continued to improve daily.

With the help of everyone that was involved, good nutrition and supplements, and Benny’s fighting spirit, today, Benny is happy, healthy and living in his new forever home with his new family. Benny is still fed a raw diet with his supplements daily.

He is quite the comedian with tons of personality. He shows his feminine side from time to time as he prances around the yard flicking his feet up behind him like he was a model in a past life or is shooting for first place in a dog show!

He runs out of the room with Jill when there is a June bug flying around. He acts like a nervous parent when Jill is playing on the softball field. He won’t let Jill out of his site no matter what! At night he lays on our bed and kicks us off so we can sleep on his nice orthopedic bed! He runs every time he hears a loud noise, as a true Great Danes do!

At some point he was taught to ’shake’, so that’s what he does! You tell him “Benny, Sit” and he automatically puts up his leg to ’shake’ But that’s OK, we don’t mind!

He has made so many friends at the dog parks, the banks, movie stores, pet stores and all around our neighborhood.   He is such a great dog and we are so glad to be his forever home! He is a permanent member of our family now and the best dog we could ever ask for. We can’t explain in words how grateful we are to be able to give Benny his second chance. Without everything that was done for Benny,  we would never have been able to enjoy the many memories we have already experienced and all the ones that are yet to come.

We’d like to give a special thanks to Sarah and Lew Olson for everything they did. Thanks to UMGDR, Raws for Paws, Swansons Meats, Bone Adventure, Dr. Perry and everyone else who helped us find the perfect diet for him. He now weighs in at 110 lbs. and his legs are slowly looking better and getting stronger.

Product News

- Whelp Help availability has been pushed back until Mid July we will keep all posted when in stock.

- Free Freight Friday is Friday, July 17, 2009. Any orders placed on this day only over $75.00 will be shipped freight free (continental US only) via UPS Ground.  Mark this date on your calendar!  NOTE:  Qualifying orders will have freight deducted at the time the order is shipped and processed.

Website News – Twitter and B-Naturals!

Have you heard of Twitter? Well, if you haven’t go to https://twitter.com/BNaturals and see what it’s all about. Now you can follow B-Naturals on Twitter for product updates, coupons, newsletter, and more! Go explore, see what’s new, and as always, we welcome your comments. Please send your comments to B-Naturals Newsletter.

B-Naturals

PO Box 217

Rockford, MN 55373

1-713-303-5639 — Lew Olson

1-866-368-2728 — Toll Free – Product Orders/Questions/Comments or

1-763-477-7001 — Phone

1-763-477-9588 — Fax Product Orders

Click this link for Orders, Shipping and Product Updates – bnaturals1@aol.com

Click this link for Consults, Seminars and Catalogs – lewolson@earthlink.net

https://twitter.com/BNaturals

DotBravo Co.

You have permission to copy and distribute this newsletter to others provided it is not distributed for profit, proper credit has been given by the author, and the article has been copied and distributed in its entirety. You may not post this article on any personal or professional website; however with permission from the author, you can provide a link to the newsletter which will bring your readers to the B-Naturals.com website.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: You have been put on this email distribution list because you have previously contacted Lew Olson or B-Naturals for either consultative advice or product information. If you feel you are on this list in error or you would like to be removed from this distribution list, please send an email to B-Naturals Newsletter to unsubscribe to this newsletter.

Copyright Lew Olson 2009

B-Naturals Newsletter – June, 2009

Cancer, Dogs and Supplements

By Lew Olson, PhD Natural Health

While treatment options can vary for dogs with cancer, supplement recommendations remain fairly consistent for each type. The idea of supplements for cancer is primarily to support the dog’s immune system. No supplements or alternative methods can ‘cure’ cancer, but our best hope is to support the immune system to help the dog keep in best health and to help keep a dog in remission who has received treatment.

The choices for supplements include antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids, herbs, amino acids and enzymes. This list is not meant to be inclusive, but does contain a list of what I have found to be most effective in my own studies and experiences with my dogs. I will try and add more in the future as I find such products that I find helpful and have some research behind them.

Antioxidants

The two most common antioxidants for use in cancer are vitamin C and vitamin E. Both of these fight free radicals, and help promote a healthy immune system. Generally these are given in higher doses, called mega doses. Generally I recommend 50 IU to 100 IU of vitamin E per ten pounds of body weight daily, and 100 mg to 200 mg of vitamin C per ten pounds of body weight daily. In high doses of vitamin C, using the buffered variety (ascorbate) may be more easily tolerated in high doses. Give both of these vitamins with food.

There is some question as to whether giving antioxidants during chemotherapy or radiation is helpful or harmful, as both of these treatments produce free radicals, to fight the cancer. Currently there are studies on both sides of this issue, and the general consensus is that no one knows for certain if they are helpful or harmful. Nor is it clear if they are simply not given on the day of treatment, or during the entire course of treatment. Two studies came out recently on breast cancer, one showing antioxidants help and the other showing they are harmful, so it is a confusing issue. For more information, here are some links on this topic:

American Cancer Society, Antioxidants should be avoided

http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/content/full/55/5/319

Science Daily-Antioxidants Aid Cancer Patients

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070426132954.htm

Cancer Decisions Supports with Documentation the use of Antioxidants

http://www.cancerdecisions.com/mrstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=512

Currently, I still use them for my dogs when receiving treatment, but research the information and ask the opinion of your Veterinarian providing the treatment.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

These essential fatty acids are thought to help fight inflammation, help support the immune system, help coat and skin integrity. Additionally, cancer cannot utilize or gain energy from this nutrient. Omega 3 fatty acids are hard to find in most foods. Foods that do provide omega 3 fatty acids include deep water fish and fortified eggs. The most convenient way to give your dog omega 3 fatty acids is by using EPA Fish Oil Capsules. Omega 3 fatty acids are fragile, in that they lose their integrity when exposed to heat, light or air. It is recommended to use fish oil capsules rather than bottle fish oil to ensure the amount of EPA and DHA (omega 3 fatty acids). I would recommend giving one capsule (of at least 180 EPA and 120 DHA content) per 10 to 20 pounds of body weight daily.

Herbs

These can be used individually or in combination. Herbs can often be like medicine, and a dog’s system can become accustomed to them, so we often ‘pulse’ herb use. This means giving them for two or three weeks, taking a week off and then repeating the use. The only herb I might use continuously would be Milk Thistle, which is used to protect the liver (such as in liver conditions or during and after chemotherapy or certain drug use). Generally, I find herbal tinctures are easier to dose and more effective for dogs than capsules or powders.

Herbs I have found useful include:

Ganoderma- This is an extract of mushroom, which is thought to help suppress tumor growth. There are numerous varieties of mushrooms, but I have found this one the most helpful. This can be found in the Tasha’s Immune System Formula, which contains a blend of helpful herbs for dogs with cancer (or dogs with hard to treat infections).

Turmeric- This is substance found in curry and also in mustard (to give it the yellow color). It is thought to reduce inflammation and suppress certain types of cancer cells. Research is still divided on this, but it could be helpful. I would probably suggest one of the liquid gel caps form, and I would suggest researching this further.

Milk Thistle- This herb has documentation to show protective benefits of the liver and some anti-cancer properties. As I mentioned, this herb can be given continuously without ‘pulsing’. You can find this herb in liquid form on the B-Naturals website, called Tasha’s Milk Thistle Formula.

For more information on herbs with good research: http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11570.cfm (Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)

Amino Acids

The two most useful amino acids (found in proteins) for cancer are arginine and glutamine. These are thought to help suppress tumor growth and help the immune system. L-Glutamine also has the added benefit of helping with digestion and aiding in healing after surgery. Both of these are found in the Bertes Immune Blend (which also contains vitamin C, E, B complex and enzymes and probiotics). B-Naturals also carries l-glutamine separately if more is needed for gastric problems or healing.

