Just as with young children,  dogs go through specific developmental stages as they mature and by 16 weeks the pups personality is pretty much established.    Knowing about these stages and at what age they occur can help caregivers avoid  personality issues  and mold  a pup that  is stable,  predictable, well balanced   and that will become a true contribution to  the family.       Failure to expose the pup to certain critical experiences during these developmental stages or a trauma or a frightening experience at a critical age can produce personality issues that continue through adulthood.   Although behavioral training can help alleviate such personality problems some may never become completely trust-worthy and may be a dangerous liability under the wrong circumstances.  So if you are  now or will be soon raising a young pup, play careful attention to the critical periods of development listed below:

NEONATAL  Stage: Birth to 2 weeks.   Puppy needs warmth, food, and massage.

TRANSITIONAL  PERIOD: 3^RD week.    Ears and eyes open.

SPECIES IDENTIFICATION PERIOD: Week  4:    This is the stage of when the pup may imprint of on the mother, littermates and humans.    It is very detrimental to remove pups from the mother and the natural weening process at this time.  Mother dog initiates weaning process by regurgitating food.

CANINE  SOCIALIZATION  PERIOD: 5-7 weeks.   Interactive play with littermates essential at this time if pup is to become properly socialized.   It is the beginning of the pup learning discipline.  Pup begins to learn to moderate biting and control aggressive behavior.

SKILL  DEVELOPMENT  PERIOD: 7 weeks to 6 months.    Pups learns  pack discipline and survival behavior.    This includes learning to hunt from the adults in the pack.

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT: EEG brain waves convert to those of an adult dog at 49 days of age.

FIRST FEAR IMPRINT PERIOD: 8-10 weeks .   Fright or  trauma produces permanent personality damage during this time.  Avoid placing pup in severe stressful situations if possible.      Unfortunately this is the most common time for the puppies first vistit to the veterinarian.

SECOND FEAR IMPRINT PERIOD: 6-9 months .  This is the adolescent period.   Unfortunately this is the most common time for castration and ovariohysterectomies to be performed.

SOCIALIZATION PERIOD: 5-16 weeks.    Expose pup  often to as many new people and situations as possible.

LATEST AGE FOR SOCIALIZATION: Past 16 weeks pup  will no longer include others as part of her kind.

OPTIMAL LEARNING PERIOD: 7-12 weeks.   Best time to start obedience training because pup is very open to being taught new things.   Such training is very likely to remain and not be forgotten.

BONDING BEHAVIOR: 8-12 weeks.   Providing earlier imprinting has occurred the pup will bond emotionally to the pack which includes his or her people.    The pup begins to learn subordination.

DOMINANCE ORDER ESTABLISHED: 12-16 weeks.   Litter dominance order established and practice for adult ranking in pack.  This is the time the  teeth begin to appear.

PACK FORMATION PERIOD: 4-6 months.  Pup reaches adolescence and begins determining pack position.   Pup may become rebellious and the pup must be controlled and taught that the human is the pack leader.

ONSET OF PUBERTY: 14 weeks.    Lots of hormonal changes occurring.   Breeding ability comes at 5 to 7 months.

LEARNING FUNDAMENTAL CANINE SOCIAL SKILLS: 3-7 weeks.    If pup does not spend enough time with mother  and litter mates  or he or she will be unable to properly socialize with other dogs and on occasion with people.

DEVELOPMENT OF SELF CONFIDENCE : 4-16 weeks.     If pup is exposed to a variety of circumstances he or she will develop important coping skills necessary for the dog to be predicable and stable.

ADOLESCENCE TO MATURITY: 14 weeks to 2 years.   Flight instinct develops early in this period so it is important to teach dog to come when called before 14 weeks of age.

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Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets rodents, and reptiles with both traditional and alternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and past board member of the  American Holistic Veterinary Association.   Visit us at  www.doc4pets.com

Woodside Animal Clinic sees pets from all over Michigan but primarily from the greater Detroit area including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Washtenaw counties. Cities in these counties include:  Royal Oak, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Detroit, Redford,  Allen Park, Romulus, Trenton, Livonia, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Warren, Centerline, Clawson, Troy, Sterling Heights, Southfield, Birmingham, Lathrup Village, Bingham Farms,  Franklin, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Northville,Wixom, Brighton, Livonia, Plymouth, Commerce, Ann Arbor, Ortonville, Clarkston, Waterford, Union Lake, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Utica, White Lake, Grosse Pointe, Romeo, Swartz Creek,  Shelby township, Washington,  Flint, Hartland, Lansing, Okemos, Howell, Brighton, White Lake, Romeo, Saline, South Lyon, Battle Creek, Saginaw, Windsor Canada, Toledo Ohio

You have probably heard of athletes rupturing their “ACL” but didn’t really know what that meant. The abbreviation ACL stands for “anterior cruciate ligament”. This ligament is found inside the knee joint and helps to maintain its overall stability. When this cruciate ligament is stretched or torn as a result of a sudden traumatic movement the knee joint is no longer stable and begins to move in abnormal ways. This abnormal movement called “drawer movement results in pain, cartilage degeneration and eventually in arthritis. Conventional medical advice for a cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture would be to have the knee repaired surgically. There are several surgical techniques which are all quite effective in returning the knee joint to normal function, however, they are all quite expensive and have a 3 to 6 month re-cooperative period where the dog is significantly favoring the leg and placing additional stress on the opposite leg.

In a large breed young animal cruciate ligament surgery may be the smartest thing to do but in an older animal the surgery may not be the best route to follow. Consider first that neither anesthetic nor surgery is easy on an older animal. Secondly, understand that the surgery will cause the animal to bare weight entirely on the opposite limb for a good 3 months. This added stress can lead to both arthritis and occassionaly a cruciate ligament tear in the opposite hind leg. The two most recommended cruciate surgeries are the “ lateral suture technique” and the “TPLO”. Both are equally effective in the long run and both have inherent problems. The suture technique surgery uses a heavy duty suture to stabilize the joint. Although rare, this suture can slip, break or even get caught up on arthritic spurs already present. The TPLO is a more aggressive surgery where a portion of the tibial bone is purposely broken in order to change its alignment with the femur. The TPLO knee surgery has more risk of bone infection and could even result in a non union fracture. It is a significantly more expensive surgery and produces no better long term outcome than the less aggressive less expensive suture technique. The TPLO surgery may fail to produce the hoped for stability and is more likely to result in arthritis than the lateral suture technique.

For all of the above reasons, do not jump into surgery without first considering other options. If you search the internet you may discover articles on “prolotherapy” as a method for rehabilitating damaged joints. Prolotherapy has been used for over 30 years to repair hyper-mobile, unstable joints in humans. It however is just starting to take its rightful place in veterinary medicine, although it is still considered to be in the realm of alternative medicine. Prolotherapy, proliferative, or sclerosing therapy are simply different names for the same thing. Prolotherapy is a way of tightening up loose unstable, hyper-mobile joints by injecting a “sclerosing” agent in and around the joint. The sclerosing agent produces a thickening of the joint capsule and of the external ligaments of the joint. This thickening of the ligaments act like scar tissue and eventually contract with time. The thickening and contraction of the ligaments and joint capsule increase joint stability and relieves joint pain. Prolotherapy commonly takes place in 5 to 6 sessions spaced approximately 3 weeks apart. During each session the joint is shaved and disinfected with a surgical scrub. Then multiple injections are carefully placed in the ligaments and joint capsule and even into the joint space. Because of the number of injections most dogs will need to sedated but usually not anesthetized. Although I tell caregivers not to expect any positive results until at least the third treatment I am occasionally surprised to see improvement after just one treatment. Although side effects from prolotherapy are rare, a joint infection is possible and consequently I surgically scrub the knee before each prolo session and give antibiotics to go home. In very rare occasions it is possible for prolotherapy to injure a nerve passing by the knee however this has never happen to me and should not happen if care is taken to apply the sclerosing agents only to those areas of the knee where nerves are abscent.

