Am I in synch?

Just testing out the synchronization between my blog and my twitter and my facebook.  Phew!

Anything Can Happen!

I’ve written many times about our Papillon, Desi and the challenges he faced with his diagnosis of GME.  I’ve written about his recovery and his nutritional needs to share our experiences with you, should you ever be faced with similar medical issues. Today I’d like to share a very happy experience, one we never thought would be possible after Desi’s illness.

Desi competed in agility before we adopted him at six. One of the reasons he was available for adoption was that he didn’t enjoy agility or being one of a group of dogs in the family.  After adopting him I didn’t want him to lose his athleticism and general fitness, but I didn’t want to push him to do anything he didn’t enjoy. We walked every day and played – although Desi was never really big on playing with toys.  He seemed to crave more activity so I got some practice agility jumps and tunnels to play with in the yard. To my surprise he LOVED it. I took some classes because while Desi had run agility, I hadn’t.  I was the recipient of a good amount of criticism about Desi knowing more than I did and one teacher went as far as to say she was going to contact his previous owner to see how she felt about me running agility with Desi.  Seriously. When classes were less than positive, I opted to practice at home and rent the  ring once in a while to practice on the equipment I didn’t have.  I’m all for doing things right, but this was supposed to be fun not cut throat competition about who was the most skilled team.  We did trials casually and he was rewarded just for trying.  Boy did he enjoy going!  He’d wag and wiggle his way around the house whenever my agility sneakers came out and I started to pack up the car. It was an entirely different experience for him being with me the whole day rather than in a crate or pen with other dogs waiting his turn. I loved it too.  A whole day with him away from the office was heaven. Unfortunately we were just getting good as a team when he became sick.  At the worst of his GME he could barely walk, let alone run agility.

Fast forward to spring of 2009 and he was able to do a bit more than just take short walks.  I was unsure about his safety jumping and running so we took things very slowly.  I watched him carefully and knew he needed more activity both for mental stimulation (he needed a job) and to regain his physical strength. I set the jump bars on the ground and he practiced stepping over.  We did just a few weave poles at a time and gradually increased from there. It’s unclear how much was recall and how much was retraining, but he did more and more each time. His ability to concentrate and his endurance were improving!  Finally I entered a trial planning to just watch or take him home if  he seemed nervous or uncomfortable. I would never push him beyond his comfort. There were some goofy mistakes on the first few runs – both his and mine – and he was exhausted after a full day away from home.  Interestingly some of the things he wasn’t comfortable with before like the A frame and the weave poles – he never misses now.  He does tire easily so we don’t do trials two days in a row any more, but he’s grown so much stronger.

So the big news is that Sunday, February 14th 2010 on Valentine’s Day our amazing little Desi earned his MACH (Master of Agility Champion) title. People who knew his story had tears in their eyes when he finished the run under time with no faults. One woman was so happy she kept saying ‘that’s his MACH…that’s his MACH’ almost in happy amazement that it could happen after everything he’d been through.  My point here is not to brag about a MACH title, it’s that anything can happen. Desi’s recovery was hard work for him and for me. It was a commitment every day to work with him and pay very close attention to details with how he felt, reacted to meds, different situations etc.  With good medicine, a fantastic neurologist, commitment and will, he is living a happy and active life. Sure there are compromises – we have to keep his schedule very consistent and plan around his needs.  Isn’t that a small price to pay for the joy he brings to us every day? We think so and we are so very grateful he’s here with us.

When you are faced with an illness I think it’s wise to find a clinician who has dealt with that particular illness before.  Advocate for your animal. Listen to the facts and give them information about your animal’s history and personality.  Sometimes miracles can happen with some help.

You’ll note my blog posts are now closed for comments. I’ve closed them because there were literally hundreds of comments looking to direct traffic to questionable sites, sell things I would not ever endorse etc. Our reader’s ideas for posts and comments however are always welcome. Simply email us directly through the link on our website and we’ll read your comments and share them when appropriate.

And while we look forward to transitioning to spring, please do something great for a dog in need while treating your dog to something special. We have a special charitable giving campaign called Joy – spread it around. We have created an embroidered Perfect Fit Hoodie in our signature turquoise and all the profit from this particular hoodie will be donated to an animal organization. So treat your dog and help another dog.

All the best,

Patti and Desi

Wishing You Joy and Peace This Holiday Season

Happy Holidays. I hope this finds you and your special pets well.