DMG. Dimethylglycine- This is a derivative of glycine, an amino acid. DMG is thought to help oxidize the blood, which is thought to help fight cancer. It is also helpful to control seizure activity and help regulate the immune system. It can also help fight allergies. For more information on DMG:

http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/two-new-products-dmg-and-paste-probiotics/

Enzymes and Probiotics

Often dogs with cancer will have gastric issues and we want them to be able to absorb and utilize their food well. Probiotics help keep the good flora and fauna in the system, which helps with good digestion and stool formation. These also keep the intestines healthy. Enzymes with animal based ingredients like pancreatin and pancrealipase, help predigest fats and proteins in the stomach, for easier digestion in the small intestine and help relieve any additional burden for the liver and pancreas. Some enzymes also help fight inflammation. Good enzymes would include the Bertes Zymes and the Bertes Digestion Blend (which also contains probiotics, l-glutamine and ginger, which helps control nausea).

While I didn’t address diet in this article, nutrition is very important for dogs with cancer. I have an article on diet for both raw and home cooked meals here:

Lew Olson

Ch Blackwood Skylar TD

- Whelp Help availability has been pushed back until Mid July we will keep all posted when in stock.

- Bertes Vitamin-C #6420 & #6425 will be discontinued due to inconsistency of delivery by supplier. In the meantime we will have the HAC Super-C available while Lew works on a long-term replacement. We expect to have the HAC Super-C in stock by mid-June.

- Free Freight Friday is Friday, June 19, 2009. Any orders placed on this day only over $75.00 will be shipped freight free (continental US only) via UPS Ground.  Mark this date on your calendar!  NOTE:  Qualifying orders will have freight deducted at the time the order is shipped and processed.

Website News

Thank you to all the folks who have sent in their feedback on the new website. We always welcome comments and/or suggestions on how we can make it better. If you would like to send in a testimonial for any of our products, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your comments to B-Naturals Newsletter.

B-Naturals

PO Box 217

Rockford, MN 55373

1-713-303-5639 — Lew Olson

1-866-368-2728 — Toll Free – Product Orders/Questions/Comments or

1-763-477-7001 — Phone

1-763-477-9588 — Fax Product Orders

Click this link for Orders, Shipping and Product Updates – bnaturals1@aol.com

Click this link for Consults, Seminars and Catalogs – lewolson@earthlink.net

DotBravo Co.

You have permission to copy and distribute this newsletter to others provided it is not distributed for profit, proper credit has been given by the author, and the article has been copied and distributed in its entirety. You may not post this article on any personal or professional website; however with permission from the author, you can provide a link to the newsletter which will bring your readers to the B-Naturals.com website.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: You have been put on this email distribution list because you have previously contacted Lew Olson or B-Naturals for either consultative advice or product information. If you feel you are on this list in error or you would like to be removed from this distribution list, please send an email to B-Naturals Newsletter to unsubscribe to this newsletter.

Copyright Lew Olson 2009

B-Naturals Newsletter – May 2009

Tick-Borne Disease in Dogs (Part II)

Lew Olson, PhD Natural Health

This month we continue with Part II of Gil Ash’s article, ‘Quiet Killers: Tick-Borne Disease in Dogs.’ Part II provides great information on Prevention, Testing and Treatment. Gil began researching tick disease when her beloved German Shepherd dog, Thunder, was diagnosed with Erhlichia risticii. She has generously shared her knowledge with others for many years in memory of Thunder. We trust you will find this information just as helpful as the information provided in April’s newsletter. I would personally like to thank Gil Ash for letting me share this information with you.

Lew Olson.

PART II: quiet killers: tick-borne disease in dogs

by Gil Ash

for Thunder and all the dogs who were diagnosed too late or not at all

preventing tbd (tick-borne disease)

reducing the chances your dog will become infected with a tick-borne disease

If you live where ticks are never seen from one year to the next, you don't have to worry about protecting your dog from tick-borne disease unless you travel with him.  If you live in the South, one of the South Central states, the Southwest, the Northeast, one of the coastal states, or if there is a deer on your lawn, prevention is something you should be taking seriously, both on your dog and in your environment.

Environmental prevention is based on what we know about the hard-bodied tick, a creature which seems to be
geared toward only two things, reproduction and survival, both of which depend on blood.

When an adult female tick has been impregnated by one of the much smaller males and has gorged itself on the blood of an animal, it falls off and dies after laying a batch of eggs that may number in the thousands.  The tiny, six-legged larvae that emerge from the eggs do not all survive or we would be overrun with them, but those that do survive attach themselves to small mammals like field mice and have their first blood meal.  This is where the trouble for dogs can start if that mouse is a carrier-host for tick-borne disease since ticks are not usually born infected.

Having fed once, the larvae molt, develop into nymphs and gain another pair of legs and the chance to become a carrier if the larger animal they feed on this time has a TBD, or to pass infection along if they are already vectors.  Molting a second time, they become adults and instinct drives them to make their last meal so they can reproduce and assure the continuation of their species.

The Lone Star tick will actually chase a likely meal, but most ticks will only climb up a grass stalk or crawl along a low-hanging tree branch to a good vantage point and wait for your dog to come along, holding up their little front legs as if in anticipation of grabbing hold.  In actuality, they have chemoreceptors in sensory organs on their front legs, something like little taste buds that test the air, and they use them to find their next meal.  They know us by the carbon dioxide we and our dogs breathe out, moisture, our body heat and a chemical that all mammals give off, butyric acid, which smells to us like dirty socks but is ambrosia to a tick because it means dinner is coming.  So when your ambrosial dog brushes by one, it will latch onto his fur and start looking for a good place to attach and feed.  (Ticks do not jump but they will drop onto a dog – or you – if either of you is close enough.)

The way the tick behaves, the means it uses to sense us and our dogs, give us clues on how to keep them away, and while most ticks may not carry disease, they exist in such numbers that it only makes sense to do everything possible to protect our dogs from being bitten instead of playing the odds that one of those bites won't be from an infected tick.

Clear away all brush and tall grass in your environment.  Trim back low-hanging tree limbs and keep dogs away from stone walls or woodpiles with all those little niches where mice that might carry TBD and ticks can hide.  Spray deer repellant around the perimeter of your property if they come to visit as deer are the number one host for the black-legged deer tick that can transmit several TBDs.  If you know there are a fair number of ticks in your surroundings, you can put a few inches of a mild dish soap like Ivory liquid in a garden sprayer and spray the outside of your house and your yard with it.  But do it in the evening when the beneficial honey bee isn't around because the soap that will kill tick larvae and nymphs will kill them.  Rain, of course, will undo your efforts so until you've managed to reduce the tick population, you may have to spray several more times.

If your problem is worse and you have no close neighbors to offend, you can use a garden spreader to put down granulated sulphur wherever you want to repel ticks.  Their little sensory organs really do not like granulated sulphur, which smells like rotten eggs to us, and for some people who have had a really bad infestation it has worked very well in getting ticks to beat a hasty retreat.  Powdered sulphur will work but it does not stick to the ground as well and will have to be reapplied after a good rain.  Even making a barrier of sulphur around your yard, if you cannot take having it all over the place, will provide a measure of protection.

Dry ice tick traps which rely on the tick's attraction to carbon dioxide are another way to get rid of ticks.  According to a study of tick collection methods done in 1992, dry ice-baited tick traps were by far the most effective way of collecting ticks, over 5,000 of them caught as compared to less than a hundred by someone just walking through an area filled with host-seeking ticks.  Easily made with a styrofoam cooler and masking tape, these traps may not get all the ticks in the yard but they will significantly reduce the number. How to build a dry ice tick trap.

