Unlike dogs, who most often have hypothyroidism (or decreased production of thyroid hormone), cats with thyroid disease have hyperthyroidism, or the excess production of thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism is the most common hormone disorder in cats. It most often affects older cats, with more than 10% of cats 10 years and older diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.

The most common signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism in cats are weight loss despite an increase in appetite; gastrointestinal disturbances, such as vomiting and diarrhea; high blood pressure; increased body temperature; increased heart and breathing rates; and changes in urination. There may also be changes in activity level (such as hyperactivity) and attitude. A combination of increased appetite, weight loss, and sudden, unexpected bursts of energy in an older cat points to a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is diagnosed with a blood test.

There is increasing evidence that flame retardants have a role in the development of hyperthyroidism, with studies showing that hyperthyroid cats have higher blood levels of flame retardants than cats with normal thyroid function. One study revealed blood levels of flame retardants 20- to 100-fold higher in cats than in humans. In a third study, flame retardant chemicals in the dust of homes of cats with normal thyroid levels was 510 to 4900 ng/g, but 1,100 to 95,000 ng/g in cats with hyperthyroidism.

Flame retardants are commonly added to many consumer products, such as polyurethane foam products (upholstered furniture, mattresses, pillows, pet beds), carpet padding, auto seat covers, kitchen appliances, fans, water heaters, computers and related equipment and supplies, TVs and TV remote controls, video equipment, blow dryers, and cell phones. Flame retardants have even been found in pet foods.

Flame retardants leak from consumer electronics when they heat up during normal use and from foam items when pets lie on them. There also may be high concentrations in dust particles in the living environment. To minimize exposure of your cat to flame retardants, replace foam items when they begin to deteriorate, do not allow cats in areas where carpet is being removed, consider replacing instead of reupholstering furniture on which the foam has deteriorated, and do not repurpose old broken down foam cushions to be used as a pet bed. Vacuums and air purifiers with HEPA filters may trap small dust particles containing flame retardants.

Increasingly, people are recognizing the power of Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM) in maintaining their own health and wellness as well as that of their pets. 

James shown doing Reiki on Rusty as part of his CIM treatment for an adrenal tumor

Energy medicine, a form of CIM, is emerging as the medicine of the future. As stated below, ‘conventional medicine has long used machines such as x-rays, lasers, EKGs and EEGs-that record various forms of energy to diagnose or treat disease.’ The concepts upon which these familiar techniques are based can help in understanding energy medicine techniques, such as Reiki, polarity therapy,craniosacral therapy, reflexology, and therapeutic touch as well. I routinely use these energy medicine techniques to maintain health and wellness for my dogs. In fact, it is not uncommon for Frankie or Susie to jump up on the couch next to me and ‘ask’ me to do energy work on them — more on that later!

In the following post, Dr. Mary Jo Ruggieri describes in some detail how polarity therapy, a form of energy medicine, works.

POLARITY FOR BALANCE

We are about to begin a new revolution! An innovative science is emerging, a science that holds the secrets of past systems of healing and future cures for humankind.

Lifeforce, chakras, auras, prana and chi are words often expressed when discussing the human energy field. Chinese acupuncturists believe that channels of energy run through the body; when these channels are blocked or out of balance, pain and disease can result.

Practitioners of polarity therapy use their hands to balance the human energy field, believing that, when in balance, the body will begin to automatically heal.

Research has shown that in disease, the natural flow of energy is obstructed, disordered and often depleted. Think about how you feel when you’re sick — no energy. As long as energy is flowing freely, we maintain optimal health.

James Oschman, in his book Energy Medicine, says in a few decades scientists have gone from a conviction that there is no such thing as an energy field around the human body to an absolute certainty that it exists. Moreover, he states, science is explaining the roles of energy fields in health and disease.

Life in many cultures is based on the principles of energy, and many of these cultures use energy medicine for healing. Chinese and Indian traditions use the principles of energy as the foundation for their entire healthcare system.

