There are several reasons a dog can have problems
with seizures; genetic, injury, nutritional, environmental, vaccines,
toxins, exposure chemicals etc. I have found some very definite things
that can help with this issue. The most prevalent problem that I have
found, is the body is full of toxins and when cleansed with antioxidants,
it can make a remarkable change. These are things I find beneficial
if I owned a dog with seizures.
It's Not The End of The World
If your dog is on a seizure drug, these supplements will not conflict
with the meds. What some people do is start on the program and then
after a couple months on it, they start to decrease the meds the dogs
are on, under the direction of a veterinarian. Many have reported
terrific success and been able to go off seizure medication as long
as they remain on the program.
If you do have a dog on any seizure medication like Phenobarbital,
or others, it is highly recommended that you use Milk
Thistle or SAMe supplement
to detoxify the liver. You can get this online
or at the health food store. For large/giant breeds dose Milk Thistle
as recommended for human adults - for SAMe - dose 200 mg daily.
- Thyroid
Test- have your dogs thyroid tested and for an accurate
reading it should be 2 months after any vaccines or the results
are not valid, and have a T3 and T4 done. The best thyroid testing
is done by Dr. Jean Dodds at www.hemopet.com
contact them for instructions on how to do this and then take it
to your vet.
- There is evidence that Gold Bead Implants will help with epilepsy.
With nutritional support and perhaps the use of gold bead implants
for chronic cases you will have some quality options for your pet.
Permanent Acupuncture
with Gold Bead Implants
ALSO: In my feed program, one of the supplements I highly
recommend is Nzymes dietary enzyme due to their abilitiy to detoxify
the body. Here is an example of a human situation you will find interesting
where they used Nzymes:
http://www.nzymes.com/TestimonialsHuman/josie-f-cerebral-palsy-epilepsy-seizures-speech-impaired.htm
This complete program can be purchased in Kit
# 6 Seizure Support
| 1.
Dog Food - Natural/Holistic
Super Premium - kibble and canned |
| |
| 2.
Filling N The Wholes - whole
food multi-vit, probiotic, digestive enzymes |
| |
| 3.
Nzymes - cleans body of toxins
- natural anti-inflammatory |
| |
| rehydrates
cells / supports metabolic function - the body's "electrical
system" needs trace minerals |
| |
| 5.
DMG-L - research shows it is known
to be beneficial for seizures |
| |
| Optional
Joint Supplement Level 5000 joint support supplement
- can purchase at same source as the kit. |
| |
| Optional
Variety - canned meats - raw options - fruits
and vegetable |
Recent research shows that
Omega-3's from Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil are important to use as well.
Where
To Purchase Products
1. DOG
FOOD -
Precise Plus line of holistic foods
2. FOUR-IN-ONE
PROBIOTICS - beneficial
bacteria, digestive enzymes, Vitamin C & Barley Grass www.firstchoicenaturals.com
3. NZYMES
- dietary enzymes - in chewable
Pet Treat or Granular (goes further) to detoxify the body www.firstchoicenaturals.com
4. SPARK
OF LIFE and WATER
FOR LIFE - are companion products - Water for Life
rehydrates at a cellular level making the body more receptive to the
Spark of Life trace/micro minerals needed to the body's electrical/metabolism
system. Both can be
purchased online at First Choice Naturals
5.
DMG-L - shown to help seizures and autism in children
- www.firstchoicenaturals.com
Optional
- joint support supplement (glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM
and herbs).
www.Liquid Health Level 5000
FOR VARIETY ADD
- fruits & veggies & Precise canned meats. For a safe,
balanced raw option use Honest
Kitchen dehydrated raw - or Northwest
Naturals Raw Diets
Description of Supplements
My preference is to use something from the PRECISE
PLUS line of pet foods.
But, I have provided a list
of better food and my criteria for selection. Using
a food with balanced Omegas, one that is naturally preserved, has
trace minerals (Kelp) in it is very important. For seizures we want
a food that has a lower fat content and higher protein. I suggest
Precise Lamb Rice, Precise Plus Large Breed Adult Formula - Precise
Plus Canine Adult.
DO NOT SOAK
KIBBLE AND LET SET, OR USE HOT WATER ON YOUR KIBBLE IT WILL DESTROY
THE INTEGRITY OF THE NUTRIENTS AND PROBIOTICS - YOGURT LIKE CULTURES
ON THE FOOD.
Filling
N The Wholes - a unique whole food vitamin/mineral
supplement to fill in the wholes in your pet's diet. So often seizures
are due to missing nutrients in a diet, this product helps to replenish
those support nutrients that might be missing. This product has
probitoics/digestive enzymes, metabolic enzymes, omegas, heart,
immune and joint support in it.