If the worst happens and you see scores of ticks crawling the walls inside your house, forget trying to handle the problem yourself.  Call a professional exterminator and move out for a while to let them work and allow the chemicals time to dissipate before you move back in.  Drastic problems call for drastic solutions sometimes, whether we like them or not, but be sure you get a guarantee that the exterminators will come back if necessary.

Tick Preventives

Preventives take the battle to the dog, not only protecting them from the adult ticks which are easy to spot, but from the nymphs that may be as small as the period at the end of this sentence and difficult or impossible to see and remove.  So, a good preventive is a must in tick season, which peaks in spring and fall.

Those listed below have proven themselves to be excellent choices for preventing TBD, both in research studies and in actual use by countless numbers of dogs.  You have to realize, though, that nothing is perfect and there will be failures.  Don't forget to check your dog for visible ticks and see to it that he's tested at least once a year.

The Preventic Collar made by Virbac sets the standard for tick preventives.  The active ingredient is Amitraz.  If you use the collar, you must read and follow the directions on how to fit it.  It has no effect on fleas and takes 24 hours to provide complete protection.  Rain doesn't affect it but immersion in water is not a good idea so a dog wearing the Preventic collar won't be swimming.  Do not use it on sick dogs.  Amitraz is toxic to cats and the maker cautions against using it if cats snuggle up to your dog.  It is highly toxic if it is ingested so if there is a chance that your dog, or another dog he tussles with, would get it in his mouth, pass it by.  The Preventic collar is in wide use and if none of the situations noted above are likely to come up, it is quite possibly the best product to use.

Frontline TopSpot and Frontline Spray are made by Merial.  The active ingredient in Frontline is fipronil.  TopSpot is applied directly to the skin between the dog's shoulders according to the manufacturer, though speaking from experience, dotting it in several places along the spine from shoulder to tail is less messy.  Spreading over the dog, it settles in the sebaceous (oil-secreting) glands at the base of each hair and grows up with the fur, taking about 48 hours to cover completely.  When a tick finds its way onto the dog, it has to slog through a forest of fur impregnated with Frontline, which works by paralyzing it.  Even if it manages to attach, the odds are high that the tick will not be able to feed and transmit disease before it dies.

Frontline Spray is especially good for dogs that have very short or dry coats which don't have a lot of oils in them.  It is also good for spot spraying when you need quick coverage on places like the belly and feet.

A rare few dogs are sensitive to Frontline.  If you are at all worried that your dog might be one, sacrifice one of the small vials by applying only a single drop to his skin so that any discomfort he might have will be limited to a small area.  You should know inside a day if he is going to have a reaction.  Frontline may be removed, if necessary, by using a shampoo that contains benzoyl peroxide.  It retains its effectiveness in water so a dog protected by Frontline can swim.

K9Advantix, made by Bayer, has also been around long enough to rack up a good record for safety and efficacy and it, too, is often recommended by vets.  It is a topical like Frontline TopSpot, works in much the same way and also remains effective after swimming.  K9Advantix contains two main ingredients: permethrin, which repels and kills ticks and mosquitoes, and imidocloprid, which kills fleas and flea larvae.

Permethrin is toxic to cats so be aware of this if you think of using K9Advantix and have cats that live peacefully in close proximity with your dog and sometimes groom him.  If they do, it would be best to choose another tick preventive.

Do not stretch the time between applications!  There is some real concern that ticks might survive the continually shrinking amount of Frontline or K9Advantix left on the dog after the recommended 30 day reapplication time and become immune to it. One thing we do not need is ticks that are immune to the few weapons we have to use against them.  Whatever preventive you choose, however, one of these or another, read the label.  It's there because it carries information you need to make an informed decision.

Natural tick preventives.

No tick preventive is going to be an absolute guarantee against tick-borne disease but some are definitely better than others and all of these are commercial products.  People who are concerned about using chemicals on their dogs often turn to so-called natural preventives, either making them from essential oils themselves or buying them ready-made.  What they forget is that natural oils are chemicals, they are simply not man-made chemicals.  Not being man-made, they have not gone through the rigorous testing that every commercial tick preventive undergoes, both for safety and how well they work.  Nor can the ready-made natural products provide any documented proof on either score.  For that reason, they are not named or recommended here.

Vaccine prevention

The Lyme disease vaccine is the only one available to prevent a tick-borne disease in dogs.  Whether or not it should be used is a matter of some debate and too involved to go into here.  Briefly, the vaccine appears to work best on dogs which have never been exposed to Lyme disease, i.e., very young dogs in areas considered hot spots.  It must be given every year.  Dogs have been known to get Lyme even though they have been vaccinated.  Most of the veterinary teaching hospitals do not recommend it unless you live in an area where there is a strong likelihood of infection.  The ease with which Lyme can be detected and treated may weigh against using the vaccine.  Very rarely, dogs can have a reaction to the vaccine which leaves them with all the painful symptoms of Lyme disease but no hope of being cured as there is no disease there to fight.  Unfortunately, you cannot know if yours will be one of them before you vaccinate.  That said, many dogs have been vaccinated, suffered no serious reaction and appear to have been protected by the Lyme disease vaccine.

testing and treatment

When to test, what tests to run and what to do if test results are positive

"I had to 'fire' my vet before I could get the proper treatment for my Cocker Spaniel, Ricky.  It was almost a year before I could get the correct diagnosis and by that time, his digestive system was permanently damaged. I just spent this morning cleaning up poop and vomit and crying. He will certainly not live a normal life span. I will forever regret that I did not know about TBDs sooner." ~ Felicia Mazur

The answers did not come easily or soon for Felicia and her Ricky, who seemed to have Inflammatory Bowel Disease and now probably does, given his scarred intestines.  Weight was dropping off him even though he ate well.  His energy level had plummeted, and (though this is not always a symptom) his eyes were bloodshot and weeping.  You'd think Ricky would have been tested for tick-borne disease as a matter of course since Felicia lives in an area where ticks are far from rare and he was not responding well to treatment.  It's not as if testing is invasive or expensive, certainly not expensive when compared to so many other things dogs are put through in the search for a diagnosis. So why wasn't it done?

While those of us who have watched our dogs die of tick-borne disease, or have seen them damaged for life as Ricky was, vehemently disagree, it would seem that TBD is not dangerous or wide-spread enough to be given much attention by the veterinary schools and journals responsible for educating vets.  There are still many vets who do not even think of it when they start to determine what might be wrong with a dog.  So, as you may have guessed, "when" to test is up to those of us not lucky enough to have a vet on our side who is knowledgeable about TBD.  Because Ricky's vet didn't test and for a long time Felicia didn't know to ask, she went through the misery of seeing her dog get sicker without knowing why and without any hope he would get better until, at last, she got a new vet, a diagnosis and something to fight.  But the delay was costly.  After a period of doing fairly well, Ricky began having trouble again and is now on chemo for intestinal lymphoma.*

If there are ticks in your area, educate yourselves about the early signs you can recognize yourself:  diarrhea, lethargy, a lack of interest in food, changes in behavior, fever, and above all, lameness, which is the number one presenting symptom.  If you suspect your dog has been infected, have your veterinarian send a blood serum sample for a comprehensive TBD panel to a laboratory with special expertise in TBD testing even if he or she tells you that it is useless and a waste of money. It is your dog and your money and without testing nobody can say that tick-borne disease is impossible.  Even at the risk of appearing foolish or being wrong, insist!  Pam Barbe, MT (ASCP), who maintains an extensive website on Samoyed health, told me something once I will never forget, nor should you.  "You are your dog's only advocate," she said; "if you won't stand up for him, who will?"