I promised in my last post to look for more palatable supplements that would help Desi nutritionally and share what I found. I’m happy to report we’ve made great strides in his nutrition, his ability to enjoy his food regularly and in finding the right supplements.  While we still value and see his conventional veterinarians, we’ve found an alternative approach to be helpful. Conventional, alternative and holistic approaches are all valuable and it’s important to understand I am not recommending one over the other. You need to find what is right for your animal. I’m simply sharing what’s worked well for Desi.

Desi’s diet is mainly 93/7 all natural cooked ground beef with sweet potatoes. I’m adding other cooked veggies he tolerates well to that. On an experienced, reputable, alternative veterinarian’s recommendation I am adding calcium and a multivitamin and mineral supplement to his food. The amount and type of supplements added should be determined by a veterinarian experienced in nutrition. This isn’t something to guess at.  We added the supplements very slowly to be sure he tolerated them well. The supplement amounts are small enough that his food is still palatable. I’m happy, actually thrilled, to report that this is the longest stretch Desi has ever had without nausea or vomiting. 

It’s very easy to generically lump nausea and vomiting into IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) but I’ve learned you really need to hone in on where the issue is and what specifically causes the problems. We’ve been doing muscle testing with the alternative vet.  Admittedly, it seems a little ‘out there’.  I’d decided going in that if any recommendations were risky or in serious conflict with what I’ve learned from our regular vets I wouldn’t do it.  The muscle testing is completely non invasive and trauma free for Desi and so far the doctor’s recommendations have been right on. There is a lot of follow up involved and she does need to see him regularly, however he’s doing very well.

Paying very close attention to your pet’s symptoms and quantifying them for your vet is very helpful.  Be sure to know what time something happened, the duration and severity as well as what you did for your pet and what happened before the symptoms started.  For example telling the doctor the pet felt sick a few times isn’t as helpful as detailing what the pet ate and did before vomiting, how many times he vomited, how much vomit and exactly what (sorry for being so explicit) the vomit looked like.  And if something doesn’t seem right, seek another opinion. Many people stay with their veterinarians because they feel badly getting another opinion. I understand this and I’ve been there, but you have to advocate for and find the right care for your pet.

If you haven’t already joined us on Face Book and Twitter, please do. We’ll be announcing two contests there shortly.     As always if you have suggestions for our blog posts, please email us at Service@JoyPetProducts.com.

I hope your holiday season is beautiful and 2010 brings you much happiness, robust health and success.

Patti and Desi

Nutrition and Supplements for Your Pet

It’s been a while since my last post and since then I’ve had the opportunity to consult with another nutritionist about Desi. So I thought it was worth continuing on the topic for this post.

As of the last post I’d started cooking for Desi and I wanted to be sure he was getting all the vitamins and nutrients he needs. He’s decided he doesn’t want to eat the few commercial foods he’s not allergic to at all any longer. Who can blame him? The veterinary nutritionist I’ve consulted with suggested I purchase supplements for Desi. The problem is that when the supplements are added to even the food he likes, he won’t eat it.  It begs the question why manufacturers haven’t addressed palatability and scent of supplements. Dogs smell their food and when they don’t like the smell there’s a good chance they won’t eat the food.  Of course some dogs will eat just about anything and while there’s definitely a down side to that, it can make feeding a balanced diet easier. For anyone has to add supplements to their dog’s food and who has a dog like Desi who runs from his dish if the food doesn’t smell delicious, you know exactly what I mean.  Human  medicines and vitamins are usually flavored to make them more appealing.  It makes sense.  And if you’ve ever had to have a prescription filled at a compounding pharmacy or a regular pharmacy, you know flavorings are often added to liquid medications.  Wouldn’t it make sense to have the same sort of service for animals?  Compounding pharmacies I’ve used do sometimes offer vanilla, beef, poultry and fish flavorings, but regular pharmacies don’t have flavors that appeal to animals at all. And as for supplements needed for daily use, any I’ve tried offer no appeal what so ever to animals and sometimes so much is needed that it over powers the scent of the food.

So, as we head into fall, it will be my quest to find more palatable supplements or a nutritionist who can help create a balanced food program without the use of such a large amount of supplements.  Don’t animals with limitations on what they can eat deserve to enjoy their food too?

Stay tuned and I’ll post new information next time. Thanks for reading!