Practitioners of polarity therapy use their hands to balance the human energy field, believing that, when in balance, the body will begin to automatically heal.

Dr. Andrew Weil, in his bestseller Spontaneous Healing, believes that “Health, according to the energy model, is the harmonious flow of life energy, while imbalances in this flow (due to unhealthy habits) result in illness.” He points out that conventional medicine has long used machines-such as x-rays, lasers, EKGs and EEGs-that record various forms of energy to diagnose or treat disease.

How does all of this energy really work? Simple. What happens when you blow a fuse in your house? The breakers go out, movement completely shuts down in the entire house and you’re without lights, refrigeration and, of course, TV.

Energy that comes into your house comes from a source, the power plant. This plant pumps high-voltage electricity through a series of lines and transformers to slow it down so we can eventually use it.

The human body is also an electrical plant that runs on high-voltage energy. The spine, representing the utility pole, sends energy via all the nerves (or wires) to every part of the body so movement can occur. If there’s a short in the circuits or an injury to the system, the circuit breakers go out. Knowing how to turn these circuit breakers back on is energy medicine.

Everything has energy, as Einstein pointed out; matter is energy and energy becomes form and matter.

How does all of this energy really work? Simple. What happens when you blow a fuse in your house? The breakers go out, movement completely shuts down in the entire house and you’re without lights, refrigeration and, of course, TV.

Therapies such as polarity therapy concentrate on keeping the positive pathways of energy open. Pain is a blockage of energy and eventually leads to disease and structural dysfunction.

Polarity therapy is becoming a household word. It’s a synthesis of many ancient theories and techniques derived from Indian Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese healing traditions such as acupressure and acupuncture.

Dr. Randolph Stone, the founder of polarity therapy, created a very detailed science that uses various reflex points, holds for stress reduction and specific energetic manipulations aimed at releasing tension in the body. A polarity practitioner will use various types of touch-working with the hands on or off the body-which can be combined with gentle rocking to release physical tension patterns.

Polarity also involves yoga exercise as well as Ayurvedic “live food” principles. It truly is a holistic approach to healthcare. A common belief in all aspects of polarity therapy is that life energy is the link between the mind and the body.

A polarity session can often get to the heart of the problem, tracing the energy blocks to the physical centers of pain. Once the source of the pain is identified, along with the help of the polarity practitioner, the client will be able to remove the blocks.

Deeper acupressure points help relieve energetic congestion held deep in the body.

Remember, to maintain quality health, the life energy must flow freely through the entire body. All Life is Energy!

ENERGY IS PERPETUAL, it cannot be destroyed and cannot be created All you can do is manifest it. Did you know that…

• Every cell in your body has electric charges and electric currents.
• A cell is a mini battery which pumps out 70-90 millivolts (when in balance).
• Muscle movement is powered by chemical energy.
• Digestion is a slow form of burning that produces energy.
• One cell goes through 100,000 chemical reactions per second! (per second)
• So…….All Life is Energy!

Mary Jo Ruggieri PhD, RPP
Institute of Holistic Health Careers
Director, Columbus Center for Integrative Health and Wellness
Satnam170@aol.com
www.holistichealthcareers.com

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http://www.youtube.com/user/holistichealthnow
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The next time you or your dog get sick, go beyond treating the symptoms (e.g., diarrhea, hot spot, high blood pressure, cancer, Parkinson’s disease) and consider the cause. Instead of classifying an illness as one disease or another that affects one part of the body or another, consider the possibility that the ‘disease’ is actually a symptom of a wider, systemic problem.

Let’s use cancer as an example. We are learning that our thinking about cancer is flawed. We label two people as having breast cancer, but in reality they may have two entirely different conditions, having different causes and requiring different treatments. Classifying cancer by body site (e.g., breast, colon, prostate, etc.) ignores differences in underlying causes, mechanisms, and pathways involved.

The conventional approach to treating cancer is to focus on the tumor – to shrink, burn, or cut it out. And then, to wait to see if it comes back. Gene therapy has helped to improve some outcomes, but the results have generally been disappointing.