Testing for TBD
As vigilant as we might be, the early signs of TBD can be easy to miss or to dismiss as nothing important.  So our best line of defense, apart from having a good vet and using a proven tick preventive, is to make testing at least once a year a regular part of our dogs' health care.

Snap tests
Snap tests are done in-house by your vet and take only minutes to show results for heartworm, E. canis, and Lyme disease on the Snap 3DX, adding A. phagocytophilum on the newer Snap 4DX.  They are yes/no tests which only tell you whether or not one of those diseases was detected, not how low or high the antibody count might be.  The Lyme portion of the test is as good as they get right now, showing very few false positives or negatives.  Based on technology patented by IDEXX Laboratories, Snap tests are available to your veterinarian only from them.  Blood samples may be sent directly to IDEXX for testing if your vet doesn't have them at present.

A positive Snap test for Lyme disease should be followed up immediately by sending a blood sample to IDEXX to have a Quantitative C6 Antibody Test run.  The Quant C6 provides a baseline number of antibodies which will be invaluable six months later when you run this test again.  The magic number is 30 units per milliliter.  Over that, you treat.  If the number of antibodies has fallen by 50% when you retest, treatment is considered successful.

A drawback of the Snap 4DX is that its TBD tests are limited to Lyme, A. phagocytophilum and E. canis.  While those are the most prevalent TBDs at the moment, there are others which can be equally serious.  If there are clues in your dog's regular bloodwork, a CBC or blood chemistry panel, which point to TBD, and/or you still believe that he has one based on your knowledge of your dog despite a negative Snap test, your next option is to have an IFA tick panel run.

As a side note, never underestimate the value of having regular bloodwork done, both to establish a baseline of what is normal for your dog and to monitor any changes if he becomes ill.

IFA tests
Indirect Fluorescent Antibody tests give results based on titers.  Titers are derived from blood serum samples which are suspected of containing antibodies the immune system makes to fight disease.  The serum is diluted to a standardized starting point, for instance, 1:20, then that is diluted further by doubling the dilution over and over so that the series might go like this:  1:40, 1:80…on up into the tens of thousands in some instances.  Or as Dr. Beckett explains it, "starting with the lowest dilution (e.g., 1:20), a same-size sub-sample from each successive dilution is tested until…at some point the serum is so dilute that the sub-sample contains too little antibody to trigger a reaction.  The highest dilution which DID show a reaction is reported as the 'titer'."

Unfortunately, with tick-borne disease, you can never depend on easy answers.   A high titer is not necessarily an indicator of a really bad infection.  It may mean that a dog has a very strong immune system which is going all out to eradicate the invader.  Conversely, a low titer may not mean you have nothing to worry about.  Diane Polito's Corgi, Calvin, a feisty little dog who loved to compete, was half way to his Master Agility Championship until A. phagocytophilum cost him his ability to walk without a cart and eventually his life, though he never mounted a titer higher than 1:80.

The best laboratory in the country for a tick-borne disease panel, in my estimation and that of many others, is ProtaTek in Chandler, Arizona.  Run by Cynthia Holland, Ph.D., who has published many peer-reviewed papers on tick-borne disease, ProtaTek is accurate and fast.  Moreover, Dr. Holland is extremely helpful when questions arise about which tests to run and what those results really mean.

PCR Tests
Polymerase Chain Reaction tests ignore antibodies and look for DNA of the disease itself.  If DNA of a specific TBD is in a sample of blood or organ tissue, they can find it.  Their usefulness is limited, however, because there are few reliable laboratories with the expensive equipment needed for PCRs or the people qualified to run them and turnaround time can be slow.  Dr. Ed Breitschwerdt, whose Tick Borne Diagnostic Laboratory at NC State is one of those few, recommends running at least 3 PCRs to rule the presence of a TBD in or out.  A generic PCR test is now available at NC State which can be followed up by specific tests if results are positive for tick-borne disease.  NC State does not, however, do PCRs for N. risticii.

Oh, Lord, he's positive!

No dog owner who is aware of what TBD is and what it is capable of doing can escape the feeling that the bottom has just dropped out of his or her world when handed a diagnosis of tick-borne disease.  But don't lose heart if it happens to you.  There are effective weapons in your arsenal.  Here they are.

Doxycycline
The drug of choice for every TBD except babesiosis is doxycycline (Vibramycin), a semi-synthetic tetracycline which is processed mainly through the liver, works by inhibiting the ability of bacteria to reproduce, and has a superior ability to penetrate cells to reach the organisms it targets.

There is some dispute about how much doxycycline to use in treating TBD and for how long.  On Tick-L, an Internet list for people dealing with tick-borne disease in dogs, most of us who have lived through the fight, some more than once, believe you should hit it hard and for an extended period in an effort to knock it out and prevent it from recurring.  We believe and recommend that the dosage should be 10 milligrams per kilogram of body weight given every 12 hours for 6 to 8 weeks.  For those who, like me, are metrically challenged, this is close enough to 5 mg. per pound.  The standard treatment, as recommended in the Merck Veterinary Manual, is 5 to 10 mg/kg once a day for 10 to 21 days.

Tom Beckett, DVM, our advisor and mentor on Tick-L, has worked with rescued greyhounds and shelter dogs for more than 25 years; in that time, approximately a quarter of the large number he has treated for TBD had it recur when he used the standard protocol.  He now prefers to treat dogs aggressively, as recommended above.  Suzanne Stack, DVM, who has treated large numbers of rescued greyhounds in Arizona for E. canis, agrees and has made aggressive treatment standard practice.  Steven Levy, VMD, who has studied Lyme disease for more than 20 years and diagnosed the first case of canine Lyme carditis, treats with doxycycline at 10 mg/kg twice a day for 28 days.  In The Five Minute Veterinary Consult, Max Appel, DVM, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor at Cornell, has also indicated a preference for treating Lyme disease with the high-end dose of doxycycline.  In Greene's Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, the dosage of doxycycline for the treatment of Lyme is given as 10 mg/kg every 12 hours for a minimum of 30 days;  while at ProtaTek, Dr. Holland finds end-point titers for E. canis extremely important in determining treatment protocol, chronically infected dogs requiring a "more rigorous and lengthy treatment".  As yet, however, many vets appear to prefer the standard treatment protocol for all stages and until more studies are done or experience convinces them otherwise, it will probably remain the treatment of choice.

If your vet chooses to use the standard regimen, be aware that TBD can rebound very fast if your dog's treatment was inadequate to the purpose and only succeeded in suppressing it for a while rather than stopping it cold.  Be aware, too, that if TBD does recur, it will probably be harder to control or eradicate the next time.  Don't relax too soon if your dog recovers.  Have regular bloodwork done and stay vigilant.

Considerations on giving doxycycline and other antibiotics.

Unlike other tetracyclines, doxycycline can be given with dairy products as the calcium in them doesn't affect its absorption to any appreciable degree.  This means that the old standby for giving a dog pills that he doesn't want to take, cheese, is perfectly fine to wrap the capsules or tablets in.  At other times, however, cheese, yogurt or any other milk product should probably be given in limited amounts to be on the safe side.  There are medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, herbal preparations and minerals such as iron and zinc, which will stop doxy from working so you should be clear about this and discuss everything your dog might be taking with your vet.