In order to encourage more rapid fibrosis and joint thickening I often apply soft laser therapy to the knee with a non cutting therapeutic laser device that employs 5 lasers of various frequencies . Soft lasers are therapeutic devices that should not be confused with surgical lasers. The soft laser is painless, quick and has next to no adverse side effects. Soft laser therapy supports the prolotherapy by further encouraging fibrosis of the joint capsule and external ligaments. I also recommend that oral doses of “Orthoflex” and vitamin C be given at home throughout the prolotherapy process. Another modality I often recommend be used in conjunction with prolotherapy is pulsed magnetic therapy. The pulsed magnetic waves reduce pain and help the joint recuperate. Finally, to further support the prolotherapy, injections of “Adequan” and “Legend” can be given to encourage cartilage health, joint fluid production and overall joint rehabilitation.

Prolotherapy for torn cruciate ligaments may not be successful if there is a torn meniscal cartilage in the joint. It is also possible that in spite of multiple injections the thickening of the external ligaments may not be adequate to stabilize the joint and consequently the dog’s lameness remain. That being said, when the choice is between joint surgery or prolotherapy, prolotherapy being safer, less invasive and less expensive makes more sense especially in the senior patient.

Prolotherapy can be performed on almost any joint of the body. Personally I have performed prolo on knee joints, elbow joints, hip joints, the sacro illiacs joints and the lumbo sacral joints.  It is a good choice of therapy for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia,  shoulder dysplasia or for any joint problem where there  is arthritis resulting from stretched ligaments.

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Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets rodents, and reptiles with both traditional and alternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and past board member of the  American Holistic Veterinary Association.   Visit us at  www.doc4pets.com

Woodside Animal Clinic sees pets from all over Michigan but primarily from the greater Detroit area including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Washtenaw counties. Cities in these counties include:  Royal Oak, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Detroit, Redford,  Allen Park, Romulus, Trenton, Livonia, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Warren, Centerline, Clawson, Troy, Sterling Heights, Southfield, Birmingham, Lathrup Village, Bingham Farms,  Franklin, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Northville,Wixom, Brighton, Livonia, Plymouth, Commerce, Ann Arbor, Ortonville, Clarkston, Waterford, Union Lake, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Utica, White Lake, Grosse Pointe, Romeo, Swartz Creek,  Shelby township, Washington,  Flint, Hartland, Lansing, Okemos, Howell, Brighton, White Lake, Romeo, Saline, South Lyon, Battle Creek, Saginaw, Windsor Canada, Toledo Ohio

At Woodside Animal Clinic we have been having increasing success managing fearful, aggressive, and destructive behavior with minerals, anti anxiety herbs, homeopathics, flower essences, essential oils, nutritional and dietary changes and especially “neurotransmitter therapy”. Often several of these supplements are used in combination and then combined with behavior modification techniques.    The use of the neurotransmitter therapy along with dietary modification and nutra -ceuticals appears to place an animal in a state where they are calmer, less dominant, and less fearful so they are easier to manage and train.

Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals derived from specific amino acid precursors. The brain produces four primary neurotransmitters which in turn produce distinctly different brain states.   These different states of mind create a mood which affects the rest of the body thru both nerve pathways and endocrine (hormonal) connections.  Neurotransmitters appear to be the master conductors of the body.    Of course there are other neurotransmitters besides these major four but , for the sake of space, I will limit my discussion to these four.

Communication between the brain and the body, between the various endocrine organs, and between various cells of the body is necessary to maintain balance and have all parts of the body work in harmony. Think again of an orchestra with its many different instruments playing their distinct parts each of which must harmonize with the whole.    In order for this to happen there must be a conductor to guide the individual orchestral sections.    The conductor not only cues the various instruments he also calls for greater or lesser volume, and maintains the tempo depending on what the music calls for.    Of course the orchestra we call a living body is much more complicated and therefore a   much more sophisticated line of communication is needed. In the paragraphs to follow I will discuss neurotransmitter and how they conduct the bodies vast communication network.

Whether you are a human being or a pet your brain produces 4  major neurotransmitters each of which cause the brain to operate at distinctly different frequencies which in turn produces distinctly different mental  states or moods.  Below is a chart listing  these 4 distinctions as they relate to humans.   Since the  brains  of animals are anatomically similar and produce these same neurotransmitters   we can only assume that they experience similar  mental states.   The basic personality differences we find in young  animals may be a result of excesses or  deficiencies in these chemicals.  ie. shy fear biters or aggressive dominance etc.  As  we learn more about these 4 major neurotransmitters we may be able to adjust or  balance them in  people and pets in order to correct basic personality  disorders.

Neurochemical      Frequency         Brain wave        Amino acid                      Mental state       Function                                                                                                                                                                                               .

1) Dopamine (12-16 hertz)                   Delta waves         Tyrosine                           Sleep                       Voltage

2) Acetylcholine   (8-12 hertz)          Theta waves       phosphotidylserine

3) GABA (4-8  hertz)                                  Alpha waves       Glutamine                      Daydreaming       Rhythm

4} Serotonin (1-4  hertz)                        Beta                        Tryptophan                     Thinking

These brain states,  however, are not limited to the brain,   they affect the  entire body via  their connection to the autonomic nervous system, the endocrine system, and secretion of  information molecules.    Here is where  the body- mind  connection is born.

If any one the nutritional precursors (amino acids) used to manufacture these 4 major  neuro chemicals is  deficient then the   associated neurotransmitter will  be deficient and the body’s mental state  will be affected.  Adding one or more of the above amino  acids to the  diet can help correct a neuro-transmitter deficiency and re establish balance between  these 4 neuro chemicals.    The 4 amino acid precursors tryptophan,  tyrosine,  phosphatidylserine, and glutamine  can be  used to change an animal’s or person’s overall tone and personality.

Allow me to give you a very quick course in neurotransmitters.  The nervous system is made up of individual cells called neurons.   They act more or less as the body’s wiring.   Electrical nerve impulses pass down  this wiring.   When a nerve impulse reaches the end of a neuron it is able to jump over to the next neuron using chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.    These neuro-chemicals are stored in tiny sacs at the end of each neuron.   When the nerve impulse reaches the end  of the neuron it triggers a response which causes these sacs to empty there contents into the gap that separates one nerve from another.   These spaces are known as synapses.     When the secreted neurotransmitters  reach the other side of the synapse they cause the next neuron to fire and the impulses continues down the nerve accordingly.

Now lets talk in more detail about the four major neurotransmitters:

GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid) is the brain’s natural Valium.  It is synthesized in the body from its precursor amino acid Glutamine.  Vitamin B6  and pyridoxine 6 phosphate are also  precursor needed to form GABA.   GABA is involved in the production of endorphins which produces the GABA quality of calmness.     GABA is also the body’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter and the major controller of brain rhythm.  A rhythmic brain creates and receives electricity in a smooth and even flow as contrasted with bursts.   Rhythm determines how we handle life’s stresses.   GABA hinders the transmission of impulses from one neuron to another and slows neuronal transmission.  It has a calming and quieting influence which provide relaxing, anti anxiety and anti convulsive effects.    Inositol enhances the effects of GABA.

Serotonin is the brains natural Prozac.  The body manufactures Serotonin from the precursor amino acid tryptophan.   By increasing the amount of tryptophan in the diet you can elevate the serotonin levels thereby producing the same effect as Prozac.    Balancing the brain means synchronizing the right and left hemispheres.  When our hemispheres are “in sync” we feel peaceful and secure.

Dopamine is the 3rd major neurotransmitters.   Dopamine manages brain voltage .  The nervous system manufactures dopamine from the amino acid precursor Tyrosine.  Tyrosine is converted to L Dopa and then to Dopamine.   Dopamine has many important roles in behavior including sleep, mood, attention and learning.  It is associated with stimulation of the  pleasure centers of the brain .  Deficient dopamine is linked to attention deficit disorders  and loss of creativity in humans.  Dopamine has been associated with the processing of pain such that decreased levels of dopamine encourage painful conditions such as fibromyalgia in people.  Insufficient dopamine can cause  Parkinsons , in which the body loose its ability to execute smooth controlled movements.   It is important to point out that we must always balance Serotonin with Dopamine.   If we just add tryptophan with out tyrosine to the diet we will drive down the dopamine neurotransmitters and loose brain voltage.