A new group of researchers, some from the National Cancer Institute, are beginning to investigate cancer as a systemic (i.e., body as a whole) problem.

It is well known that cancer cells occur in our body every day, but in most of us, our natural defenses keep them at bay. So, what goes wrong in people (and pets) who develop cancer? Why didn’t their natural defenses snuff out those first cancer cells? Maybe the problem is in the natural defense system and how well it can perform in the body’s biological and energetic terrain. (The body terrain can be likened to the garden soil in which plants grow.) Diet, lifestyle, thoughts, and environmental toxins can all interact with our genes to alter the terrain. Interestingly, the scientific literature offers abundant evidence that diet, exercise, thoughts, feelings, and environmental toxins also influence the initiation, growth, and progression of cancer.

The immune system and body terrain also have a role in the development of other conditions, suggesting that all disease really boils down to these two things –a weakened immune system and a depleted terrain.  But just as it is challenging to salvage crops from a garden that was ignored too long, waiting until you or your dog is sick to improve the immune system and manage the terrain will make recovery more challenging.

White potato or sweet potato – a potato is a potato, right? In this article, Dr. Jean Dodds explains why the sweet potato might be the better choice for your pet (and you)!

Post by Dr. Jean Dodd (original post): http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/55006392224/sweet-pototato-white-pet-dog#.VZ_dla0o7IX

Sweet Potatoes versus White Potatoes: What is the difference for your pet?

There’s a famous old song with the lyrics, “You say potato, I say potahto; let’s call the whole thing off.” The songwriters obviously weren’t intending to compare the nutritional characteristics of white potatoes and sweet potatoes when they penned that line, but it’s not such a stretch. Navigating the white potato versus sweet potato maze can at times be confusing. So, let’s get to the root of this potato mystery and explain it once and for all.

Two Potatoes: two species
You might be surprised to discover that sweet potatoes are not just orange-colored white potatoes. Sweet potatoes and Russet potatoes, the most common white “baking” potato, come from completely different botanical families.

Russet potatoes are part of the Solanaceae family, which belongs to the nightshade group of plants. Many species of the Solanaceae family, including potatoes, naturally produce nitrogen-containing compounds called glycoalkaloids. Potatoes and other edible plants including eggplants, peppers and tomatoes produce glycoalkaloids as a natural defense against predators such as animals, insects and fungi. Glycoalkaloids are natural toxins that act as the plant’s natural pesticide and fungicide. You know those green spots sometimes evident on white potatoes? They indicate the presence of increased levels of glycoalkaloids and should be discarded, as should white potatoes that are already sprouting or bruised.

Glycoalkaloids affect the nervous system by disrupting membranes and the body’s regulation of acetylcholine, a chemical responsible for conducting nerve impulses. Signs of nightshade toxicity include headache, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Some researchers believe that glycoalkaloids can damage the joints by producing inflammation and contributing to loss of calcium from bone, but this has not been proven.

In addition, studies show that glycoalkaloids in doses normally available while eating white potatoes can cause the membranes that line the intestines to become permeable (“leaky”); disrupting the intestinal barrier can initiate or aggravate Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD). This fact flies in the face of the common and successful use of potatoes that are included as a “bland” carbohydrate source, to be fed as a limited ingredient diet for animals with “leaky gut” and IBD.

Sweet potatoes are a completely different plant species than white potatoes. Sweet potatoes belong to the Convolvulaceae family and are known by the scientific name of Ipomoea batatas.

Since sweet potatoes are not nightshade plants, they do not produce toxic glycoalkaloids. A switch from white potatoes to sweet potatoes might be warranted if your dog suffers from a neurological, or unresolved gastrointestinal or inflammatory health issue.

Further, sweet potatoes contain many health-promoting properties.

