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Bloat in Dogs Is A Twisted Stomach

Aug 2010

Bloat in dogs is considered the second cause of death in dogs after cancer. Bloat is also known as Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), “twisted stomach” or “stomach torsion.” No matter what you want to call it bloat is a very serious condition that needs immediate attention.

I became interested in this condition after my sons dog came down with it when they were visiting us one evening. Bailey is a big dog; he is part Rottweiler and Pit Bull and he is also a big baby and a worrywart. I had my son call the emergency Vet that I took my dog Moebert to and explain what was happening and they said to bring him in ASAP.

Bailey had all the symptoms.

Symptoms of Bloat in Dogs

Significant anxiety and restlessness
Seeking a hiding place
Whining
Pacing
Heavy salivating or drooling
Foamy mucous around the lips, or vomiting foamy mucous
Bloated abdomen that may feel tight (like a drum)
Shallow breathing
Unproductive gagging
Unproductive attempts to defecate

The top ten breeds according to the University of Purdue:

Great Dane
Saint Bernard
Weimaraner
Irish Setter
Gordon Setter
Standard Poodle
Basset Hound
Doberman Pinscher
Old English Sheepdog
German Shorthaired Pointer

Bloat in dogs can be caused by a number reason such as:

It usually affects dogs of the larger, deeper-chested breeds (which means the length of their chest from backbone to sternum is rather long while the chest width from right to left is narrow) but all dogs can be at risk. There appears to be a genetic link to this disease. If both parents have deep and narrow chests, then it is likely that their offspring will have deep and narrow chests so they may also be at risk.

Eating Habits

Dogs fed once a day are twice as likely to develop GDV (bloat) as those fed twice a day.
It seems that dogs that eat quickly or exercise soon after a meal may also be at increased risk.
Dogs that drink water in large amounts after meals. Drinking too much water too quickly (can cause gulping of air)
Vigorous activities that result in gulping air
Eating gas-producing foods (especially soybean products, brewer’s yeast, and alfalfa)
Elevated food bowls some studies advise that dogs who are susceptible to bloat should not be fed with elevated food bowls; some studies have not found this to be true. However, it is recommended that dogs at risk be fed at floor level.

Age – Dogs over 7 years of age twice as likely to develop gastric bloat as those who are 2-4 years of age.

Gender – Male dogs are twice as likely to develop bloat as females. Neutering does not seem to have an effect on the risk.

Temperament – Dogs that are stressed have a tendency to be more nervous, fearful, or worried appear to be at an increased risk of developing bloat.

So what is bloat in dogs? It is when the stomach fills up with air and then it puts pressure on the diaphragm which makes it difficult for the dog to breathe. The bloated stomach can also compress the large veins in the abdomen which can prevent blood from returning to the heart. When the stomach is filled with air it can easily rotate on itself that result causes the pinching off its own blood supply. When the blood supply is cut off the stomach begins to die and your pets condition begins to get worse very quickly because their entire blood supply has been interrupted.

Prevention While there is no clear-cut way to prevent bloat, the following tips may help.

Minimize the stress as much as possible. Try to make meals a peaceful, stress-free time
Do not use an elevated food bowl
Do not exercise for at least an hour before and especially after eating
Avoid vigorous exercise right before and after meals
Do not allow rapid eating. (There are bowls you can get to help with this.)
Feed 2 or 3 meals daily, instead of just one; do not let them drink too much water before and especially after eating.
Keeping a product with simethicone (for example Mylanta Gas (not regular Mylanta), Phazyme, or Gas-X, etc.) on hand to treat gas symptoms.
Naturally relieve gas symptoms with 1/2 tsp of nutmeg or the homeopathic remedy Nux moschata 30
Allow access to fresh water at all times, except before and after meals
Reduce carbohydrates as much as possible (classic in many commercial dog biscuits)
Feeding a premium dog food with a higher nutrient content which would allow you to feed smaller portions while still meeting your dog’s nutritional needs.
Feed adequate amount of fiber, Flax Seed is a good source of fiber you can just sprinkle on their food.
MOST Important know your dog, so when he or she is not acting like their normal self you can take the necessary steps to help them feel better.
Also know the phone number and where the nearest Animal Emergency Vet is because if your dog bloats your Veterinarian might not be available.

Have you seen the movie or read the book Marley and Me? This is what he died from, my daughter-in-law having done both was very upset about Bailey when he started showing all of symptoms and I don’t blame her it is very upsetting to see your pet in pain. Thankfully his trip to the emergency Vet turned out very well and he is doing fine.

Bailey recovering with his mom during a visit.

Bailey’s Belly

Bailey resting at home.

They did not perform surgery on Marley they manually untwisted the stomach but in doing so one cannot know if any damage was done. It is suggested that all bloated dogs, once stable, should have surgery. That is the only way to know if the there is a section of dying tissue on the stomach wall, this must be removed or the dog will die Also, the spleen, which is located adjacent to the stomach may twist with the stomach. The spleen may require removal, too because that can also lead to other problems like causing a hemoabdomen which means bleeding into the stomach.

Once the stomach has been put back in place and if any damage corrected the vet can do a gastropexy which is a surgical operation in which the stomach is sutured to the abdominal wall. Some vets do this as a precaution when they are performing other operations on dogs that are at risk for bloat. Without gastropexy, the recurrence rate of bloat may be as high as 75%. If the stomach can be surgically tacked into place, the recurrence rate drops to 6% which are better odds to say the least.

Although I have summarized the information about the symptoms, causes, prevention, and the breeds that are at risk, please consult with your veterinarian for medical information.