Nutritional Help

Nutrition for pets can be confusing. We have more options available than ever before, but deciphering  ingredient labels and knowing what’s right for your pet is tricky. If you’ve followed my blog you’ll know that our little Papillon had a serious illness. His illness and recovery process prompted us to do allergy testing as was frequently sick after eating.  We discovered he had sensitivities to many foods found in higher quality foods and treats such as oats, barley, poultry and more.  I consulted with veterinary nutritionists and while some of the information was helpful, the bottom line is no one is as interested in keeping your pet healthy as you are.

Armed with the information from his allergy testing, his weight, how much weight he should gain and the amount of fat he should have, I’ve set out to find food he’ll enjoy and that will help keep hm healthy.  I feel strongly about avoiding preservatives and fillers and giving him the best quality food available.  I’ve found that involves some cooking, but it’s very easy and you’ll never have anyone more appreciative of your efforts. After all he’s been through it’s a special feeling to see him happily diving into his ’stew’.  He loves it and he’s not having any problems after he eats.  He’d been so sick he was afraid to eat for a while because everything was making him sick.

I’ve concocted a simple stew (and yes, people have already started asking Joy Pet Products to offer it) that Desi loves.  Obviously I can’t recommend this as nutritionally sound for all animals. Always check with a good veterinarian and / or nutritionist to be sure you are meeting your pet’s needs. My stew includes fresh organic veggies diced into tiny bites – Desi is after all only eight pounds – and brown rice which he prefers to potatoes. I grill a very high quality lean piece of beef or lamb until its rare, but has nice grill marks on each side. I don’t think Desi really cares about the grill marks, but they’re there in case he’s eating with his eyes that day.  Once the meat is grilled, I remove it from the pan and cut it into tiny bite size pieces.  Clean the pan of excess fat and place the meat, rice, veggies and a very small clove of garlic, minced in the pan.  Add enough filtered water to just cover the ingredients and simmer it for about two hours.  The meat and veggies will be very tender. Notice there is no salt or anything you can’t pronounce in this stew!  You’ll want to cut the meat and veggies in sizes appropriate for your dog. I make a large batch and keep enough in the fridge for one week and freeze the rest.  Some of the prep can be done in a food processor if you have one that won’t pulverize the veggies.  Remember you’ll need to check with your vet to be sure you are giving your pet a balanced diet and everything he or she needs nutritionally.

I hope that’s helpful and inspires you to take a good look at what you and your pet are eating. A few simple things can make a big difference!

Thanks for reading and be sure to drop me an email with your ideas for upcoming posts.

Thoughts about worthwhile tests

Welcome!  I’m writing today to touch on some tests I think are worthwhile for pets. To be clear, I am not a veterinarian or medical professional. I care very much for my animals and probably like you, want to keep them in the very best health without over doing vaccinations, procedures and medication.

If you’ve read my blog before you know that Desi, my Papillon, was a spot on, healthy little guy. Last September he developed symptoms of chronic pancreatitis. The fluids I gave him at home weren’t quite enough, so we admitted him to the hospital for IV fluids. He was subsequently diagnosed with GME. During his recovery I’ve had to be very aware of his nutritional and medical needs. Many people have asked questions about his diagnosis, treatment, progress etc. The same things come up often, so I thought I’d post about some different tests I found very helpful.

The first is the ultrasound. If you have access to a facility with excellent equipment and an experienced vet to read the scan, this non invasive procedure can tell you what you need to know to help your animal. It can be expensive, but it gives you real time information and again, does not hurt your animal experimenting with drugs that may or may not accurately treat the problem. Ultrasound had been such a useful tool with Desi and my previous dogs when they’ve presented symptoms that after talking with so many people about Desi’s situation, I’ve been thinking it should perhaps be used sooner rather than as a last resort. For example, had I turned to ultrasound sooner with two of my other dogs, I probably could have avoided things that aggravated their problems or at least helped them faster.  Again, I am not a doctor, rather someone who like you, who has had to deal with grave news about the health of animals I care very much about.

The second test I feel can be very useful – almost as part of your new puppy or kitten check up – is a food allergy blood test. There is controversy among doctors as to whether the blood test or skin allergy testing is more accurate. I’ve read everything I can get my hands on and I feel more secure with the blood testing. Bloodwork is generally done when you adopt a new animal and at every annual exam so while it does mean a needle, it doesn’t necessarily mean a separate trip to the vet. You can use this information to start your pet on a nutritional program that is right for his individual needs. In Desi’s case we found that ingredients and foods that are normally considered healthy are a problem for him. Who knew? Remember that all vets are not nutritional specialists. Some vets who are nutritional specialists will recommend any canned diet without any regard as to the quality of the food. Take some time and find a doctor who can help you in this area and get your little pal on a good food plan. It doesn’t have to cost more and it really can make such a difference.