Carotenoids, the pigments that give sweet potatoes their lovely orange hue, are powerful antioxidants with a variety of health benefits, including:
•  Pre-cursors to vitamin A, which is essential for a healthy body
•  Boost immune function, increasing the ability to fight infections, especially viral infections
•  Increased immune function that helps protect against cancer
•  Maintains healthy lining of the digestive tract, respiratory tract and skin
•  Improves retinal function, particularly night vision
•  Reduces inflammation

Sweet potatoes also contain more fiber than white potatoes; fiber slows the rate at which sweet potatoes break down into glucose (sugar) and are absorbed into the blood stream. Not surprisingly, white potatoes rank high on the glycemic index (GI), which measures how much a particular food raises blood sugar levels compared to pure glucose (glucose rates 100 on the glycemic index). According to Harvard Medical School, a baked white potato has a glycemic index of 111, which means that it raises blood sugar 111% as much as pure glucose! Sweet potatoes have a lower GI of 70.

While the GI of sweet potatoes might also seem high, sweet potatoes are shown to modulate and even improve blood sugar regulation! Sweet potatoes contain adiponectin, a protein hormone produced by fat cells that modulates insulin metabolism. Low levels of adiponectin are associated with people who have poorly-regulated insulin metabolism, while those with healthy insulin metabolism tend to have higher levels of adiponectin. So, while sweet potatoes are safe for even diabetics to eat, they should avoid consuming high GI white potatoes.

Sweet potatoes and gastrointestinal health
In an earlier post, we discussed the use soluble fiber in the form of pumpkin to control diarrhea in pets.

As we mentioned, there are two types of fiber – soluble and insoluble – and most foods contain a combination of the two.
•  Soluble fiber absorbs water from the digestive tract, forming a gel-like substance that slows down the digestive process. Soluble fiber is found in foods such as oats, peas, beans, apples, citrus fruits, carrots, barley, psyllium, pumpkin, potatoes and sweet potatoes.
•  Insoluble fiber adds bulk to the stool and tends to speed up the passage of food through the digestive tract. Insoluble fiber is found in foods such as whole-wheat flour, wheat bran, nuts, beans and certain vegetables such as cauliflower and green beans.(Vorvick, 2012; University of Maryland, 2011; Mayo Clinic, 2012)

Sweet potatoes, like pumpkin, are a good source of soluble fiber that can help regulate your pet’s digestive tract. However, when choosing between pumpkin and sweet potato, be aware that sweet potato contains more than double the calories than pumpkin, which can then “pack on the pounds”.

The bottom line
Clearly, sweet potatoes are a superior source of nutrition for companion animals than white potatoes.  Advantages of sweet potatoes:
•  Boost immune function
•  Lots of healthy antioxidants, including vitamin A and carotenoids
•  More fiber than white potatoes
•  No toxic glycoalkaloids
•  Protect against disease
•  Help modulate insulin regulation

Try steaming some sweet potato for a healthy and delicious addition to your pet’s diet. And, remember to always introduce new foods slowly; even healthy foods can provide “too much of a good” thing if introduced too quickly to delicate stomachs!

W. Jean Dodds, DVM
Hemopet / NutriScan
11561 Salinaz Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92843

Re-blogged with permission from Dr. Jean Dodd

Resources
Cantwell, M 1996, ‘A Review of Important Facts about Potato Glycoalkaloids’, Perishables Handling Newsletter, no. 87, pp. 26-27.

Chilkov, N 2011, ‘Benefits of Carotenoids: What Colors are on Your Plate?’ Huffington Post, 1 August, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nalini-chilkov/carotenoids-benefits_b_889586.html. 

Davis, J 2006, Glycoalkaloids, Food Safety Watch, http://www.foodsafetywatch.com/public/154.cfm.

Harvard Health Publications, Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load for 100+ Foods, Harvard Medical School, http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Glycemic_index_and_glycemic_load_for_100_foods.htm. 

Health Canada 2011, Glycoalkaloids in Food, http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/pubs/securit/2010-glycoalkaloids-glycoalcaloides/index-eng.php. 

Patel, B, Schutte, R, Sporns, P, Doyle, J, Jewel, L, Fedorak, RN 2002, 2002, ‘Potato glycoalkaloids adversely affect intestinal permeability and aggravate inflammatory bowel disease’, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, 8(5):340-6.