If you suspect that your dog has bloat, time is of the essence because bloat can kill your pet if not addressed (asap) so call your veterinarian or emergency center and let them know that your dog has bloat symptoms and you are bring him in to be checked out.

To You and Your Pets Health,

Alice

Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook, Fourth Edition, is the definitive guide for every dog owner. It puts vital information at your fingertips; this handbook has been extensively revised to include the latest information on everything from canine healthcare to nutrition to holistic treatments. Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook

FTC DISCLOSURE: You can assume that in some cases I have a marketing connection to a brand, topic or product mentioned in this message and may be compensated if you are to purchase from an affiliate link. You should always perform due diligence before purchasing goods or services from anyone – online or offline. Also in most cases what I write is based on my own opinion and experiences.

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Category: Post Tags: bloat, bloat in dogs, bloat symptoms in dogs, dogs, Hemoabdomen, my dog Moebert, stomach bloat in dogs, twisted stomach 2 Comments

Prognosis of Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs

By Alice

Aug 2010

The prognosis of dogs surviving with Hemangiosarcoma, is very slim. I have searched the internet for answers ever since my dog Moebert died from this horrible disease. Hemangiosarcoma is a very aggressive type of cancer, very persistent and can rapidly spread elsewhere in the body to other tissues, especially liver, lungs, and the abdominal lining. Hemangio(sarcoma) a blood-fed sarcoma; which means blood vessels grow directly into the tumor and it is usually filled with blood.

By the time you would see any “clinical signs” such as pale gums, cold to the touch (their body, mouth, and nose), labored breathing, abdominal swelling, just to name a few. it would probably be too late as it was with Moebert.

The sooner your veterinarian diagnosis and treats Canine Hemangiosarcoma the greater the chances of survival are, but unless they do blood work, x-rays and are looking for something specific they would never know either. How would you know that your dog might have a “Hemoabdomen” (which means free blood inside the abdominal cavity)? Sometimes the spleens will grow masses and they are normally either benign tumors which are (hemangiomas) or malignant tumors which are (hemangiosarcomas).

The treatment and the prognosis for a hemoabdomen depend entirely on the cause. Most often the cause of the bleeding has to be stopped surgically by removing the spleen. Or eventually the growth ruptures and the spleen bleeds. When a vascular organ like the spleen bleeds, the blood loss can be life-threatening resulting in a (hemoabdomen). Studies have shown that most bleeding tumors are more than likely to have been a hemangiosarcoma. There is a 50:50 chance that it could be either one the only way to know for sure is by doing a biopsy.

When the tumor on the spleen ruptures the dog usually hemorrhages profusely into their abdominal cavity which is usually very detectable to the veterinarian by the swelling of the abdomen. In my opinion it would still be too late to really be able to save your dog. Even if they could be stabilize which would involve taken Radiographs/x-rays and/or ultrasound, replacing the blood volume lost with IV fluids and blood transfusions and oxygen the outcome would be removal of the spleen but in many cases if it has metastasis; which means that is has spread elsewhere in the body and with that happening the prognosis becomes very poor. Remember Hemangiosarcoma is an aggressive cancer and that is the problem even with the removal of the spleen and tumor, the dog is probably spared death by bleeding to death but will probably eventually die from the cancer.

So what is the prognosis of Hemangiosarcoma in dogs?

In the long term if your dog is diagnosis with hemangiosarcoma their chances are slim to none. The survival time after a splenectomy is 3 weeks to 3 months, with chemotherapy it might increase the survival time to 5 to 7 months, only a few dogs have survived past a year. Of course the survival time may vary depending on the scale of disease, the aggressiveness and the follow up care. The follow up care normally includes monthly thoracic x-rays and physical exams which are necessary to watch for any reoccurrences of the cancer. Most dogs will probably die or be euthanized because of this metastatic disease. This type of cancer, sorry to say is fatal but if caught soon enough the dog’s life may be prolonged but to whose expense?…The answer is both you and your dogs.

If your dog is diagnosed with Canine Hemangiosarcoma you will have to make some decisions which will be very hard to do to say the lease. First of all no one wants to do nothing to save their pet but what are you going to be putting your best friend through to do that, x-rays, blood test, surgery, pain only to have them surrender to cancer and die anyway. Should you consider their age and whether or not they have other health issues and what would their quality of life be like? Then you have to take in to consideration all the veterinarian bills that there would be to extend your dog’s life by only a month or three or maybe even days. This is not the kind of cancer you can cure with chemo (which can make your dog sick) if you get rid of the cancer from one place it has more than likely spread to somewhere else. The outcome is going to be the same.

Only you the owner can make this heart retching decision. No matter if you caught this disease in its early stages or not the prognosis is still going to be poor. I didn’t have to make any decisions; it seemed as if my dog Moebert made them for me. He never showed any signs that he was sick. It is true when they say that Hemangiosarcoma is the “silent killer” because in most cases the cancer has already advanced before the dog owner would notice. Moebert did wait for me to get home from work so we both could say good-bye to one another; I know that on my heart.

Would I have put him through the surgery and everything else? If it would have saved his life and he would have been better and “cured”….you bet. He meant more to me than life. I am so glad that I didn’t have to make a decision on whether to operate or even to consider euthanasia? Sometimes circumstances don’t give you time to ask questions and when you are so upset one wouldn’t be thinking straight anyway. I know I wasn’t, I probably would have done anything to keep Moe alive but it would not have been for his good it would have been for my own selfishness on not wanting to lose him and that would not have been right. I have never been so devastated over losing anything or anyone in my life as I am over my Moebert.

