|
Golden Gate to Health
I think everyone will agree with this sentiment. As our canine pals have a
limited number of years with us, we need to make them productive, healthy,
and happy. Of course, how we do that is where all the diligent work comes
in.
Canine
vs. People |
Canine
vs. People |
6 mths = 12 years
1 year = 15 years 2 years = 24 years
3 years = 28 years
4 years = 32 years
5 years = 36 years
6 years = 40 years
7 years = 44 years
8 years = 48 years
9 years = 52 years
10 years = 56 years |
11 years
= 60 years 12 years = 64 years 13 years = 68 years
14 years = 72 years 15 years = 76 years
16 years = 80 years 17 years = 84 years
18 years = 88 years 19 years = 92 years
20 years = 96 years 21 years =100 years |
|
You will notice
that your dog does his fastest maturing in his first two years, already equal to
that of a 15-year-old teenager after only one year. And, s/he is equal to
essentially an adult after a mere two years. After that, four years in maturity
is gained with each passing year.
Concerned about the effect of chemicals on health, we use no
pesticides, clean surfaces with vinegar and mild soap, and
treat our lawn organically.
Being prepared for
emergencies is critical, so keep the
Animal Poison Control Center
number 888-426-4435 handy, and learn how to create a
poison-safe home, what
to
do If your dog Is poisoned, and the
10
most common poisonous plants.
Also, print our pages on . . .
What to Put in your Dog's First Aid Kit
How to Perform Dog CPR.
There are many different kinds of veterinary specialists, and veterinarians
can be certified in conventional (western) medicine or have additional more
holistic (eastern) certifications
in areas such as Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Homeopathy.
In conventional medicine, the diagnostic techniques utilized are blood
tests, x-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs, Cat scans, EKGs, etc. Based on the test
results and a physical exam, medications or surgery are typically
prescribed. Less frequently, veterinarians will recommend changes in the
environment, lifestyle or nutrition. When nutritional changes are
recommended, they often involve switching from one commercial food to
another. Although holistic veterinarians do benefit from conventional
test findings to provide baseline data, their interpretation of the results may
be somewhat different. Rather, conventional medicine may view many chronic
diseases as degenerative in nature and view the dog's outcome in a more
pessimistic manner. The key to treatment is probably a marriage of the best from
both worlds of conventional and holistic procedures and remedies. It is
difficult to find talented diagnosticians and surgeons additionally possessing
advanced holistic expertise. But, our simple remedy has been to incorporate the
services of both types of veterinarian. The following listings should help in finding certified specialists in your
own local area.
Making informed choices regarding vaccinations is important. We titer through Cornell University—a high reading indicating adequate antibodies and no need for a booster (which can weaken the immune system). The
Rabies
Challenge Study may
also
show the need for less vaccinations. Learn more about vaccinations, when to spay or neuter, heartworm medication
usage, thyroid testing, and immune system implications.
Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy,
Longer Life
Now, in 2010 this wonderful book by veterinarian, Dr. Nancy Kay, is already in its third
printing! It was honored in 2009 by the Dog Writers Association of America and her
Speaking for Spot Blog won a Best Blog Award as well.
We love how Dr. Kay helps you come to grips with a cancer diagnosis, and
explains the tough choices that are bound to follow. Plus, you’ll find an
alphabetical listing of the most common symptoms experienced by dogs and the
questions your vet is sure to ask when you report them—not to mention hundreds
of prevalent diseases and related points you should be certain to clarify before
leaving your vet’s office with a treatment plan in hand.
A labor of love, this book was fueled by her passion to teach people how to be
effective medical advocates for their four-legged best friends. Gone are the
days of simply following doc’s orders―today’s dog
lovers are confronted with health-care decision-making on many levels.
Have you
ever wondered . . .
- How do I find a vet that feels just right for me and my dog?
- How will I be able to afford my dog’s health care? Is pet
insurance the way to go?
- Does my dog truly need all those vaccines listed on the reminder
postcard?
- What are the important questions I should be asking my vet?
- Does my dog really need the surgery or procedure that has been
recommended?
- Are there other options I should be considering?
- When is it appropriate to get a second opinion? Where should I
go to get one and how can I avoid offending my vet?
- Should I take my dog to see a specialist?
- Should I consider treating my dog’s cancer?
Am I doing the right thing? Am I doing this for him or for me?
- Is my dog ready to say goodbye? Am I ready to let him go? What
are my choices when it comes to the euthanasia process?