To order: 765-287-8288 | Website: ~ http://www.firstchoicenaturals.com
- in pet treats or granular
(multiple pets)
Nzymes - are critical to a diet
when a pet has seizures, because it is a powerful antioxidant that
detoxifies the body of toxins, which are often a cause of seizures.
Dietary Enzyme in a chewable healthy pet treat or in granular form.
Nzymes put
the "living component" back into a cooked, processed,
stored dog food. Enzymes are heat sensitive and lost
in processing/cooking of all commercial foods or making home cooked
diets. As owners we must put dietary enzymes back into the diet,
in order to maintain proper wellness and not deplete the body of
this important resource. This can be done by the addition to your
diet with a product called Nzymes, a chewable pet treat, or granular
form which can be sprinkled on the food to replace what is lost.
In other words, Nzymes provide the body with the right nutrients
to allow the body to make the chemicals necessary to detoxify (clean
out) the body and repair itself.
Nzymes helps with the following:
- Allergic reactions
- Natural anti-inflammatory ~ so you can
avoid risky medicines like Rimadyl
- Arthritis
- Orthopedic problems ~ HOD, OCO, Pano, Wobblers,
Hip Dysplasia, ACL
- Epilepsy and Seizures - due to vaccine
reactions
- Vaccine reaction
prevention
- Cleanses residual toxins from medicines,
flea and parasite preparations.
- Boosting the immune system
- Reduces shedding
- Itchy ears
- Yeast infections
- Bladder infections
- Hotspots
- Reduces healing time from injury, surgery
(cropping/bloat/c-sections)
- Reduces recovery time from anesthesia.
Nzymes are from sprouts (food) so they do not conflict with diet
or any medications. I have used the Nzymes for 20 years for my animals
and I take the human product and have seen remarkable changes our
health. By incorporating Nzymes into the diet, you are putting back
the "living component" into the modern processed and cooked
diets. This gives the body the tools it needs for repair and good
health.
Website to order : http://www.nzymes.com/
- 877- 816- 6500 - 8:00-6:00 PST
/ WATER
FOR LIFE
Water of Life is a companion product to the Spark of
Life, and it rehydrateds at a cellular level to prepare the
cells for the reception of Spark of Life trace minerals.
Some seizures can
be caused by an interruption in electrical impluses in the brain,
caused by a lack of minor /trace minerals in a diet.
The body’s metabolic, electrical and chemicals systems
need usable trace minerals to run properly. Our soils are depleted
of these essential trace minerals, therefore our foods are depleted
of these naturally occuring* nutrients, and most pet foods are totally
lacking in trace nutrients. Even some of the better foods on the
market have overlooked the need for trace minerals in a diet. Now
you can restore organic trace minerals to the body's immune and
metabolic systems, as well as they help keep toxins from accumulating
in the body, and help keep the pH of the body in balance. Spark
of Life Trace Minerals are free from insecticide, bacteria, mold
or yeast contaminates.
Purchase online at www.firstchoicenaturals.com
- Spark
of Life | Water
For Life
*naturally occurring means they will not conflict with any diet
you are on, if the body does not need them it disposes of them naturally
in the pet's stool.
5. DMG
- L
DMG also known as pangamic acid, or B15 is a rather sweet-tasting
substance that was described in a recent article in the Journal
of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine (1990, 481-86) as a "natural,
simple compound with no known undesirable side effects."
The article described an experiment in which DMG was used to try
to enhance the function of the immune system of laboratory rabbits
and the immune systems of the animals given DMG showed 300% to 1,000%
better response to infection than the controls. I have personally
found DMG-L to be very beneficial to helping animals with seizures.
There is much research that shows it's benefits in children with
autism and seizures
.
My preference is Dr. Wagner's DMG - www.firstchoicenaturals.com
I have used Liquid
Health Level 5000 joint supplementation with great success
on my dogs. It is particularly noticeable when you introduce it
to an elderly dog diet - they respond very well to joint nutritional
supplementation. The amount of glucosamine in better dog foods is
barely a maintenance level dosage, which is why I supplement my
dogs.
If you are purchasing the Seizure
Kit#6 you can order a joint support supplement from the same
place called Level
5000 Liquid Joint Support. 8 oz, 32 oz or gallon sizes
Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil is an important part of this program.
Options:
For Variety - Meats - Fruits - Vegetable
I use Precise Plus
canned meats or other holistic canned meats for variety
. I mix a couple of tablespoons of canned meat with tepid temperature
water and make a gravy. Then I top dress with one of the HONEST
KITCHEN - an organic dehydrated raw meat /fruit/veggie mixe.
I use about 10% of this in combination with my Eagle kibble.
*Do NOT use grocery store brand of
canned food they are full of preservatives and 4D meats (dead, diseased
dying and disabled) and they give the dogs stinky gas and are full
of unhealthy fillers. NO
homemade concoctions of meat/rice combinations that you make up
at home, they are very unbalanced in their calcium and phosphorus
levels and can cause growth problems.