Love and hold your pet everyday and every chance you get because one never knows what could and can happen. You might not get another chance.

To You and Your Pets Health,

Alice

PS: You never know what tomorrow will bring, I sure didn’t and your pet depends on you for his or her care so you have to be prepared. Medical care can be expensive. I would have mortgaged the house if I knew it would have saved Moeberts life. I didn’t have pet insurance but it is something that I am looking into. So you might want to look into pet insurance now, while your dog is still healthy. It can really make a difference. To learn more, go to Pet Health Insurance

Category: Post Tags: cancer in dogs, canine Hemangiosarcoma, dog, Hemangiosarcoma, Hemoabdomen, my dog Moebert, prognosis of Hemangiosarcoma in dogs, tumor on the spleen Leave a Comment

What Is Canine Hemangiosarcoma Cancer?

By Alice

Jul 2010

Hemangiosarcoma cancer in dogs is most of the time incurable. The cause of HSA is unknown some believe this sort of cancer is genetic, hereditary, and it runs in bloodlines. Hemangiosarcoma is more common in dogs than cats, mainly in Labradors, German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers which are prone to get this type of cancer.

Canine Hemangiosarcoma is commonly known in the veterinarian world as a “silent killer” because in most cases the cancer is already in its advanced stages before the dog owner would notice any changes in their dog for them to take them to their veterinarian.

This is a very aggressive cancer, very invasive with the potential to rapidly spread and early metastases (meaning to spread elsewhere in the body) to other tissues, especially liver, lungs, and peritoneum (abdominal lining). It is a blood-fed sarcoma; which means blood vessels grow directly into the tumor and it is normally filled with blood.

A dog with hemangiosarcoma rarely show “clinical signs” until the tumor has become very large and has metastasized. Usually, clinical signs are seen after the tumor ruptures, causing massive bleeding. Owners of these dogs often discover that he/she has hemangiosarcoma only after the dog collapses. The tumor most often appears on the spleen, right heart base, or liver, although varieties also appear on the skin or in other locations.

Three Types of Hemangiosarcoma

Dermal is the type of cancer that affects the dog’s skin.

Hypodermal is located beneath the skin.

Visceral is the most serious, and affects the spleen and heart, generally spreading quickly to the liver and lungs. My dog Moebert had Hemangiosarcoma in his spleen. I had no clue that he was even sick until it was too late.

Symptoms That You Might See Are:

Pale gums and eyelids – Moebert had this.
Cold to the touch, (body, mouth, and nose) Moebert had this.
Visible bleeding, including nose bleeds. N/A
Unexplained weakness or pet collapse. Moebert had this.
Rapid breathing. N/A
Labored breathing. Moebert had this.
Abdominal swelling N/A
Depression. He was showing signs of anxiety, he would paw the rug before he laid down which he did anyway but the a couple days before he died he was pawing a lot more. I thought that was because he just lost his buddy Curley to Canine Lymphoma.
Decreased appetite. He never lost his appetite in fact it was just the opposite.
Weight loss N/A
Vomiting N/A

If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog they could be signs of a very serious condition and your pet needs to be seen by their veterinarian. The sooner the veterinarian diagnosis and treats Canine Hemangiosarcoma, the greater the chance that the dog will have a longer life.

I do have to say with sadness that this disease is not easily detected until it is too late. The prognosis in most cases is very poor. As with my Moebert his spleen had ruptured and he bleed into his abdomen, by the time I saw any sign that there was something wrong it was too late to save him.

Don’t take any unusual sign that your pet is showing for granted it is best to take him or her to the Vets and have them checked out. I don’t believe in taking them to the Vets for ever little problem that you could probably take care of at home yourself but there are some signs that you just can’t ignore.

To You and Your Pets Health,

Alice

Some Books that might interest you and help heal if you ever lost a pet:

There is Eternal Life for Animals

The Rainbow Bridge: Pet Loss Is Heaven’s Gain

Will I See Fido in Heaven?

You never know what tomorrow will bring, I sure didn’t and your pet depends on you for his or her care so you have to be prepared. Medical care can be expensive. I would have mortgage the house if I knew it would have save Moeberts life. I didn’t have pet insurance but it is something that I am looking into. So you might want look into pet insurance now, while your dog is still healthy. It can really make a difference. To learn more, go to Pet Health Insurance

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Category: Post Tags: cancer, cancer in dogs, cancer of the spleen, canine Hemangiosarcoma, Curley, Hemangiosarcoma, Hemangiosarcoma symptoms, my dog Moebert, sarcoma One Comment

Guilt and Grief After Losing a Pet

By Alice

Jul 2010

What is the difference between guilt and grief when you lose a pet? Grief experts say there is almost always a feeling of guilt after losing a pet: Did I do too little? Did I do too much? Was he in pain? Should I have euthanized her/him sooner? Should I have waited a little longer, just maybe things would have changed for the better. Should I have borrowed money to get better medical care?

With grief you feel a great sadness; a very deep lost, and can easily go into a state of depression especially as a result of a death of your pet whether it was from an accident or some horrible disease.

Guilt is the emotion I think pet owners feel more than anything. I know I did and sometimes I find that the “guilt trip” is so very hard to get over. The experts say “the most vital step in coping with the emotions you will feel upon the loss of your pet is acknowledging them. “Let yourself feel—write down your feelings, cry, be angry.”