If you’ve struggled with these questions, you’ve come to just the right
place! Dr. Kay and Speaking for Spot will help you answer all of these questions
and many more. With warmth, candor, and humor cultivated over 20-plus years of
working with dogs and their human companions Dr. Kay provides an insider’s guide
to navigating the potentially overwhelming, confusing, and expensive world of
veterinary medicine. The result is everything you need to know in one fabulous,
fully illustrated book. Speaking for Spot is the consummate guide on how to be
your best friend’s medical advocate!
*Draw the Dog, drawn by ex-Disney
animator Jim George, posts a fabulous new cartoon every day, except for Sunday,
when (Jim and Bruce) rest.
Be sure to learn about Going Organic and our
pages on Food Glorious Food, as well as to learn
The Whole Tooth.
Honestly, there is so much to
know when it comes to good care for our animal companions. And, that means
knowing about key disease and behavioral issues.
One great overall publication
that will help to keep you current on all things dog is
The Whole Dog Journal.,
a monthly guide to natural dog care and
training. This guide advocates natural and holistic feed, healthcare methods
and successful nonviolent training . . . and does not accept commercial
advertising. We have subscribed to this newsletter for many years now as it is invaluable.
We have collected many resources on areas related to disease conditions, aging,
and behavioral problems. Be sure to explore the pages and materials below.
Sharing health experiences with others can prompt brainstorming and ultimately successful outcomes.
Folks may also recognize the situation
should it occur with their own dog. Here are some of these Golden
Tales. (And, if you have a Golden Retriever health tale that you
would like to share, just send it, along with photos, to:
Dancing Paws
Pills 2 Go Pillcase for Pet Meds
FREE SHIPPING!
This
new pillcase helps
you organize your pet medications when you're on the road, and is
great at home as well. Remembering to give your dogs their supplements and medications each day
is vital to their health. That's why this cleverly designed sturdy
plastic pill carrier is such a great idea! We have never seen
something this adorable as well as functional. And, the wonderfully large
size makes the case great to use for people's daily medications as
well. The entire unit is 9" L x 1.25" H x 1.75" D.
- Convenient travel size
- Easy to open and stays shut
- Holds larger size pet tablets
- Detachable Compartments
- Key chain tab on each compartment
- Durable
- Daily pill organizer
There's a tray for every day of the week —
each with a paw print to remind you how important remembering
medications is. There's plenty of room for medications and
supplements. Plus, each compartment is detachable and has its own
key chain tab. If you are leaving for 1 or 2 days, you can detach
them and carry only the days you need! You do not have to carry the
whole 7 day chain. Pills 2 Go is great for around the house too! It
comes in either yellow or orange, but we like the yellow better. It
is actually more translucent, thus enabling you to see the contents
better.
Price: $7.00 each.
|
Vital Choice Wild Alaskan Pure Sockeye Salmon Oil
Our Golden Alfie has gotten 6000 units daily since 2007, before that
getting 3000-4000 units a day. Boy, what a difference it
has made. His coat is incredible, and at his now senior age of 9 (2008),
the extra softgels keep down joint inflammation associated with
increasing age and arthritis. It is a must-have
supplement!
Derived exclusively from wild sockeye salmon
caught in the cold, pristine waters off Alaska, this 100% PURE oil is not
blended with any inferior salmon or other fish oils. Here's why this is unique:
To achieve high ratios of EPA to DHA, commercially available salmon oil capsules
are fortified with other fish oils. One benefit of Vital Choice Wild Alaskan Sockeye
Salmon Oil is that it has the lowest cholesterol levels, in contrast to the
higher levels found in farmed salmon oil.
The freshest and purest oils available, Sockeye contains the highest amount
of omega-3 fatty acids of any salmon.
It's orange color is due to the high levels of the carotenoid and astaxanthin
(occurring naturally in sockeye) that helps the eyes and cardiovascular system.
Alaskan sockeye salmon are the richest salmon species in the powerful biological
antioxidant astaxanthin, a natural caroteniod that imparts a rich orange glow to
the oil and eliminates the need for added tocopherols present in other brands.
Astaxanthin is a natural carotenoid that gives our oil its rich orange color—and
is up to 100 times more potent than Vitamin E at quenching singlet oxygen ‘free
radicals’.
There are NO artificial preservatives, color or sweeteners; corn, dairy,
starch, wheat, or yeast.
|
|