Animal Health Issues: Immune System

*Immune System: Problems and Support*	*Allergies/Eyes, Ears and Skin*	*Bloat*
*Cancer*	*First Aid*	*Incontinence*
*Miscellaneous*	*Natural Pest Control*	Heartworms and Other Parasites

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See my Other Supplements I Recommend page for products which help with digestion, joint and tissue problems and other issues.

See also holistic/homeopathic veterinarians who do phone consults, and directories of practitioners, on my Holistic Care Links page.

When the immune system has been compromised through vaccines, antibiotics, parasites, etc., it can take a long time to restore the animal or person to health. The following can be very helpful.

Hair Analysis Through hair analysis, Pettest screens your animal's body for levels of nutritional and toxic minerals, and reveals imbalances that could cause health problems, before symptoms even manifest. This simple test can evaluate the rishs and causes of bone and joint disorders, digestive, heart and thyroid disease, allergies and even cancer. www.pettest.net

Autoimmune diseases http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCushings-AutoimmuneCare/ Mission: To promote optimal health and well-being in our dogs, through a combination of wholesome nutrition, conventional medicine, alternative therapies and shared learning!

We're an international community of lay people and veterinary professionals with an interest in Canine Cushing's Disease and endocrine-immune imbalance due to cortisol abnormalities, and the relationship to other metabolic disorders and autoimmune or immune-mediated diseases (e.g. liver, kidney and heart disease, bladder stones, pancreatitis, IBS/IBD, Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, Alopecia X, allergies, cancer, seizures, SARDS, dry eye, etc.). Discussions focus on holistic concepts, the benefits of feeding home-prepared diets, and eliminating chronic stressors which can lead to excessive cortisol production. Other topics include: preventive care, alternative and integrative therapies, traditional medical treatments, prescription drugs, surgery, interpreting lab results, vaccines, recipes, and nutritional supplementation. Scientific studies, research articles, healthcare concepts, and physiology are also examined. We strive to present information that is current, factual and balanced. We offer a wide range of resources, including the support and experiences of other caregivers, the expertise of veterinarians, guest speakers, and an educational website. Come join us!

Apple Cider Vinegar In their book, The Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog, Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown, DVM, note that “Apples contain a large amount of potassium plus phosphorus, chlorine, sodium, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, iron, fluorine, silicon, and many trace minerals. . . . ACV (apple cider vinegar) is credited with killing bacteria outright. . . .” Depending on the size of the dog, add 1/4 teaspoon (toy dogs) to 3 tablespoons (dogs over 50 lbs) total per day to their meals. Itchy skin is a sign that the skin is too alkaline in nature. Fleas and ticks do not find acidic skin desirable to live on, hence the importance of maintaining a slightly acidic body (for dogs, the normal pH range is 6.2-6.5). You can use straight ACV as an after-bath rinse; before going out into the country; and on beginning hot spots. If the skin is already broken, dilute the ACV 1:1 with water and spray it on the coat. As an ear rinse, use several drops of the 1:1 dilution weekly to avoid ear infections. These health conditions and others (including sore joints and the beginnings of arthritis), indicate a potassium deficiency, so ACV is a cheap way to help your animal’s health issues. For internal consumption, be sure to purchase an ACV product with the “mother” in it (i.e., should be raw unfiltered ACV), not the kind you buy at the grocery store. A good brand is Bragg’s, which can be found at health food stores. For external use such as to help rebalance skin pH and repel insects, I've found that the grocery store version seems to work fine, diluted 1:1 with water.