Skerrett, PJ 2012, Use glycemic index to help control blood sugar, Harvard Health Publications, Harvard Medical School, 13 August, http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/use-glycemic-index-to-help-control-blood-sugar-201208135154. 

The World’s Healthiest Foods 2013, What are nightshades and in which foods are they found? http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=62. 

The World’s Healthiest Foods 2013, What’s New and Beneficial about Sweet Potatoes? http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=64. 

Bone broth is an inexpensive source of minerals (e.g., calcium, silicon, sulphur, magnesium, phosphorus, trace minerals) in an easily absorbable form along with other nutrients you and your dog will love. Often, a sick dog will drink bone broth when he will not eat anything else. But a healthy, vital, energetic dog can also benefit from bone broth.  

Bone broth contains the broken down material from cartilage and tendons (eg, chondroitin, sulphates, glucosamine) and is good for the joints. It also helps to detoxify the liver and promotes a healthy gut. When broth is cooled, it congeals due to the presence of gelatin, which is reportedly good for a long list of ailments.

Making bone broth is easy. You can begin with bones, some pieces of meat and fat, and vegetable. Before adding to the other ingredients, the bones can be browned in a hot oven (optional) to form compounds that enhance the flavor and color. Then add bones (e.g., chicken feet, beef marrow bones, lamb bones), garlic (optional), vegetables (optional) to a pot. Cover with cold water, add vinegar (to help extract the calcium) and heat the broth slowly on the stovetop or using a crockpot. Allow the broth to simmer for about 2 hours for fish broth, all day for chicken, turkey, or duck broth, and 24 hours for beef broth. Strain out the bones and refrigerate, then skim off the fat that has congealed on top. The broth that remains will look like jelly. The broth can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days or frozen. Add the bone broth to your dog’s regular meal in teaspoon or tablespoon amounts, depending on his size. More broth can be fed to a sick dog.

Bone broth is also good for humans. Broth is considered a cure-all in traditional households and is commonly made from chicken, fish, beef, or lamb. It is said that bone broth “builds strong bones, assuages sore throats, nurtures the sick, puts vigor in the step, and sparkle in love life….for chefs, it is the magic elixir for making soul-warming soups and matchless sauces.”

For more information on the benefits of bone broth and details on how to make it, go to http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/how-to-make-bone-broth-for-your-dog/  or to http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/broth-is-beautiful/ .

Acceptance of the role of environmental factors on health places a huge responsibility on the dog breeder AND owner because decisions they make can alter which genes are turned on or off and how healthy the dog will be.

What does this mean in practical terms for breeders and dog owners? It means that the breeder must be vigilant in how they manage their breeding stock and puppies and the dog owner must be equally vigilant in how they raise their dog! Slipshod, uninformed rearing approaches by either can result in an unhealthy dog.

The central dogma of biology that genes/DNA are the primary control mechanism for the cell via the creation of enzymes and hormones is no longer supported by evidence. It is not possible for DNA to act as the master control system for these processes.  We would need at least 120,000 genes to control all the body processes – humans have only 25,000. Genes do not even reflect the position on the evolutionary ladder, as the dog has 25,000 genes and the humble earthworm 24,000!

If genes don’t direct all biological function, what does? It appears that epigenetics plays an important role. Epigenetics is the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself. Epigenetics shows that genes change according to environmental influences. In other words, genes are an effect rather than the cause!

Acceptance of the role of environmental factors on health places a huge responsibility on the dog breeder AND owner because decisions they make can alter which genes are turned on or off and how healthy the dog will be.

So, if epigenetics plays such an important role, can the breeder wash his or her hands of any responsibility for the health of the dogs they breed? No! Epigenetic effects don’t just apply to the current generation. It has been shown that rodents fed poor quality food produce offspring who are at higher risk for chronic disease! If food fed to past generations can affect the current generation of breeding stock, so can exposure to other environmental influences, such as cleaning products, pesticides, and medications (including vaccines), to name a few. In addition to environmental influences, there is a documented health risk associated with consistently breeding animals who are closely related. Breeders should be knowledgeable about these risks and consider the short- and long-term implications of their breeding decisions.

