Feeding candy licorice to your dog – or any kind of confection, for that matter – is a definite no-no. But the herbal form of licorice is a time-tested remedy for gastrointestinal upset and skin problems such as allergies. And some veterinarians use it as an anti-inflammatory for problems such as itching in the place of powerful drugs like steroids.

“The most important thing for people to understand is that the effects of licorice are slow and cumulative, as opposed to a steroid injection,” says holistic veterinarian, Carol Osborne, DVM, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, author of “Dr. Carol’s Naturally Healthy Dogs” (Marshall Editions, 2006). With the latter, “about four hours later the animal is in great shape, which lasts for about 10 days, but then you have the side effects of steroids, like stress on liver and kidneys.”

As with any herb, it is important to discuss licorice use with your veterinarian. The active ingredient in licorice is the nearly impossible to pronounce chemical component glycyrrhizin, which stimulates the adrenal glands and produces an anti-inflammatory response similar to that of corticosteroids such as prednisone.

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Holistic Veterinarian, Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM., is featured on the cover story for the June/July 2009 Issue of:
Dogs for Kids Magazine: Help My Dog Stinks Pages 28-32; By Donna Martin.

Over the last decade advances in veterinary medicine have nearly doubled the canine life span. The technological innovations we now offer for pets, parallel those available for people, reaching far beyond our previous expectations. What are the factors limiting longevity in pets? What impact do anti-oxidant supplementation and dietary intervention have on lengthening healthy life spans for pets? Successful techniques for rejuvenating the body and lengthening life spans in people have been documented. Would similar strategies prove effective for dogs?

George, a 7 year old Dalmatian not only suffered from severe arthritis, he was also paralyzed, due to a spinal injury. Surgery cost was estimated at $4000, with no guarantee of success and little hope of him ever walking again. George’s owners, Don and Pam Brennan were devastated and sadly carried George out of the office that day on a stretcher. He couldn’t even stand up to go to the bathroom. With tears streaming down their faces, they knew it was the end. They spent that night together saying their final goodbyes.

The next morning a friend told them about ongoing clinical trials of an anti-aging pet product. This was their last chance. They had nothing to lose, so they gave it a try. Within 30 days, George was out in the front yard playing with the other dogs. He was back to the way he used to be, playful like a puppy. George enjoyed several healthy, happy years thereafter. Pam and Don were thrilled-they got their dog back!

Anti-Aging medicine, although not yet formally recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association, is the newest clinical medical specialty offered to human physicians. So, why wouldn’t this be applicable for veterinarians as well?
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Dear Dr. Carol,

I’m writing to thank you so much for your wonderful product. I truly believe that PAAWS is one of the main reasons that the love of my life, Lindy, enjoys her remarkable health. My vet calls her the miracle dog!

Lindy turned 16 in Febuary. She has lost her hearing and her vision is challenged but her spirit and energy remain strong. She is happy to go out every morning with her friends, also PAAWS dogs! They have been walking together every morning for a least 14 years.

She still rides on the console of my car and just about jumps out of the car window when we get to her favorite park. Lindy still breaks out into vigorous runs every morning.

She has been on PAAWS for as long as I can remember. She always had a delicate constitution, after she began PAAWS Vitamins, I immediately noticed that the problem all but vanished.

I don’t know what Lindy’s life would have been like without PAAWS, but I know what it’s been with them…wonderful!

Thank you so much!

Lori P.
Las Vegas, NV

A National Health Emergency has officially been officially declared for Swine Flu in the US!

April 28, 2009, Chagrin Falls, Ohio: The world is on the brink of the first influenza pandemic in more than 40 years. This escalated last Sunday as France, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Spain reported potential new cases in which people had been infected with swine flu. According to the World Health Organization, there are 66 confirmed human cases of Swine Flu in the U.S. and two people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported as of today.

The threat of a worldwide pandemic is real! President Obama spoke to a group of scientists and said that his administration’s Department of Health and Human Services “has declared a public health emergency as a precautionary tool to ensure that we have the resources we need at our disposal to respond quickly and effectively.” The alert level has been raised from three to four now that the virus is being spread directly from person to person.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced that Americans should be prepared for this problem to become more severe, and that for some, it may become fatal.

Over 150 people in Mexico have died and spread of the virus appears to be gaining momentum. Two thousand people in Mexico are currently under observation for Swine Flu.
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Hartz Mountain Corp. has recalled two lots of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats because of concerns about potential Salmonella contamination of bottles within the lots.

UFAC (USA) Inc. of Baconton, Georgia manufactured both lots for Hartz in 2007. Testing by Hartz and UFAC has not revealed the presence of Salmonella in any Hartz products, but recent sampling by the Food and Drug Administration did detect the bacteria.

The first lot of tainted pet vitamins that Hartz recalled was 3,600 bottles of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats, lot code SZ-16371. The second lot was 739 bottles, lot code SZ-22771. The bar code on bottles from both lots is 32700-97701.

Hartz has not received reports of pets or people becoming ill as a result of coming into contact with the product. Customers can contact Hartz at (800) 275-1414 with any questions and to obtain
reimbursement for cat vitamins that are tainted.

Bookmark www.carolonpets.com for the latest pet health news and longevity updates for your dog and cat. Veterinarian and author, Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM is available for personal pet health consultations and pet health questions for dogs and cats. Call Dr. Carol toll free at 1-866-372-2765.