Doxycycline can be irritating to the esophagus if it gets stuck on the way down so it should always be buttered, greased or hidden in something enticing.  Capsules should never be broken.  Since doxy comes in standardized amounts, it should be easy enough to get the correct dosage in a tablet or capsule.  (For very small dogs, a compounding pharmacy may be able to help if even the smallest available dose is too much.)  Give it with or after a meal.  If you feed once a day, change your habits and feed your dog every twelve hours when he is due for his antibiotic if you are using the more aggressive protocol.

Antibiotics make no distinction between the beneficial bacteria that always populate your dog's gut and the harmful bacteria they are meant to eradicate.  It makes sense then to do what you can to prevent any intestinal problems that might arise from those beneficial bacteria being wiped out by putting them back.  Probiotics, live bacterial cultures such as lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidus and bulgaricus which are available in capsules at health food stores, will do the trick.  Give them "two hours after" every dose of doxycycline.  This allows the doxycycline ample time to clear the dog's body.  Any antibiotic will negate probiotics as quickly as it does the normal bacteria in the digestive tract if it is given too soon so that delay is important.  Of course, this means that the next time your dog gets his usual dose of doxy you have to give him probiotics again a couple of hours later, and the cycle goes on.  But it is much preferable to leaving his gut unpopulated by any helpful digestive bacteria at all until his treatment is over.

A small number of dogs cannot take doxycycline.  It appears to have a serious, detrimental effect on the liver of these dogs which can be detected quickly if regular bloodwork is done while they are being treated.  "The values that go awry in liver damage are chemicals in the serum," Dr. Beckett notes, "so the specific tests involved would be in a serum chemistry panel rather than in a CBC."

Because the elevated values may be due to the tick-borne disease itself rather than doxycycline, you and your vet will have to determine whether or not to stop this antibiotic and try another one.  A different tetracycline, such as minocycline, might work; chloramphenicol can also be used, though with this one you must rigidly adhere to the precautions your vet will advise you about as it can be harmful, not to your dog but to you if you do not handle it with due care.

Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin can be used as an alternative to doxycycline for Lyme disease only.  Bactericidal, (destroying the cell walls of bacteria) it is not effective against any TBD other than Lyme.  Amoxicillin is processed through the kidneys so it is important to know whether or not your dog has any problems with them.  It will help if you have established what your dog's normal blood values are early on in his life but whether you have or not, it is advisable to keep tabs on them during treatment to be sure his kidneys are continuing to function properly.

Imizol
Imizol (imidocarb dipropionate) is used to treat Babesia canis and has been used off-label to treat E. canis and A. phagocytophilum.  It is given in a series of two injections two weeks apart, either under the skin (sub-Q) or in a muscle (IM).  Imizol burns, so a vet would be well-advised to minimize any discomfort the dog is going to have – and he is going to have it at the moment of the shot – by drawing the drug up with one needle, then changing the needle on the syringe for a clean one that has none of the drug on its outer surface.  From my own experience and that of others whose dogs have been given Imizol, the worst that happens is a very loud yowl of protest, soon over, a drippy nose or excessive drooling, restlessness and/or a large desire to lie down and go to sleep later on.  Once the shot has been given, the dog should remain in or very near the vet clinic for several hours just in case he does have a serious reaction, in which case atropine sulfate is antidotal and your vet will have some on hand.  I have never seen anyone on Tick List say that the antidote was necessary for their dog.

Imidocarb dipropionate does carry cautions which may prevent its administration to dogs with lung, liver or kidney problems until they are under control but your vet should be aware of this as they are plainly noted on the product label.  Imizol is manufactured and sold by Schering-Plough and is now readily available in the US.

Exposure and Infection

If your dog has a low titer for a TBD, your vet may conclude that he was only exposed to tick-borne disease and doesn't need treatment.  Okay…but what does "only exposed" mean, exactly?

If the TBD organisms that are trying to invade are weak, few in number, or the innate (non-specific) immune system is in great shape and easily able to handle them, they may be stopped and wiped out before they can establish a resident population.  The result is exposure without infection.

If the infective organism manages to stay in the body long enough to be noticed by the adaptive immune system, this more specific line of defense goes into gear.  Identifying an invasive TBD as "not me" and dangerous, it creates antibodies to fight that particular disease, and memory cells which allow it to recognize the invader quickly if it ever encounters it again.

When antibody production starts, it tends to continue for some time whether the disease is still present and active or not.  "So," according to Dr. Beckett, "as a precise generalization, when our TBD tests indicate presence of antibodies, we only have evidence, strictly speaking, that the dog's adaptive immune system has had an encounter of some sort with (i.e., has been exposed to) the antigens of the organism in question."  However, he goes on to say that it is "seriously flawed thinking to rigidly equate low antibody titers with 'only exposure'.  Seriously affected dogs sometimes have low titers."

Dogs with extremely high titers, on the other hand, but no symptoms or clinical signs, may be challenging infection with TBD successfully on their own.  The thing to do then may be nothing, to simply wait and continue to monitor your dog.  So we come back to where we began and the realization that often there are no cut and dried answers.

When tick-borne disease becomes more widely recognized for the threat it is, and efforts by dedicated research scientists to discover its secrets and create vaccines are given the funding they deserve, answers may come more readily.  Until then, your best weapon against TBD is a vet with an active and empathetic mind who will look beyond the obvious.  May you all have a vet like that on your side and may no dog ever again live crippled from TBD, or die of it, for lack of one.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

afterword

In 2000, I lost my German Shepherd Dog, Thunder, to Neorickettsia risticii, a disease usually seen in horses which is truly devastating to dogs.  I knew little about tick-borne disease then.  It was only afterward that my grief and anger drove me to learn more about it.  Later still, it came to me that while there was a lot of information on the Internet about TBD in dogs, it was widely scattered and not very easy for people who had no particular search skills to access.  Having no idea what a job I was undertaking, I decided to remedy that by gathering as much of that information in one place as I could and began to construct a website about dogs and TBD.  The end result can be found online at http://dogsandtickdisease.googlepages.com or its sister site http://blackgsd.googlepages.com. It could be better organized and one day will be, as time allows, but the text here is referenced there for those who want to read further.

One of the greatest assets I had to draw on as I created that website was Tick List and the people on it who truly care when a new member joins, desperate for help.  Long-time members such as John E. Burchard, Ph.D., Ellie Goldstein, Caroline Ehle, 'Guam Patty' Hoff, Gertrude Hinsch and Heather Minnich have made the list what it is, but above all there is our guide and mentor, Tom Beckett, DVM.

It is rare for a veterinarian, especially one with Dr. Beckett's knowledge and experience of the subject which brought us all together, to have the patience and generosity to spend so many hours teaching, correcting and guiding a list.  It doesn't seem like much of a return for all he's done for us and our dogs, but thank you, Dr. Beckett, from all of us.

 

 

article references

 

there are many more available here or on the mirror site here.

Ehrlichiosis, a Silent and Deadly Killer: http://home.earthlink.net/~hawkeye87/Ehrlichiosis%20Page.htm

Canine ehrlichiosis and importance of end point-titers: Cynthia Holland, Ph.D. http://www.protatek.com/PDF/E.canis-%20Titers.pdf

Babesiosis in Dogs – Ron Hines, DVM, Ph.D. http://www.2ndchance.info/babesia.htm

John Burchard's Tick Links: http://saluqi.home.netcom.com/ticklinks.htm From here, people can access Tick-L.

How to Build a Dry Ice Tick Trap: http://tinyurl.com/6a7ktx

Evaluation of Three Commercial Tick Removal Tools (Acarology Lab, Ohio State University): http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~acarolog/needham/tickgone.htm Please use only this one if you use one at all.

