In the years since its discovery, grapefruit seed extract has been tested and validated by the FDA, USDA, the Pasteur Institute in France, and numerous physicians….The process converts the grapefruit bioflavonoids (polyphenolics) into an extremely potent compound that has been shown to be effective in treating hundreds of different organisms including: Shigella, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Giardia lamblia, Diplococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycobacterium species, Campylobacter, candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Proteus, Cholera, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Legionella pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, Herpes1, Influenza A2, and measles virus. It has been know to help with osteoporosis. GSE has been shown to kill both gram-negative and gram-positive strains of bacteria GSE has been proven in laboratory tests to be 10 to 100 times more effective as a disinfectant than chlorine, colloidal silver, and iodine.

It can help your canine companion with allergies by killing yeast in the intestines but not harming the good bacteria. If you like to take your dog swimming, or go hiking near streams or lakes, and your dog drinks the water it’s good to have grapefruit oil with you. A couple of servings of water that has been treated with the extract will kill off giardia (a parasite) that your dog might have swallowed while in the water.

Grapefruit oil is broad spectrum, non-toxic, cost-effective, from a natural source, doesn’t weaken the immune system,  and is powerful and effective.  Doctors are overwhelmingly positive in their evaluation.  Yet it is not nearly as well-known as tea tree oil so many people don’t even know it’s available as an alternative to traditional medications.

The article is very informative, go read in its entirety on The Examiner.

They also feature top stories, today’s is about the controversy over pet vaccines.

WebMD Pet Health Feature by Bill Hendrick

Reviewed by Katherine Snyder, DVM, Dip ACVIM

Many pet owners and some animal scientists believe that we are over vaccinating our pets. They also think that some shots may be doing more harm than good. One type of cancer in cats, for example, is known to be caused by injections. In addition, vaccines can cause allergic reactions.

Because reports and rumors of side effects have become so widespread, pet owners increasingly are asking their vets about shots. Andy Smith, DVM, a long-time Atlanta veterinarian, says he has “this conversation with a client twice a week. It’s clear there’s a lot of confusion and concern.” So WebMD went to some top veterinary experts to find answers you can use in sorting out your own concerns.

Go visit WebMD to read the full article and find out why dogs need vaccines, if you should vaccinate, and can they cause cancer.

*Thanks Bella for barking this to me.

There does not appear to be any risk of dogs getting the H1N1 Swine Flu, dog owners can relax.

Here are the details from the NY Daily News.

“We have not seen any evidence that pets are susceptible,” says David Kirkpatrick, spokesperson for the American Veterinary Medical Association. “The virus appears to be only transmitted from person to person or from human to swine. Though we have not seen viruses in potbellied or other pet pigs, it is important to remember that they are considered swine, so they may be susceptible to the virus.”

Dogs and cats are apparently not at risk. “At this time, there is no data demonstrating any risk of dogs and cats contracting this strain of the virus,” Dr. Louise Murray, director of medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in Manhattan, told the Chronicle. “However, owners of pet pigs should monitor their animals’ health carefully.”

Of course things can always change, but the data at this point does not support dogs or cats being susceptible.

*One of these things is not like the other.

A 21 lb. tumor was removed from Warren the Labrador retriever, saving the life of the 13-year-old dog.

Warren was operated on at Boston’s Angell Animal Medical Center five months ago and has made wonderful progress since then.

Here are the details from WCVB TV from Boston.

BOSTON — Surgeons at Boston’s Angell Animal Medical Center removed a 21-pound tumor from a Labrador retriever, the largest tumor veterinarians there had ever seen.

Warren, 13, fully recovered from the surgery last spring to remove the tumor that had grown to one-sixth his body weight.

The tumor had grown so large it made walking difficult for the dog and his breathing became increasingly labored.

Surgeons faced the problem of dealing with the cavity that was created once the mass was removed.

“Warren has since spent the past five months enjoying his lightened frame following the lifesaving surgery,” Duddy said.

There is a picture of the tumor but it’s too graphic to post.  If you’re the daring type,  click here.

*Pic from Angell Animal Medical Center courtesy WCVB TV

Another great tip from our friends at Sunbear Squad,  along with how to make a Roadside Kit  so you’ll be prepared for an emergency.

Watch Tip Week of Sept. 13:

Watch for pets along rural highways that have been injured by farm machinery during the harvest season—be prepared to act quickly.

Here’s some info from founder, Anna Nirva, on the importance of being prepared to act quickly with your Roadside Rescue Kit.

The father of a friend of mine just lost his beloved 8-month-old dog tragically. The Blue Heeler mix puppy scampered in front of a moving farm wagon. Quick as a blink Daisy was dead. Vehicles of all kinds are extremely high risk to companion animals as well as wild animals. Daisy could not have been saved, but many animal-vehicle collisions are not fatal. Muddy Puppy and Duke each survived one, read their stories.

