GANGRENE & HBOT

Many of you who have been following Max know he developed a nasty case of Gangrene in his foot while I was on vacation.  The consensus is that it was from not moving enough (should be moved every 4-6 hours minimally and do exercise / Physical therapy).

I had him checked out - all over..

• Cardiac EKG, UltraSound and Doppler were done to make sure there was no clot - cardiologist said he has a very heathy heart!
• Xrays were done - no masses - just arthritis  (he's over 100 in human years)
• Blood work done - normal for him for the most part - elevated where you'd expect  from being on the meds he's been on.  
• Test to determine if there was a clot= came back likely for a clot
• UltraSound of abodmen - all clear - no masses, 
• UltraSound of blood vessels - showed a 40% block in his gangrene leg - when the legs were togeher there was no flow, when they were separated the flow was pretty good... so they think this is what was going on

Gangrene can be caused by a few things: 

• Venomous spider bite  (check the poisonous spiders in your area)
• Venomous snake or scorpion bites
• Diabetes and poor circulation
• Ranaud's disease (circulation issues)
• Clots

What is__gangrene?

It's necrotic or dead tissue and can include an infection too. It is caused by a lack of blood feeding the tissue and the tissue dies

How Gangrene is treated

Many vets just say to put animals down.

Many others just want to cut off the part of the body that has it.  (surgery)

OR.......

there's Oxygen Therapy... or Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).. which is what we are doing.

Little did I know that HBOT treatment is FANTASTIC for neurological patients and helps improve neuroplasticity - which is helping the brain recreate the connections it lost during brain damage (stroke, brain bleed, hemohrage, anurism, brain tumors, head trauma, etc)  It also is great for infections too. 

Here are some links for you to review:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21287528

http://www.hyperbaricexperts.com/conditions/neurological-disorders/hbot-the-brain.html

(List of other things HBOT can be used to treat:

http://www.vet.utk.edu/departments/LACS/hbot.php

We are getting treatment at Southpaws in DC... google and look for a hospital that offers CERTIFIED AND TRAINED HBOT providers near you

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/news/article/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-hbot-available-at-southpaws/21833


So... We're now going to post pictures after EACH of Max's Treatments in the next posting.. Max is getting 2 treatments  / day with 4 hours in between each treatment -

Using Acupuncture to combat Cancer in Dogs

USING ACUPUNCTURE TO COMBAT CANCER AND OTHER DISEASES IN DOGS (and cats)

Buster getting Acupuncture for allergies

As many of you have read, we are big fans of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. Buster got acupuncture once a week, Max gets it every other week now, but for a time got it every week as well. I even got it when I saw that Buster lost 10 lbs with it, AND I didn't change his diet or his exercise routine... and yes! I lost 10 lbs too! No more ...though! (There must be a 10lb limit!)  I figured if Buster lost 10 lbs it wasn't psychosomatic so why not give it a try.

Many western / conventional vets, oncologists, surgeons, poo poo the idea of Chinese Medicine, herbs and acupuncture, but in all honestly, what do you have to lose by trying acupuncture? If you don't believe, it's not going to make anything worse! You're just sticking needles in the skin (and it doesn't hurt for those who are worried about this They are very thin and I've had dogs and cats who have been very skittish around vets, and they all were great with acupuncture and even LOVED it! Max actually used to ask our vet for needles when he'd go with Buster years ago, and when Buster wasn't feeling good he'd go sit by the car and want me to take him to the vet.

Aside from controlling pain, (and apparent weight loss for those of us who could stand to lose a few lbs!) acupuncture can also stimulate appetite, boost the immune system, help the body fight cancer, reduce swelling, calm nerves, help with anxiety, help stop smoking and other addictions or cravings (including sugar!), reduce or control nausea, reduce fatigue, control allergies, help alleviate and control depression , fix insomnia, help with reproductive disorders, help with digestive disorders and IBS, help with vision loss and hearing loss, and many more issues. The trick is finding someone who is really good!  The other thing to remember is Acupuncture and acupressure has been around for literally 1000's of years and it's still very actively used today and even covered by most pet insurance plans as well as human insurance plans... why?  Because it actually works and it's tried and true!

Tulsa getting acupuncture for kidney disease

I saw this article on the Dog Cancer Blog and thought it might be worth passing along. This is specifically about controlling pain with Acupuncture, but acupuncture does a lot more than control pain if you have the right vet doing it! 

Some Science behind Acupuncture for Cancer Pain

Daisy getting acupuncture to boost her immunity & fight cancer

Buster with his needles in his face! COPD be gone!

Buster at his weekly acupuncture apt (those aren't whiskers!)

Buster & his needles!

Buster getting acupuncture to support his lungs & spleen

He LOVED needles in his face to clear his sinuses!

Enjoying his treatment!

A serious pose

Max getting acupuncture

Max with acupuncture needles in his back and behind his ears

Max just hanging out with Acupuncture needles

The Resourcefulness of Max The Dog

My little friend Max has been on a mission this morning to steal the cat's food! Poor Tulsa the cat has kidney disease and seems to prefer to eat in bed. Well this morning Max decided that was a great idea and wanted to take part in Tulsa's breakfast! After repeatedly being told to stop trying to jump on the bed, he then decided to pull the blanket off the bed.. along with the cat food.. !

Max trying to get a good hold on the blanket to pull it off the bed

Got it! and this is how I woke up this morning!

Trying another way to get to the cat food

Still trying.. maybe he can PULL the blanket off the bed!

Working it!

Cat food in sight!

Whoops where did he go!

He's back!

And another attempt at pulling the blanket with his paws

And he's gone again - kind of like whack a mole (but I would never whack max)

And there he is again.. at least his ears!

Up again!