Small Curved Kelly Forceps – available at http://www.kvvet.com, 800-423-8211  Use the search function.  Next to All Products look for kelly forceps.

An Update on Anaplasmosis in Dogs: http://tinyurl.com/6euscw

NC State Tick Borne Diagnostic Laboratory: http://cvm.ncsu.edu/vth/ticklab.html

IDEXX Laboratories: http://www.idexx.com/animalhealth/testkits/3dx/

ProtaTek Reference Laboratory, Chandler, AZ (480) 545-8499: http://www.protatek.com/ref_services.html

IDEXX:  US Regional Map of Lyme disease, E. canis, A. phagocytophilum prevalence http://www.dogsandticks.com/US-map-lyme-disease-dogs/index.html

Borislav Dopudja's interesting and original article on ticks: http://www.borislavdopudja.net/en/writings/ticks/

Product News

Free Freight Friday is Friday, May 15, 2009. Any orders placed on this day only over $75.00 will be shipped freight free (continental US only) via UPS Ground.  Mark this date on your calendar!  NOTE:  Qualifying orders will have freight deducted at the time the order is shipped and processed.

Website News

Thank you to all the folks who have sent in their feedback on the new website. We always welcome comments and/or suggestions on how we can make it better. If you would like to send in a testimonial for any of our products, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your comments to B-Naturals Newsletter.

B-Naturals

PO Box 217

Rockford, MN 55373

1-713-303-5639 — Lew Olson

1-866-368-2728 — Toll Free – Product Orders/Questions/Comments or

1-763-477-7001 — Phone

1-763-477-9588 — Fax Product Orders

Click this link for Orders, Shipping and Product Updates – bnaturals1@aol.com

Click this link for Consults, Seminars and Catalogs – lewolson@earthlink.net

DotBravo Co.

You have permission to copy and distribute this newsletter to others provided it is not distributed for profit, proper credit has been given by the author, and the article has been copied and distributed in its entirety. You may not post this article on any personal or professional website; however with permission from the author, you can provide a link to the newsletter which will bring your readers to the B-Naturals.com website.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: You have been put on this email distribution list because you have previously contacted Lew Olson or B-Naturals for either consultative advice or product information. If you feel you are on this list in error or you would like to be removed from this distribution list, please send an email to B-Naturals Newsletter to unsubscribe to this newsletter.

Copyright Lew Olson 2009

B-Naturals Newsletter – April 2009

Tick-Borne Disease in Dogs

Lew Olson, PhD Natural Health

In September 2003, B-Naturals featured Gil Ash’s article on Erlichia.  Gil began researching tick disease when her beloved German Shepherd dog, Thunder, was dianosed with Erhlichia risticii.  She has generously shared her knowledge with others for many years in memory of Thunder.

B-Naturals is pleased once again to bring you another article written by Gil, titled ‘Quiet Killers:  Tick-Borne Disease in Dogs’.  We will present this article in two parts, with Part I which includes her introduction, the definitions of different tick diseases, their symptoms and disease progression, transmission of the diseases and tick removal.  Part II will come out in May and will provide information on tick prevention, testing and treatment. We trust you will find the information in this article not only timely with the season, but also eye-opening and very informative.

Lew Olson.

by Gil Ash

. . . for Thunder and all the dogs who were diagnosed too late or not at all

Something was wrong with Casey.  Instead of bounding around with her usual energy and good spirits, she always seemed tired these days and her eyes were constantly bloodshot.  Where once she would have been up like a shot and ready for the day, getting to her feet was becoming more difficult and sometimes she'd limp, first on one leg, then on another.  Even her behavior had altered; the ten-year-old Border Collie/Keeshond mix had become aggressive toward one of the cats she'd lived with all her life.  It was as if Judith Sookne had gradually acquired a dog that only looked like her Casey and she was at a loss to know why – until one evening an answer jumped at her as she checked through Casey's fur for ticks, something so obvious she wondered that she hadn't thought of it before.  Judith took Casey and her newly aroused suspicion of tick-borne disease to the vet.

Tick-borne disease?  Impossible.  Her vet dismissed the idea.  Evidently, where Judith saw a dog that might be helped, she saw a dog that was just getting old and refused a request for tests to find out if Casey had been infected with a tick-borne disease, saying that some minor arthritis was normal in a dog her age and Casey's bloodwork was normal.  As it happens, however, signs of infection do not always show up in routine bloodwork and Judith knew it.  She remained firm in her belief that there were reasons beyond age for what Casey was going through and eventually demanded the tests that her vet opposed so adamantly.

Annoyed, her vet changed tactics and agreed to comply – up to a point.  She would draw blood and prepare the serum sample but if Judith wanted these tests run, particularly if she insisted on sending them to a lab specializing in tests for TBD, she would have to mail the sample herself.  As a deterrent, it failed miserably;  Judith had no problem at all with using Fed-Ex and, a few days later, held the test results in her hand: Casey had tested positive for both Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Ehrlichia canis.

As is often the case, Casey responded almost at once to treatment, made her peace with the cat, regained her spirits and stopped limping.  Now past thirteen, she is slowing down but not so much that she has lost her zest for life or her interest in squirrels.  She was lucky.

Every day, dogs like Casey are taken to the vet because they just "ain't doing right" and every day, vets look at common, all-too-familiar symptoms and address them separately rather than asking themselves if they might not be looking at a syndrome, a group of related things that might point to something far more serious.  The usual approach would seem to make sense.  After all, how alarming, say, is a slight fever and diarrhea in a dog that has lost his pep and been off his feed for a few days?  The trouble is, the usual approach doesn't work when you're dealing with TBD. In his foreword to Ehrlichiosis, a Silent and Deadly Killer, the first Internet website to make clear, well-researched information on TBD available to everyone, Ibulaimu Kakoma, DVM, Ph.D. notes that "the spectrum of syndromes and disease entities imitated by ehrlichiosis are incredible" and emphasizes the need to rule out ehrlichiosis for common infectious disease.

Tom Beckett, DVM, of Austin, Texas, whose years of experience in the field parallel Dr. Kakoma's in the research laboratory, has come to the same conclusion.  "Many of the TBD cases I see have vague, nonspecific, "nagging" health problems rather than the more specific and dramatic symptoms the textbooks describe.  The dogs seem to be somewhere 'in between' the symptoms-free subclinical stage and the definitively symptomatic chronic stage. Unfortunately, quite often one of two responses occurs: either the problems are dismissed as a (mis)perception of an overprotective owner or due to 'normal' processes such as aging; or a whole host of tests and other diagnostics is done – but the diagnostics do not include tests for TBD.  There needs to be greater awareness among owners and veterinarians that dogs with these presentations should have a comprehensive panel of tests for TBD antibodies as part of their initial workup."

The key to curing all tick-borne disease is early diagnosis and treatment.

There are vets who refuse to consider TBD as a possibility and say "it can't happen here".  That attitude can have serious consequences for dogs and one hopes it is becoming less common as knowledge of TBD and its danger spreads.  Anywhere in the United States that the hard-bodied Ixodid ticks are found, the diseases they carry can be found.  Dogs travel with their owners, or to new owners from kennels or rescue facilities, and ticks go with them.   A warming climate increases the range in which ticks can live and in places where it was once assumed that TBD could not happen, it does.  Clearly, there are places where it is more likely, but no one can say, "it can't happen here", until they know where the dog has been and they make dead sure that tick-borne disease has never been found in their area.