Genes don’t control biology! It takes more than good genes for good health. This point is dramatically demonstrated in this short video showing two mice from the same mother, but different litters. The two mice are genetically identical, have eaten the same diet since birth, and were raised in exactly the same environment. The only difference is the diet the mother ate during her pregnancy! Not only do these mice look different, but along with being obese, the yellow one is at higher risk of developing diabetes and cancer. In contrast, the brown mouse is leaner and less likely to develop these diseases. The same principles hold true for our dogs (and us too) – you are what you eat!

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What about the dog owner, what role does he play in the health of the dog? In my opinion, the role of the owner is nearly as big as the breeder. Nutrition is the foundation of good health, therefore feeding a less than optimal diet may weaken the dog’s constitution, as will over vaccination, over medicating, exposure to pesticides, and exposure to toxic cleaning products. Sound familiar – yes, these are the same environmental influences the breeder should control.

We often get calls when problems crop up in a dog. When an owner asks for help, our first step is to ask questions, often focusing on environmental influences. Here are a few examples.

• Is the dog being fed a species appropriate diet? Diet is the most powerful medicine we have. If nutritional needs are not being met or toxins are inadvertently being fed in the commercial diet, a wide range of health problems can be seem.  In one dog, we addressed unexplained aggression merely by changing to a whole foods diet.
• What kind of treats do you feed between meals? With the numerous pet food and dog treat recalls over the past several years, it is well-known that these items can be associated negative health outcomes.
• Has the home or lawn recently been treated with pesticides or has the dog visited someone whose yard or home has been treated? We have had several reports of neurologic symptoms in dogs exposed to pesticides. In two, the dog became lame. In the first, lameness occurred after spraying the home for pesticides. The homeowner was very careful because she knew the risk of pesticides in her children. She had the basement treated while the children were at school, but allowed the dog to accompany the exterminator. In this case, the lameness resolved on its own within a few day. In the second case of lameness, the homeowner had her lawn treated with a product the yard service assured her was non-toxic. Her dog became so lame that he could barely navigate and was not responding to medication offered by her vet. The dog recovered after we suggested she discontinue her yard service. In a third case, the dog had a single epileptic seizure while playing in a recently treated yard. In yet another case, a wire fox terrier refused to walk on a treated lawn, but would gladly frolic on an untreated lawn.
• What vaccine schedule is being followed? Over vaccination is becoming one of the biggest risks to the health of our dogs, this includes administering multiple vaccines at one time or to an animal who is not well. Vaccines have saved lives, but over vaccination can be harmful and has been associated with immunological and behavioral conditions. We have been contacted by a colleague who had two puppies in a litter become aggressive shortly after vaccine administration. Administration of a homeopathic antidote corrected the aggression.
• Has the dog received any medications? Medications can be associated with a wide range of side effects.
• Is the dog getting plenty of fresh air and exercise? Dogs need exercise and fresh air to maintain good physical and mental health.
• Has something changed in the household? Divorce, children going away to school, loss of another pet, and job changes that affect the household routine can all affect your dog.
• Has a veterinarian been consulted and done a physical exam and blood work? We always ask to see the results of laboratory tests and, in dogs with suspected thyroid disease, verify that the appropriate tests have been performed.

The breeder of your dog should be there to help you throughout your dog’s life. We encourage you to contact them with problems and questions. We also encourage you to be mindful of the need to control those environmental influences that can have a profound effect on the health and happiness of you and your dog.

Many dogs suffer from problems with their anal glands, which excrete a ‘fluid’ having a noxious, fishy odor. Some pets will unexpectedly empty the gland (often at very inopportune times or places), scoot around in an attempt to express the gland, or develop inflammation, abscesses and rupture of the gland due to obstruction.