The Honest
Kitchen dehydrated raw dog food is what I use to provide
a 10% raw component to my dogs Eagle kibble. It is balanced
in calcium and phosphorus ratios which are very important
in growing and elderly dogs!
I use the EMBARK
or any of the other varieties of Honest Kitchen, which has a raw
organic turkey, fruits and veggies and sometimes
I will use PREFERENCE,
which is strictly fruits/veggies and herbs.
EMBARK 29%
protein - 16% fat - Organic Turkey, Flaxseed, Potatoes, Celery,
Spinach, Carrots, Coconut, Apples, Kelp, Eggs, Sesame Seeds, Bananas,
Cranberries, Rosemary.
PREFERENCE: 12% protein 5
% fat - Alfalfa, sweet potatoes, cabbage, celery, apples, spinach,
organic kelp, coconut, bananas, zucchini, and honey.
One- 4 lb bag will make up to 17 lbs of moist meat/fruits and
veggies and if used to top dress your kibble you can see it goes
a long way. The Honest Kitchen dog food and Eagle Pet Foods are
endorsed by the Whole Dog Journal.
To order www.firstchoicenaturals.com
If you want to feed a grain free, you probably know I am not a big fan of them because they are too extreme in protein/fat /calories and high in calcium. But, that said there are two no grain diets that
I do approve: Petcurean NOW and Golden Eagle (Europe).
These are both quality, moderate, common sense nutrition!
IF you want to do your own fruits and veggies here are some
suggestions
FRUITS
&VEGETABLE: This is
a list of recommended foods to use in moderation:
yogurt,
buttermilk berries melons, apples, banana, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli,
cauliflower, oranges, squash, sweet potato, green beans, zucchini
- minced/diced/raw/cooked - they love frozen berries and melon balls!!
Pulverized fresh veggies are best for digestion.
NO raw onions, grapes or raisins,
macadamia nuts.
Linda's Very Veggie Soup
- 2
large cans of chicken or beef broth - (low sodium for heart or elderly
dogs- or homemade). Add LOTS of veggies
- carrots, green beans, wax beans,
zucchini, squash, tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and couple
cloves of garlic. The idea is to use this as the filler so you want
it to be hearty and filling.
HOW I MIX MY DOG FOOD
-
When introducing these to your adult dog, add each thing 3 days
apart to make sure they are used to it before you add the next thing.
I make gravy of tepid temp water and Eagle canned meat
and add the Ox-E-Drops,
DMG-L,
Water
for Life and Spark
of life to this mixture.
Top dress with Honest Kitchen mixture (at least with one meal a
day) or your own fruits and veggies.
WATER ON KIBBLE - 1/4- 1/2 cup water + 3-4 tablespoons canned
meat. You want the food moist but not floating and sloppy (this
is for large/giant breeds, reduce amount for smaller breeds accordingly).
Do not microwave, soak or use hot or very warm water on your kibble.
It will destroy the integrity of the friendly yogurt type cultures
and the fragile vitamins/minerals and amino acids on the food.
Water On Food:
Commercial foods need to be fed with moisture so dogs don't over
consume water after a meal, and so the kibble does not pull moisture
from the dogs system in order to break down properly. Use "tepid"
temperature water never hot or warm and never soak your food as
it breaks down and destroys nutrients. Mix up and feed immediately.
I use approximately 1 to 1-1/2 cups of water for adults per each
meal. Adjust accordingly for puppies. If they have loose stools,
you may be using too much meat or water than necessary. Adjust that
before you panic and think they are sick.
Drinking Water:
It is very important to NEVER
withhold water from your dog. This can lead to over consumption
and bladder infections. Use common sense, do not let them drink
excessively after exercise or dinner. Like a horse, let them cool
down and then drink. I have found if I have water available in several
places, they never overdo it since they know it is available to
them when they need it. That way they drink less amounts of water,
but more frequently.
Withholding water for fear of bloat is a myth. Stress is the cause
and bloat/torsion is the response. It is much more complicated that
simply saying water is the cause of bloat.
Vaccine
Reactions:
To help prevent this problem in adults, make sure they are on
Vitamin C
and Nzymes. I
use the Nzymes Product to support the immune system, and prevent
vaccine reactions.
Anesthesia
/ Surgery:
This is important information about anesthetics
and giant breeds. Print out for your vet. Also for any
elective surgery, i.e., spay, neuter or emergency surgery such
as bloat/torsion. I use Nzymes
to detoxify and help with fast healing.
If you own a giant breed or one prone to heart
problems it is recommended that you use the highest quality
protein food and supplement with these components. These are
nutritional substances from food sources and do not conflict
with medications or each other and are good to use for heart
disease.
Supplements
for Heart Disease.