Acetylcholine is the  4th major neurotransmitter.   Acetylcholine  works primarily at the synapse and allows for the transmission of nerve impulses across the synapse or space between two nerves or at the neuromuscular junction.    If too little of the amino acid precursor, phosphatidlyserine , is present in the diet there will eventually develop a deficiency of acetylcholine.  Such a deficiency will cause nerve transmission to slow down and consequently communication between different parts of the brain and body will be affected   Providing   increased levels of either choline or phosphatidylserine  in the diet will stimulate the production of acetycholine in Alzheimers patients and dogs with cognitive disorders..   It  helps them to think more clearly.  Choline loading has been used with senior pets to help them remain more aware, reduce urinary incontinence and help prevent seizures. This form of therapy is known as “choline loading.”  We have had good success treating urinary incontinence and senility in dogs and cats by stimulating acetylcholine production.

Anxiety and depression problems can be treated with neurotransmitter therapy combined with one or more of the following supplements:  B vitamins especially niacinamide;  Minerals primarily magnesium;   Herbs such as valerian, St Johns Wart, kava kava, and chamomile;   Essential oils such as Lavender;  flower essences and homeopathics; laser therapy, electro crystal rebalancing and acupuncture.

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Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets rodents, and reptiles with both traditional and alternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and past board member of the  American Holistic Veterinary Association.   Visit us at  www.doc4pets.com

Woodside Animal Clinic sees pets from all over Michigan but primarily from the greater Detroit area including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Washtenaw counties. Cities in these counties include:  Royal Oak, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Detroit, Redford,  Allen Park, Romulus, Trenton, Livonia, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Warren, Centerline, Clawson, Troy, Sterling Heights, Southfield, Birmingham, Lathrup Village, Bingham Farms,  Franklin, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Northville,Wixom, Brighton, Livonia, Plymouth, Commerce, Ann Arbor, Ortonville, Clarkston, Waterford, Union Lake, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Utica, White Lake, Grosse Pointe, Romeo, Swartz Creek,  Shelby township, Washington,  Flint, Hartland, Lansing, Okemos, Howell, Brighton, White Lake, Romeo, Saline, South Lyon, Battle Creek, Saginaw, Windsor Canada, Toledo Ohio

If you were to ask the average pet caregiver how they judge whether their pet is healthy they might answer that they would know by making sure he or she was active, mobile, ate well, had normal stools and in general was free of any signs or symptoms that might suggest illness. Unfortunately, a state of good health is not synonymus with the absence of symptoms. The pet’s caretaker might respond by asking how can this be true. The answer is that often symptoms only appear when significant damage has already been done to an organ system.   Previous to the onset of symptoms , disease was present but at a sub-clincal level. Unfortunately if we wait for the appearance of symptoms before taking steps to treat or protect our pets we will always be swimming up stream . So the point is that it takes time for organs to be damaged to the point where symptoms become apparent. Each organ has a critical threshold of damage when symptoms will become noticeable. How then can we detect , treat or better yet prevent early organ damage when no symptoms are apparent?

We need to accept unfortunate truth that we and our pets live in a toxic world that is constantly trying to steal a little bit of our health . The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the psychologically stressful nature of our lives continually threatens our health and that of our pet. Consequently, none of us are healthy as we might believe. We are all carrying a toxic load in the form of both chemicals and psychological stress. On top of this, as a result of poor farming practices, and food processing techniques, the food that we and our pets eat is almost always deficient in essential nutrients like trace minerals, essential fatty acids, digestive enzymes, and antioxidants. Unfortunately, these deficient nutrients are essential in helping our pet’s body mount an attack to remove these toxins and cleanse our bodies. The point is that we are all toxic to some degree and probably becoming more toxic every day. The problems is insidious and each day little by little our health is being stolen from us. Since it is impossible to totally avoid toxins in our day to day life, what we can do is slow down the toxic degeneration of our bodies by minimizing exposure and following a program of detoxification. In the following paragraph I will briefy mention the important steps a pet caregiver can take to help their pet live a longer and healthier life. I apologize for not having the space to go in to much detail but If you are interested in a greater depth of understanding you may visit my website Doc4pets and then click on my blog.

Maximizing nutrition and minimizing toxins in your pet’s food can be accomplish best by feeding your dog or cat a homemade, meat based diet either raw/rare or lightly cooks . Of course organic ingredients and grass fed meat are best for your pet if you can afford them. Whether homemade of commercial, diets should contain at least 40% meat by dry weight. Avoid grains and feed colorful steamed (not raw) veggies which contain lots of antioxidants. Grains tend to be hard for carnivores to digest and promote the development of a “Leaky Gut Syndrome” which allows intestinal toxins to leak into blood stream and overwhelm the livers ability to cleanse the blood. Soaking food ingredients in hydrogen peroxide or grapefruit seed extract will help reduce external toxins that might be present in the food. Adding digestive enzymes supplements to the pet food will maximize availability of the nutrients while at the same time minimize the likelihood of food allergies.

Next in importance is minimizing house hold and yard toxins that your pet could be exposed to . Because our pets are closer to the ground than we are they are more exposed to toxic chemicals. Non toxic home cleaning supplies are now easy to obtain.. If pesticides are used in the house or yard make sure they are non toxic to your pet. Check you garage and basement for chemicals your pet can ingest. Have your basement tested for Radon. If you have a bird don’t cook with non stick utensils as these items can be toxic to them. Don’t smoke inside your house and don’t jog with your pet by busy streets where car fumes are more likely to be inhaled.

Routine dental care is extremely important in reducing your pets toxic exposure. Dental tartar is a great breeding ground for bacteria and bacterial toxins which are easily absorbed into the general circulation and which then damage the liver, kidney, heart and lungs. The importance of home dental care and a yearly professional dental exam, cleaning and polishing is next, only to good nutrition in its importance to your pet’s good health.

Finally, see your veterinarian at least once yearly. Senior pets should be seen twice yearly. He or she can advise you on how to prevent contagious viral and bacterial toxins. Early detection of intestinal parasites such as roundworms, whipworms, hookworms and tapeworm can minimize damage done by these parasites. They can also detect blood parasites such a heartworm disease and recommend ways to prevent these intestinal and blood parasites. Blood and urine testing can help detect disease before and symptoms become apparent. At Woodside we are now carrying a homeotoxicologic “Detox Kit” which contains remedies to be placed in the pets drinking water and is used for one month twice yearly.

Take the time , ideally once weekly, to give your pet a health evaluation which includes a home physical exam and careful observation of the animals breathing, urinating, and defecating. When you look at your pet check for a bright energetic personality, a good weight for the breed, a shiny hair coat, an absence of odor, a good appetite, a firm daily stool, effortless breathing, defecating, and urinating.

In conclusion don’t assume your dog or cat is perfectly healthy just because your pet is not displaying obvious symptoms. Toxins are constantly undermining your pet’s health and damage may develop slowly and unnoticed until enough injury occurs to cause organ failure. Therefore, be vigilant, proactive and never take your pets good health for granite.

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Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets rodents, and reptiles with both traditional and alternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and past board member of the  American Holistic Veterinary Association.   Visit us at  www.doc4pets.com

Woodside Animal Clinic sees pets from all over Michigan but primarily from the greater Detroit area including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Washtenaw counties. Cities in these counties include:  Royal Oak, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Detroit, Redford,  Allen Park, Romulus, Trenton, Livonia, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Warren, Centerline, Clawson, Troy, Sterling Heights, Southfield, Birmingham, Lathrup Village, Bingham Farms,  Franklin, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Northville,Wixom, Brighton, Livonia, Plymouth, Commerce, Ann Arbor, Ortonville, Clarkston, Waterford, Union Lake, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Utica, White Lake, Grosse Pointe, Romeo, Swartz Creek,  Shelby township, Washington,  Flint, Hartland, Lansing, Okemos, Howell, Brighton, White Lake, Romeo, Saline, South Lyon, Battle Creek, Saginaw, Windsor Canada, Toledo Ohio

Arthritis is probably the most common of the chronic diseases that progressively steels quality life from our senior dogs. Osteoarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can effect any size dog or cat but is seen much more often in larger breed dogs. Arthritis often starts with stiffness and is first noticed when the older dog has a hard time rising in the morning. In time the owner may noticed that their dog is slower going up the stairs and may be reluctant to jump into the car. A dog with hip displasia or hip arthritis tends to run like a rabbit using both back legs at once. As the arthritis progresses the dog may begin to hold up or favor one limb. He or she may walk with short stiff steps and the dog’s gait may show a hind end instability (swaying). At the end stages of arthritis the pet may not be able to rise without the owners help. It is a sad thing to see otherwise healthy animals euthanized because their caregiver is undable to lift them up in order to get them outside when they need to eliminate.

