The Pet Whisperer™

March 2007

What are the Dogs Telling Dr. Blake about Natural Flea and Tick Care?

This message comes from the flea capital of the United States, San Diego. I have been here for 34 years and have had to become a flea expert to avoid the uses of chemicals which nearly killed me over 25 years ago. First of all, when you are having a flea problem there are two factors that are most responsible for them getting a foothold on your pets and in your homes.

The first is the immune factor. A healthy animal will naturally repel parasites, forcing the parasites to seek greener pastures. Feeding a natural diet http://www.thepetwhisperer.com/natural_food.html and no over-vaccinating or chemicals of any kind on or in the pets are all a good start as well.

Hereditary or miasmatic conditions are common in 90%+ of all domestic animals. I would first look at them from a homeopathic evaluation and try to determine if there is any sign of chronic disease. If there were symptoms I would prescribe accordingly. A simple nutritional supplement which will help to maximize their immune systems would be Bovine Colostrum. This may also help with the tapeworms but to be honest with you, all these little guys can be difficult to get rid of. One product that I have heard has cleared many of my patients is (Parastat: 1-800-370-3447) herbal wormer for all internal parasites.

The second part of the puzzle is the environment. If the energy of the home has any disharmony in it (nothing personal), this can weaken the immune system also. Make sure everyone is as content as they can be and open with each other so the animals do not stress over their over concern for you. I often have my clients make a mixture of the following Bach flowers and spray it around the house to help detoxify negative energy from the environment. Walnut, Crabapple, Holly, Wild rose and Wild oat. Bathing with any natural shampoo (MAL SCENTS -Pets SHAMPOO) http://www.thepetwhisperer.com/essential_oil.html that kills them on contact due to its saponification properties should work. I have used natural dish soap and found it to kill them as well as anything.

For fleas and mosquitoes I have the owners follow up with an Essential Blend of oils consisting of one drop Lemon, Lemongrass and one drop of R. C. (blend of essential oils containing 4 blends of Eucalyptus species , Pine, Lavender, Cypress, Spruce, Myrtle, Marjoram and Peppermint.) per ounce of water and spraying this on the dogs after they are dried off. You can also spray them with this any time they are going into an area that is flea/tick or mosquito infested to help repel them. For Ticks I use one drop of each of the following oils in water and spray it on them each day they go out in tick-infested areas; Lavender, Lemon grass, Sage and Thyme. I have also had good luck with ultrasound devices you can get at Costco that give off a frequency that repels the mosquitoes. Make sure they do not bother the pets and that where you buy them they give money-back guarantee.

I have found that many of my clients who live in tick-infested areas of the country have had great luck with natural flea collars from Holistic Family and Pets. Within three days the tick population was reduced by 90% with no toxins. It is also very effective against fleas as well. The company has devised a holistic approach which combines a natural blend: Calendula, Silica, Cayenne, Calcarea Fluorica, Echinacea, Flea Bane, Odorless Garlic, Cinnamon, Red Cedar, Asian Mint, Rhus Tox, Tiger Lily, Aconitum Napellus, Aloe, Anacardium, Aloe, Vitamin E, Graphites, Berberis, Echinacea, Sulfur, Placenta, Milk Thistle, Chamomile, Daffodil.

For carpets and furniture, place one teaspoon of wintergreen essential oil - the same kind that you use in vaporizers for colds - into a quart of hot water in a mist sprayer. Mist carpets, upholstered furniture, pillows and anything where flea eggs can hatch. The mist will not kill fleas but it will kill the eggs. Spray about 3 times a year. The odor goes away in a few days and you are safe for months without danger of pesticides. Since oil of wintergreen is used on babies, I do not believe it can hurt cats or dogs. You don't spray the animals; just their environment.

I have found that if you steam clean or rent a Rug Doctor and clean with Simple Green (You may want to try this on carpet out of sight just in case it discolors your carpet, so you will not be mad at me;) you will kill all of the adult fleas immediately. When the carpets are completely dry, put a mixture of 1 part Borax salts to 3 parts salt and rake it into all carpeted areas of the house. Leave for a week and then vacuum as you would do normally. This treatment will last years from my experience. Good luck and remember "No wolf ever went to a chemical plant for a flea/tick or mosquito repellent!"

Dr. Stephen Blake

December 2004

What do you do when your best friend is dying?

There is one condition that all of our beloved pets will have happen in their lives. Their eternal spirits will finally decide it is time to leave their physical bodies and make their transition to where all of their buddies who passed before them are gathered, waiting for their arrival.

Over the past 30 years of caring for animals, one of the hardest part of being a veterinarian is counseling caregivers on the transition of their best friends. This is a topic that we seldom discuss until we are faced with the fact that the time has come for us to let our dear friend cross the Rainbow Bridge. ( I have made a copy of this wonderful story at the bottom of this article for you to read and share with others.

   The first and most important point I make with all my clients, is that unless their animal friend is truly in pain, that they should do their best to let them make their crossing over as peaceful and natural as possible. If they are suffering, then they have to let their friend go mercifully with the help of their veterinarian. The fine line is what is suffering and a peaceful transition?

