Giving Your Dog or Cat Wheat Chex for Fiber

Last year, our cat was having issues with her glands not expressing properly.

We took her to vet, who charged us $150.

One month later, same problem. But not as severe. $100.

The next month, we took her in before the problem occured and paid $35. And we did the same for 2 months following. Cha-Ching. Cha-Ching. We asked the vet, what we could do? The vet offered no real answers. She said if we didn't want to bring the cat in every month, there was a surgey for $1500 they could perform!

A few weeks later I met a vet in a social setting who was visiting from another country. He suggested giving the cat some wheat chex to her diet - he said the tiny amount of fiber should keep her glans fine. And guess what? It worked! So now she gets a few little wheat chex every day and she loves them! Why didn't my vet suggest this simple soultion?

Because most doctors and vets, I believe, are all about making money. Why should they suggest a do-it-yourself fix for a couple dollars, when they can make money off you?!

Anyway, fast foward 1 year. We got Trixie! She loves Wheat Chex too, and keeps snatching them from the cat's bowl. So now she too, gets a few of the little treats each day in her food.

Both animals have had no problems and enjoy them!

MUSHROOMS CAN KILL YOUR DOG

Many pet owners do not realize that some of the mushrooms that grow in their yard are toxic to dogs. Symptoms of mushroom poisoning can range from mild vomiting and diarrhea to severe digestive problems to complete liver failure.

Dogs who like to "graze" will sometimes eat wild mushrooms along with lawn grasses, leading to mushroom poisoning. Dogs can sometimes become ill by just licking a poisonous mushroom. Also, some dogs, like some people, are allergic to even edible, normally safe mushrooms.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Toxic mushrooms have killed at least one dog in the Charlotte area and have made several others ill, according to local veterinarians, they said this week.

Always watch for mushrooms in areas where you walk your dogs or where they run and play. Be especially cautious of parasol-shaped mushrooms and all small brown mushrooms. Check your yard each morning, especially in damp weather, for new growth before letting your dog outside. Remember that new mushrooms can appear overnight. Whenever you find mushrooms in your yard, dig them up. Smashing or kicking them

spreads the spores and even more will grow.

**MUSHROOM FOLLOW UP **

from a reader...

Last week my 10 month old puppy was neutered after he came home he seemed fine. The next day after we played in the yard for an hour or so, we came in and he had some loose stool. About an hour later he was vomiting what to me looked like mucus and he had major diarrhea, when I called the vet office the receptionist said"just clean him up a bit but to not touch the neutered area or get it wet. He will be fine in the morning.".

The next morning with my children upstairs, I came down to what I would never in a million year thought could have happen. My 12lb puppy laid lifeless with not blood but a foul smelling fluid all over the kitchen, floor and walls. I called the vets office again not knowing what to do but it was too late. I wanted to share this story with you, because the vet is telling me that he this was caused by a lawn mushroom in my yard.

I am not really convinced but after your story realized it may be possible. I am on a mission to resolve what really did this to him. I know I do have mushrooms in my yard,

however never realized how toxic they can be for dogs.

Annie

Luxating Patella and the Yorkie Yorkshire Terrier

Well, I had a bit of disturbing news today

from my vet....

When I first was examined at 12 weeks old,

they said I had luxating patella of my right knee...

now, at 10 months old, both of my knees

are bothering me a bit!

Luxating is a fancy word for dislocating. Patella is your dog's "knee", the joint on the front of her hind leg. So a luxating patella is a dislocating knee or trick knee, a knee that keeps slipping out of its socket. This can happen in yorkies with weak ligaments, tendons, and/or muscles. It can also happen in Yorkies whose kneecap groove is too narrow or shallow. The knee usually slips inwardly, toward her body, and locks so that your Yorkie can't bend her leg.

Suspect luxating patella if your Yorkie sometimes lifts one hind leg while she is running, or if she often moves both rear legs at the same time, like a hopping bunny. Sometimes the knee slips only for a few moments, then slides back into place. Sometimes the knee slips out and stays out, and your Yorkie will hold her leg off the ground and limp, perhaps tucking her thigh into her body. Luxation may occur in one knee, or in both. It is seen in many other toy breeds, and in both sexes, though it seems to be more common in females. No matter how firm the knees seem as puppies, toy dogs are liable to injure their knees.

Any advice?

Home Remedies?

Vitamin or food suppliments?

Does Your Dog Need Prozac Medication?

Does your dog suffer from

separation anxiety or aggression?

Reconcile, a Prozac for dogs could address his issues.

Jeff Millman, of Chicago, trains dogs and did an

article in the EXAMINER, about treating some

dog issues with medication.

Read what he has to say!

The Problem With Double Teeth in Yorkies....

When I was 6 months old, my daddies

took me to be spayed. At that time, the doctor found

that I had 3 baby that had not fallen out yet and there

were double teeth coming in also. So he removed them.

I am 8 months old - and unfortunately, since that procedure,

I had 4 more teeth come in on top of my

baby teeth that had to removed!

The doctor said, " The golden rule to follow is: There should never be two of the same tooth type occupying the mouth at the same time. By frequently checking your pet’s teeth between the ages of 14 to 24 weeks of age, any double presence of teeth will be detected and can be immediately corrected by a veterinarian. Never wait for the baby tooth to fall out by itself if you see even the slightest protrusion of the adult crown next to it."

And he advised my daddies to start my brushing

my teeth so I grow up with good oral hygeine!

DOGGY BREATH - CARING FOR DOGS TEETH

Bye-Bye Doggy Breath -- Dental Care for Dogs

Author: Marian Brown

Dental care in dogs and cats has become quite common

over the last six years. Like humans, dog teeth

and gums are also susceptible to the same oral health problems -

Gingivitis and Periodontal disease.

Unlike humans, animals rarely get cavities.

This is because cavities are primarily caused by the

high sugar content of the human diet.

Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria and plaque

which attach the soft gum tissue of the mouth.

The first stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis.

This is very common. In this stage, the bacteria have mixed

with saliva and formed plaque. The plaque adheres to the teeth

and hardens, forming tartar and calculus.

These tartar deposits irritate the gum tissue and cause

inflammation, swelling and infection.

It is this stage that gingivitis is most notable.

Early warning signs of gingivitis are sensitive gum tissue,

redness or bleeding gums, trouble eating/chewing and

bad breath. Yes, the dreaded "doggy breath"!

The breath may take on a sulfur (rotting eggs) odor from the

by-products of the bacteria in the mouth.

This is often the first sign of gingivitis and serious dental problems.

There are now pet oral hygiene solutions on the market

that can be added to pets' drinking water. These are convenient to use

and are formulated for animals. Owner compliance with these

programs, unlike with daily brushing, is much higher.

They are odorless and colorless.

Marian Brown has been active in holistic health

care for over 20 years. She is editor of Holistic Health News.

Visit our site at http://www.hhnews.com

for more information!

Cataracts and the Yorkshire Terrier

About 2 years my vision started to slip

and my daddy noticed. And one of my eyes

got a little cloudy.

Yorkies tend to develop cataracts in their old age, but

luckily, our small size limits the effects of conditions such as arthritis.

In most cases, the cataracts can be removed. They

could not remove all of mine - but I still see pretty well.

The problem can occur in one or both eyes

and can lead to blindness. So make sure

you keep an eye on your dog's eyes!