All the best,

Patti and Desi

Welcome Spring!

Happy Spring!  It looks like here in New England Spring is finally almost here.  We still have some really cold nights to get through, but at least we’ve seen glimpses of spring weather and felt the warmth of the sun a few times.

Most people know us for our Goose Down Filled Dog Coats. They are the original and they have two US Patents and we’re very proud of them.  In most parts of the country it’s just about time to put them away for the spring and summer.

If you have a dog that minds the cooler temperatures and still needs something to help keep the chill away like I do, please check out our new Perfect Fit Embroidered Hoodies. They are available in different weight fleece fabrics for the fickle spring weather. We also have our own embroidered designs and there’s one for every different personality.  We didn’t just use the same old, same old, designs. Our commitment to style is right there with our committment to quality and fit.  We have quite a range of colors and embroidered designs for you to choose from.  So whether your dog is an angel, an all American Dog, a real hot dog, or really is his or her Zodiac sign personified (would that be dog-onified or canine-ified?), you’ll find the right hoodie for your special pal. Of course the hoodies are excellent quality and of course they look and fit great, but they also make people smile. Every time I’m walking with Desi and he has one of the Perfect Fit Hoodies on, people look at the embroidery and love it. Even people who are not – can you believe- dog lovers, love the shirts.

By now you probably know Desi is a little male Papillon and I would not have him in anything that wasn’t comfortable for him to wear and that didn’t fit a male dog properly.  We cut our hoodie patterns so they accommodate male dogs too.  And we’ve used a great stretch trim to keep the shape.  No soggy shirts here!  Please consider our Joy Spread It Around Hoodie. Desi is modeling on for you in the photo. This is a special edition hoodie we’ve made to benefit an animal charity. All the profits will be entirely donated to charity. It’s a beautiful 200 weight USA made Turquoise Polar Fleece with ivory embroidery. It’s a great hoodie that will be fabulous for your dog and will help other dogs. And of course all our hoodies are made in USA.  They’re something to feel good about all around!

Thanks for stopping by.  And thanks so much to those of you who emailed about the posts on GME and nutrition. I’m fortunate to be in a part of the country with access to some of the best veterinary care available and I’m always happy to share information.

All the Best, Patti & Desi

Nutritional Changes

Desi is happy to have his coat, but waiting for spring!

Granul – what?

Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis.
Have you ever heard of this? Neither had I until September of 2008 when Desi was diagnosed with it.

I’ve posted information on this blog about Desi and I’ve discussed his diagnosis, treatment and recovery with many customers and friends. So much so that people have asked for more information. I am not a veterinarian nor a medical expert but I will be happy to share what I’ve learned. Please consult a veterinary neurologist who has experience treating GME if you suspect your pet is presenting similar symptoms.

Desi wasn’t eating regularly in mid August. We had all the routine exams and lab work done and when his appetite still wasn’t back to normal we had an ultrasound done. It wasn’t conclusive, but we suspected pancreatitis (chronic not acute) so we started him on fluids and with held food to give him a chance to heal. He wasn’t feeling better over the weekend so we did a second ultrasound on Monday morning. The second scan was more suggestive of pancreatitis so we started meds and continued fluids. By Monday evening he was very weak so we admitted him to a veterinary hospital for IV fluids. We aren’t certain what happened, but the vet on call in the hospital called and said he was showing signs of neuro issues. Desi had never had any neurological problems at all previously. In fact even though he hadn’t been feeling well, he was still spot on in his movements and all of his behaviors were appropriate. Fast forward a day or two and an MRI and spinal tap showed inflammation in his brain. By this time he wasn’t aware of his surroundings, was continually circling, was constantly crying out and had had seizures. It was heartbreaking and unimaginable that short of an awful accident, he could change so dramatically in a matter of thirty six hours.

There are several types of GME, Desi’s being multi focal or existing in several areas. You might want to search granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis or GME, but be aware of the source of the article and before completely despairing that it isn’t treatable check if the author has much real experience with treatment. I learned that typically prednisone is used alone and often that is just not sufficient. I don’t want to suggest that Desi’s treatment is appropriate for all dogs, but for those who have asked or just want to learn more about what worked for him, he’s been on cytarabine which is a chemo drug, prednisone which he’s finally weaned off of which is a steroid, cyclosporin, phenobarbital for the seizures and he was also on Pepcid while taking the Prednisone.