Make a Roadside Rescue Kit for your vehicle and be prepared to help animals along roads and highways. The kit uses many simple items that you keep around the house. You may save a life! Find instructions here.

Please forward this email to animal-lovers. Encourage them to become animal welfare defenders!

Copyright Sunbear Squad Inc. All rights reserved.

The swine flu is on everyone’s mind these days. On the news you hear daily reports about the concern there will be a big outbreak this fall.

If you’ve been wondering if there is anything to worry about when it comes to your pets Bobbi Leder from the Houston Dogs Examiner checked with the American Veterinary Medical Association, here’s what she found.

Well, according to the AVMA, there is no evidence that pets are susceptible to the swine flu as it appears to be transmitted only from person to person or from human to swine. So for now, it looks like dogs are safe from the swine flu although the AVMA goes on to say that there is not enough information to determine if the H1N1 virus can be transmitted to other animals; therefore, it is advisable to wash your hands after handling animals. The good news is that there have been no reported cases (in 2009) of the swine flu being contracted by eating pork. It is believed that the H1N1 virus is not a food-borne disease.

Hopefully this gives some peace of mind to all the dog owners out there.  While we still need to be careful, at least our dogs are safe.

* Shilo Ann checking out the pig pen, no worries.

It’s summer and thunderstorms are a common occurrence, some dogs aren’t bothered and yet others are terrified. So, when I came across an article with some tips to help ease a dog’s anxiety I thought it would make a great post.

Here’s the scoop from Today at msnbc.com.

Dog owners who spend many a stormy night struggling to get some sleep while a panting, drooling, trembling pet climbs around on top of them know that the fear of thunder can be a tricky problem to solve.

Dogs with the condition often look to their owners for comfort, yet are in such a state of panic, they are inconsolable. And it can be hard to know how to soothe an upset dog without unwittingly reinforcing its anxiety.

Potential remedies include medication, desensitizing the dog to thunder and training it to retreat to a safe place when a storm hits.

But there seems to be no single cause for the fear of thunder, and there also isn’t any one guaranteed treatment, veterinarians who specialize in canine behavior say. Something that helps one dog might not help another; a method that works during one storm may not in another.

 Dodman suggests finding a safe place for the dog and training it to go there during storms, “almost like a bunker in a nuclear war.” It could be a spot in the basement with the curtains drawn and lights on to mask lightning, a kennel with an open door and a comfortable dog bed in it, or a makeshift den in a closet with no windows.
The owner should initially stay with the dog and offer treats and training to reinforce the idea that it’s a pleasant, safe place, Dodman said.

Swaddling a dog can also help, calming it like a baby wrapped in a blanket. It can be as simple as wrapping the dog in a light blanket or towel. For a snugger fit, an animal leotard called a sheep suit – typically used on show animals to keep the coat tidy before competition – is an inexpensive option. Shull and Fox recommended an item called an Anxiety Wrap that comes in standard and custom-made versions.

Other things to try include anti-anxiety medications, either alone or in combination. It’s becoming increasingly common for veterinarians to prescribe the generic version of drugs such as Xanax or Prozac for anxious dogs.

The natural herb valerian – the herbal form of Valium – can also be effective, Fox said.

“The trouble is that it takes a good 20 minutes before it has effect, so you’re going to be doping your animal before the big storm comes,” Fox added.

To learn more about thunderphobia and read other ways to help calm your dog go to TODAY Pets & Animals.

* Kylie looking spiffy in her rain gear.

In Pontiac and Inkster, MI. hundreds of dogs have died from an outbreak of parvo.

Dogs are infected by contact with feces from contaminated dogs and often die three days after symptoms appear.

Hundreds of dogs, mainly puppies, are dying in Pontiac and Inkster because of an outbreak of parvovirus, a virulent disease that is easy to prevent and expensive to treat, veterinarians and animal protection workers said Sunday.

“This is the worst outbreak I’ve seen in Pontiac in the 20 years I’ve been working here,” said Pam Porteous, manager of the Animal Care Network, which operates in Pontiac and Inkster. She said she has been told by shelter workers that Detroit and Flint have outbreaks, too.

Porteous said some 300 dogs have died in Pontiac alone this summer.

Porteous said low-income communities are especially vulnerable because residents often can’t afford to vaccinate their puppies — shots cost $10 to $80 each — and because they typically keep their pets outside as watchdogs, where the animals can be infected by stray dogs with the disease.

