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NATURAL PET NEWS
July 15, 2002 Edition
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Table of Contents:

A NOTE FROM RANDAL
Tick-Borne Disease

HEALTH/HERBAL INFO
Skin Problems

SUCCESS STORIES
Sickly Border Collie

BEHAVIORAL/EMOTIONAL TIP
Keeping Kitty From Scratching Up The Box Spring

FEATURED WEB LINKS
From The "Cat Scraps" File: Cat Games
Dog Game - Virtual Sheep Herding

DON'T PAY RETAIL FOR SUPPLEMENTS

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** A NOTE FROM RANDAL **

Hello Everyone,

We received this warning from Lori Adam on a Tick-borne disease that is popping up in shelters. However, this could equally well apply to a dog not from a shelter, so please hang on to this information and pass it on. Share with your vet, in case they aren't aware of it. This came out of Florida but I imagine it applies to other areas of the country as well.

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If you get a dog from a shelter that looks like it has a serious case of kennel cough and it doesn't respond dramatically within 3 days to clavamox or cephalexin antiobiotic, and/or if the dog has any of the following symptoms:

1. Bloodshot eyes

2. Bleeding or pale gums

3. Peteccia (red dots on tummy area or other area of skin)

4. Nose bleeds

Or if you get a dog that gets very sick, seems to get better using regular antibotics and then crashes a few weeks later, running a high fever... (kinda like a strange cyclical thing)

You may have some weird tick borne illness that is going around. The standard "snap test" may or may not show anything positive. Blood titers for E. Canis Ehrlichiosis may or may not show anything positive.

A vet at Gainesville Vet Hospital suspects a new tick borne illness or possibly E. Platys Ehrlichiosis, which doesn't show up in the standard tick profile tests.

A reliable way to see if your dog has this problem is to get the vet to run a blood test looking at platelet count. You don't need to necessarily check anything else. If the platelet count is low, possibly dangerously low, then you'll need antibiotics quick.

Antibiotic to treat this is doxcycline. Nothing else works. Also you must use double dosage (10mg/kg) and they must be on this twice a day for 6 weeks.

I suspected my basset might have had it when I first got her, because she wasn't responding to typical antibiotic treatment and amazingly got better after a few days on doxcy. Unfortunately I only kept her on the drug for 3 weeks and then discontinued it. She has now crashed on me again, and her platelet count is so low that the vet is amazed that she's not showing signs of peteccia and nose bleeds. Her eyes are severely bloodshot again, though. He's starting her back on doxcy and will test her blood in one week. If the platelet count has recovered, than that will confirm our suspicions.

Joanne Bradow also had this same problem with one rescue dog out of either SCAS or OCAS. It went to Gainesville and was tentatively diagnosed with E. Platys Ehrlichiosis. It was treated successfully. Later she noticed that several of her other dogs were acting lethargic and had that "I don't feel good Mommy" look about them. Sure enough, platelet blood counts showed that several of her dogs had problems. All of her dogs are now on doxcy. She's out of the state right now, but she called me the day before she left to report the problem.

If your vet will write you a prescription you can get docxcycline from kvvet.com for 5.95 a bottle. Bottle contains 50 pills at 100mg. The max that kvvet.com will let you order is 3 bottles, so get the prescription to include 2 refills.

Another interesting sidenote, this is the same drug that is used to treat anthrax, so that is why some pharmacies are limiting the amount of drug that you can purchase.

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We have noticed many ticks here in Virginia. Make sure you examine your pets for ticks or fleas. Seems this time of the year our pets can really come under attack. I guess that is why we are there to help them during these rough times. Seems fair, they give so much to us and we get a few months out of the year we can help them in this special way too.

Anyways, they sure are a blessing and our hope is this newsletter helps all of you to enjoy your pets even more and return the blessing to them too.

Until next time,


Randal

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** HEALTH/HERBAL INFO **

SKIN PROBLEMS

The skin is an eliminative organ as much as the liver, kidneys, and intestines; that's why it's sometimes nicknamed "the third kidney." The most common skin conditions I see are allergic in nature.....

Read more on this article by Dr. Martin Goldstein:
http://www.ivillage.com/pets/expert/holistic/articles/0,
12329,261248_77658,00.html


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**SUCCESS STORIES**

SICKLY BORDER COLLIE
It seems my border collie was sickly for a couple days as well--just laying around--not barking at us when we pulled up in the driveway, etc. Guess what I gave her? Nature's Sunshine's Wild Oregano Oil! Again, within 24 hours, she was up chasing the cat as usual! I am simply amazed at how powerful and effective NSP's Wild Oregano oil is!

Check out Wild Oregano oil at http://www.theherbsplace.com/oregano.html


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You are what you eat applies to animals too. Do
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** BEHAVIORAL/EMOTIONAL TIP **

KEEPING KITTY FROM SCRATCHING UP THE BOX SPRING

One day as I was examining the condition of the sides of the box spring of the bed, contemplating what to do about getting the cats to quit using it as a scratching post, the light went on inside my head. Ah Ha! I thought of a great plan.

Instead of trying right then to teach 4 stubborn felines how to use at least one of the three scratching posts I had already purchased, I would try this simple solution.

I went to my linen closet and pulled out a fitted sheet and placed it on the box spring. It not only covered up the tattered areas, but it kept them from scratching it ever again. The smooth sheet was useless as a claw sharpener and so, finding it of no value, they left it alone!

Then, one day when my daughter told me how her two kitties had discovered the bottom of her box spring, too, but not for nail care as much as for use as a playhouse.

Her two mischievous little darlings had clawed their way through that funny webbing material covering the bottom. It seems the nocturnal playmates would create a racket by chasing each other around and around on the inside of the bed at 3:00 AM while she was trying to sleep! Not a good idea, Sydney and Kybble!

So, I suggested that she get a fitted sheet to put on her box spring, too, so that it covered up the webbing on the very bottom. She took my advice and since then, there have been no more nighttime kitty races in the box spring, and everybody is getting a good night's sleep. Many thanks to the inventor of the fitted sheet wherever you are!

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** FEATURED WEB LINKS **

FROM THE "CAT SCRAPS" FILE: CAT GAMES:

Do you like to play concentration? Then you will love this game of "Kitty Concentration" I found on a website. See how long it takes you to match all the kittes and uncover the whole board of 18 pairs of kitties:

http://www.i-love-cats.com/games/concentration/concentration.htm

If that's not your game, then play agianst the computer in Cat Tic-Tac-Toe:

http://www.i-love-cats.com/games/tictactoe/tictactoe.htm


VIRTUAL SHEEP HERDING: DOG GAME

I spent an hour playing this game. Good for laughs and giggles, these virtual sheep run around a field as your computer mouse tries to herd them into a pen. Not as easy as it sounds!

http://www.david-lewis.com/sheepgame/


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DISCLAIMER: The stories, suggestions, and information in this newsletter are not meant to diagnose or prescribe. If your pet has a medical problem, you may want the advice and recommendations of a veterinarian. All stories and information content that is passed along in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and is not necessarily endorsed by "The Herbs Place.com" This is a personal publication by Randal Watkins. The ideas and information expressed in it have not been approved or authorized by anyone either explicitly or impliedly. In no event shall Randal Watkins or "The Herbs Place.com" be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of this information or its publication, including any action for infringement of copyright or defamation.

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Blessings of Peace and Health to You Today!
Randal and Donna Watkins
http://www.TheHerbsPlace.com
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