So this is my acknowledgment…I have had all the emotions except for anger. The truth is I cannot get myself together. Inside I am empty, I cry mostly when I am by myself throughout the day and night because I don’t want to upset anyone. Of course I sometimes lose it at work when they ask me how I am doing. Then I go outside to get myself together and go back in, it really doesn’t take much of anything for me to cry. I am trying hard not to show how bad I am felling but it is so hard. Nobody can really understand the turmoil I am in or how much I am suffering from losing my Moebert. Words cannot begin to cover my pain the emptiness I feel inside.

My mind just won’t let it go and my heart just can’t accept what has happen. I know in time it will get better at least that is what I am hoping for, that one day I can forgive myself for letting Curley and especially my Moebert down. All the time that I was worrying over Curley (which I don’t hold that against him) my Moe was also having a battle with cancer and I never saw it coming. I never got to hold him and tell him day after day that I loved and that I was so sorry that this had happen to him like I did Curley knowing that our final days together was coming.

I feel so bad that Moebert died in a strange Emergency Animal Vets and not peacefully at home like Curley. (I think that haunts me more than anything). I wonder if the stress of the ride in the back of the Blazer by himself caused him undue stress, (I talked to him all the way down the road and I know people probably thought I was crazy) or that being taken back to a strange room on a gurney might have caused him go into cardiac arrest. I feel so bad that I wasn’t there to pet him and kiss him and tell him how much I love him when he died. Of course while I was waiting for them to come out to get him I was kissing him and telling him how much I loved him that he couldn’t leave me that it would be okay they are going to help him… but it wasn’t the same as being there at the very end. Curley saw us and not some strange room with strangers. (That haunts me). Feeling guilty can play a cruel joke on your emotions on things that you cannot change, no matter how hard you wish you could.

more…

Category: Post Tags: Curley, death of pet, grief, grief after losing a pet, grieving over pet, Guilt, guit over pets death, losing a pet, Moebert, pet loss, pets death Leave a Comment

Latest Update on Pet Products Recalled

By Alice

Jun 2010

Here are some latest updates on products that have been recalled. I am sorry that I have not been posting this important information lately. There has been so many things going on in my life the past couple of months, if you have read any of my previous post I am sure you will understand.

United Pet Group is recalling vitamins due to possible salmonella. From the FDA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –- June 22, 2010 – United Pet Group, Cincinnati, Ohio is voluntarily recalling all unexpired lots of its PRO-PET ADULT DAILY VITAMIN Supplement tablets for Dogs due to possible Salmonella contamination. The Food and Drug Administration is aware of this recall.

The product was sold nationally at various retailers. The product comes in 100-count white plastic bottles with a light blue label, and UPC code 26851-01800. These products are being removed from retail stores and consumers should immediately stop feeding these supplements to their pets. The affected products are those with expiration dates on or before “06/13″. The expiration date can be found imprinted vertically on the right side of the product label.

The recall notice is on the FDA website.

more…

Category: Post Tags: canned cat food recalled, Iams ProActive health cat food, Natural Balance dog food, pet products recalled, Pro-Pet Vitamins One Comment

Grieving When You Lose A Pet Your Pets Grieve Too

By Alice

Jun 2010

Grieving when you lose a pet is totally natural. If you have other pets they grieve for the lost of their friend also. Okay there are some people that don’t feel that way because they look at them as they are only animals, (nothing could be further from the truth) and for them I am sorry that they have never known what unconditional love is.

When you lose a pet the loss can be overwhelming, for some it is the same as losing a “family member”. I know in my case my dogs have always been considered a part of the family. Where we went they went if they couldn’t go we always had someone take care of them, they were never kept outside they lived in our house which was their house too.

Not only do the “pet parents” grieve, but if you have other dogs or pets in your house (in our case we have two other dogs) they grieve also. That can be very hard to see but I have seen it in mine.

All of our dogs used to come upstairs with us to go to bed, but for the last two months of Curley’s life who lost his battle with Canine Lymphoma on April 23, 2010, see (Tribute to Curley) for the most part I would sleep on the sofa downstairs so he would not be by himself because he could not go up and down the stairs very well. Our other two dogs Moebert and Hunter would stay down with us also.

Moebert would look at Curley but never go too close; Hunter on the other hand would lay right up against him or at least very close to him. It was like they knew he was sick and wanted to be close to him too so we all stayed in the same room together.

The day after Curley passed Moebert wanted to stay outside he would lay on the deck where you would always find Curley and it was a cloudy day and Moe doesn’t usually stay outside very long by himself. I thought it was odd but he was in my opinion grieving in his own way. Hunter took up positions where Curley use to lay in the house, plus they didn’t come back upstairs to bed after he passed away.

One day I was outside weeding around the fence and Moe and Hunter were lying on the deck. When I came up to take a break I told them to come with me that if “Curley was here he would be laying by my side” I felt so bad after I said that because they both sat up and started looking around for him. So seeing their reaction by saying his name I won’t do that again. It’s like in the Harry Potter movies you don’t say Lord Voldemort’s name, so we didn’t say Curley especially in front of them because they kept looking for him when you did.

Little did I know when I started writing this post about pets grieving other pets that my whole life was going to be turned upside down. That was on June 3, 2010 when I lost my Moebert. I was and still am devastated over his loss. You can read about my dog Moe here: Tribute to Moebert. He was my heart and soul.

Now we are down to Hunter…poor boy he misses his buddies. Every time he goes out the door he looks around the yard to see if they are there (so do I.) He knows they are both gone, he saw Curley when we had the Vet come to put him to sleep in our yard and said his good-byes before we buried him. With Moe, Hunter saw me put him in the Blazer and leave so when I brought him back home to lay him to rest I made sure that he got to say his good-byes to him also. I just wanted him to know that he was back home.