Those veterinarians who have never seen, or more properly, recognized a case of TBD may be handicapped by their lack of knowledge.  Focused on what appears to be wrong, they treat for it and are puzzled when the dog gets no better.  Well, that wasn't it.  What else could it be?  Considering a list of possibilities, the vet chooses another and the outcome is unfortunately the same.  In the end, stymied and more than a little frustrated, he or she may suggest a specialist for what the dog appears most likely to have, or fall back on the diagnosis that is no diagnosis at all: a genetically defective immune system.  There is nothing that points so suggestively to tick-borne-disease as a vet who is stumped or who sends you running to one specialist after another.  It is a red flag alerting the dog's owner to think hard about having a tick panel run and doing it quickly.  One luxury you do not have a great deal of in dealing with TBD is the luxury of time.

The Tick-borne Diseases: A very brief introduction to the five dollar words which can spell trouble for your dog.

Ehrlichia canis, found world-wide, is the most common and one of the most dangerous tick-borne disease organisms known to infect dogs; as it has been the object of the most study and as many of the TBDs follow its general pattern, it will be discussed in more depth than the rest.

Parasitic bacteria which share some of the traits of viruses, E. canis proliferate inside the white blood cells manufactured in the bone marrow.  As the disease they cause progresses, it cripples the ability of the white blood cells to replicate correctly or, in the end, at all, and the immune system is effectively destroyed.  But that's not the end of it; the list of symptoms and conditions that can be caused by E. canis seems almost endless; it can be mistaken for or cause leukemia, heart disease, cancer of the spleen, the brain and other organs, to name only a few.  This is a dangerous, treacherous organism.

In the first, or acute stage of E. canis, the outlook for cure is best, but symptoms can be vague and easily missed or put down to a mild viral infection.  If a dog is feverish, if his lymph glands are enlarged and he's generally off-color, a vet looking further may find the characteristic signs of early TBD: an enlarged spleen, an abnormal decrease in blood platelets, an abnormal decrease in white blood cells, and/or nonregenerative anemia.  And just to make things more complicated, a high white cell count may be seen instead.  Testing for TBD is useless for two or three weeks after a dog has been infected, however, as the immune system will not have had time to make the antibodies that register on a test until enough time passes.  But a correct diagnosis depends on much more than numbers on a sheet of paper.  Some dogs with E. canis never do mount a detectable titer and some have a very low titer that, by itself, would not indicate the need for treatment.  It is your vet's knowledge and experience of TBD that can make all the difference then.

If a dog is unable to throw off E. canis by himself in the acute stage, the disease passes into the second, subclinical stage where there are no outward symptoms, hides out in the spleen and the dog becomes a carrier, although he may appear to be completely normal.  E. canis may remain in this stage from months to years until something – another infection, stress, or simply a body worn out by an unending struggle with the disease, particularly if he is ill with another – causes the dog to go into the final, chronic stage.

Once it becomes chronic, the prognosis for recovery is poor and the end can come with shocking suddenness if no one is aware the dog is infected.  A serious deficiency of all the blood elements (pancytopenia) is quite possible at this stage; death may come from hemorrhage, multiple organ failure or secondary bacterial infection.

German Shepherd Dogs, many of whom died of E. canis serving as war dogs in Vietnam, "appear to have depressed cell-mediated immunity as compared to other breeds and are more likely to develop severe disease", according to Cynthia Holland, Ph.D., an authority on tick-borne disease in dogs and horses.  For GSDs, prompt, early diagnosis and treatment of E. canis is especially critical.  The primary vector for E. canis in the United States is the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus.

Ehrlichia chaffeensis is a less common cause of ehrlichiosis which was first identified at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas in the United States.  Its known geographic distribution ranges from the South and South Central states to lower New England.  Significant lameness is a marked symptom and E. chaffeensis is thought to be both serious and harder to clear from a dog than E. canis, which in many ways it resembles.  It also occurs in humans.  The brown dog tick, R. sanguineus, and the Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum, carry E. chaffeensis.

Ehrlichia ewingii, found mostly in North Carolina, Florida and Missouri, has been identified in ticks in Texas but its geographic distribution may be wider than currently realized.  It shares characteristics of A. phagocytophilum and E. canis but does not appear to cause as much damage to the dog and, like E. chaffeensis, has been known to infect humans. E. ewingii is carried by the Lone Star tick, A. americanum.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum, once known as E. equi, is presently considered less of a threat than E. canis, though anecdotal reports of dogs suffering serious repercussions and/or dying from it may cause that conclusion to be reconsidered.  A. phagocytophilum can cause painful arthritis in several joints, lethargy, high fever, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea.  Less commonly, a dog may have neck pain or seizures due to central nervous system dysfunction.  A. phagocytophilum is carried by Ixodes scapularis, the black-legged or deer tick, and Ixodes pacificus, the Western black-legged tick, both of which also carry Lyme disease.

Anaplasma platys, once known as E. platys, causes severe cyclic thrombocytopenia, targeting the blood platelets that stop bleeding and promote clotting.  A few days after infection, platelet counts drop dramatically; in another few days, they rise to normal, then the cycle begins again.  A. platys is self-limiting and gradually goes away except when another TBD is also present to aggravate it and be aggravated by it.  There is grave danger of hemorrhage during surgery on a dog with A. platys unless the surgeon knows about it and exercises caution.  A. platys is carried by the brown dog tick.

Neorickettsia risticii, once known as E. risticii, is best known as Potomac Horse Fever or Shasta River Crud and is not carried by ticks.  So why is it here?  Well, until a few years ago no one knew exactly what the vector (the agent carrying it) was and ticks seemed the likely candidate.  Now, we know that it gets to the dog by a complicated process that starts in some freshwater snails and ends by the dog ingesting one of the insect vectors that live and fly over water.  How?  It may fall in his food, he may lap it up from a river or puddle, or, as many dogs do, he may snap at and swallow the infected insect.  And the damage is done.  Once established in its canine victim, N. risticii behaves like E. canis but with a virulence that makes it fortunate this disease is not considered common.  Dogs which develop chronic N. risticii have almost no chance of surviving.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, oddly enough, is found more often in the East than the West, though it occurs all over the continental US. Caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, RMSF is an acute disease which has no progressive stages.  In considerable pain from the infection, a dog may be unable to keep his balance; he may hold his head at a tilt, act as if he is only half conscious, suffer seizures or go into a coma.  Without treatment, he will either get well in two weeks or die.

Because of the speed with which this disease can kill, chances of survival are much higher if the dog is treated with doxycycline immediately the disease is suspected, without waiting for test results.  A pair of tests are run to confirm a diagnosis of RMSF, the second 21 days after the first.  If the second titer is four times as great as the first, the diagnosis is rock solid.

Dogs which survive become immune to any further infection with RMSF, though they may carry detectable titers for a considerable time, perhaps for life.  Those which manage to make it through on their own without help may always suffer varying degrees of neurologic dysfunction.  The vectors of RMSF are the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, the wood tick, D. andersoni, and the brown dog tick, R. sanguineus.

Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni are protozoal parasites, not bacteria like the other organisms that cause TBD. Hemolytic anemia, essentially destruction of the red blood cells that carry oxygen to the blood, is the hallmark of babesiosis and half of all infected dogs will need transfusion.  In the peracute (violent, sharp) stage, clinical signs may appear suddenly, followed by shock that cannot be reversed and death.  The peracute and acute stages are not seen often in the US, however, as most adult dogs diagnosed with babesiosis are subclinical, i.e., carriers without evident clinical signs, and remain so unless something upsets the precarious balance between the immune system and the disease.