Whoops - slipped footing!

Poor Tulsa is irritated that max is trying to steal his food.

"Really... can you please stop him?"

My goodness! Dog on a mission!

Some confusion as the bed is being attacked by Max

"I'm going to get your breakfast!"

"I'm just going to grab this blanket you are on and pull!!! Hold on tight!"

"That bowel is getting closer!"

"HA!  I think I have it!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Get In My Belly!"

"Pardon me, but do you happen to have any Grey Poupon?  ... and a Fork?"

11-5-11 - Max's Day in Colonial Williamsburg

Today Max went for an outting in Colonial Williamsburg. He did pretty well but I think he was tired. He did take his anti-seizure medication today and prednisone which usually makes him sleepy. He's had a hard time hearing today - he can hear really loud noises and other dogs barking (except little doxies who are telling him what to do apparently), and I'm not sure how his sight was. The wind outside may have been drying up his right eye and it could have been hard to see but his nose sure was working!  There are a lot of good smells in Colonial Williamsburg! Max even tried to crash a wedding but was told if he didn't have an invitation he wasn't allowed in. We didn't see any sheep on this visit, just the horses which he normally will chase down, but today he just walked right up to them, wagged his tail and then turned and walked away. Definitely not himself entirely yet... which reminds me we have a ways to go.. or he has a new found appreciation for his friends the horses..

Max outside of the Bruton Parish Church on Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg

Max and Buster walking along in Colonial Williamsburg

Max trying to crash a wedding at Bruton Parish.. he was denied.

Max and Buster Running around the corner at Bruton Parish to see if they can sneak in through the grave yard..

Max on Governor's Green in Colonial Williamsburg (Governor's Palace at the end of the green)

Max off leash on the Governor's Green in Colonial Williamsburg

Max & the Horses. A few months ago he'd try and ride a horse.. today he just wagged his tail as he went over and then turned around.

Max in the Colonial Gardens

Max wishing Buster would pick up the pace and stop sniffing EVERYTHING

Max waiting for Buster AGAIN..

Chinese Herbs, Alternatives & Diet

Max at Vet getting acupuncture 10-13-11

I didn't get into much detail earlier on about the chinese herbs that Max has been on and is continuing to be on, but for those interested in alternatives, including Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, etc. I thought I'd include a little more detail for you.

After Max was first diagnosed, we went to our holistic vets (Veterinary Holistic Care in Bethesda MD where we see Dr. Kitty Raichura, and Dr. Tracy Lord, who practices in Richmond and Williamsburg VA. ) Here's what we did (It's important to note that I didn't give him all of this stuff every day - only when I felt like he needed it. He did get items 2-7 daily)

1. Weekly Acupuncture to help strengthen his energy and immune system 
2. MilkThistle 2-3 capules daily to help support his liver and kidneys while on Prednisone
3. Astragalus (we used both capsules and Chinese Flower brand formula depending on what he'd eat) to help strengthen his immune system
4. Stasis of the Mansion of the Mind (Chinese Herb prescribed to help move energy / chi  in his mind and help clear any dieing tumor cells
5. Wei Chi Booster - to help increase his energy
6. CAS suppliements for Dogs - to help boost his immune system
7. Tumeric sprinkled on his food to help his immune system and reduce swelling (Tumeric is a natural killer (NK) agent)
8. IP6
9. Poly MVA
10. Homeopathic mixture that was custom made for him by Dr. Lord to help with his specific symptoms

 I stopped everything except for the Milk Thistle and Astragalus when he went in to the hospital.  We started him back up on Stasis of the Mansion of the Mind and Wei Chi Booster 2 weeks after his last CK therapy.

We also started to use a Natural Hydrocortisone pill that we weaned him on to to replace the prednisone he was on.  The Natural Hydrocortisone is soy-based and I do not feel it is nearly as strong as the prednisone. For every 10mg of prednisone he was on, he took 20mg of the natural hydrocortisone.  Sometimes I felt like he needed more.  We did get him down to 5mg of prednosone every 4 days and 20mg of natural hydrocortisone ever other day before he went down hill after chasing that squirrel. I've heard different doctors thinking different things about it so if this is something you are considering weigh all the options and facts with your vet. The positive is that the soy-based natural hydrocortisone won't mess with liver and kidney functions as much as the prednisone does, in my opinion through, and I have no medical background, I think the prednisone is more effective, but that doesn't mean you can't use them together or that the natural hydrocortisone may not work better for another patient who isn't as advanced as Max was.  I think it's very important to remember that every patient is unique and I am just letting you know what we did and what worked for us as well as what options you may have and may want to discuss with your vet.

We have had a lot of success treating our pets with homeopathic methods, Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and alternative therapies including ozone therapy for other kinds of cancers.

Max has been on an anti-cancer diet most of his life which is probably why he doesn't have any sign of cancer anywhere in his body. Meningiomas are benign masses.

His typical meals include:

1. Grilled Chicken usually - sometimes steak (1x every other week)
2. Fresh Veggies or a 1/2 cup of Honest Kitchen Brand Freeze Dried Veggies (Preference)
3. Scoop of organic canned pumpkin

He has been completely grain free since he came to live with us when he was 11.

He loves to eat frozen broccoli as treats, or cantaloupe, blueberries, apples, carrots, cucumbers, or other veggies. The dogs also get frozen raw bones with the marrow inside. I usually keep them frozen because they last longer, are less messy, and keep them cool in the summer. I'll also refill the raw bones with organic salt free, sugar free peanut butter and freeze them too.  The dogs also love roasted turkey, and salmon which they occassionally get.  We have very rarely ever bought and fed our dogs commercial dog food and when we have it's been either The Honest Kitchen or B.G. (Before Grain) products.