It is my opinion much of the arthritis our dogs experience could be eliminated by changing their diets from a grain based food to a more meat based recipe. Just because the first ingredient on the ingredient list is meat does not make the diet meat based. The only way to distinguish if a food is meat based is to asked the company’s nutritionist (not customer support person) “what percent of their food is meat when measured on a dry matter basis ?” Judged on this basis, most pet foods are no more than 20% meat. Grain based diets are hard for carnivores to digest and the poorly digested large grain protein molecules act as allergens which damage the intestinal lining and result in a “leaky gut syndrome”. This leaky gut allows grain protein molecules to get into the blood stream where they can migrate to the pet’s joints and set up an inflammatory reaction. Feeding a meat based diet helps to prevent the above sequence of events. Supplementing the diet with digestive enzymes, fish oil, and antioxidants will help reduce the likelihood of arthritis.

If your dog has already developed arthritis there are a number of ways to help slow the progression and reduce the discomfort from the disease. Injections of “chondroprotective” substances which increase joint fluid production and encourage cartilage repair can be very effective arthritis remedies. Personally I am not a big proponent of using non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to reduce inflammation and pain because their long term use may result in gastro intestinal, liver, and kidney disease. It has also been shown that long term use of NSAIDs in humans actually results in cartilage degeneration. Providing glucosamine, chondroitin , MSM, Gerizyme, Adequin, Legend, Zeel , systemic enzymes, hyaluronic acid, Comfort Zone and antioxidants in place of NSAIDs can help restore joint integrity and, in my opinion, is a much preferred approach.

Other ways to treat advanced arthritis include physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, “infra-sonic therapy”, “pulsed magnetic therapy”, prolotherapy, gold bead implants, cold laser therapy, Electro Crystal Rebalancing and massage therapy. Teaching pet owners how to massage their pet and provide passive range of motion can be very helpful in extending and enhancing their pets quality of life.

Finally, I want let my readers know about a very exciting advance in arthritis therapy. Adult stem cell technology is now available to help treat advanced arthritis. The stem cells are harvested from the patients own fat. These stem cells can be injected intravenously or directly into joints. These injected primitive cells will develop into connective tissue and cartilaginous cells which will help to rejuvenate the damaged joint. This technology is has already been used successfully in hundreds of dogs and horses and although still on the expensive side is now available to the family pet. Presently I am one of the few veterinarians certified to provide such therapy.

Detecting the early signs of arthritis and instituting early treatment can make a huge difference in the success of therapy. Providing a high quality meat based diet, with omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants along with weight management can help prevent the onset of arthritis and help extend both the quality and quantity of the pet’s life.

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Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets rodents, and reptiles with both conventional andalternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and past board member of the  American Holistic Veterinary Association.   Visit us at  www.doc4pets.com

Woodside Animal Clinic sees pets from all over Michigan but primarily from the greater Detroit area including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Washtenaw counties. Cities in these counties including Royal Oak, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Detroit, Redford, Livonia, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Warren, Centerline, Clawson, Troy, Sterling Heights, Southfield, Birmingham, Lathrup Village, Bingham Farms,  Franklin, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Northville,Wixom, Brighton, Livonia, Plymouth, Commerce, Ann Arbor, Ortonville, Clarkston, Waterford, Union Lake, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Utica, White Lake, Grosse Pointe, Romeo, Swartz Creek,  Shelby township, Washington,  Flint, Hartland, Lansing, Okemos, Howell, Brighton, White Lake, Romeo, Saline, South Lyon, Battle Creek, Saginaw, Windsor Canada, Toledo Ohio

Since I began practice over 40 years ago the incidence of cancer in companion animals has increased dramatically. Unfortunately, veterinarians diagnose cancer daily in dogs, cats, birds, ferrets and rodents far to frequently.   Surpisingly cancer is diagnosed  more frequently in birds than in any other species.  Some of the  more  common cancers seen in dogs and cats are mammary tumors (adenosarcoma), skin tumors, bone tumors (osteosarcoma), squamous cell carcinomas,  sinus tumors, anal gland tumors, lymphosarcomas, mast cell tumors, fibrosarcomas, gum tumors, hemangiosarcomas of the spleen,  and testicular tumors. In my opinion the increased incidence of cancer is a result of both  the polluted environment we and  our pets live in and the poor quality,  mineral deficient soil we grow our crops in.   Furthermore,  the  hormones, antibiotics, and parasiticides we feed our food animals end up in our own food and in  our pets.   There is little  doubt that the poor quality of the air we breathe and the food we eat  over stimulates  inflammatory processes and eventually suppresses the immune system of people and pets.    To add insult to injury we then  process human and commercial pet food and add more toxins in the form of coloring agents, artificial flavorings, texturizers, and preservatives.   Consequently if we are to deal with the root causes of cancer we must consider the problem from a holistic and not allopathic perspective.    Holistic cancer support can be both a stand alone approach or an approach that is combined with conventional therapy.

The present conventional theory of cancer is that both humans and pets are continually producing cancer cells in their body, however, a healthy body will have an efficient immune system which is on constant alert for the development of  cancerous cells and will quickly destroy these cells before they can form as cancerous mass,  more commonly referred to  as a tumor.   Unfortunately,  if we are not in the best of health and our immune system is not receiving the raw materials it needs to fight off emerging threats , the cancer cells will get a foot hold and grow into a tumor that may become life threatening.

Any time you notice a lump or swelling on your pet have it promptly checked out by your veterinarian.    Although veterinarians can often make a good guess as to whether the lump is benign or malignant he or she can never be certain without first obtaining a biopsy sample that is then sent to the veterinary pathologist for a definite diagnosis.   The biopsy may be obtained with a needle, key punch device, biopsy forceps or  by excising the whole growth or a portion with a scalpel blade.    When the biopsy is taken with a needle and syringe it is called “an aspiration biopsy”.   Although  aspiration biopsies are perhaps the most common approach to identifying malignancy  they do provide more chance for misdiagnosis because of the small size of the sample.    Any new growth should be biopsied even if it looks like a benign fatty tumor.    Benign fatty tumors (lipomas) can not be  distinguished from malignant mast cell tumors by physical exam alone.    At a recent oncology seminar I attended the speaker made the following very important point:   “Do not wait to see if a mass continues to grow before  biopsying it to determine whether it is malignant.”

Of course there are many cancer growths which can not be seen because they involve internal organs. Cancers like hemangiosarcomas of the spleen, may get huge before they produce obvious outward symptoms.   What follows  are what many veterinary sources consider to be possible signs of cancer.:    weight loss for no apparent reason, loss of normal appetite, bleeding from a body opening like the nostril,  a foul odor from the mouth, difficulty eating and swallowing,  difficulty breathing,  non healing wounds,  lameness that persists.

So what can we do to protect ourselves and our pets from cancer and how can we treat them once they are diagnosed with cancer?  Think holistic, holistic, holistic.   Keeping our pets bodies in optimal health by providing them a healthy diet,  healthy environment and life style, and plenty of exercise is the foundation for a strong immune system .   Please visit my website Doc4pets.com for details on how to feed a healthy diet .    As for a healthy environment, this would include minimal exposure to poisonous plants and  chemical toxins on the grass, in the house, and in the garage.   Radon levels in the basement should be checked.   Don’t smoke around your pet.   Second hand smoke has been shown to increase the incidence of cancer in cats.   With regard to a healthy life style,  this  should include plenty of companionship and minimal stress.    Even psychological stress due to isolation or fear from physical abuse can suppress a pet’s immune system and make him or her more susceptible to cancer.   So try not to leave your dog alone in the house for extended periods.   Spend quality time with your pet.  Exercise can be  in the form of jogging, fetching, hiking or competitive sports  such as “fly ball”training or chasing a laser light.   Take your pet to a holistic veterinarian who can serve as  your partner and coach in helping you reduce your pets toxin load, and in supporting his or her immune system.