Raw (unprocessed) Honey Honey contains several important minerals and has the ability to kill bacteria. It can be used for dressing wounds and burns to keep them sterile and promote healing. Dark honey is more effective than the light version. According to Volhard and Brown, “Can be used externally for treatment of skin disorders, especially effective with burns. Internally, for sinus problems, coughing, sore throats, digestive upsets, and most importantly, bringing a dog in shock around.” (As such, it can be helpful to the hypoglycemic dog or cat.) Use ¼ tsp. (small dog) to 1 T. daily (80 lb. dog). For shock, give 1 T. (80 lb. dog). The easiest way to do this is to keep the honey in a squirt bottle. In addition, honey contains pollens, which can help desensitize the animal to allergies. Be sure to purchase dark, locally harvested honey so that it contains local pollens. It is helpful for dogs who have digestive system problems, as it contains two enzymes. Use honey in addition to an enzyme product for dogs or cats with digestive issues. For the healing properties of honey, see http://natureweb.netfirms.com.

Propolis Very antiviral (kills H. Pylori, the bacteria responsible for some ulcers). Research is underway regarding how it may help combat cancer. This compound comes from resin in trees. Bees use it as a crack sealer to prevent drafts and moisture from getting into the hive. Bees can mummify a mouse that wanders into the hive with this compound. Propolis can be found at health food stores.

Colloidal Silver The following information is from Julie at Wolf Creek Ranch, http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/index.html, home of Whispering Winds Wholistic Animal Sanctuary:

"Colloidal Silver can be used internally and/or externally, dropped in the eyes, to cleanse and heal some ear infections, on wounds, nebulized into the lungs, and some have used an isotonic solution of CS via IV. It is good for any viral, bacterial, or fungal problems. It alleviates allergies that are caused by the above conditions, flu, staph infections, parvo, bronchitis, pneumonia, mastitis, kennel cough...and over 650 other known illnesses and diseases.

[In response to questions posted on a chatlist]: Q - I know I bought it once for something but then read it was dangerous and even making people turn silver. Julie replied: These instances have been caused by using silver compounds, which is why I advised to only use clean, clear, CS. The colored CS is NOT recommended. One person to excessive amounts of a 500 ppm CS and caused argryia - blue/gray of the skin. Another person made his own CS with tap water, which resulted in a black CS (CS interacts with the minerals in the tap water, which is why the only way to make it is with the purist distilled water)...Anyways, it is advised that you'd have to drink numerous gallons of CS in ONE day for it to become toxic and then actually, you'd drown in water before the CS would kill you.

How long can it be used safely and is it just for the immune system? Many pure CS users take it daily. Some have cured themselves of lyme disease, after years and years of agony with traditional doctors who couldn't help them. Some breeders give it to their dogs daily or especially prior to and during shows, to prevent their dogs from picking up viral, bacterial or fungal diseases from others dogs. We use it only on an as needed basis. We find that if CS is given at the onset of illness, it clears up the problem quickly. If I hear one of our 14 outdoor cats/kittens sneeze (3-4x/year), I throw some CS into their 3 gallon waterer and within 2 days the sneezer is fine. No nightmare in having to dose. 2 drops in the ear at the first sign of an ear infection has it gone the next day. We are using CS to cure an incurable viral disease in goats with great success. Final CSU testing will be done in the summer, but the treated goats look great.

We've been using, making, and researching CS for over 3 years now and find it absolutely wonderful for human, plant, and animal use. Some are saying that it is even keeping fleas off their pets...which the only way I can figure that could occur, is because it keeps their immune systems strong, since it's not allowing bacteria, viral, or fungal issues to bring their pets' immune systems down. Tho, we have found no vaccinations and species appropriate nutrition has eliminated fleas and we don't give CS daily to anyone.

How safe is Colloidal Silver? The CS researchers and experts advise that a low ppm CS is optimum and you'd have to consume 30+ gallons of CS water in a day to overdose, which at that point, you would be overdosing because of excessive water intake, not silver. You don't want high ppm products as they are colored and considered silver compounds. Excess amounts of silver compounds have been known to cause argryia. As has poor quality CS, such as a gentleman who made his own with tap water, which turned black. Pure ionic CS is made with the purist distilled water possible, along with pure silver and is clear like water.

Many people consume 1/4 to 1/2 cup daily for years and haven't turned blue or gray. Pure CS is known to be eliminated from the system within a few hours of ingestion. For those who consume it daily for years, it has shown to be completely eliminated from the body within 3 weeks, after stopping internal consumption.