I really do believe that dogs grieve for their buddies who they have grown up with and loved just like us, maybe in their own way as we all do. You get to know your pets and you can tell in the way they act or the little things they do different. They know things are not the same but they adjust, they show their grief in their own way. We just have to help them through it as we have to adjust for the loss that we have all suffered.

My friend John said, “None of us, dogs or humans, are immortal, but to love and have been loved, is the greatest gift you could give to them.” I agree with him. (Thanks John for all your kind words and helping me deal with my loss.) There is nothing like the unconditional love that our pets give us or the unconditional love they also give to each other.

When we were planting flowers on Moebert, Curleys and Shadows (he was another one of our dogs of many years) graves, Hunter came over and looked at them and then layed down beside Moeberts grave as if to say I’m looking after all of you. It is like he knows they are there.

To Moebert, Shadow and Curley we all miss you so much. Till we meet again.

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To You and Your Pets Health,

Alice

These books might help you with the lost of your pet.

Preparing for the Loss of Your Pet: Saying Goodbye with Love, Dignity, and Peace of Mind

Coping with Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet

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Category: Post Tags: Curley, do pets grieve, dogs, grieving when you lose a pet, Hunter, Moebert, pets grieve, Tribute to Curley, Tribute to Moebert 3 Comments

Tribute to My Dog Moebert My Heart and Soul

By Alice

Jun 2010

Tribute to Moebert

I Lost The Love of My Life,

My Dog Moebert

I lost Moe to cancer on June 3, 2010.

He was my buddy, my heart and soul.

This is the last post that I thought I would be writing so soon after we lost our other beloved dog Curley to cancer on April 23, 2010.

Not that I didn’t love Curley but Moebert was the love of my life, my heart and soul. I am so devastated over his lost that no words can express what I am feeling.

He was acting strange that morning when I left for work and I just thought there must be a storm coming. (He always was afraid of thunderstorms.) I thought that was the reason that he was so upset. Little did I know what I would find when I got home.

When he didn’t greet me at the door I knew something was wrong. He was lying on his bed, his mouth and nose were so cold even his whole body. He had labored breathing and was so weak. I went to call the Vet and when I came back into the room he was standing but not for very long. He looked so pale, I know that sounds odd but now that I look back at those last moments together he almost had a ghostly look about him when he was standing there staring at me. It was like he waited for me to get home and now he could say good-bye.

I took him to the Emergency Animal Vets because my Vet had left for the day. When I got there they came out with a gurney to take him in and said they were going to start oxygen and a IV right away and a few minutes after they took him back they came out and said he went into cardiac arrest and what did I want them to do…I told them everything they could to save my dog, he’s my life.

There was nothing they could do, they couldn’t bring him back. The Vet said he had a hemo-abdomen which was from a (hemangiosarcoma) which is a bleeding tumor in the spleen. When the tumor is located in the spleen or liver, the clinical sign is usually due to a rupture of the tumor that subsequently bleeds into the abdomen. The Vet said to confirm that she inserted a needle into his belly and pulled back a syringe full of blood (which she showed me), and that she was so sorry but there was really nothing that could have been done to save my Moebert.

They let me see him and ask what I wanted to do. I told them I am taking him home. So they said they would wrap him in a blanket and bring him out to me. I cried all the way home, it was a wonder with all the traffic that I made it home but I did and we dug the grave and made his casket and laid him to rest. My heart is so broken and empty I know that each day it will get better but right now I don’t think that day will ever come.

Everyone tells me that I shouldn’t feel guilty but I do so much that it is almost too painful to bear. My mind keeps saying what if, why I didn’t see things, why didn’t I do something, it’s too late now…

I really feel that I let both Moe and Curley down which I know will haunt me forever no matter what people say. I loved him more than life and I would have gladly have traded places with him.

The Little Boss Man

From day one when he came into the house he let Curley know that he was going to be top dog. He was so little he couldn’t even get up the steps without help but that didn’t make any difference.

He even ruled my sons’ three dogs with just a look, he wasn’t nasty or aggressive but they all showed him respect. As you can see in the picture below all three were bigger than him. Especially Bailey!

Dillion, Bailey and Tyler

He loved playing with his weasel ball (without the ball) he made a game out of any kind of treats; especially Porky Puffs or Porkhide Bones you gave him.

My friend Hope said, “I believe that everyone gets that one dog in life that is the one you will never quite stop missing, the one that has a place in your heart that will be treasured always.”

I believe she was right, I have had other dogs in my life and I have loved them all but Moebert to me was a one of a kind, his personality, his loyalty, his unconditional love that he showed everyone that came into his life. He always greeted everyone with his Lipizzan horse prance or his big paw hand shake.

All the words in the world cannot express the magnitude of the loss that I feel for the loss of my Moebert. No time on earth is long enough to share our love with our pets or to prepare our hearts for saying good-bye. Life brings tears, smiles and memories. The tears will dry, the smiles will fade, but the memories will live on forever.

That is why I made this “Tribute to Moebert Video”. I watch this so many times during the day and night because it brings me closer to what I have lost….

My Moebert

My World, My Heart and Soul.

My (Moedawg) may be gone from my touch, but he will never be gone from my heart or my memories. The untimely death of my dog Moebert has turned my world upside down.

In Memory of Moebert

1999 – 2010

R. I. P.

Till We See Each Other Again

You are now with your buddy Curley playing at Rainbow Bridge.

Both Moebert and Curleys’ other buddy Hunter.

Is wondering what happen and misses them both very much.

Always Forever In Our Hearts

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FTC DISCLOSURE: I have not received any compensation for writing this content and I have no material connection to the brands, topics and/or products that are/or may mentioned herein.