Her organization canvasses Pontiac and Inkster neighborhoods to monitor the disease and educate dog owners about how to prevent it. She said the virus is passed through dog feces and easily can be tracked into the yards and homes on shoes, car tires and paws.

“If I didn’t have my dogs vaccinated, I could easily bring it home and give it to them because of the work I do,” Porteous said. Parvo is not passed to humans.

Veterinarians said parvo can kill a puppy within 72 hours if it goes untreated.

An infected dog often shows the first symptoms when it stops eating. By the second day, the dog begins vomiting and experiencing diarrhea. By the third day, the diarrhea can become bloody.

It’s important to make sure your dog is properly vaccinated. If money is an issue check into some of the low cost clinics in your area.  They usually have special days and times set up to offer low cost vaccinations.

*Pic courtesy Michigan Animal Care Network

I received a message from Dogster member Dixie about a new clinic in the Chicago area.

I’m passing on the info for other Dogsters who live around there and may want to check out the new facility at this weekend’s open house.

Exciting news for Chicago-area pups whose pawrents are looking for cutting edge, state-of-the-art veterinary care for their four-legged family members. The Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine has opened a new clinic on Chicago’s Near West Side.

You’ll love the name. Furnetic. And what we love even more than the name is that this clinic is affiliated with the prestigious University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at Champaign-Urbana. When the Crew fell ill from various diseases/cancers, the UofI Vet Med School was suggested by many people as a place we could go to pursue treatments above and beyond those available at regular veterinary clinics. With the opening of this new Chicago-area vet center, we will have local access to UofI specialists and equipment that can save lives.

Thank you, Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine, and thank you University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at Champaign-Urbana, for answering the prayers of many pawrents in the Chicago metro area and opening Furnetic.

To learn all about Furnetic visit their website and if you have time stop by their open house this weekend.

Admit it. You’re curious. You’ve seen the cool Web site, and you’re wondering what the city’s newest veterinary clinic is really like.

Of course, you’re welcome to visit us at any time, but if you like food and other free stuff, you’ve got to stop in during our two-day, totally off-the-leash open house:

• Friday, July 31, from 2 to 7 pm, and
• Saturday, August 1, from 9 am to 1 pm.

You’ll get to meet our caring veterinary staff, check out our brand-new facility, get your picture taken if you like, sign up for great prize drawings, and walk off with a bag of treats.

You’ll find out that we’re part of the Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine, a program of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana. So even though we are people who are crazy about pets, we’re all about serious veterinary care.

See you on July 31 or August 1!

Oh, and don’t forget to bring your people along so they can help you fill out the entry form for the free drawings.

* Pic courtesy Furnetic

A few weeks ago I reported the sad news about Ozzy Osbourne’s pup Little Bit getting attacked and killed by a coyote.

Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI) just released a report on the top 10 wild animals that attack pets, coyotes came in at number two.

The information was compiled from more than 500 laceration/bite wound claims received by VPI in 2008.

In addition to the usual suspects–snakes, coyotes and raccoons–VPI received claims for pet injuries caused by a squirrel, scorpion, javelina, porcupine, ground hog, skunk, rat, goat, beaver, woodchuck, black bear, mountain lion, hawk, rabbit, sea urchin, and jellyfish.

Following are the 10 animals aside from dogs and cats that were most responsible for pet injury claims in 2008:

Top 10 Animals To Attack Pets:

1. Snake

2. Coyote

3. Raccoon

4. Squirrel

5. Scorpion

6. Javelina

7. Porcupine

8. Ground Hog

9. Skunk

10. Rat

Wild animal attacks typically result in pet insurance claims for treatment of lacerations, bite wounds, puncture, and soft tissue trauma. Snakebites may require antivenin and scorpion stings may cause allergic reactions requiring antihistamines. Treatment protocols vary depending on the severity of the attack and costs can range from hundreds of dollars for bandages or stitches to thousands of dollars for surgery for damaged organs or broken limbs.

Though animal attack claims came from all areas of the country, javelina and scorpion claims were exclusive to the state of Arizona. Javelinas, or peccaries, are feral pig-like omnivores native to the southwestern United States. They have been known to viciously attack both pets and people.

“Whether in urban or rural areas, pet owners should be aware of the danger posed by wild animals,” said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. “VPI’s data reveals that not all members of the animal kingdom observe backyard fences, or appreciate the curiosity of a pet that may enter their territory. Always make sure that a pet’s rabies vaccine is up to date and if you know that potentially dangerous wild animals are present, or you’re in an unfamiliar area, take extra care to keep your pet close and secure.”

Since we’re in the Atlanta, GA. area we can at least cross a few of them off our list. Definitely good information to know regardless of where you live.

* Toby being attacked by the well-known lime green garden snake, luckily he has it under control.