Dr. Mariah McCain at Herbal Healer Academy has been taking her 500 ppm CS, 1/4-1/2 tsp. daily - we had it tested and it is mostly particulate silver, so not optimum IMO, but she advised after daily consumption for 3 years, her hair analysis did NOT show any silver in her system.

We use it freely when/if needed. Ear infections, in the eyes, orally, nasally, via nebulizer, for bronchitis/pneumonia, treating parvo puppies, externally on wounds, in lieu of toothpaste for brushing teeth, alone and in combination with DMSO or MSM. Ionic CS has NEVER failed us. Works great for the human flu. Stops tear staining on dogs who have bacterial, viral, or fungal issues in their eyes.

Personally, we'd never be without it. Great for the human flu, allergies, sinus problems, mastitis, URI's, UTI's, amongst a huge list of other things. After less than a week of ingestion, had a 240 lb. arthritic goat running around like a newborn, when prior to CS he wasn't walking much and showed pain upon rising.

The two neatest things about it is, #1, it doesn't taste bad, so anyone and everyone will consume it willingly, unlike many nasty tasting herbs that are troublesome to get humans or animals to take - it's also useful for plants; #2 - it kills viruses and NO antibiotic on the market is known to kill viruses. So even in situations where you or the vet don't know exactly what is wrong, CS often knows and takes care of it.

Just make sure you are getting pure clear CS - distilled water and pure silver. No additives and no colored products. Of all the supplements available, I would rank CS among the top 3 that I would always use and have on hand. We find it truly invaluable. The FDA and others have problems with "claims" that are made about CS. It can only be marketed as a "supplement". Since everyone on the planet can make their own, the pharmaceutical companies would lose lots and lots of money. Quality CS is NOT toxic like traditional antibiotics.

Where do you get the high quality colloidal silver? It's truly best to make your own, as you know exactly what is in it, plus, in the event of terrorist attacks or some sort of disaster, you have the ability to make it for yourself, family, friends, and companions. There are good labs that will test CS for you, so you know exactly what you have. Short of that, Natural Immunogenics sells a high quality ionic CS. If you purchase from a health food store make sure to get something no more than 5-20 ppm. It should be crystal clear. Make sure there are no additives. Additives are not needed. CS has an indefinite shelf life, provided it is a quality ionic CS (pure distilled water and pure silver).

We use and sell our own 8-10 ppm CS. We have traditional nurses who buy a few quarts at a time, even give to family and friends as gifts, besides animal people - my point being even the traditional nurses are finding CS very effective in lieu of traditional antibiotics. The CS-Cats & Dogs list at yahoo groups has a few people who sell CS. Health food store CS will cost you approx. $24.95 for 4 oz. ($6.23/oz) for 5-10 ppm CS. We sell quarts of CS, in amber glass bottles, for $25 or .78 cents/ounce, as well as smaller sizes. We have our CS lab tested and it is mostly ionic silver, which is optimum. We have had companies ask to market our CS, but by the time you jump through all the hoops, obtain a manufacturer, market it, obtain insurance, etc., it would cost the same as that already in the HFS'.

I would like to try it for the eyes like you mentioned. My dog gets a little funky eye gook now and then...and I hate having him on those antibiotic or steroid drops. If this eye gook clears up with antibiotics, it will do the same with CS. Some even use CS mixed with MSM in the eyes. We have never done this, but we hear it is effective as well. Also I have a cat who gets into sneezing now and then. Again, one of the neatest things about CS is you can just put it in your animals' waterer or a humans glass of juice. So they can be treated without even knowing it! Two or three times/year, a cat or kitten will start sneezing (we have 10-20 country rescue cats at all times). I pour some CS into their waterer and within 2 days the sneezing is gone and no one else gets it. Almost too easy... "

Please contact Julie at wolfcreek1@earthlink.net with questions about Colloidal Silver and for ordering information. They produce and package CS and their product is much less costly, and of the highest quality, compared to many of those found at health food stores. If you prefer to make your own colloidal silver (this involves the purchase of certain equipment and pure silver), you can search the Internet for that topic and find many sites. Or you can write to Julie and she may be able to provide you with that information. For the cost and time involved in making your own, it may be most cost-effective to purchase it from Julie's company.