Conventional treatment of pets diagnosed with cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.   Alternative / holistic  approaches include homemade lightly cooked (rare)- grass fed- low grain- organic -  meat based diets.   Holistic cancer therapy also includes  liver support and detoxification,  antioxidants therapy, systemic enzyme therapy,  acupuncture, and immune modulators,  oxygen therapy,  mushroom immune support,  Neoplasene therapy and life style enhancement.

Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth, invasion and destruction of surrounding tissues. Some cancer remains a localized problem but others spread (metastasize) to other locations via the blood and lymphatics.    Cancer affects people and pets of all ages.   The branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer is “oncology”.   Nearly all cancers are caused by abnormalities in the genes of these abnormal cells.   These abnormalities may be due to the effects of carcinogens such as tobacco smoke, radiation, chemicals, and infectious agents (viruses) to name a few.  Other causes of cancer may result from random errors in gene replication or are inheritied and present in all cells since birth.    Conventionally cancer diagnosis is made by the microscopic exam of a biopsy specimen although the initial indications of malignancy may come from radiographic abnormalities.    It is possible to slow the  progression of many cancers and in some instance make them disappear.    The prognosis depends on the type of cancer, the location of the cancer and stage of the cancer.     Upon confirming the diagnosis, cancer is usually treated conventionally with chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.

The following is information on the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer:

Squamous Cell Carcinoma:    Cancer that occurs in the mouth, underneath the tongue or along the gums of the middle-aged and older cats. Common signs of squamous cell carcinoma in cats includes difficulty eating, interest in food but not wanting to eat, drooling and odor from the mouth. Osteosarcoma:    Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone tumor in dogs. Osteosarcoma begins in the bone but can spread throughout the bloodstream very early in the course of the disease (metastasis).   The most common areas of the body for this cancer to appear are the wrist, shoulder, knee and hip. The first sign of bone cancer is lameness due to pain from the cancer.   Swelling often occurs at the tumor site. Transitional Cell Carcinoma – Tumors usually form at the bladder opening and can cause blockage and  painful urinartion. Pets frequently strain while trying to urinate. Transitional Cell Carcinoma can be difficult to diagnose because many of the symptoms such as straining to urinate, blood in the urine or frequent urination are also a symptom of  a urinary tract infection. This can delay the discovery of the cancer, especially since antibiotics can often result in some improvement of symptoms. Thus, at the time of diagnosis, bladder cancer can be fairly far advanced and may have spread to other parts of the body.    Adenocarcinoma:    Anal sac adenocarcinomas are tumors arising from the apocrine glands present on either side of the rectum. These tumors can range greatly in size from a very small mass that can be found only after a rectal examination or a large mass protruding from the rectum. While the tumor appears locally, it is quite common for them to metastasize,  often to the lymph nodes in between the spine and colon. Symptoms vary depending upon the gender of the pet and can include increased thirst, weakness, persistent licking at the site, difficulty defecating, decreased appetite.

The incidence of cancer is increasing in both humans and animals     Certain cancers are more prevalent in in certain breeds ie.  Golden retrievers with lymposarcoma, boxers with mastocytoma,  Great Danes with osteosarcoma, German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers with hemangiosarcoma.  Irresponsible  breeding to achieve  nothing more than looks at the expense of health is often the cause for such breed predispositions.   If you are thinking of purchasing a new pup,  check out the breed to find out what health issues the breed is proned to.

When a pet or   person is diagnosed with cancer the  question that needs to be asked is, “Why did it happen?”   The present thinking is that we are all developing cancer cells all the time.   If our body is healthy and the` immune system is efficient then these renegade cancer cells will be identified and destroyed before a solid tumor results.     When a tumor develops, at some level the immune system failed to perform effectively.    So the question is where and why did the failure occur.   As the overall causes of cancer first you have genetics.   Second you have the affects of diet and thirdly the effects of a toxic environment and life style (which includes psychological stress).

Cancer is not something you or your pet contract it is something that often happens to you slowly, in a step by by step progression.  The unfortunate fact is that cancer  is the all too often  the end result of living in a toxic world.   Environmental  toxins occur as excessive sunlight, chronic electromagnetic field exposure, geopathic stress, sick building syndrome, ionizing radiation, nuclear radiation, pesticide/herbicide residues, industrial toxins, polluted water, chlorinated water, fluoridated water, household cleaners and even possibly vaccines.   Food toxins occur as pesticides, parasitacides, antibiotics, hormone, texturizers, flavor enhancers,  food colorings, and allergens.

Anything that produces  damage to the intestinal lining can results in a “leaky gut syndrome”  where bad bacteria, bacterial toxins,  yeast, and large grain protein molecules  are able to enter the liver’s hepatic circulation and eventually exhaust the livers ability to detoxify.    When toxins enter the body they challenge both the immune system and the detoxification system.     Toxins,  which  often act as free radicals  stimulate:   1) the immune system to produce a protective  inflammatory response  and  2) the antioxidants defense system to neutralize the free radicals.     If the immune system is too busy dealing with a heavy toxic load  it may become so overwhelmed that it does not have the time or man power to protect the body from spontaneously occurring cancer cell.   Also, toxins and free radicals can damage cellular DNA and be the cause of many of the spontaneously occurring cancer cells .

Under more optimal environmental circumstances where toxins are not so abundant,  mutated cancer cells are quickly recognized by the immune system such that the cancerous cell’s uncontrollable growth  elicits an immune response which will send  macrophages (phagocytic white blood cells) to the region for cellular phagocytosis and removal of the mutated cancer cells (Walters, 1993).

Besides a toxic environment, nutritional deficiencies may also predispose the body to cancer.   If the raw materials the immune system and the detoxification process require to do their  job are not present then the cancer may not be discovered and or destroyed.    The cells will then grow into a malignant mass.

It should become obvious that cancer must be considered a whole body, systemic disease rather than a   localized phenomena.    Conventional medicine treats cancer as a localized disease and recommends  the “cut, slash, and burn” approach to cancer therapy.   That is they treat cancer more as a localized disease that must be either surgically cut out, slashed out by irradiation, or burned out by chemical destruction.   Most conventional oncologists do not emphasize the importance of  the elimination of food and environmental toxins or enhancing overall nutrition.   He or she rarely recommend nutraceuticals to  stimulate the immune system,  support the liver, encourage detoxification,  and remove destructive free radicals.

On the contrary, holistic cancer therapy begins by  emphasing optimal general nutrition consisting of  homemade diets made up of  a wide variety of fresh  organic meats and veggies,  trace minerals,  omega fatty acids.   To this foundation of great general nutrition, the holistic approach adds nutraceuticals providing digestive enzymes, prebiotics, probiotics, mega vitamin and trace mineral therapy, whole food concentrated antioxidants,  immune stimulants,  detoxification and liver support.    Next the  holistic approach commonly adds nutriceuticals that help to change “the biological terrain” to  one that is inhospitable for the  growth of cancer.    Keep in mind that cancer loves sugar and acidity,  but hates oxygen and an alkaline environment.   By changing the bioterrain to one that discourages cancer growth we hope  to prevent  both local growth and metastasis to other sites.   Trace minerals encourage an alkaline bioterrain where stabilized oxygen supplements, ozone,  dimethylglycine,  and Megahydrate support a highly oxygenated terrain,  all  of which discourage the progression of cancer.

Perhaps the most important organ to support in a cancer patient is the liver since it is the major organ of detoxification.    The more overwhelmed and exhaused the liver is the more toxic the body becomes.   The more toxic the body the poorer is its overhall immune system function.   Therefore supporting the livers detoxification capactiy will help cleanse the body and encourgage a better functioning immune system.   Herbs like milk thistle and nutrients like MSM,  n acetylcysteine, alpha lipoic acid, dimethyglycine, SAM-E and selenium all help the liver to better detox the body by stimulating the production of glutathione and glutathione peroxidase which are the most important  antioxidants in the liver.

Nutrients, herbs, and homeopathics that support the immune system include  medicinal mushroom, astragalus, zinc, iodine, selenium thyroid hormones,  thymus extracts, beta glucans, essential carbohydrates, and systemic enzymes etc.

Next there are a number of specific nutrients and herbs that block the progression of cancer at various stages of development.  Resveratrol  is an example.  Finally there are specific herbs and nutrients,  that are lethal to cancer.   These include IV or subcutaneous vitamin C, Laetrile, Artemesinin, and hydrogen peroxide.