Category: Post Tags: Curley, Hemangiosarcoma, hemo-abdomen, lost my dog to cancer, Moe, Moebert Video, Moedawg, my dog Moebert, spleen, Tribute to Moebert, tribute to my dog moebert, tumor 2 Comments

When You Lose Your Pet to Cancer

By Alice

May 2010

Really no matter how you lose your pet, whether to a horrible disease like cancer or some other kind of illness or an accident, it can be devastating. Our pets are a special part of our family and will always have a special place in our hearts. They might be gone from our sight but never from our memories of them. They may be gone from our touch but their presence is still felt and the love that they gave us will never leave our hearts.

A Tribute to Curley

Curley passed away peacefully on April 23, 2010. In his own yard by the forsythia bush where he liked to lay and watch over his domain. He lost his battle with canine lymphoma. The hardest decision a pet owner has to make is when to let go.

We love our dogs as if they were our children. Curley was our friend, our buddy, our pal, no heart in the entire world was more grateful for kindness than the loving heart in him. We didn’t need the sun to shine to have a shadow because no matter how many times I went up and down the stairs or where we went he would always be there with us.

Whenever either of our two other dogs would bark he would run not knowing where he was going or who he was after but he would always have to be the first on the scene. The old saying, “Time heals all wounds,” has meaning for your other surviving dogs as well. Time is the great healer for grieving animals just as it is for grieving people.

I know he would not have wanted us to make heroic efforts to keep him going, especially when his quality of life was not what it used to be and he was suffering. That he trusted us with his last breath that his fate was always safe in our hands. There is no love greater than the unconditional love we received from him. So the only choice we had was to have our Vet come to the house and help Curley pass over to doggie heaven peacefully. A friend said to us “I think they go to heaven, some others don’t but I say spell DOG backwards and there is your answer.”

The story of Rainbow Bridge is that there is a meadow on this side of Heaven, where when a pet dies they go to this meadow and they are not in pain and have no injuries or illnesses. They are playing with other animals and waiting for their owners to come so they can cross over the bridge together.

The Rainbow Bridge poem has been comforting many pet parents that are grieving from the lost of their pet. Just having the thought that their best friend is at peace and in no more pain makes it easier to accept…at least it did for me.

In Loving Memory

Curley

1999 – 2010

The words of the Rainbow Bridge poem set to music is tastefully done. It is very comforting if you have lost your best friend. ===> Rainbow Bridge set to music.

For those of you that have loss a pet, I am truly sorry and I know the pain that you are feeling or were feeling. Curley was not the first pet we ever lost to an illness and I know he won’t be the last. The pain one feels in their hearts is different as each pet is different the love and memories of them will always be embedded in your heart and someday you will meet again. That’s what I am hoping for, we love you Curley and miss you very much, and till we see you again have fun playing and being pain free.

To All Who Have Lost A Best Friend,

Alice

To Curley With Love

You Left A Rainbow In Our Hearts

Till We Meet Again

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FTC DISCLOSURE: I have not received any compensation for writing this content and I have no material connection to the brands, topics and/or products that are/or may mentioned herein.

Category: Post Tags: Canine Lymphoma, lost of a pet, Rainbow Bridge, Tribute to Curley, when you lose a pet 4 Comments

Your Pet is Fighting Cancer

By Alice

Apr 2010

When your pet is fighting cancer, their immune system is the best defense against cancer; this is true with people that also have cancer. My dog Curley is fighting for his life against this terrible disease.

There are a number of factors that have been recognized that causes problems with our pets’ immune system such as the preservatives and coloring used in some brands of pet food, undue stress, a poor diet, pollution and vaccines.

All of the above factors can cause real damage in one’s immune response. In my Curley’s case we thought we were feeding a good brand of dog food but we realize six years ago we were not. Luckily we did switch to a healthy brand of pet food and we have seen a big difference in all three of our dogs.

But the damage had already started happening. You see even though your pet may look healthy on the outside they are slowing dying on the inside from poor nutrition. Most of the pet foods on the market these days have more fillers than the quality pet food with only natural, wholesome ingredients and nutrient dense with vitamins, minerals, fats and fatty acids which are essential for the optimal health of your dog or cat. I have also found out that supplements are so good for your pets’ health. With Curley he is getting different kinds of supplements because he is fighting canine lymphoma we are trying to really build up his immune system to help fight this horrible disease.

In my opinion what really affected Curley the most were vaccines and my stupidity, in which I should have known better. He had a lump on the back of his neck which I put it off as where the Vet gave him his shots, it kept getting bigger and I should have had it looked into. I haven’t given any of my dog’s vaccines in years but here again the damage had already been done. Veterinarians still believe the benefits of vaccines outweigh the risk and that vaccinations stimulate the immune system. The reality is that vaccinations can have a very negative effect and causes a host of immune related diseases. Many holistic veterinarians believe that over-vaccination, over medicating, and poor nutrition are the major causes of poor health and immune system disorders.

They say “hindsight is 20-20″. I can look back on all the mistakes I made and I would like to help someone from making the same ones I did.

So make sure you check out your pets lumps. Most will probably be fatty tumors, lots of dogs get them. Tumors are the body’s way to attempt to get rid of toxic substances within the body.

The conventional veterinarian practice dictates cutting the tumor out or off. The skin is cut, muscles and other tissues are cut, an operation will require the use of anesthesia, prescribed medications, and then chemotherapy or radiation might be recommended.

All in all these procedures are quite complex, painful, expensive and extremely stressful for your pet to endure. Your dog does not have to suffer through these procedures. Your dog can be returned to health if caught in time.