To Meet Caloric Needs Consider Nutrical for smaller dogs (a sugar/energy supplement) and cats. It works on stimulating the animal's appetite during times of stress and debilitation. Because use of this product in larger dogs can get pricy, you can use Karo syrup or unsulphured Molasses, which work just as well (1-3 T per day). Be sure to check with your vet first if your animal is diabetic or hypoglycemic. For a fabulous recipe called “Satin Balls”, guaranteed to put weight back on a debilitated dog, please see “The Holistic Dog and Other Animals” website (http://www.holisticdog.org/Nutrition/Satinballs/satinballs.html). The recipe was developed by Diana Carreon, R.N.,C. It quickly became one of the most requested posts on Wellpet (a Yahoo group for holistic pet care, found at http://www.listservice.net/wellpet/). Wellpet members have a wealth of knowledge to share, so do consider joining.

Pedialyte Use this on a short term basis (a few days) for dogs and cats who are dehydrated due to diarrhea. Do not dilute the Pedialyte -- it must be given as is. If the animal won't drink from a bowl, you may need to syringe it down their throat. Ask your vet for assistance with this, as well as dosage. Note that once opened, the bottle must be refrigerated and is only good for a few days.

Upset Stomach Feed an aniseseed-camomile tea with honey. 1 cup for larger dogs, 1/4 cup for smaller dogs. This can be given several times a day (lukewarm).

Probiotic/Food Enzymes/Vitamin and Mineral Supplements Probiotics are the beneficial bacterial which live in the intestinal tract; a good range is 20-30 million Culture Forming Units (CFUs) per day for a debilitated animal; less for a healthy animal. They are necessary for keeping stools normal, optimal digestion, reducing gas and bad breath, suppressing Candida (yeast), and minimizing intestinal disorders, among other benefits. Food enzymes aid the digestion and assimilation of food, and are missing from the majority of kibbles. Pancreatic insufficiency results in a lack of enzymes manufactured by the body. Signs of this can include stool eating, difficulty maintaining weight despite a large appetite, large stools, incomplete digestion of food. “Degenerative disease, and cancer in particular, has been linked to enzyme deficiencies by researchers at the universities in London, Wales, Wisconsin, Loyola and Yale Medical School. Cooked food is almost completely deficient in enzymes, which are destroyed during the processing. . . . Cooked food makes the pancreas work harder.” [The Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog, Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown, DVM] For an excellent article by Martin Zucker, DVM, entitled "Why Your Pets Need Vitamin and Mineral Supplements, see http://www.goodpet.com/library/giovams.html

Preventing Parasites Several items which can be used to keep the body healthy and therefore repel parasites are vitamin A in Cod Liver Oil, as well as parsley, garlic (do not feed to cats), and ground pumpkin seeds. For garlic, add 1/2 minced clove per day to a small dog's meals, for a large dog 1-2 whole minced cloves. Garlic has antibacterial properties as well and is a good immune system enhancer. Digestive enzymes, specifically papaya and pineapple (bromelain) also help fight parasites by irritating and/or dissolving their outer coating, along with aiding digestion. However, if you have a chronic, long standing, and/or severe infestation, it may be best to use a conventional wormer to eradicate the parasites (for many, the damage they cause is worse than the practice of using a chemical to kill them). Then put the animal on one of these natural wormers/preventatives as maintenance.

Diatomaceous Earth can also be used to clear parasites from the body and keep it parasite free. For more information, see the Natural Pest Control page.

Pet Medicine Chest also offers two products: Parastem and Worm-Out. These are used for treating various parasites including heartworm. For more information and to order products for dogs, cats, birds and rabbits, see my Pet Medicine Chest page.