The fall and winter were very difficult for Desi, myself and my husband. When Desi was first well enough to come home he calmed down considerable and was able to rest which he had not been able to do at the hospital. He recognized his name but could only focus briefly and on on person at a time. He slowly started to be able to follow me and in a few weeks he regained some strength. I worked with him twice daily for short rehab sessions every day until he was able to do most things as he’d done before. It’s unclear whether some of his abilities have returned due to recall or retraining. My guess though is that he has recalled most things. Now five months later, Desi is still not quite himself, but he functions well and he is enjoying life again. The differences that are apparent to me as the person closest to him are his emotions are just under the surface; in other words he is very easily excited.

He was never left alone for more than a few hours before he was sick because I can bring him to work with me and almost everywhere I go. Since he’s been sick, he’s never been left alone because he panics. Now that he is off of the prednisone we’ll start leaving him for a few minutes at a time to see how he does. We’ve not returned to agility although we’ve tried a few things that were typically very easy for Desi in the back yard and he’s been able to do them. I still don’t feel he’d be safe on higher contact equipment. I don’ t feel it would be safe just yet.

The neurologist assigned to Desi’s case was fortunately experienced in treating GME and was very diligent in treating him and giving us support over the phone after he was home. His chemo is now stretched to every five weeks and next we’ll work on weaning him off the other meds one at a time. We are very fortunate that he’s recovered to this point. It’s hard to believe that he was as bad as he was and now he’s happily resting while I work waiting for his afternoon walk – wearing his newest Goose Down Filled Dog Coat – sorry, I couldn’t resist. But truth be told, he minds the cold quite a bit since he’s been on chemo and cyclosporin. He wore his coats before he was sick when it was very cold, but now he shivers without them even at forty degrees.

Next time I’ll fill you in on what dietary changes we’ve made since he’s been sick. Desi’s dietary needs are what brought me to Dr. Harvey’s foods which will be on the site shortly. Thanks so much for caring about your animals and taking an interest in Desi.

Happy New Year!

With the frigid temperatures so much of the country is experiencing, Desi and I thought we’d talk a bit about protecting your pets from the cold. Here he is looking relatively shocked at how cold it is outside. Fortunately he has his new Goose Down Doggie Coat with the removable hood. I planned to get the black and golden khaki color for him, but when the turquoise and green came in I just couldn’t resist. So yes, Santa brought two new coats for Christmas.

While it’s true not every animal may need a Goose Down Filled Doggie Coat, if you live in an area with cold winter temperatures chances are your pet needs protection when he or she goes outdoors. Our pets’ ancestors may have been wild, but our most of pets have been living indoors and are accustomed to the same creature comforts we are. In general I tell people if your dog has a healthy coat he or she may not feel as cold as you would without a coat on, but chances are in freezing temperatures, the animal is cold. And if your pet is very young, older or has health issues he or she may mind the cold even more. If you know your dog’s habits well and suddenly he or she is reluctant to go out as usual, it may just be the temperatures. We’ve heard from many people with larger breeds that covering their hips in cold weather with our Goose Down Filled Doggie Coats has made a huge difference in their comfort level. So cover those older hips in the cold winter weather. And even with a coat, use common sense about how long you allow your dog to stay out in extreme temperatures.

Icy conditions and salt also can be harmful to dog’s paws. Carefully check your dog’s paw pads when he or she comes in after romping through ice and snow or in areas treated with rock salt. Clumps of ice and debris can get caught in between the pads and become uncomfortable. I’ve never had much luck with boots for my dogs, but I have found that Musher’s Secret helps tremendously. While dogs’ paw pads are not exactly the same as our skin, the same conditions can cause them to become dry and cracked. So just as your hands feel dry and sometimes crack in the cold weather, your dogs’ paws can become very dry and irritated in this weather as well. A few extra minutes can really make a difference and it’s great bonding time too. If your dog is one who doesn’t like his or her paws touched or having nails clipped, gently massaging Musher’s into the paws can be a great way to get him or her to accept having the paws touched without the fear of the nail clipper. I massage whatever is left on my fingers into my cuticles. it’s safe, natural and works really well!

Have a safe and happy January.
Patti and Desi