Some dogs have ‘allergies’ – itchy, flakey skin, ear infections, smells – those ‘allergies’ can be taken care of with raw diet or one of the better kibbles but then there are ALLEGIES.  Environmental ones. They happen middle or late August and last the first few weeks of Sept year after year.

These allergies don’t respond to changes in food (other than lessening some) and even benadryl isn’t effective. Your vet will want to give them prednisone and yeah, that could work but it also stays in their organs forever and ever so i won’t even go there.

In my dogs, Gizmo & Nikos I’ve seen it the last 5 years (thats how long i’ve had them) and same thing end of every august, they chew themselves pretty raw,  Nikos losing the hair around his eyes even. I went nuts the first 2 yrs of this happening, even going so far as to use advantage on Gizmo thinking he was still allergic to fleas even tho i know he had none.  It’s not a flea or food allergy.

I started asking people if their dogs had the same problem and YES a lot DID!!

I’ve gone the homeopathic and alternative ways – Benedryl (works some) and i foudn that TRAUMEEL  and Apis Melifica from the health food store works the best. I get both in liquid (absorbed by the body faster) and put them in a spray bottle so i can squirt it in their mouths and on their itchies easily and in their food and on pieces of bread as needed.

They are lower to the ground than us and the environment AFFECTS THEM  i think faster and more severely than us.

A couple of clients also have dogs with this yearly reaction so that’s why i’m writing about it.  Most have purebreds (Gizmo is too altho a puppy mill dog) but Nikos is a mix and the only mix i know of so far to be so affected altho mixes are suffering the same as purebreds on shitty commercial foods.

I’m also writing because maybe we can’t ‘fix’ everything and to let others know you are NOT ALONE with your dog’s problems. If we talk about things that our dogs do, things that affect them, things we see in our dogs, maybe we wouldn’t be feeding the $4 billion dollar pet industry so well for no results?

That if it is in a pet product that they can say it’s in there AS IF IT WERE GOING TO WORK BUT they don’t have to put enough IN THERE TO MAKE IT WORK??

Many pet products that has glucosamine in it does not have ENOUGH glucosamine ot make it work any better than using nothing at all?

I used to think glucosamine didn’t well for dogs as i saw no real imporvement in older, arthritic dogs (and you KNOW how many dogs i see and that are at my disposal for checking things out).

With some research i found that they can legally claim their food or suppliments have glucosamine in it cuz it does. What the DON’T have to do is add ENOUGH to make any appreciable difference.

Since we rely on vets and pet food companies to tell the truth and help us keep our pets healthy (WellI don’t anymore) they can IMPLY anything they like and we ASSUME it’s correct or GOOD for our dogs.  NOT!

The homeopathics i’ve been using along with food have given awesome results but i’ve also been looking for products for thos of you who can’t or won’t do raw that will upgrade the foods and make it absorbable and healthier.

I’ve found BG and Orijen for kibbles to be better than most and I have been adding Dr Clarkes Hip formula to my raw for the older or damamged dogs like Molsyn, Rufus, Cocoa b4 she left, Belle. and even my Hank who is 9 now. It has right AMOUNT of glucosamine in it – as well as some other good stuff i would use homeopathically – and you sprinkle a little on their food once per day.

All the dogs are moving better but the most astonishing one is Molsyn who is a 6 yr old, 105lb Cane corso. First, they usually only live til 8 yrs so she’s technically OLD and she has TWO bad legs – muscles & knees. She wobbled when she came, could do little physically and even short times walking in the yard would make her back legs shake something aweful.

She is now running and even jumping up on me for a kiss. No we haven’t reversed the damage but we’ve improved her enuf to be a little less in pain and enjoy life more – same for the other dogs.

We are adding Dr Clarke’s to our product line and anyone who would like to buy it can contact me for shipping or pick up.

Surviving

Canine Vestibular Disease

C.V.D.

A journal of recovery

By Ace Lobrin

My journal begins at day one:

My dad and I were in the garage, when we heard a thump coming from inside the house. It sounded like someone dropping a sack of potatoes in the kitchen, and my mom called for us in a very urgent tone to get in the house right away. Upon the scene inside the house we saw my dog sitting at the base of the steps leading upstairs. We thought nothing of it as he was excitedly wagging his tail and grinning in his usual goofy self. He sat up and continued his usual manner pacing the house and seemed fine. But, he was wary of the stairs….Oh Oh…

Later that night after he made it up the stairs…he fell again, trying to get up on my bed, a yellow card for me. Could he be having a stroke? Was he poisoned? He managed once again to get up on my bed and lied down next to me for an hour or so, when he got up and began what I call C.V.D “restless stage”. He would stand by the door panting and leaning against the wall. We thought he might have eaten something that didn’t agree with his stomach, after offers to take him outside were turned down….i made his bed of blankets and his pillow and hit the sack. Doggie spent the night restless panting and uncomfortable.

Day two:

Doggie managed to descend the stairs with assistance and we made our way to the yard to do his business. I was anticipating him to make an epic “self relieving”(poooh). But to no avail. Doggie was now entering what I would like to call the C.V.D.”drunken monk” stage. Doggie was leaning on everything he could, staggering, toppling over and knocking things down, an uneasy pacing, and seeming to be uncomfortable anywhere he was. I offered him food and he deliberated, before eventually eating, and, I am so thankful now, that at this stage, doggie still managed to make his way to his water bowl, but was oddly sipping from the side in an awkward way. Continuous panting and staggering, beginning to look less and less like stomach problems and more and more like a stroke(which buy the way, correct me if I’m mistaken, through my research is very rare in dogs). At this stage we rushed doggie to the vet, on an emergency visit.