The big difference between conventional cancer therapy and  the above nutritional, nutraceutical,  and   mega nutrient holistic cancer therapy is that the later does not: damage healthy cells, or inhibit healthy immune system functioning.   Since we know that the immune system is instrumental in removing cancerous cells ,  anything that damages its effectiveness would be unwanted.  A final note is that even when the holistic approach does not cure cancer at least it does no harm.   So keeping thinking holistic, holistic, holistic!

There is no one, holistic “right way” to treat  a  cancer patient be  human or pets .   The treatment will depend not only on the type of cancer  but also on the individual patient and caregiver.   It will also depend on how long the cancer has been present and what medical treatment has already been prescribed.   Some cases are so advanced that I don’t recommend much treatment other than nutritional therapy.    In such cases it is usually best to focus on and enjoy the time you have left  together with the patient rather than complicating the patients life with stressful supplement regiments.       No matter what stage of cancer the patient is in they can  benefit from an improved diet loaded with vitamin/antioxidants like Vitamin A, C, and E and the mineral selenium.   Blood cleansing herbs and detoxifiers are usually in order.    So think holistic, holistic, holistic!

 

Categories of holistic anti cancer supplements

1) Holistic supplements which enhance cellular immunity

Astragalus, Echinacea, Aloe mucopolysaccharides, Omega3, carotenoids,

mushroom and yeast extracts,  Green tea polyphenols,  reduced glutathione,

vitamin C

2) Holistic supplements which minimize oxidative stress and destroy free radicals

Resveratrol, reduced glutathione, green tea, quercitin , curcumin,  megahydrate,

Selenium, vitamin C and E, Lipoic acid, hydrogen peroxide,

3)  Holistic supplements which support the liver and detoxification process .

Reduced glutathione, N acetylcysteine, Curcumin, Resveratrol, SAM-E, E, milk  Thistle,

4)  Holistic supplements that normalize the clock of the  cell cycle

Resveratrol, , tocotrienols, curcumin, green tea polyphenols, vitamin D,

CoQ10,   reduced glutathione, Quercitin

5)  Holistic supplements that enhance cancer cell differentiation

Vit D3,  caratenoids,  Ganoderma,  Quercitin

6)  Holistic supplements that encourage apoptosis

Green tea polyphenols,  quercitin, CoQ10,  Ganoderma,  Curcumin

7)  Holistic supplements that are anti angiogenic ( inhibit new blood vessel proliferation) supplements

Omega3, Green tea polyphenols,  Aloe Vera, shark cartilage,

8)  Holistic supplements that kill malignant cells by stimulating intercellular production  Of  hydrogen peroxide

Vitamin C, Artemesinin, H202,

9)   Holistic supplements that create an inhospitable biologic terrain for cancer cells to

live in.  They increase alkalinity & oxygenation,

Megahydrate, Ultimate pH Balance,  H202, NaHC03 & honey

10)   Holistic supplements blocking different stages of cancer developement:  initiation, promotion and   

          progression

Resveratrol,  Selenium,  garlic, catechins and polyphenols from green tea,

Cruciferous vegetables (Brassica),  quercitin, Ascorbic acid, omega 3 fatty

Acids, vitamin E, proanthocyanidins

11)  Miscellaneous holistic supplements

Glucosinolates from cruciferous veggies, sprouts, cabbage, homeopathic therapy

 

 

The following are a list of terms with definition that are important to know when you are reading or researching cancer:

Tumor:   A swelling, lump, or mass.

Neoplasm:   An abnormal proliferation of genetically altered cell.  A mass formed by an abnormal proliferation of genetically altered cells.  Synonymous with the word tumor

Malignant Neoplasm:  Synonymous with cancer.

Benign Neoplasm/tumor:  A tumor that stops growing by itself, does not invade other tissues and does not spread to other tissue (metastasize).

Pre malignant tumor:  A neoplasm that is not invasive but has the potential to progress to cance

Stage of cancer:   a number on a scale of 4 developed by the oncologists to describe the degree of invasion of the body by the tumor.

 

Below are a list of terms and definitions that are found in most discussions involving cancer.

Adenoma:  a tumor involving glandular tissue

Carcinoma: Malignant tumor derived from epithelial cells

Sarcoma:  Malignant tumor derived from connective tissue

Lymphoma and Leukemia:  Malignancies derived from hematopoietic (blood forming) cells.

Blastoma:   A tumor which resembles an immature or embryonic tissue

 

Symptoms of cancer may be divided into 3 groups:

1)  Local symptoms= lumps, bumps, or swelling, bleeding, pain,  ulcerations

2) Symptoms of metastasis= enlarged lymph nodes, cough, enlarged liver, bone

pain, fracture of affected bones, neurological symptom

3)  Systemic symptoms = weight loss, poor appetite, fatigue, anemia

 

The general scenario of cancer development occurs this way :

1. “Induction”  of genetic instability

2.  Abnormal “Expression” of genes:  too many cancer promoting genes and too few cancer inhibiting  genes

3.  Abnormal “Signal Transduction”:  Signals that come from outside the cell and go to the nucleus stimulate

proliferation of malignant cells

4.  Abnormal “cell to cell communication”:  In cancer cells the mechanisms controlling communication with other

cells doesn’t work.

5.   Induction of “Angiogenesis”:  growth of new capillaries

6.  “Invasion and metastaisis”:  spread via lymph and blood

7.  “Immune  evasion”: cancer cells learn to shield themselves from the immune system

 

Basic Premises about cancer

1.  Results from failure of immune surveillance to detect cancer due to:

a.   nutritional deficiencies causing hypofunction;   dietary toxins

b.   GI and liver damage which allows toxin into body resulting in immune stress

c.   Immune system exhausted by environmental toxins

d.  Immune system exhausted by psychological or physical stress

2.    Cancer loves sugar

3.    Cancer hates oxygen

4.   Cancer loves an acidic environment.  Toxins are acidic.  Free radicals are acidic

5.   Cancer loves iron

6.   Oncovirus damage DNA

7.   Free radicals damage DNA therefore antioxidants can help prevent cancer.

8.   Cancer is a  result of an energy blockage that orginates in the etheric field — eastern concept

9.   Unlike healthy cells,  cancer cells can not make the enzyme catalase which is needed to destroy intercellular toxic hydrogen  peroxide.   Vitamin C therapy stimulates intercellular hydrogen peroxide.

10.   The liver is the most important organ to support when treating cancer because it is the major organ of detoxification.

 

A few more remarks on common canine cancers:

Hemangiosarcoma - Most commonly found in the spleen, liver and heart and the prognosis is determined by the location of the disease. The cancer arises from the blood vessels and results in the production of abnormal blood vessels that can be weak and prone to leaking. As the cancer progresses, the cancerous vessels can rupture and results in blood loss. As the spleen is the organ most commonly affected by this type of cancer, rupture can lead to blood loss into the abdomen. This is an emergency situation and can result in weakness and collapse. Many pets with hemangiosarcoma often require a splenectomy.

Mast Cell Tumors - Mast cell tumors are among the most common tumors in dogs and are the most common type of skin cancer found in dogs. The most common location to find mast cell tumors is, by far, the skin, followed by the spleen, liver, and bone marrow. Both normal and cancerous mast cells contain chemicals that can be released into surrounding tissues. When these chemicals (particularly histamine) are released into the normal surrounding body tissues, side effects can include digestive problems (for ex: bleeding ulcers), skin rashes, shortness of breath and other symptoms. Mast cell tumors vary greatly in their size, shape, appearance and texture. The only way to definitely identify them is with a biopsy and pathology report.

Lymphoma - is cancer of the lymphatic tissue. The lymph system is a core part of the body’s immune system. The lymphatic system is an extensive drainage network that defends the body against infections. It is comprised of a network of lymphatic vessels that carry lymph (a clear, watery fluid that contains protein, salts, glucose and other substances) throughout the body. The lymphatic system also serves as a low pressure drainage system that collects interstitial fluid throughout the body and returns it to the bloodstream. The most common sign of lymphoma is a painless enlargement of the lymph nodes.

