With all the pet diabetes problems and mis-information going on about Vetsulin and what to do with diabetic pets, our phones have not stopped ringing. I wanted to share this note I received from a pet owner suffering with her diabetic dog who was on Vetsulin.

Dear Dr. Carol,
I was really happy this morning. At 11 units of Humulin insulin given last night, my dog Scruffy’s urine tested (-1), so I decreased the dose 1 unit, on his new insulin. Chuckle, chuckle, YEP I finally understand the information you tried to explain to me on the phone several times regarding monitoring and adjusting his new insulin levels! I know that could change, but that was great news as far as I am concerned.

Thank God I talked with you on the units of insulin to administer. I am so glad I got him off the Vetsulin. Like I said, this information was worth a lot to us for Scruffy. ESPECIALLY, you explaining to me to NEVER INCREASE MORE THAN 2 UNITS! My friend in Ohio, just lost her dog while it was on the Vetsulin insulin. I know she was under the opinion that you could give the dog a lot of units, if the blood sugar levels were not stabilizing. So very sad, between the dog being on the recalled Vetsulin, and giving him a large dose at one time, that I’m sure contributed until his death.
Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Dr. Carol,

We would like to take a moment, and thank you, for being a compassionate veterinarian, during Harleys’ battle with end stage cancer. Harley lost his battle on June 26th, 2009.

Harley lived almost 6 weeks past his unexpected terminal diagnosis. As compassionate pet owners, and nurses we opted to not treat Harley with chemotherapy. With that decision, his prognosis was reduced to days for survival.

Devastated by the news; we looked to you, Dr. Carol for a holistic approach. We wanted Harley’s final days on earth to be filled with the highest quality of life. We wanted Harley to have the chance to just be a dog, and we just wanted to love him.

Dr. Carol, you gave him that and so much more. We are eternally grateful for the quality time you gave us. Harley’s time far surpassed our expectations. The quality of his final weeks was truly unbelievable. He remained pain free, he ate, he played, and he got to do everything he wanted to with dignity.

The PAAWS Vitamins, along with the multiple all natural supplements (probiotics, gum mastica, kidney essentials, digestive enzymes), anti-cancer diet, and necessary fluids you provided us with proved to be the perfect combination.

Losing a pet is never an easy thing to endure; especially losing a young pet, Harley was only 3 ½ years old, but you assisted us through it all.

Our goal from the start was to do right by Harley – we did not want him to be in pain or to suffer so that we did not have to say goodbye. You gave us that – it was the perfect canine hospice.

During the weeks – Harley thrived – he went to the nursing home, and put a smile on the resident’s faces just like he did as a puppy. They would give him a scratch and a kiss, and he was so happy.

We followed your number one piece of advice “love your dog“, and we did more than ever. We all agreed that he would tell us when his journey on earth was over – and he did. The day Harley told us all “no” (each of us in his own little way), we honored our promise to him. We took him and had him laid to rest. I will never forget the way he looked at me as he walked into the clinic with the tech to have his line put in. He just looked me in the eye and said “it’s okay Mommy I’m ready”. We all held him and kissed him goodbye as he was put to rest.

That was probably the most unselfish act – I have ever done in life. Although we were overwhelmed with loss -we had no regrets. We know that we did right by Harley with your treatment regime and guidance.

Harley is now at peace alongside St. Francis watching over and protecting all creatures great and small.

Dr. Carol, we thank you once again for allowing Harley to die with quality, love, and dignity.

Sincerely, Sandy, Donna and Jessica

It’s never easy to let go of a loved one, whether they have two legs or four. Pet owners often console themselves by saying they are “easing their pet’s misery” when they ask for euthanasia after diagnosis of a terminal illness. But, are these “premature euthanasia’s” good for the whole pet family?

Ending a human life is not legal, so people with terminal illnesses and less than six months to live often enter hospice care. This relatively recent development in medicine focuses on the comfort of the patient and less on heroic medical or surgical measures. In other words, caregivers put the patient’s comfort first, not an attempt at any type of cure. Another important aspect of pet hospice care is that the whole family is included. Relatives and friends can say good-bye in peace rather than sitting in hospital lobbies or crowded waiting rooms.

Now, thanks to caring veterinarians, technicians and other support personnel, hospice care for pets is becoming a reality across the continent. Websites like www.pethospice.org and www.angelsgate.org introduce concerned pet owners to the concept of caring for a terminally ill or disabled pet.

Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Dr. Carol,

How in the WORLD do you have time to hand-write such a lovely note of sympathy, you big Sweetheart? To even think of sending it is what goes to my heart! What a special person you are, dear Carol — and how FORTUNATE all of us, four-legged and upright alike, to have you care for us and about us . . . THANK YOU, Dr. Carol, our Hero.

Losing our Presley is still so hard on us that our mourning seems to go on and on, though, of course, Time lessens the weight of the pain. But Hell, I wish we could just snap our fingers and bring that Baby General Presley back here right now! Everyone must feel exactly as we do.

Poor Benny, our other Mastiff, mourned in his own way, for about two or three days — and then he regressed and became the happiest, little 250-lb. puppy you have ever seen, Carol. I kid you not! He is still acting somewhat “young” and silly-cute. Whether he has adopted Presley’s habits or he has gone back to experience a childhood he never got to have (we rescued him from a horrid home!), I don’t know. Whatever it is, he is ever so darling!!!

We all send you love and many, many happy wishes! XXXX OOOO
Cheryl, Benny, and Family
Santa Monica, California

At age 4, Christian Knight had his first experience with death. His mother, Danielle Knight, found his fish floating upside down in the small aquarium in their home. To ease his distress, Danielle explained to her son that his fish had died and was not coming back. Whether your child’s pet is a fish, dog or cat, the death of a pet can be traumatic. Helping your child understand how to deal with his or her grief is important.

Death is not an easy notion for a child to understand, especially when a close member of the family, like a pet has died or is dying.

“It is important to understand that the period of time from birth to old age is much shorter for pets than for people,” says Dr. Carol Osborne, D.V.M., holistic veterinarian in Chagrin Falls.
The developmental age of the child and the situation surrounding the pet’s death are factors for a parent to consider when talking with their child about a pet’s death.

Tell the Truth
The age of the child will determine how he or she understands death.
“Children from 2 years old to 5 years old might not understand the pet is dead,” Osborne says. “Children 8 years old and up, in many cases, do understand that death is irreversible.”
“Younger kids can’t wrap their minds around the concept of death,” Knight says. “Parents have to explain it in the simplest terms.”
Read the rest of this entry »

As a reward for being our constant companions, in sickness and heath, many pets are now included in their owner’s wills. Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Betty White, along with millions of other pet owners, plan to leave money to their pets. But, without proper planning, the courts could take that money away!

Strange requests in wills are nothing new. People have asked for their ashes to be spread in space or for their bodies to be displayed in a theater. Recently, billionaire Leona Helmsley made news after her death by bequeathing $12 million dollars for the care and upkeep of her dog, Trouble. Opinions varied from outrage to amusement and a legal battle was narrowly averted when a New York court reduced that amount to a mere $2 million.

It is only natural for pet owners to be concerned about the well-being of their four-legged companions, especially if the owner happens to die first. But the unfortunate truth is that many pet owners attempt to leave an inheritance to their pets instead of money. This error could lead to their request not being met by the probate court.

Wanting to leave money for the care of your pets is not a new concept. According to the website, www.animallaw.info, English common law began to recognize pet trusts as far back as 1842. But, pets cannot receive an outright bequest of property (money, house, etc) from a will because animals are considered property themselves. So, leaving money directly to one or all of your pets is not permissible.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hello Dr. Carol,

It is with much sadness I’m contacting you to let you know, Calvin passed away today. I would like to thank you for all the years of good health that he did enjoy.

After we talked and I changed his diet, he was doing well. Unfortunately, Tuesday night, he collapsed on the front lawn. I brought him to the emergency hospital, as it was 11pm,only to find out he had a baseball sized tumor on his spleen. I decided to bring him home and take him to his own vet the following morning. I took him in as soon as they opened and they kept him all morning to run tests. They did an ultrasound and found what I was hoping they would not find. I decided to schedule surgery for the very next morning.

They asked me if I wanted to go home and get him some of his own food, so I did. When I got back there with the food, he was not interested, but I decided to spend some time with him before leaving him for the night. I took him out the side door and it was sunny and we sat in the grass. He looked at me and I knew. His head dropped and I picked him up and carried him back in. I put him on the exam table on a soft blanket and he took his last breath while I held him.

Read the rest of this entry »