While anal glands are scent glands that produce a pungent scent used to mark territory, they also provide a route for elimination of toxins from the body. The glands should empty automatically. There are several reasons why they may not. In my experience the most common reason is diet, especially the feeding of processed food. Other reasons for failure of the anal glands to empty properly are generalized toxin build-up in the body, obesity, liver imbalance, and lumbo-sacral spine and muscle injury. While failure of the gland to empty properly can be managed with manual expression, antibiotics, or even surgery, these approaches address the symptom and not the cause. In fact, routine manual gland expression may actually cause the gland to fill up more quickly! Moreover, anal gland problems are an indication that something is not right. It is best to correct the underlying cause so as to prevent the future development of other, potentially more serious problems.

Our suggestions for the long-term management of dogs with anal gland issues are:

1. Eliminate processed foods (kibble and treats) from the diet. Instead, feed a whole foods diet, that is either raw (preferable) or cooked. Feeding a whole foods diet will produce a harder stool that will assist in emptying the gland naturally. A balanced whole foods diet will also help the body to eliminate toxins that may contribute to the anal gland problem.
2. Control your pet’s weight.  To determine if your pet is obese, check the charts shown here http://abbeyrosefoundation.org/march-2014-tip-so-youve-put-on-a-little-weight-recently/
3. Take your pet for body work to address issues of the lumbo-sacral spine.

For a comprehensive review of anal gland problems and their treatment, please see the article by Dr. Peter Dobias. DVM at http://goo.gl/5sp9jn

Music can be highly effective in managing a wide range of issues, including motion sickness, anxiety/ separation anxiety, fear of loud noises (eg, thunder, fireworks), excessive barking, and age-related issues in our pets.  

Music (sound) therapy works through vibration. The cells in all living things are constantly vibrating. The frequency and amplitude of the vibration determine the ‘health’ of the cell. Pets (and their humans) hear sound not just with the ears, but with the entire body-mind complex. The sound travels around and through the body, transferring vibrational energy to every cell in the body. This vibrational energy can be used by the body to correct or balance vibrational dissonance that causes motion sickness or anxiety, for example. In contrast, some types of vibrational energy (ie, music or sound) can add to the dissonance, thus worsening the anxiety.

Research has demonstrated that specific types of music can improve anxiety issues such as excessive barking, car sickness, or fear of separation or loud noises. A total of 15 common anxiety issues were tested in these studies. In one study, classical music had a marked soothing effect on dogs in animal shelters when compared to other types of auditory stimulation, such as heavy metal music.

In the second study, various types of classical music were tested to determine their effect on dog behavior at home or in a kennel. Researchers found that differences in instrumentation and tempo of the music produced markedly different results. Solo instruments, slower tempos, and less complex arrangements had the greatest calming effect. These effects are similar to those seen in humans. You can read more about this research at http://throughadogsear.com/research/.

Think about the type of music being played by the groomer, daycare, boarding kennel or vet and the impact it might have on your pet. Is it possible that the music you play on the car radio is increasing the risk that your pet will be car sick?  Music developed to address various types of pet anxiety is available and can be easily found by searching the internet. (http://throughadogsear.com/music-to-enjoy/ ; http://www.caninelullabies.com/ ; http://www.amazon.com/Relaxation-Music-Dogs-Cats-Volume/dp/B00008P1QG

If you have any doubt about the power of music/sound, consider how your own mood changes when you listen to different types of music or how the behavior of a crowd listening to heavy metal music differs from that of a crowd listening to jazz. Notice how your heart rate increases with an increase in the tempo of a tune and decreases when the tempo slows. How you react when you hear a siren, a 21-gun salute, a crying baby, a whimpering dog, laughter. Recall how some music can put a smile on your face or bring you to tears for reasons you can’t explain. Consider the evidence showing that music of the proper genre can have dramatic effects on the elderly in nursing homes, improving their ability to communicate and move about. (To view the documentary Alive Inside, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjEGi2PiPy8 )

There is no doubt that music can change things deep inside you that you didn’t know were there. And, the same is true for your pet.