PETS AND their PEOPLE

How Much Exercise Do Dogs Need? Dogs needs at least 20 minutes of exercise twice a day. The exact amount varies with age, breed, weight and physical condition.

Veterinarian and author, Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM, says,” Don’t jump off the sofa one minute and take a ten mile hike the next, dogs, like people, need to get in shape gradually a little bit each day.” Try starting with a couple of ten minute walks and you can both build up from there. And if your pet hasn’t taken much exercise recently get the vet to check him/her out before you begin the program.

One hour of exercise increases your dog’s lifespan by 4 days. Devise a fitness program for your dog and you may find that you get as much out of it, if not more, than your dog.

Exercise Is Fun With Your Dog!

Exercise is integral to life. Not only is it essential for optimal health, it also improves circulation, stimulates vital organs, facilitates digestion and helps eliminate harmful toxins from the body. Exercise provides aerobic activity that stimulates your dog mentally and physically. And exercising with pets is fun. It is a great way to bond, and it is as good for you as it is for your dog. Most owners end up looking forward to this “special time” as much as their dog does.

Some enlightened fitness centers open their doors to people and pets – use it or lose it doesn’t just apply to people.

Exercise Goals
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Kids and pets are nothing out of the ordinary that is until you meet Riley, an 8 year old girl from Colorado who’s allergic to peanuts. Riley’s dog “Rock’O, a Portuguese Water Dog has been trained to protect her from peanuts, to which she has a life threatening allergy.

Riley’s mom is relieved that her daughter’s constant companion and playmate is a true lifesaver.
Riley’s allergy to peanuts is so severe that if she even touches something with peanut residue she will end up in the hospital because it only takes 6 minutes before her body would go into shock. According to her doctor her case is about as bad as they come.

Rock’O represents one of only six dogs in the country trained to detect the presence of peanuts and protect their owners from serious allergic reactions. Training a peanut allergy dog to sniff out peanuts is similar to teaching them to sniff out narcotics and/or bombs. In this case it’s just a different scent.

Most schools are aware of peanut allergies in children but the severity of Riley’s case brought new challenges. She used to have to wear gloves in class just in case; now she feels a little more like the other kids because Rock’O never leaves her side. He’s with her 24/7 at home and at school.

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With Spring in the air, many homeowners and gardeners are sure to be outside getting their hands dirty. But veterinarians say cocoa mulch made by Hershey’s has a sweet-smell attractive to pets but also may be deadly to dogs and cats if ingested.

“Cocoa mulch is a risk, especially to dogs,” said Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM of American Pet Institute in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

Available at most home garden centers, cocoa mulch is known for its fine texture and the sweet smell the fresh mulch gives off. What’s unusual is that, it smells like a chocolate Pop Tart. That’s the best way to describe it. It really does have a chocolate scent. Aside from the odor, cocoa mulch can be dangerous if a dog or cat decides to eat it. It contains two key ingredients found in chocolate: theobromine and caffeine. Similar to eating chocolate, pets that eat just a few ounces of cocoa mulch may starting having stomach problems, which become worse as more is ingested.

“Pets may become restless and excited. With time tremors and seriously seizures can develop which can be life threatening and in some cases fatal,” Osborne explained. “Puppies are naturally curious and many are attracted to various things around the yard. It seems to be more severe for small dog breeds and toxicity is dose dependant,” Osborne said. For pet owners it’s best to just avoid using cocoa mulch in your yard and/or garden.
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As summer time and warmer weather approaches, Ticks often become an issue for many pets and their people. Ticks can infect your dog with Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other tick-borne diseases. Learning to identify ticks is also wise; the brightly colored tick on the left carries Lyme Disease.

If your pet loves the great outdoors — particularly for those that enjoy roaming the woods and trails — be sure to check your pet’s skin and hair coat thoroughly especially the area around their ears and neck. If you spot the pesky, little blood suckers, try to remove them as soon as possible!

Ticks that has burrow into your dog’s skin can be tricky to remove. Dr. Carol offers a few tips to safely remove ticks, such as the harmful tick, pictured to the right that transmits Lyme Disease.

1. First put on a pair of rubber gloves to avoid direct contact with the tick.

2. Use tweezers to grasp the tick by its head at the point where it’s attached to your pet’s body.

3. Gently pull the tick away from the skin, but do not twist. Make sure you remove the entire tick, because leaving tick body parts behind, under your pets skin can cause an infection.

4. Clean the bite area with an antiseptic, such as alcohol and wipe your tweezers well with rubbing alcohol. Place the tick in a glass jar with a couple inches of rubbing alcohol and close the lid.

Be sure to ask your vet identify the tick so you know whether or not you and/or your pet are at risk or if it’s harmless, like the wood tick in this photo.

Contact your vet if the skin around the tick bite remains irritated. To protect your pet during tick season (usually April through September), use a tick-preventive product and consider vaccinating your pets for Lyme disease. There is also a Lyme Disease Vaccine available for people, which is a valid consideration for those living in and/or traveling through endemic areas of the country.

Bookmark www.carolonpets.com for the latest pet health news and longevity updates for your dog and cat. Veterinarian and author, Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM is available for personal pet health consultations for dogs and cats toll free at 1-866-372-2765.