1) Co-enzyme-Q-10 - www.firstchoicenaturals.com
2) Taurine and L- Carnitine - Two amino Acids are
critical to strengthen the heart -
You can get these from the health food store. Make sure you
select a very good brand so they are usable by the body.
Taurine 100 mg a day
L-Carnitine 100 - 200 mg a day
These dosages are taken from the newest textbook Small Animal
Clinical Nutrition and would be increased if the dog had been
diagnosed with actual cardiomyopathy.
3) Colostrum - this amazing product will regenerate
and rejuvenate the immune function as well as heart muscle.
It is highly recommended for dogs with cardio.
In the future you can order from the Nzymes company - in the
meantime, get Immune Tree Brand at the Health food store or
on line. You want "first milking" colostrum - guaranteed
to be that it is. www.firstchoicenaturals.com
Read
this: Does My Vet Understand Nutrition?
Vaccines
There are several articles
and photos of vaccine reactions at this website. You need to know
how to prevent vaccine reactions, because vaccine reactions in some
breeds will kill your dog in a slow agonizing death known as Immune
Mediated Response, which is always misdiagnosed as HOD. So, here
is info:
-
Sulfonamide Antibiotics
Based on information gained from the National Bone Survey, I do
not recommend using Sulfonamide* antibiotics to my puppy buyers
because these drugs can cause serious side-effects like sloughing
of skin and internal bleeding and HOD-like symptoms including;fever,
aching joints, swollen joints, lack of mobility, depression and
anorexia. The following antibiotics are sulfonamides.
- Ditrim
- Primor
- Tribrissin
- Bactrim
- TMZ
- TMP/SDZ
Another commonly used, potentially troublesome antibiotics is Cephalexin
(Keflex, Cefa-Tabs). This can also produces the same symptoms as
HOD (fever,swollen/hot joints, immobility, anorexia) even in adult
dogs. I will use Chephalexin, but with a watchful eye and if the
dog starts acting lethargic and achy, we stop the antibiotic, since
they are sensitive to it. Call the vet for an alternative antibiotic
and make sure you are using a good Probiotic product to keep the
digestive tract functioning properly.
I will not use Sulfonamides drugs on my dogs. A reaction can happen
from 24 hours - 2 weeks of being on an antibiotic. If there is a
reaction, my vet recommends Dexamethsone/Azium and discontinue use
or antibiotic.
* Research references
on Sulfonamides
People ask me what I use for these problems. I use Interceptor
as a heartworm preventative and for flea and tick problems I use
a topical product- either Frontline
Plus or Advantage, Advantix or Frontline products. I
do rotate a different one each year. Because these are not systemic
products, I feel a bit better about using them and because the dogs/cats
and my self are also on Nzymes,
which detoxifies the body, I am comfortable with using these products.
For Collie/Sheltie/Aussie and Sighthound
Owners (could effect some Great Danes)
For those people who own Collies, Shelties,
Sighthounds, Aussies, Border Collies, any breeds with Collie
background or mixed breeds with any of these dogs in them, it
is critical that you know there are certain medications your
dogs CAN'T take. Do not leave it up to your vet to know this..YOU
must print this out and know it - it is a matter of life or
death.
These dogs have a sensitivity to Ivermectin
(Heartguard Heartworm medication. Only use Interceptor heart
worm preventative. Other related drugs you can not use on
these breeds or there will be neurological damage.
Other related drugs you can NOT use:
Metronidazole (which is used for diarrhea
and giardia)
Flagyl
Torbutol
Butorphanol
Morphine
Acepromazine
Ivermectin - Heart Guard
There are many different types of drugs that
have been reported to cause problems in Collies, ranging from
over-the-counter antidiarrheal agents like Imodium® to antiparasitic
and chemotherapy agents. It is likely this list will grow to
include more drugs as our research progresses.
Drugs that have been documented, or are strongly
suspected to cause problems in dogs with the MDR1 mutation:
Ivermectin (antiparasitic agent)
Loperamide (Imodium®; over-the-counter antidiarrheal agent)
Doxorubicin (anticancer agent)
Vincristine (anticancer agent)
Vinblastine (anticancer agent)
Cyclosporin (immunosuppressive agent)
Digoxin (heart drug)
Acepromazine (tranquilizer)
Butorphanol (pain control)
Potential Problem Drugs
The following drugs may potentially cause problems
when given to dogs that have the mutation. Biochemical studies
have shown that this gene has the potential to act on over 50
different drugs.
Ondansetron
Domperidone
Paclitaxel
Mitoxantrone
Etoposide
Rifampicin
Quinidine
Morphine
Washington State University College of Veterinary
Medicine
Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory
PO Box 2280
Pullman, WA 99165-2280
(Phone/FAX 509-335-3745)
VCPL@vetmed.wsu.edu