Signs to look for:

Behavior changes such as aggression and separation anxiety
Itching of the skin or excessive licking of the paws
Obsessive behavior, self-mutilation, tail chewing
Pica – eating wood, stones, earth, stool
Destructive behavior, shredding bedding
Seizures, Epilepsy
Fibrosarcomas at injection site
Muscular weakness and or atrophy
Chronic digestive problems

There are alternative methods such as herbs and natural remedies to boost your dog or cats immune system.

To You and Your Pets Health,

Alice

Are you using cleaning products that are safe for your family, pets and the environment! Hundreds of toxic chemicals are used in common household products. Your pets may run on your freshly mopped floor and then lick their paws. Learn about safe cleaning products.

Category: Post Tags: best defense against cancer, fighting canine lymphoma, holistic veterinarians, pet with cancer, pets immune system, quality pet food, Vaccines Leave a Comment

When To Put Your Dog To Sleep

By Alice

Apr 2010

Putting your dog to sleep is one of the hardest decisions that pet owners can make. When is the right time to put your dog (or other pets for that matter) to sleep? That is the question that I am asking myself right now.

Our dogs become part of the family, when they start to show signs of aging, it can be very hard to decide when it is time to let them go.

I think every pet owner would wish that their dogs would pass peacefully in their sleep, even though that would be hard to accept, for me would be easier than we (the pet parents) making that decision. Unfortunately, many pets suffer as they age, either being crippled by arthritis or even worse, debilitating diseases such as cancer like my Curley. As we trying our best on relieving most of the pain through the miracles of medicine, natural remedies and herbs there comes a specific moment where we can clearly see our pet’s bodies turn frail and eventually give up.

If dogs could talk, putting a pet to sleep would be much easier, they could let us know how they are really feeling but since we all know that won’t happen we must read into the subtle signs depicting physical deterioration. Owners know their pets best, we can read in between the lines so to speak but that is where the doubt has come into play in my mind.

I thought I was capable of knowing how my dogs cope with physical pain and how they respond to everyday life. It could either be a look in his eyes, an expression on his face or the simple lack of a tail wagging.

I do believe that at a certain point Curley will express to us when it is time to go and I am still hoping it will be his decision to make when he is ready to cross over the Rainbow Bridge and it will be peaceful for him. Then on the other hand I don’t want to keep him alive and in pain for our own benefit and selfishness, so do we make the choice for him? As pet parents this has got to be the hardest decisions to make.

I am not saying that everyone should go out and put their dog to sleep at the first sign of old age. Curley has a horrible disease that I did not catch early enough to help him recover. I believe that there is a point in every dog’s life that if he is suffering, it’s time to let him go. I need to think of what lifestyle he is currently having. ..Is he happy? (Yes I think so). Is he sick and suffering? (Yes, he is sick but I don’t think at this point in time he is suffering at all times.) Maybe that is wishful thinking on my part.

I will update more on that next time…

To You and Your Pets Health,

Alice

FTC DISCLOSURE: I have not received any compensation for writing this content and I have no material connection to the brands, topics and/or products that are/or maybe mentioned herein.

Category: Post Tags: cancer in dogs, canine cancer, dog with cancer, putting a pet to sleep, putting your dog down, putting your dog to sleep, when to put your dog to sleep 3 Comments

Cocoa Mulch Toxic to Dogs and Cats

By Alice

Apr 2010

Please share this with all the pet owners you know and ask them to do the same – the information you take a few minutes to share might prevent the senseless loss of other pets.

Please tell every dog or cat owner you know. Even if you don’t have a pet, please pass this to those who do.

Over the weekend,the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. The dogs loved the way it it smelled and it was advertised to keep rabbits away from their garden.

Their dog (Calypso) decided the mulch smelled good enough to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited but wasn’t acting lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk . Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly. She was poisoned by the mulch.

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the company’s web site, this product is HIGHLY TOXIC to dogs and cats.

Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey’s, and they claim that “It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual dog). However, they believe 98% of all dogs won’t eat it.”
*Snopes site gives the following information:”http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp *

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman’s Garden Supply and other Garden supply stores contains a lethal ingredient called ‘Theobromine’. It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks.

Theobromine is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker’s chocolate which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later.. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.

**PLEASE PASS THIS ON**

To You and Your Pets Health,

Alice

(I have not received any compensation for writing this content and I have no material connection to the brands, topics and/or products that are mentioned herein.)

Category: Post Tags: catsmulch toxic to dogs and cats, Cocoa Mulch, dogs Leave a Comment

Good Bacteria Why Your Pets Need Probiotics

By Alice

Mar 2010

Probiotics are so important to good health. Do you know why and how they work? They help boost the immune system especially needed for dogs that have health problems such as canine lymphoma like my Curley.

There are quite a number of products from all kind of yogurts and even pet foods which contains probiotics, known as “friendly” or “healthy” bacteria. When they are used in pet food it is referred to as “direct fed microbials”.

Everyone’s digestive system including our pets contains millions of helpful bacteria (like Probiotics) and of course those that are not favorable. The “direct fed microbials” found in Life’s Abundance can help the immune system adapt to internal changes within the body and thus naturally support good health.

To read more on your pets digestive system visit Digestive Health

Did you know that whenever you or your pet takes antibiotics, it kills all of the bacteria, regardless of their ultimate effect on the body (by providing healthy functions versus unhealthy outcomes)? That is why it is often recommended that you eat yogurt while taking antibiotics. This is to re-establish the healthy bacteria in the GI tract and to avoid intestinal distress, both during the course of treatment and in the days immediately following completion of an antibiotic therapy.

