I just got this heart warming note from one of my clients and wanted to share it with everyone who may have lost hope for one of their beloved canine companions diagnosed with a terminal illness like cancer.

Harley’s Story,

Hi! My name is Harley (short for Harley Dawson Tug Hampton the first). I am a Dogue de Bordeaux (French mastiff). I was born AUGUST 3rd, 2005 and my journey starts there. I’m not sure where I was born or who my real parents are. All I know is that one day 2 ladies came and took me home from the pet store. I was 8 weeks old and 18 pounds. I had this giant head that was so heavy for my body to hold up for long periods of time. Despite my looks my new mommies loved me. In addition my feline and canine companions learned to tolerate my endless drool and ungraceful mobility. Over time I grew into an incredibly handsome dog. However, I never did outgrow the drooling or clumsiness.

I attended puppy school so that I could learn to listen to my mommies. I did quite well for the most part. My best friend was a Yorkshire terrier – wasn’t that bizarre to watch. I actually am 1 class away from being a “therapy dog”. Both of my mommies are nurses, and as a puppy I would go visit the residents in the nursing home they worked at. I used to love the smiles I would bring to their faces just by being there. I also loved the scratches I would get and the occasional biscuit. Face it, it was an easy job and mastiffs are rather lazy so I loved it! Give a paw here or there, sit, down, speak – what dog in his right mind wouldn’t.

I moved to a new home when I was around 1 ½ years old. The place must have been made for a big lug like me. I had so much room to get around that for a second I forgot how clumsy I really was. My mommies got really busy working so I started staying home a lot more. On the rare occasion I would get to go visit at my moms job I always found myself looking in one room for one little lady. I would go to her bed and put my head on it – she would get a bright smile on her face and give me a big kiss and scratch. The last time I was there I couldn’t find her. Guess she had to go away and very soon I will go away too.

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Dear Dr. Carol,

I am writing you this letter to express my gratitude. You are an amazing professional, empathetic human being, and truly a pleasure to know. Here is some background on my story. I have a long haired Chihuahua named Senor Paco. Paco is 13 years young and has always been healthy as can be. I had purchased Dr. Carol’s senior pet vitamins for my dog in March 2008 after seeing the pet vitamins on an infomercial. I began giving him half a pill in the AM and half in the PM.

In June 2008, Paco and I left for a summer vacation for 8 weeks in Florida. I figured that I would need some type of treat for Paco when he was behaving extra well. I purchased dog treats at my local pet retailer. I began giving them to Paco in July. He ate them daily as well as half of his vitamin in the AM and half in the PM.

Everything was going fine until August 15, 2008. My dog had a minor seizure. It may have been minor but to me it was a major life changing event. I am 30 years old with no children as of yet. Senor Paco is my child and the love of my life. To see him go through this was beyond devastating. I spoke to my personal vet and she told me to get him to a vet for blood work. I did. In no time we were heading back home to NJ.

During this time I continued to give Paco the treats but not the vitamins. I figured since he had the seizure I should stop the vitamins. I continued to live in fear thinking if he would every have another seizure. Then on September 28, 2008 Paco had another minor seizure. I was beside myself. I spoke to my personal vet and she said we would probably have to put Paco on medication. She scheduled him for blood work that Thursday. I did not know what to think anymore or where to turn.

I am a very religious woman and prayed non stop for my baby. I even asked for a sign from up above to lead me in the right direction with this situation. On October 1, 2008 (Wednesday) something clicked inside me and told me to call Dr. Carol and ask her if we put Paco on meds would he still be able to take the vitamins. When I called Dr. Carol she was so helpful, optimistic, and honest.

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Dr. Carol,

Here is a picture of Dandy. I hope you don’t mind that he is sitting in a chair. I took lots of pictures. He was much more cooperative in the chair. As you see, he is a very serious Westie.

We are enjoying using your Naturally Healthy Dogs book. It certainly does have a lot of useful information in it. I especially like the natural approach to caring for dogs.

Dandy is doing really well. He loves the cold weather we have been having. He still stays in bed late in the morning. However, after his leisurely wake up, he has breakfast and goes up our long stairs to “work” in Tom’s office.

He has a few ailments as to be expected at his age. Most have been taken care of. He had an “ear stroke”-a broken blood vessel in his ear. For a while, his right ear would not stand up like the left. However, it usually does now.