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Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets rodents, and reptiles with both conventional andalternative medicine. Dr. Simon is certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Stem cell therapy. He is the author of 4 pet care books, a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and past board member of the  American Holistic Veterinary Association.   Visit us at  www.doc4pets.com

Woodside Animal Clinic sees pets from all over Michigan but primarily from the greater Detroit area including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Washtenaw counties. Cities in these counties including Royal Oak, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Detroit, Redford, Livonia, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Warren, Centerline, Clawson, Troy, Sterling Heights, Southfield, Birmingham, Lathrup Village, Bingham Farms,  Franklin, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Northville,Wixom, Brighton, Livonia, Plymouth, Commerce, Ann Arbor, Ortonville, Clarkston, Waterford, Union Lake, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Utica, White Lake, Grosse Pointe, Romeo, Swartz Creek,  Shelby township, Washington,  Flint, Hartland, Lansing, Okemos, Howell, Brighton, White Lake, Romeo, Saline, South Lyon, Battle Creek, Saginaw, Windsor Canada, Toledo Ohio

Dogs and cats have a number of diseases involving the spinal cord that produce lameness, paralysis, weakness and incoordination and consequently are easily confused with each other. These diseases include inter-vertebral disk disease, , degenerative myelopathy, Wobblers, lumbo-sacral stenosis, spinal cord tumors, and fibro-cartilagious infarcts. On initial physical exam all these diseases have a number of symptoms in common. Diagnostic tests which help further define the problem include radiographs, myelograms, and MRI’s.    All of the above diseases can cause hind leg weakness, incoordination and gait abnormalities. All cause a break in communication between the brain and back legs such that the head does not always know what the back legs are doing .   Such a communication breakdown results in the paws knuckling over, the hind end swaying or collapsing,  the dog having a hard time rising or going up stairs and the loss of bladder control.   Of these diseases, we can expect that pain may be present with only 3:  disk disease, wobblers and lumbo-sacral stenosis. Of the six diseases mentioned, inter-vertebral disk disease, wobblers and fibrocartilaginous infarcts usually have the a sudden onset. .

Intervertebral disk disease in the dog is an all to common problem especially in breeds with long backs and short thick legs, aka. chondrodystrophoid. These breeds include dachunds, bassets, beagles, welsh corgis, Lhasa Apsos, Shih Tzus, American cockers, Bichons and French bulldogs. In these breeds the problems may occur as early as 1 to 2 years of age.  IVD may also occur in non chondrodystrophoid breeds but usually at 6 to 10 years of age.  The most common symptoms of disk disease are pain, weakness, loss of coordination, and paralysis. The disease can also affect bladder control. However in very early stages of disk disease the dog may experience only pain and display an anxious uncomfortable attitude, a hunched back, tense abdomen and decrease in activity.   As the condition advances the pain commonly becomes very severe and the dog may cry out when he or she moves in a particular way or is picked up under the abdomen.  The next stage of disk disease  is often hind leg weakness, incoordination and/or paralysis. At this point the pain may or may not disappear.  Commonly this progression happens within days but can extend to weeks. If the disk protrusion occurs in the dog’s neck the pain is often more severe. Just petting the dogs head may cause him or her to cry out.  The dog will hold his head and neck in a rigid head down stance and will will turn his whole body instead of bending his neck.  Cervical (neck) disk disease can cause neurological problems in both the front and back legs whereas disk disease in the mid back will affect only the back legs.

It is difficult to distinguish cervical disk disease from a disease commonly known as Wobblers. Wobblers (aka cervical vertebral instability)  is, as the name implies,  a result of an unstable joint in the neck producing pressure on the spinal cord.  Wobblers is usually a disease of large, fast growing dogs. Great Danes usually develop the disease as puppies where as in Dobermans the problem occurs more often in adults. The disease most commonly presents as a dog with severe neck pain and gait abnormalities in both front and back legs. To distinguish this disease from a ruptured disk or a spinal tumor requires either a myelogram or an MRI.    Of course it is possible for the above symptoms to be caused by a blood clot in the spine or spinal tumor, neither of which occurs with any frequency.  Finally, if the breed of dog is correct for disk disease, and if there has been no sudden onset or trauma then there is approximately a 95% chance that a disk rupture has occurred.

Another disease that can easily be confused with inter-vertebral disk disease is Degenerative Myelopathy.  Degenerative myelopathy is a slow progressive disease of large older dogs, most commonly the German Shepherds.   In its early stages the dog owners often mistakes it for arthritis.   Degenerative myelopathy is an insidious, inflammatory, autoimmune disease that develops slowly over years. It is a result of degeneration of the fatty myelin sheath that surrounds most nerves and acts as an insulator.  One of  the first sign of degenerative myelopathy is the dragging of the top side of the nails on the back feet. This dragging can be detected either by the sound of the gait or by examining the top side of the back nails for abnormal wear. As the disease progresses the hind limbs become weak and an obvious incoordination develops. The hind legs may cross with one another and the dog may look drunk in the hind end. He or she may stumble. If you place the dog’s foot in a position where the top of the toes are on the floor, the dog will often not return the foot to the proper position or take a long time doing it. This is because there is a loss of “conscious proprioception” which means that the brain does not know the position of the back legs. If a dog has Degenerative myelopath then pushing on the dog’s rear end from side to side often causes the dog to fall over or have a hard time keeping his balance. In the later stages of this disease the hind end will become so weak and uncoordinated that the dog will be unable to get up. If the dog does manage to rise he or she will quickly fall down after taking only a few steps. The only good new about this disease is that there is never any pain involved. It is important to rule out a chronic disk disease before accepting degenerative myelopathy as your pet’s fate. Unfortunately that requires an expensive MRI or myelogram to make such a decision.

Lumbo Sacral Stenosis is known by a number of names such as lumbo-sacral instability, lumbo-sacral malformation, lumbo-sacral malarticulation, spondylolithesis, and cauda equina syndrome. All of these describe arthritis involving the last lumbar vertebrae and the sacrum which is a part of the pelvis. This disease often involves the disk as well. Together both problems progressively narrow the spinal canal which in turn puts pressure on the spinal nerves and causes pain and dysfunction. The most common symptom is pain which involves the back, both hind legs, and the tail. Dogs usually have trouble rising. Defecating and urinating are difficult because of pain.  Dogs with this problem find defecation and urination difficult due to pain on squating.  They may become incontinent and may be seen biting at their rear end.

Blood clots and fibro-cartilaginous infarcts can also cause similar spinal cord disease but they are quite rare and so I will not discuss them at this time.

Now back to intervertebral disk disease (IVDD). Conventional treatment for IVDD  involves medicating with steroids, antioxidants,  muscle relaxants, cage rest and surgical decompression. If surgery is indicated a myelogram or MRI must be performed to pin point the exact location of the lesion and confirm the physical diagnosis. These tests commonly can run into many thousands of dollars and should only be considered if the owner is planning to follow through with any surgery indicated by the information these tests provide.  ” Disk fenestration” surgery or a vertebral “ hemi-laminectomy” are the surgeries performed to reduce pressure on the spinal cord.   Both surgeries can run into the thousands of dollars and the diagnostics plus the surgery could easily run between 4 to 5 thousand. If you have a dog that may require these surgeries you should know that the surgeries are not always successful in restoring function and on occasions dogs can come out of surgery in worse shape than when they went in.   You should also be made aware that these surgeries especially those involving the neck require long periods of recuperation.

Owners who are hesitant to put their injured older dogs through anesthesia, surgery, and an extended recuperative period may want to consider holistic modalities as an alternative. For those who cannot afford the expense of high tech diagnostics and surgery I also suggest you take a look at alternative or holistic modalities. The holistic therapies I am talking about include electro acupuncture, cold laser therapy, infrasonic therapy, pulsed magnetic therapy, chiropractic, electro crystal rebalancing, nutritional therapy, prolotherapy, bio identical steroid therapy, antioxidant therapy, megavitamin therapy, and systemic enzyme therapy.    Please understand that there are no guarantees with any one or a combination of the above alternative therapies, each case being unique in its own right. We have, however, had some excellent results with these alternative approaches and can offer testamonials to their effectiveness.

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Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal, one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents, and reptiles with both conventional and alternative medicine. Dr. Simon is the author of 4 pet care books and he writes a monthly pet care column in the Mirror newspaper.  He is the past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association.