Helpful bacteria can have several positive effects on one’s body, including:

• converting foods into vitamins and energy
• fighting the unhealthy microorganisms
• by stimulating the immune system
• promoting the health of the gut lining

Adding direct fed microbials to pet food can help a dog or cat’s natural digestive system to work more effectively allowing the pet to get more nutrition from food because they help to ensure a healthy intestine.

Life’s Abundance Pet food formulas contain multiple types of direct fed microbials, all of which are guaranteed to be viable after cooking so they can take up “residence” in the GALT. To protect these beneficial bacteria, they micro-encapsulate the direct fed microbials prior to cooking in their foods. This process ensures that they will survive in order to establish and maintain healthy digestive system cultures.

Know your options: I am trying to learn as much as I can about boosting immune function and eliminating tumors and restoring my pets body’s natural, healthy metabolic balance. Cancer is not an infectious disease, it is simply a symptom of cell division gone wrong, and it is something the human body can heal if you give it the right tools and I hope to find them.

Heal Your Dog Naturally

To You and Your Pets Health,

Alice

Category: Post Tags: boost the immune system, canine cancer, dogs digestive system, Life's Abundance, pets need probiotics, probiotics 2 Comments

Animal Cruelty Please Help Trooper

By Alice

Mar 2010

Trooper is a young golden retriever and didn’t deserve to be treated the way he was by his owner. Please sign the animal cruelty petition.

Cruelty to animals is inexcusable, unacceptable and unforgivable no matter what the circumstances.

Let’s put pressure on the courts to make sure the owner “Mike” is charged with “Causing unnecessary suffering” 445.1 (1)of the criminal code and given the harshest sentence possible.

You can sign the petition here:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/wwwjusticefortrooperwebscom/

I know Trooper will thank you!

To You and Your Pets Health,

Alice

Category: Post Tags: animal cruelty, cruelty to animals, help Trooper Leave a Comment

Diet for Dogs With Cancer

By Alice

Mar 2010

Eating a proper balance diet will help reduce the risk of cancer. A diet for dogs with cancer should be free of pesticides and preservatives, they should have access to plenty of pure water and given anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals, and exercising regularly can help.

Additional support is needed once you are aware that you’re your dog has cancer. If you have spoiled your dog like us this might be hard to do. If we were eating cookies or chips we would always toss some to Curley, he would always move in when he seen us eating and still does but now we eat our treats and he has more healthy treats that we give him. Dogs really don’t care as long as they think they are getting something besides their food.

You see cancer cells use carbohydrates for fuel and fights the body for amino acids, on the other hand these cancer cells do not metabolize fats.

Once cancer has been found, additional supportive measures are needed. Cancer cells utilize carbohydrates for fuel and compete for the body for amino acids. However, these cancer cells do not metabolize fats. Some data advocates that high fat diets can help the patient overcome the effects of cancer and even reduce cancer expansion.

Nobody knows exactly what causes cancer in cats and dogs but a number of risk factors have been identified including stress, pollution, colorings and preservatives and a poor diet.

These factors and others can damage your pet’s immune system and a compromised immune system damages the body’s natural ability to fight cancerous cells.

Quality pet food with only natural, wholesome ingredients and nutrient dense with vitamins, minerals, fats and fatty acids which are essential for the optimal health of your dog or cat.

So you should be feeding your pet;

Natural Pet Food and Treats
No Hormones
No Chemicals
No Artificial Color or Flavors
No Additives, No Preservatives,
No Fillers. Only the Freshest Human Quality Ingredients

To You and Your Pets Health,

Alice

Category: Post Tags: canine cancer, diet for dogs with cancer, immune system, what cause cancer in dogs Leave a Comment

What is Canine Lymphoma?

By Alice

Mar 2010

So what is Lymphoma? My dog Curley was diagnosis with Canine Lymphoma, which is a cancer of the lymphatic system a blood disorder. The lymph system is an essential part of the body’s immune defense system.

Where your dogs’ lymph nodes are:

Lymph nodes1 What is Canine Lymphoma?

Lymphoma is an immune dysfunction disease. Which means it is a failure of the body to recognize the abnormal cancer cells as invaders. For a dog to overcome this disease his immune system has to recognize and respond to this invader in his body, to allow the dog’s own system to fight the cancer.

Some say that Chemotherapy and some other types of radiation therapy are very important components to an effective treatment for lymphoma. But in the end, the dogs own immune response is what will beat the disease. It is vital to address the dog’s immune system.

Diet is one of the key factors to your pets’ recovery. Your dog’s diet and can make the difference between a successful treatment and a failure. Feeding the proper diet means NOT just buying the cheapest dog food from the grocery store. Dogs with Lymphoma have strict dietary needs that will have to be met for the dog to overcome this disease. More advice on diet will follow later.

To You and Your Pets Health,

Alice

Category: Post Tags: cancer, cancer in dogs, Canine Lymphoma, dog with Lymphoma, dogs immune system, treatment for lymphoma Leave a Comment

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Archive for » 2010 «

Tribute to Moebert

I Lost The Love of My Life,

My Dog Moebert

I lost Moe to cancer on June 3, 2010.

He was my buddy, my heart and soul.

The Little Boss Man

My Moebert

My World, My Heart and Soul.

In Memory of Moebert

1999 – 2010

R. I. P.

Till We See Each Other Again

Always Forever In Our Hearts

A Tribute to Curley

In Loving Memory

Curley

1999 – 2010

To Curley With Love

You Left A Rainbow In Our Hearts

Till We Meet Again

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