For more good suggestions for internal and external natural pest control, see the Natural Pest Control page.

Digestive Tract Problems There are a number of great products available for helping with digestion and assimilation issues. Along with feeding Dogzymes, an enzyme and probiotic product (good for cats and other species too, see Other Products I Recommend), Natural Rearing (http://www.naturalrearing.com) has a product called Tree Bark gruel. I've been told it's excellent for use with weaning puppies and good for stomach upsets. It is very balancing and soothing, and seems to work well with puppies especially. It includes slippery elm, arrowroot and other herbs. Slippery elm is very soothing to the gut and helps solidify loose stools. It is is a very nourishing food and good for canine and human babies. I believe the recommended dose is 1/4 tsp. per 10 lb. of body weight per day. A little more won't hurt them, as the woman who told me about Slippery Elm says that she's given more, with no side effects. Another important item to add to the diet is digestive enzymes; see Prozyme, above.

Garlic From Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats: “Garlic helps to eliminate worms, strengthen digestion and beneficially stimulate the digestive tract. Use it to promote intestinal health. It is also indicated for animals that have been on a high meat or fish diet, and those that tend to be overweight or suffer hip pain from arthritis or dysplasia. Include fresh grated garlic with each meal, use ½ to 3 cloves, depending on the animal’s size.” [p. 87] For your dog, you can purchase minced garlic in olive oil at the grocery store, to save having to mince it yourself. The olive oil is also good for the animal, as it contains certain essential fatty acids. Note that cats should not be fed raw garlic as it can cause a dangerous form of anemia. For more information on adding Kyolic Liquid Aged Garlic Extract (not toxic to cats) to your pet's diet, see http://www.wholecat.com/articles/fleas.htm.

For Skin Conditions Consider a product like The Missing Link or Solid Gold's Seameal, above. Vitamins A, C and E, as well as Zinc and Selenium, are important for skin and coat. So are Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). See also Avoid Chemicals and Avoid Drugs, below, and Apple Cider Vinegar, above.

Flea and Tick Repellents See Lemon Juice Rinse, next, and Apple Cider Vinegar, above. There are a number of herbal products available on the market today. These include sprinkles, sprays and collars. In addition, essential oils (such as Cedarwood, Lemongrass, Tea Tree Oil, and others) can be very effective. Note that cats are extremely sensitive to essential oils, and Tea Tree Oil should never be used on cats. It is vital that the oils be properly diluted; using them full strength can be toxic. For a great overview of essential oils and their uses, please see. Dr. Stephen Blake's site at http://www.thepetwhisperer.com/. Another product that has been touted to be a great flea and tick repellent is Avon’s Skin-So-Soft bath oil. For an extensive list and instructions for using this product on animals, see http://www.angelfire.com/on3/yangela/sss.html.

Lemon Juice Rinse (natural skin tonic/flea repellent) From Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats: “Then animal herbalist Juliette de Bairacli-Levy recommends this lemon skin tonic, which many of my clients successfully use on their pets for a general skin toner, parasite repellent and treatment for mange. Thinly slice a whole lemon, including the peel. Add it to 1 pint of near-boiling water and let it steep overnight. The next day, sponge the solution onto the animal’s skin and let it dry. You can use this daily for severe skin problems involving fleas. It is a source of natural flea-killing substances like d-limonene and other healing ingredients found in the whole lemon.” [p. 102]

Essential Fatty Acids Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids are very important for overall health, and essential for healthy skin and coat. There are many products available; Seameal and The Missing Link, above, are good choices. You can also buy EFA supplements at pet stores or from your vet. A good quality EFA product will contain the following: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; omega-3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, omega 3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, omega 3), gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, omega 6), linoleic acid (omega-6), oleic acid (omega-9). One product for humans is The Total EFA made by Health from the Sun. This can be found at health food stores. If you find a comparable product for pets, please let me know so I can add it here.