He had testicular cancer, but is cured from that. He has two issues now. He has Cushings Disease. lt is under control with Lysodren, but that has caused him to gain weight. And of course, being recently neutered has contributed. We are working on that. He also does not hear well, but we are working around that, too.

As I have written earlier, the Senior Paaws do help him a lot. He has a lot more energy. Even at almost 14 years old, when he thinks he is going for a ride or a walk, he runs around the house and he barks and twirls.

Not bad for 14!

I am so glad I heard your ad for Paaws on the radio.

Thankx for everything!

Leewood and Tom W.
Dallas, Texas

Hi Dr. Carol,

I was thinking about you the other day, was going to send you a picture of my 2 puppies. Yes I got my Thunder (the shepherd/husky) and brother his name is Jake (lab/shepherd) I also got Jake from the ASPCA. They are doing great.

I miss my boxer dog Buddy so much. I will always be thankful to you so much for how you hung in there with me with my boxer Buddy. Looking back I knew he got sick very fast, and I learned when a dog’s kidney is failing, and you do not catch it when it’s young, little hope for helping. Buddy never showed any signs till he got older, to me he was young only 3. I will never forget the day I finally got him into the vet and they did a blood test and told me. I was shocked, and at the same time I knew something was seriously wrong with him.

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Diabetic Dog & Cat owners check your insulin syringes to be sure you do not have the Reli ON brand!

The FDA issued a nationwide recall of insulin syringes used for diabetic pets and people. The syringes are made by Tyco and are labeled for a single use. The syringes have permanently affixed hypodermic needles on them but they are mislabeled. The use of these syringes may lead to patients receiving an overdose of as much as 2.5 times the intended dose, which may lead to low blood sugar, which called hypoglycemia, serious health consequences, and even death.

The following lot number and product information have been recalled:
Lot Number 813900
ReliOn 1cc, 31-gauge, 100 units for use with U-100 insulin
ReliOn syringes from this lot number, labeled as 100 units for use with U-100 insulin are the only item being recalled.

Distributors include Can-Am Care Corp and sold only by Wal-Mart at Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Clubs under the ReliOn name. Wal-Mart requests that all users of ReliOn 31-gauge, 1cc syringes return those labeled as 100 units for use with U-100 insulin from Lot Number 813900 to their local Wal-Mart store or Sam’s Club pharmacy. Customers will be provided with replacement product. Pet owners and health care professionals need to check their syringe packaging carefully for syringes labeled as 100 units for use with U-100 insulin from Lot Number 813900.

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Dear Dr. Carol,
I am writing you this letter to express my gratitude. You are an amazing professional, empathetic human being, and truly a pleasure to know. Here is some background on my story. I have a long haired Chihuahua named Senor Paco. Paco is 13 years young and has always been healthy as can be. I had purchased Dr. Carol’s senior pet vitamins for my dog in March 2008 after seeing the paaws pet vitamins on an infomercial. I began giving him half a pill in the AM and half in the PM.

In June 2008, Paco and I left for a summer vacation for 8 weeks in Florida. I figured that I would need some type of treat for Paco when he was behaving extra well. I purchased dog treats at my local pet retailer. I began giving them to Paco in July. He ate them daily as well as half of his vitamin in the AM and half in the PM.

Everything was going fine until August 15, 2008. My dog had a minor seizure. It may have been minor but to me it was a major life changing event. I am 30 years old with no children as of yet. Senor Paco is my child and the love of my life. To see him go through this was beyond devastating. I spoke to my personal vet and she told me to get him to a vet for blood work. I did. In no time we were heading back home to New Jersey. During this time I continued to give Paco the treats but not the vitamins. I figured since he had the seizure I should stop the vitamins. I continued to live in fear thinking if he would every have another seizure. Then on September 28, 2008 Paco had another minor seizure. I was beside myself. I spoke to my personal vet and she said we would probably have to put Paco on medication. She scheduled him for blood work that Thursday. I did not know what to think anymore or where to turn.
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Hi Dr. Carol,

This letter is LONG overdue from me and my mom, and we apologize. My dog “Bruiser” and I want to thank you for all your help in getting me back on the road to a healthy life!

