A Trip to the Vet

We added a new family member over Christmas break: a Maltese/Yorkie mix named Tebow Baggins (our very own hobbit!). My first trip to the vet was eye-opening. I was amazed at the amount of good, basic health information I received from someone not promoting himself as a holistic practitioner. I marveled that this kind of knowledge is so readily available for our pets and not for our children. Here are some highlights:

1. A corn-free diet is optimal. The vet offered a premium puppy food that is "corn-free." One of the handouts explained that corn often contains aflatoxins, described as "a naturally occurring toxic chemical by-product from the growth of the fungus Aspergillus flavus on corn and other crops."
   
   This is common knowledge in the pet world. According to Entirely Pets, aflatoxins "can cause severe liver damage in pets, which can lead to fatality." Aflatoxins are no better for humans. See this previous post about aflatoxins in food.
2. Soy is an endocrine disrupter. I asked if the food contained soy, knowing that a soy-free/corn-free diet is a must for our newest addition. "I'm not sure," he said. "Check the website." And then he added, "I don’t like what soy does to the endocrine system." Instead of feeling belittled, I felt validated.
   
   Research suggests soy is no easier on human endocrine systems. According to the research done by the Weston A. Price Foundation, "Soy isoflavones are phyto-endocrine disrupters. At dietary levels, they can prevent ovulation and stimulate the growth of cancer cells. Eating as little as 30 grams (about 4 tablespoons) of soy per day can result in hypothyroidism with symptoms." This concern with the hormonal disruption doesn't even address the GMO issue. More than 90% of all soy is now genetically modified. See this startling graph from the United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service.
3. Good teeth reflect good health. The vet spent quite a bit of time looking at Tebow's bite and teeth. He explained how critical his bite is to future health and suggested ways to keep the back teeth clean. It was clear that Tebow's health and the condition of his teeth were related. We are often missing this fact when it comes to our yearly physical. Our daughter's experience with having her front tooth extracted taught me the reality of this connection. Dr. Hal Huggins has written an excellent article explaining the implications of dentistry as it relates to overall health.
4. Environment affects health. The vet asked about our environment and the breeder's environment, suggesting we be aware of any changes that might affect our puppy's health. Environmental change can bring on all sorts of health symptoms, such as diarrhea, lethargy, and mood changes. We didn’t spend much time on this subject, but the implication was clear: environment and health are connected.
5. Vaccinations must be given carefully. The vet made it very clear. "I don't do more than one vaccination at a time," he said, explaining that too many shots at one time can overload the dog's immune system. I shudder when I think of the way we vaccinated our nine children. Their immune systems are no less fragile.
6. Be aware of plastics. The vet expressed a concern about chewing toys and plastics. "I'm okay with rawhide," he said, but expressed his wariness of plastic chew toys. I didn't pursue the subject further, but his caution was refreshing in light of the current concern over BPA in plastics.
7. Cleanliness is critical. The vet encouraged us to bathe Tebow, keep his eyes free of discharge, and trim his facial hair regularly. We didn't discuss the shampoo we would use; I already knew that petroleum-based, fragranced products were not an option. Here's the recipe we used for Tebow's first bath:
   
   
   • 10 oz distilled water
   • 1 tbsp. liquid Castile soap
   • 1 tsp. glycerin
   • 1 drop tea tree oil (essential oils must be used cautiously with pets.)
   • 2 drops rose geranium essential oil
   
   I chose tea tree oil for the cleaning benefit and rose geranium for its tick/flea-fighting capabilities. See this article for more information on this benefit of rose geranium oil.

Tebow already has brought renewed hope and joy to our home. Now let the potty training begin!

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Pets and Their Environment

Our pets experienced numerous health issues in the years we lived in our Colorado home. Our Bichon Frise was diagnosed with diabetes several years before our son Colin was diagnosed. Our cats urinated blood, and several birds died. One bird actually chewed his foot off! We made no connection with our environment.

According to this veterinarian, toxic black mold poisoning is a very real health concern for pet owners. This article appeared several years ago in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Douglas Mader, a veterinary specialist in Marathon, Fla., was performing routine dental procedures on two cats when he noticed frothy blood within endotracheal tubes used to supply anesthesia to the animals. The veterinarian immediately stopped the procedures, but both animals died - one the following day, the other about two weeks later.

"The circumstances of these cases are just not heard of," Mader said. "Anesthesia doesn't cause pulmonary hemorrhage [bleeding from the lungs.]" These were healthy, indoor cats. Examinations conducted prior to the dental cleanings showed no indications of illness. Blood collected prior to the cats' death was tested and demonstrated the presence of the toxin produced by Stachybotrys chartarum, also known as "toxic black mold." Exposure to the mold can cause respiratory-related health problems, pulmonary hemorrhage and death in people.

It had not previously been associated with disease in pets, Mader said.

The toxin from the black mold causes a weakening of the capillaries in the lungs. When the capillaries are stressed, they burst and bleed. The cats died from complications arising from the pulmonary hemorrhage.

The cats lived in a home that sustained water damage during a hurricane in October 2005, seven months prior to the development of pulmonary hemorrhage. After Mader discovered the presence of the toxins, he urged the cats' owners to check their home for mold. "Sure enough, they had very severe mold contamination in their walls," Mader said. Mader hopes the report will raise awareness that illnesses associated with mold can also affect pets, particularly those living in flood-prone areas. He also suggests pet owners share more information with their veterinarian.

"I think the most important thing is for clients to be aware of things in their environment that could potentially impact the health of animals," Mader said. "They need to let their veterinarian know."

The AVMA and its more than 75,000 member veterinarians are engaged in a wide variety of activities dedicated to advancing the science and art of animal, human and public health.

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

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