Vitamin C Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine. I recommend the powdered form, specifically Twin Labs' Ester C with bioflavonoids. For Dogs, start with 1/8 tsp on each meal for small dogs, ½ tsp. on each meal for large dogs. Build up a little every day until you reach bowel tolerance (stools will start to get soft), then back it down a bit until you find your animal's maintenance dose. For cats, use just a pinch.

Avoid Chemicals If you're feeding kibble and commercial treats, be sure they have no chemical preservatives in them (BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin). These have been linked to cancer and a host of other health problems in animals. Kibbles and treats should be naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols (vitamin derivatives). It is very important to keep the bag tightly sealed and in a cool place, because oxygen reacts with the vitamins and they will go rancid. Same thing with dog treats, be sure they're naturally preserved (Purina One makes a natural preserved biscuit, and cheaper than the fancy ones at the pet stores such as Bil-Jac, which I often find have bugs in them because the boxes are not airtight). Opt for the highest quality kibble you can afford. No rawhide chews -- these are bleached and treated, and if they swallow a large enough piece it can result in an intestinal blockage. All of these chemicals can cause itching and skin problems. See the Kibbles and Treats page for more information.

Grains are also a big problem. Switch to a high quality kibble like Old Mother Hubbard's Wellness Super5, Solid Gold's MMillennia, Flint River Ranch, Canidae, New Canaan . . . while a bit pricier than mid-range kibbles like Nature's Recipe, the food is more easily digested and assimilated, resulting in smaller stools, better utilization of ingredients and nutrients, and they contain high quality meat sources and minimal grains. Grains are not required by carnivores (dogs and cats), and can be a major allergen (wheat, soy, corn, flax and others are known allergens). See the Kibbles and Treats page for more information. You will ultimately feed less of a high quality kibble, which means your cost will be comparable to what you're currently feeding, and your dog or cat will be much healthier.

Minimize Vaccinations The recommended series of puppy and kitten shots, as well as the first year booster, are very important. However, it is very important to not give them as a multi-vaccine shot (such as the 5- or 7- way shots that are available), and do not give at the same time as the rabies shot. See this site http://www.critterfixer.com Dr. Rogers lists the various vaccines for dogs and cats, the timing for giving them, which ones are critical and which ones are not necessary and/or not helpful. He has gathered his information from many years of experience as well as the recommendations of veterinary schools at major universities. Also see the paper written by the American Veterinary Medical Association regarding vaccinations, a real eye opener: http://www.avma.org/policies/vaccination.htm. Vaccinating a dog or cat who already has immunity (antibodies) to a disease does not give them more protection, and in fact can cause mild to severe health problems (from skin problems to seizures and even death).

Avoid Drugs Steroids like Prednisone suppress the body's histamine response (allergic reactions, itching). Prednisone is hard on the body, especially the liver. It also further suppresses the immune system. If used long term, it can shorten life expectancy. Rather than treat an allergy with a drug, find the root cause of the problem. Is it the kibble and treats you're feeding? Those rawhide chews? The laundry soap you wash their bed with? It could be grasses and pollens -- if that's the case, see Honey and Vitamin C, above. Grains are known allergens, as are corn, flax and soy among others. So are the chemical preservatives (BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin) found in many kibbles and treats. Drugs like Rimadyl and Deramaxx (for arthritis/joint problems) have serious side effects, are hard on the liver, and can result in death. Find natural products to use instead. For joint health in dogs and cats, see Fresh Factors and Joint Health products on the Springtime, Inc. (800-521-3212) page on my site (www.katberard.com).

The Dangers of Rawhide Chews, Hoofs and Pig's Ears/Consider Getting Kongs Instead For a true story about the dangers of these items, please see http://www.millennium-ark.net/News_Files/INFO_Files/rawhide.chew.warning.html. Instead of these types of treats, purchase some Kongs (www.kongcompany.com, these can also be found at pet stores) and stuff them with food (see that site for recipe ideas). Kongs are flexible rubber toys that dogs find fun to play with (they bounce erratically and mimic prey movement), and giving them a stuffed one keeps them busy for a while. A great treat for animals that have to be crated when you leave the house.