In the chronic stage, the jaundice and anemia of earlier stages is not as apparent but dogs are weak, their mucous membranes may be pale and body condition deteriorates along with appetite.  The spleen of a dog with chronic babesiosis is very enlarged, according to Ron Hines, DVM, Ph.D., and often kidney and liver function is poor.  Feces may be yellow and the urine may appear orange. Babesia canis can infect any dog and is very often found in greyhounds rescued from race tracks, while B. gibsoni is almost always found only in pit bull terriers.  Babesiosis is generally detected in blood work done on a dog without symptoms or in the chronic stage.  Direct blood-to-blood transmission of B. gibsoni has occurred in fighting dogs.  Unfortunately, the disease can be mistaken for Auto-immune Hemolytic Anemia (also called Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia) as an infected dog will test positive for AIHA.

Dr. Hines notes that another strain, B. canis vogeli, occurs all over the Southeastern US.  While it is the weakest of the Babesia, an occasional dog will develop severe anemia from this strain and his blood will fail to clot.  It is especially common in greyhounds.  The brown dog tick, R. sanguineus, is the vector for B. canis and presumably B. gibsoni as well.

Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, hardly needs an introduction to people in the Northeastern US where it is most prevalent and where it was first identified in the town of Lyme, CT.  Lyme is not, however, as destructive as many of the other TBDs; as a rule, active Lyme disease may cause crippling arthritis but it doesn't kill.  The exception to that is when it causes Lyme nephritis (glomerulonephritis), an inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidneys marked by a drop in the production of urine which will have blood and protein in it (proteinuria).  The end result is renal failure.  So far, Lyme nephritis does not appear to be common but it would be wise to have regular blood work done on a dog diagnosed with Lyme disease to keep an eye out for signs of kidney problems.

Bartonellosis, caused by Bartonella vinsonii, subsp. berkhofii, like most of the TBDs, is characterized by vague symptoms at first: lethargy, weight loss and lack of appetite.  Fever is not one of the early signs.  Half of all dogs with B. vinsonii develop thrombocytopenia (a serious reduction in blood platelets), according to Ed Breitschwerdt, DVM, of North Carolina State University, world-renowned for his work in vector-borne disease in dogs.  He notes that, at present, the incidence of bartonellosis seems to be low and the disease occurs most often in dogs which roam free, live in a rural area and are heavily infested with ticks.  Many of these dogs are also infected with Ehrlichia canis or Babesia canis.  The brown dog tick, R. sanguineus, is a probable vector.

Infection with more than one tick-borne disease is common and results in more serious illness.

Hepatazoon americanum is an oddity in that the dog bites the tick, Amblyomma maculatum, rather than the other way around.  The dog becomes infected by swallowing A. maculatum, found mostly in the humid regions surrounding the Gulf Coast, and the infectious parasites it carries migrate through the intestines to the muscles and the membrane covering the bone.  The rapid proliferation of these parasites inside cells causes the cells to rupture which, in turn, causes severe pain.  Many of the symptoms found in other TBDs are also seen, including fever, lethargy, lameness and anorexia.  To date, there is no cure, though good supportive care may relieve or lessen a dog's symptoms.

Tick paralysis is very different from other tick-borne disease in this respect: it doesn't depend on an infectious organism. It occurs when an engorged female tick produces a neurotoxin in her saliva, then injects that saliva into the dog on which she's feeding.  The onset of signs is sudden and includes difficulty breathing or barking, rear end weakness and staggering.  Starting with the hind legs, paralysis moves rapidly toward the head and the dog will soon be unable to move, stand, sit, or lift his head.  If the tick is found and removed in time, improvement is generally seen within 24 hours.  If the tick is not found and removed soon enough, the outlook is grim.

Animals have a great many more chances than humans to encounter ticks, so while the incidence of tick paralysis in humans is low, the threat to livestock and dogs is a good bit higher.  No matter what the probability of tick paralysis might be, however, dog owners should be aware of how it operates as the outcome can be severe injury or death if it is not recognized and dealt with quickly.

Ticks can be carriers for more than one TBD. Cross-infection is common.

Transmission

When a tick has found a likely place to feed – often on the ear, close to the body under the leg, between the toes, on the neck or shoulder – it punctures the skin with pincers finer than a hair (chelicerae), then inserts a specialized mouthpart that it will use to drink the dog's blood.  This mouth part, called the hypostome, has barbs along its length which are efficient at cutting in and help to anchor the tick in place.  To make itself even more secure, the tick secretes a cement around the edges of the wound that will later dissolve when it is ready to detach.  Once that is done, it is ready to feed.

It is the tick's saliva that contains an anticoagulant to keep blood flowing freely and the saliva that carries disease.  As the tick alternately regurgitates it into the dog and sucks blood out, peristaltic action causes the infectious organisms in its midgut to move up through the large salivary glands branching to either side of its body.  Fortunately these organisms move sluggishly; it takes a minimum of 24 hours as a rule for them to reach the point where they will be pumped into the dog.  On occasion, infection has occurred in less time but this probably doesn't happen often so we have a grace period after the tick latches on to remove the tick ourselves or for a preventive to stop the tick's ability to feed and kill it.  Because the relatively small male is under the female as she drinks and is mating with her, when they die an entire new generation has no chance to be born.  Sometimes nature is both wonderful and frightening.

Tick Removal

Never remove a tick with your fingers.  Never burn it, put petroleum jelly on it, twist it or jerk it off the dog.  Ticks breathe only a few times an hour so attempting to suffocate one is next door to useless.  Grasping one with your fingers, you are all but guaranteed to squeeze the tick and propel any infectious saliva into your dog.  Burning or using irritants on ticks can cause them to convulse and achieve the same outcome.  As for 'unscrewing' a tick, they do not screw themselves in the first place.  The best and safest way to remove a tick is to use a small, inexpensive, curved Kelly forceps, a pair of tweezers or one of the tools especially made for the purpose, catch the tick right behind the flattened 'head' (capitulum) as close as possible to the dog's skin, and pull gently straight out.  Drop the tick in a solution of water and dish soap to kill it.

If your dog is covered with the tiny nymphs called seed ticks which are far too numerous to remove one by one, you can bathe the dog with Ivory dishwashing liquid.  Work up a good lather, leave the suds on for 15 minutes then rinse thoroughly with plain water.  Ivory liquid is gentle enough not to cause skin irritation but it will kill immature ticks.

Product News

Free Freight Friday is Friday, April 17, 2009.  Any orders placed on this day only over $75.00 will be shipped freight free (continental US only) via UPS Ground.  Mark this date on your calendar!  NOTE:  Qualifying orders will have freight deducted at the time the order is shipped and processed.

Website News

Thank you to all the folks who have sent in their feedback on the new website.  We always welcome comments and/or suggestions on how we can make it better.  If you would like to send in a testimonial for any of our products, we’d love to hear from you.  Please send your comments to B-Naturals Newsletter.

B-Naturals

PO Box 217

Rockford, MN 55373

1-713-303-5639 — Lew Olson

1-866-368-2728 — Toll Free – Product Orders/Questions/Comments or

1-763-477-7001 — Phone

1-763-477-9588 — Fax Product Orders

Click this link for Orders, Shipping and Product Updates – bnaturals1@aol.com

Click this link for Consults, Seminars and Catalogs – lewolson@earthlink.net

DotBravo Co.

You have permission to copy and distribute this newsletter to others provided it is not distributed for profit, proper credit has been given by the author, and the article has been copied and distributed in its entirety.  You may not post this article on any personal or professional website; however with permission from the author, you can provide a link to the newsletter which will bring your readers to the B-Naturals.com website.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE:  You have been put on this email distribution list because you have previously contacted Lew Olson or B-Naturals for either consultative advice or product information. If you feel you are on this list in error or you would like to be removed from this distribution list, please send an email to B-Naturals Newsletter to unsubscribe to this newsletter.

Copyright Lew Olson 2009