A Caring Human

My friend and colleague is a real human companion.  He is an holistic vet in California  (www.lovapet.com) and is active in education.  He just released a new book and as he shared it with me, I want to share it with you.

You can support our work and this blog by purchasing it through your favorite book seller using  
http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/creating-health-institute-chi

Releasing Your Pets Hidden Health Potential
Richard Palmquist, DVM

Keeping Your Pets Healthy in Flu Season

You can get some tips by checking our BlogTalkRadio program from this morning about pet health and flu concerns.

Another reason to cover your cough: pets at risk


Fri Nov 6, 2009
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People who think they may have H1N1 flu need to stay away from work, avoid sneezing on their spouses and children and now, they have someone else to worry about infecting too -- their pets.

U.S. vets reported this week that a pet cat had been infected with the pandemic swine flu virus, apparently by its owners, who had reported flu-like illness in the days before.

Two pet ferrets also caught flu, again apparently from their owners, and several herds of pigs around the world have been reported infected.

Animals have long been known to be a source of new infections. Influenza itself originates in birds, possibly domestic ducks. AIDS appears to have come from chimpanzees and possibly gorillas. Ebola virus comes from bats while rabies is spread by many different species.
And this strain of H1N1 very likely originated in pigs although it is now infecting almost exclusively humans.

But with flu, at least, it can go the other way, too.

"This is just another illustration of why influenza viruses are so tricky and frustrating and interesting at the same time, is this ability to occasionally jump species," said Dr. Carolyn Bridges of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Bridges said it is impossible to know how many pets may have been infected -- this particular cat lived near a sophisticated animal laboratory in Iowa where vets ran an influenza test out of curiosity. The good news is that the cat survived.

Even for people, it is difficult to find out if a fever, cough and stuffy nose was the swine flu or something else because ordinary flu tests can miss H1N1 and doctors do not have easy access to the more sophisticated test needed to diagnose it.

NO KISSING

So no one knows how often pets might get infected. But if there is a season for it to happen, this would be it, says Bridges.

"We have a great deal more disease now than we have in a typical flu season," she said in a telephone interview.

"With the higher numbers of infected people, that increases the possibility of seeing these transmissions."

Cats were known to get H5N1 avian influenza, which is still circulating and which has killed snow leopards and tigers that were fed infected chickens. A strain called H3N8 can sicken and kill pet dogs, Bridges added.
"It is hypothesized that dogs got it from horses. There is potential, certainly, for cross-species infection," she said.

This is bad news for sick pet lovers.

"Even though I think when I am sick in bed the best thing I can have is my cats piling in with me, we realize that is no longer a risk-free activity," said Dr. Julie Levy of the University of Florida, a specialist in pet diseases.
"When a pet is sick we should use common sense -- wash hands, not let them kiss us in the face," Levy added.

According to the World Health Organization, H1N1 has killed at least 6,071 people worldwide and likely far more.

The Sweden-based European Center for Disease Prevention and Control projects the virus could kill up to 40,000 people across Europe and be followed by seasonal flu waves that could kill the same number.

The international veterinary disease agency, the OIE, says it is compiling reports of H1N1 in animals.

"It is very likely that there will be additional findings of other influenza strains," OIE Director Dr. Bernard Vallat said in a statement.

(Editing by Sandra Maler)

Natural Cancer Care and Canines

There are a number of reasons why our loving animal companions develop cancer.

One holistic vet who turned from allopathic veterinary after 25 years told me that the major concerns are vaccines, flea and tick products, food, environmental exposure and microchips.

There are quite a few ways to provide healthier care for pets.
Find a holistic vet
Natural cancer care for animals
Bea Lydecker
Dr. Xie
Botanical Based Medicine for All Creatures

Contact us for information about:
Tasha's
JBNI Taoist Herbal Formulas for Animal Health
Animal Communicators
Essences for Alpacas and other animals

Scientists develop canine cancer drug
Published: March 25, 2009
SALT LAKE CITY, March 25 (UPI) -- A U.S. scientist says he's developed a "Trojan horse" drug treatment that is showing promising results in treating dogs suffering from cancer.

Joseph Bauer of the Cleveland Clinic has developed a drug called nitrosylcobalamin that has successfully battled cancer in four canines with no negative side effects. Bauer says the drug might lead to a new cancer treatment for humans.

"The beauty of using a dog or a cat to test a cancer drug is two-fold. First, the animal can get the benefit of the most up-to-date drug in cancer medicine," said Bauer. "Second … if you can find an agent to treat cancer that occurs in a dog with success, there is a higher likelihood you can take that to the human population and have a much higher response rate than with mice."

The drug targets cancer cells with "biological Trojan horse technology." Bauer said cells have receptors for vitamin B12 on their outer surface. In order to divide at their abnormally rapid pace, cancer cells grow extra B12 receptors -- 100 times more than normal cells. Bauer and his colleagues attach nitric oxide molecules to vitamin B12. The nitric oxide kills cancer cells. The B12 acts as the "Trojan horse," easily slipping into cancer cells. The subsequent release of nitric oxide kills the cancer cells from within.

The team's goal is to move the drug into human trials as soon as possible.

The research was presented this week in Salt Lake City during a national meeting of the American Chemical Society.
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/03/25/Scientists_develop_canine_cancer_drug/UPI-85141237988955/

Scents for Cents

UPDATE: Related articles
Fresh scents may hide toxic secret
Fresh, clean air does not come in a can
Pet Health
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I have a friend whose house used to be full of those scent sprayers plugged into every wall outlet in her house. This made it almost impossible for me to ever visit her.

As she was always complaining of headache I mentioned that she could try using pure essential oils in a spray bottle and it would work better and be healthier, as well as save her a lot of money.

After the switch she told me about all the headaches cleared up and how much better she felt.

It isn't just that these products contain endocrine disrupting chemicals, they are also replete with formaldehyde and petroleum distillates. All of these chemicals do impact your health, just like Lysol.

Their impact on pet health is at issue as well.

Dollars and Scents
By Kiera Butler

A breezy history of the air freshener.
Mother Jone November/December 2008 Issue

1930s - Lysol is America's most popular contraceptive. Really.

1952 - Little Trees first hung on rearview mirrors.

1956 - Glade introduces the air freshener spray can.

1974 - Glade solid scent sticks hit shelves.

1989 - Plug-in air fresheners exude ambience 24-7.

1994 - Man sprays Prince Charles with a can of air freshener.

1997 - US air freshener sales reach $239 million.

2002 - Renuzit unveils the Super Odor Neutralizer.

2004 - Air Wick releases Relaxation and Revitalization scents. Febreeze launches Scentstories "scent-themed" discs. Sample: Exploring a Mountain Trail.

2006 - Glade presents the Scented Oil Light Show—designed for girls 8 to 12.

2007 - Enviro group finds hormone-disrupting chemicals in "all-natural" air fresheners, asks EPA for further testing. SC Johnson sues Dial for stealing its three-scents-in-one idea.

2008 - US air freshener market hits $2.3 billion—not including scented candles

and from TIME