Bruiser was diagnosed with Giardia in February 2008 (after many tests for intestinal upset and vomiting and quite a “mess” in our family room). You helped when we could not get the “smell” out of our carpets with your “Elimin Odor“……that spray was a God send, thank you. His specialist vet put him on Metronidazole which helped resolve the loose (to say the least) stools and to rid him of the Giardia parasite.

In the meantime, his Holistic vet had diagnosed Bruiser as being Hypothyroid and put him on Thyroxine and he was on this drug from mid-February through mid-May until I emailed you again being at my wits end with stools that would just NOT FIRM up. I had placed several phone calls to my regular vet, and he had no answers for me. You came through for me yet once again, suggesting I put Bruiser on “Tylan” to cure up the loose stools, which did the trick (for a while).

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Hi Dr. Carol,
We started using your VitaLife vitamins for our dog Tiffany in particular she had a heart murmur and was slowing down quite a bit. About a month after we started the vitamins. She seemed to have more energy, and was her saucy self until the day she died. We have continued giving them to our other dogs to keep them as healthy as possible.
Oooops! I forgot to send a picture of our dog Brandy. She is on your vitamins too.

Thank you,

Marge K.

Chagrin Falls, Ohio; September 25, 2008-University of Minnesota Veterinary Researchers identified a gene in Labrador retriever dogs linked to exercise-induced collapse.

Labradors that start to lose control of their hind legs after intense hunting, and retrieving exercise may be able to enjoy normal lives now that the underlying cause has been detected. A mutated form of a gene called dynamin1 is responsible for these dogs becoming affected with wobbly hind legs that often just give out and in rare cases the dogs die. This syndrome affects an estimated 3-5 percent of Labradors.

The dynamin 1 protein normally functions to maintain proper chemical communication between adjacent nerves, which is also referred to as synaptic transmission. The mutated form of the dynamin protein has diminished function, which interrupts normal nerve signals during intense exercise, and causes the muscle-controlling nerves to not respond correctly.

This is the first naturally occurring mutation of this gene identified in any mammal, according to James Mickelson, Ph.D, at the University of Minnesota Veterinary School. This discovery holds future insight into normal and abnormal neurobiology in both animals and people.

Up to 30 percent of Labrador retrievers carry the mutated gene and a genetic test has been developed to determine which dogs are affected.

This test is valuable because it not only helps to confirm the diagnosis, but can also be used to help dog breeders prevent litters from inheriting the mutated gene.

Owners can have their dogs tested by asking their veterinarian to submit a blood sample to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Dog Breeds such as Chesapeake Bay and Curly-Coated Retrievers, both closely related to Labradors, also carry the dynamin 1 mutated gene.

Research is ongoing to determine what other breeds might be involved.

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

University of Illinois researchers discover insight in the progression of bone cancer in people that is critical to the development of bone tumors in dogs and cats. Their work could lead to helpful advances in caring for pets with a type of bone cancer called Osteosarcoma.

Researchers have detected the role of an enzyme, known as kappa-B (known as RANK), and two other key factors called: RANK ligand (RANK-L) and osteoprotegrin (OPG) that play a pivotal role in bone cancer development in humans and pets. RANK is part of a family of receptors that regulates bone and immune system balance. Usually RANK, RANK-L and OPG work together to keep the continual process of normal bone growth and bone resorption balanced.

Bone tumors interfere with this process, resulting in cancer but this new research shows that regulating the role of RANK-L may block cancer cell progression.

Therapeutic intervention making use of OPG or other RANK-L inhibitors may slow the process of bone destruction in bone tumors in cats and dogs. Although this is not a cure, it appears to reduce the pain and other complications pets suffer from with bone cancer as they have in people.

This research verifies the fact that the expression of this protein, which worsens the effects of bone cancer in people also occurs in cats and dogs afflicted with bone tumors.

Osteosarcoma is ten times more common in pets than it is in people. Dog and cat owners often decide to euthanize their pets because of the severe pain they experience. This intervention reduces pain and offers new hope for improving their quality of life.

Bookmark www.carolonpets.com for the latest pet health care updates and news for your dog and cat.

Veterinarian and author, Dr. Carol Osborne, D.V.M. is available Toll Free at 1-866-372-2765 for pet health consultations.