At the vet, after having to carry doggie in/out of the car and into the office (he’s about 45lbs)we’re quickly shown into an examination room and seen by a doctor. An examination including heart, eyes, legs and neck followed. A few answers to our questions were narrowed down to a few conditions. Stroke was ruled out as it was very rare and unlikely, he was showing no facial symptoms. Possible spine problems at the neck was a concern. And finally doc suspected C.V.D…Canine Vestibular Disease… an injection of CERENIA 3cc was prepared and administered for his nausea and dizziness. Doc prescribed rest and supportive care, GRAVOLtm.,and she also suggested a crate to rest in and keep doogie from getting into trouble(we got one and find it crucial in how we rehabilitated doggie). At this time doggie is just so out of it, as soon as we got home, he got some shut eye for about two hours. The prescribed GRAVOLtm. Had not yet been administered. And doggie had not eaten yet, just a little water(hydration is VERY important!) Another restless night…….(with me camped out in the living room right next to his crate)

Day three:

Doggie is very fatigued and restless, shifting around and panting, occasionally plopping into a nap, he is still very uncomfortable. Water is offered and drank, but food is turned down. GRAVOLtm. Alternative is administered(dimenhydrinate) and doggie is now napping, getting up only to shift positions, possible neck injury is ruled out due to doggie comfortably sleeping on both sides favoring neither(though when awake it is evident he favors turning to his right side, indicating affected side). Doggie is still uneasy and reluctant to stand. Chicken is offered and taken, so is water, and he is holding it down-no vomiting.

After a few hours dimenhydrinate is administered and doggie is still fairly sedated and continues to sleep. When given a chance to leave the crate, doggie is still staggering and very dizzy-like. At this point from the moment and since we got the crate, I have been camping next to his crate to monitor and keep him company to keep doggie in as good spirits as possible, I wouldn’t suggest leaving him/her alone for long periods and believe that being with him/her or being nearby was a crucial part of his recovery process.

Still sedated and groggy.

Day four:

A trip to the yard to do some business is successful, doggie is slowly regaining his balance. Water is offered and taken, another dose of dimenhydrinate is offered, and back he goes in his crate. More rest and sleep, and restlessness and panting bouts are gone!

Around lunch time 4oz. chicken is offered and taken, more water, and sleep.

Things are looking good, though still wobbly, but signs of nausea are less, and he is standing in his crate more often. Lots of rest and TLC, and his favorite treat “for the love of dogs 100%natural” are taken…Sleep sleep sleep, need to build some energy……. A dose of dimenhydrinate is administered before sleeping…..REST REST REST…

Day five:

Looking good! A trip to the yard and business, doggie now standing more surefooted and steady. Chicken, water, favorite treats, and a dose of dimenhydrinate are accepted. Still in the crate(he has been in the crate since we got it in day two). REST REST REST. Now I would like to share what I consider an important part of our recovery I would like to call “Stand therapy”, this is when we re-learned balance by standing, In this case doggie is reluctant to walk too far, so letting him/her stand while being there to assist in case he/she topples over is crucial in re-learning balance and confidence. We stood for about 20min. testing balance until tired, and back in the crate. REST REST REST(we situated the crate by the sliding door to the yard with lots of fresh air since day two). Doggie is standing more and more……..

Day six:

Things just keep getting better! A trip to the yard to do some doggie business starts the day….followed by a drink of water, and dimenhydrinate therapy has been stopped. Another 30min. “Stand therapy” session, and doggie is willingly back in his crate for a nap. Doggie is now starting to show good signs and is acting more normal…licking himself and seems to be more comfortable…He is accepting his favorite treats readily…Oh…and he’s barking again(when I tried to lift him) music to my ears!

Day seven:

We’re baaaaaaaaack! Doggie is now walking and is enjoying his new doggie harness(we got him one since the doc suspected a neck problem), eating really well and he is back to his antics(he loved to rearrange the shoes from the front of the house and he joined us for dinner, eating well and drinking well, phew, thanks to god, and DR. Findley, Susan’s treats, and my family, without them I don’t think I would’ve got through this)

Things and feelings I would add to share:

It’s ok to be scared/worried, it is a very dramatic and visual disease….but the last thing your doggie needs is a panicking and negative scene, doggie needs you positive, brave, and supportive to get through this, be strong.

I can’t stress this enough…stay calm, C.V.D. is VERY dramatic…stay calm…

It’s ok if your dog chooses not to eat for a little bit…keep some of his/her favorite treat handy…mine took some chicken and his “power pellet” treat, “Love my dog” dehydrated treat: call Susan @905 655 7575 (this was a crucial key element to our recovery, truthfully)

HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE!

REST REST REST!

TLC…and you will see…he/she will be…well…

Love your dog…be strong…he/she will be counting on you…you guys WILL get through this…I promise!

Research proves very strong and positive recovery statistics for C.V.D.

Best of luck, cheers, and happy wagging tails….