Woodside Animal Clinic sees pets from all over the greater Detroit Michigan area including Royal Oak, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Detroit, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Warren, Centerline, Clawson, Troy, Sterling Heights, Southfield, Birmingham, Bingham Farms, Franklin, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Wixom, Brighton, Livonia, Plymouth, Commerce, Ann Arbor, Ortonville, Waterford, Union Lake, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Utica, Romeo, Windsor, and Toledo.

Chiropractic medicine whether for humans or animals is a very misunderstood medical modality. Most people who go to chiropractors for treatment, think that when they get an adjustment the chiropractor is actually “putting  bones back in place”.  They believe that they feel relief from the chiropractic adjustment because their spine is immediately realigned .  This misconception stems from old chiropractic theory that actually taught chiropractors that they were  “putting bones back in place”.   Newer chiropractic theory however teaches chiropractic students that when they perform an adjustment they are creating movement in the joint but not putting the bone back in place.  The movement they create in the vertebral joint stimulates “mechano nerve receptors” in that joint to produce a reflex that blocks pain transmission.   The blockage of the pain reflex provides pain control  by alleviating muscle spasm and by dilating blood vessels. The relaxation of the paraspinal muscles resulting from the thrust of the adjustment is what indirectly results in the spinal  realignment.

Chiropractic care can do more than eliminate back and neck pain. Through the stimulation of  “somato-visceral reflexes” chiropractic care can support  internal organ function.   Chiropractic care can also produce “myofascial release” by stimulation of the “golgi bodies” in the muscle tendons.  Consequently chiropractic  can help people and pets  with “myofascitis” and “fibromyalgia”

Human chiropractors get their training at chiropractic schools whereas veterinarians receive their training in spinal adjustment via an intense postgraduate course offered by special schools.  There are 2 schools of training in veterinary spinal adjustment .  One school of training is in association with the   American Veterinary  Chiropractic Association (AVCA). The other  school of training  is offered by VOM (Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation).  AVCA is primarily a manual adjusting group which means they use only their hands to perform an adjustment.  VOM on the other hand teaches adjustment using mechanical and electrical devices called accelerometers.   Dr. Simon has been trained in both approaches.  In addition he performs a third type of adjustment known as “Logan Basic” .   Logan Basic is a very gentle form of chiropractic that was developed and first taught at Logan Chiropractic College.   It involves putting pressure on the pelvic sacro-tuberous ligament in order to relax the para-spinal muscles.  This relaxation allows adjustments to be done with very little force.  Dr. Simon frequently utilizes Logan Basic in conjunction with VOM.

Please keep in mind that just as with acupuncture, chiropractic care requires a series of treatments to get desired results.   Also remember that chiropractic  is not limited to musculoskeletal and neurological problems but can also be used to treat a wide variet of internal organ problems.

Dr. Simon is aware that there are human chiropractors who attempt to adjust pets at night after their regular office hours.   He would like to warn pet owners that only those human  chiropractors that have attended and graduated from a  recognized post graduate program  in veterinary anatomy and neurology should attempt such adjustments and only under veterinary supervision.

VETERINARY ORTHOPEDIC MANIPULATION:   VOM

Veterinary Orthopedic-neural Manipulation otherwise known as VOM is a non-invasive healing technology that is similar to classical chiropractic medicine in that it locates areas called subluxation that exists along the animal’s spinal cord and reduces the subluxations such that proper nervous tissue communication is re-established.   A “spinal accelerometer” is used to assess the health of the spine and adjustments are made using this same instrument.    As the practitioner tests the entire spine with the accelerometer,  he watches for specific reflexes, called “reads”, to occur.   These reads are evidence of pathology called “subluxations”.   Subluxations cause vascular constriction, reduced circulation and decreased oxygenation to muscles and other tissues of the body.   The results of these subluxations changes can be seen as muscle spasm, pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion. After identifying these abnormal areas along the vertebral column the practitioner will use the same instrument to apply light force to the vertebrae in the affected area.   The motion created will stimulate a nerve impulse in the mechano-receptors  of the vertebral joint.   These nerve impulses will  travel to the spinal cord where they in turn stimulate cells called “interneuron’s”.   Interneuron stimulation dilates blood vessels, increases circulation and oxygenation of muscles, reduces spasm, stops pain, and increases range of motion.

Most abnormal functions of the body are a result of muscle spasm of one sort or another and consequently reduction of subluxations can have far reaching health benefits.

The VOM technology uses very gentle adjusting techniques which are safer than classical chiropractic methods.  The VOM practitioner is termed a “chiropractitioner” as opposed to a chiropractor.     However, just like chiropractic care VOM therapy is not accomplished in a single visit or adjustment.   Follow up evaluations and adjustments scheduled at very specific intervals are required if long term healing is to occur.

For more information on the VOM technique and to watch a video of the technique in action please visit the website:  LABH.com/vom

The VOM technique is often followed by the MFR technique which produces myofascial release.   MFR enhances VOM by further relieving the increased muscle spasms and fascial tension caused by subluxations.   The resulting decreased muscle spasm provides the animal  with pain reduction and decreases the recurrence of subluxation.  Consequently the overall healing process is accelerated.

VOM can be used to treat non-musculo-skeletal conditions including organ disease (somato-visceral disease).  VOM is used to promote a balance between the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (organ function) components of the autonomic nervous system.  Using VOM in this way complements its use on musculo-skeletal system by further altering the blood flow and nervous stimulation to all areas of the body.   VOM utilizes sites on the body similar to acupuncture points as well as other sites to return balance too the autonomic nervous system

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Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal,  one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents, and reptiles with both conventional and alternative medicine.  Dr.  Simon is the author  of 4 pet care books and he writes a monthly pet care column in the Mirror newspaper.   He is a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and a past board of both American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association and the Southeastern Michigan Veterinary Medical Association.

Woodside Animal Clinic  sees pets from all over the greater Detroit Michigan area including Royal Oak, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Detroit, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Warren, Centerline, Clawson,  Troy, Sterling Heights, Southfield, Birmingham, Bingham Farms, Franklin, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Wixom, Brighton, Livonia, Plymouth, Commerce, Ann Arbor, Ortonville, Waterford, Union Lake,  Rochester,  Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Utica,   Romeo,  Windsor, and Toledo.

Physical therapy is something that people who are injured or who have undergone surgery expect to go through as part of their recuperation. Unfortunately it has only been within the last 8 years that physical therapy has been readily available for injured animals.  Orthopedic injuries, neurological problems, trauma, and arthritis are all maladies that can benefit from  physical therapy.

There are number of therapies that can be utilized to help rehabilitate injured or painful pets.  Among them are acupuncture, chiropractic, nutritional and herbal support,  intravenous and transcutaneous lasers therapy  , pulsed magnetic therapy,  infrasonic and ultrasonic therapy,  microcurrent stimulation, underwater treadmill, hydrotherapy,  prolotherapy, range of motion and therapeutic exercise, massage therapy, balance and proprioception equipment.  Other supportive measures we use are systemic enzyme therapy, antioxidant therapy, DMSO, homeopathy, and herbal therapy

The following conditions are just a few we have successfully treated with rehabilitation therapy: Wobblers and intervertebral disk disease,  arthritis, cruciate ligament tears, post surgical cruciate ligament repairs, lumbo-sacral stenosis,  hip dysplasia,  degenerative myelopathy and any soft tissue injury involving post surgical wounds, damaged tendons, ligaments, and muscles.

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Woodside Animal Clinic is a unique, very personal,  one doctor practice where, for over 35 years, Dr. Simon has been healing dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents, and reptiles with both conventional and alternative medicine.  Dr.  Simon is the author  of 4 pet care books and he writes a monthly pet care column in the Mirror newspaper.   He is a past president of the Oakland County Veterinary Medical Association and has served on the board of both the South Eastern Veterinary Medical Association and the American HolisticVeterinary Medical Association.

Woodside Animal Clinic  sees pets from all over the greater Detroit Michigan area including Royal Oak, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Detroit, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Warren, Centerline, Clawson,  Troy, Sterling Heights, Southfield, Birmingham, Bingham Farms, Franklin, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Wixom, Brighton, Livonia, Plymouth, Commerce, Ann Arbor, Ortonville, Waterford, Union Lake,  Rochester,  Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Utica,   Romeo,  Windsor, and Toledo.