I always tell my caregivers, "Be the dog, the cat, the horse, the pig, etc." What I mean by this is that before you make the decision to put your friend to sleep, you give them a chance to tell you when they need help or not. As long as they are quiet, resting, not struggling or restless, I feel they are content in their transition and we need to keep them as stress free as possible as they make their transition. If they are crying, distressed, restless, unable to sleep or find a comfortable position, I feel they are asking us to assist them in their joining their family on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. At this point if we are unable to make them comfortable, we owe them a humane release from their suffering.

What I have found that helps them make this transition a gentler one, is what I want to share with all of you who read my web site. All I ask it that you share this information with at least three more people. By doing this one thing, we will all be able to help our friends, great and small with their journey through time.

First of all if they tell me they do not want us to try so hard to keep them alive, that we need to honor this and keep the following in mind. In our determination to keep them on this planet, we must be careful not to forget that with the little time left, we do not want to loose the quality time we have left with them consumed with treatment. We do not want our last moments with our dear friends to be filled with forcing medication down their throats and having them plead with us to let them make their transition peacefully. Spend your time holding them, talking to them or just being with them quietly and sharing the moment in the NOW.

   I have found that Rescue remedy, which contains Star of Bethlehem for loss, Impatients for pain, mixed with Walnut for transition, is an excellent blend for the transition of our pets. You can mix it into their water, so that if they want a drink they can treat themselves. If they are not drinking, then you can give it to them orally or massage it into their ears as needed. By this I mean if they start to show signs of discomfort repeat the remedy every 5 minutes until they are peaceful once again. I have also found the essential oil blend Release by Young Living Essential Oils mixed with Frankincense is a great aromatherapy blend to help them see the light and be more at ease with their transition. ( you can order these oils from this website under the essential oil link) I recommend either diffusing the oils in the room or massaging a drop of this mixture in each ear as needed for calming and grounding them.

   If they become restless at any point during this period of time, I have found the homeopathic remedy Arsenicum album 30C or higher to be very helpful in reducing pain and restlessness. It can also help them make their transition more peacefully.

   The most important thing to remember is that you always listen to your friend. They will always tell you if their time has come and what you need to do for them. All you have to do, is be quiet and hold them and ask them what they want you to do. You will either get a feeling or they will give you a physical or emotional symptom that will tell you what you need to do.

Just because they stop eating and drinking or moving around does not mean they are suffering. How many times when you have been very ill and did all of these same. No one thought about euthanizing you and neither should you think this about your fiend. He or she needs hospice not euthanasia. Spend what time you have left with them enjoying the memories and protecting them on the next part of their eternal journey through time.

   If you find this more than you can bare, they understand now that what ever you decide to do in their behalf, it is from your heart and filled with love. This is why they are in this world with us, to teach us to care about each other.

Many times I have been asked why animals lives are so short? I have given this a great deal of thought and this is my feelings about this question. First of all I believe that the Creator put the animals on this planet as our teachers. What better lesson to teach us, than to prepare us for our time of transition. By teaching us how to face death without fear and at peace with the next part of their journey, they have prepared us for our crossing of the Rainbow Bridge.

   Animals do not dwell on dying, but on living. They do not wear watches or check the calender for how much time they have left to live. They just live in the NOW and are HERE. They feel fulfilled when they know they have taught us these lessons in the short time they are allowed to be with us and we owe it to them as their students to thank them each and every day for their unconditional love for us.

   "Miracles happen every day, all we have to do is get out of the way. If we do this each and every day, more will surely come our way." Thank you for caring and paying it forward.

The Rainbow Bridge

       There is a bridge connecting heaven and Earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.

      When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each other.

       There is only one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loved them on Earth. So each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up! The eyes are staring! And this one suddenly runs from the group!

      You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take him or her in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again and again, and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet.

     Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated

August 2004

What do you when your pet has diarrhea?

      Always be the dog, horse or cat first. If your pet acts normally but is only having diarrhea, do not rush them to an emergency facility. If you are not comfortable doing this, then by all means take them in.

     I advise my clients to fast their pet for 1 to 3 days depending on how quickly they recover. Until they have no diarrhea or a normal stool, you only give them water. To this I add bovine colostrum www.symbiotics.com at a dose of 1/3 tsp per 25 pounds of body weight each day. To this I recommend 5 drops of gemmotherapy Fig Tree www.dolisosamerica.com at a dose of 5 drops one to four times per day as needed for diarrhea.

     Once the diarrhea stops, I recommend a feeding cottage cheese in small amounts until they are back to normal and then gradually add in their old diet.

     Even if there is blood in the stool, you are not always looking at an emergency unless the animal is showing signs of distress and or shock. If they are acting normally, then follow the above advise and use the homeopathic remedy Phosphorous 30C at a dose of one pellet one to four times per day as needed for bleeding. In 90%+ of the cases they will recover very quickly and not need emergency care. If you do not see improvement with in a few hours or their condition deteriorates then immediately take them into the emergency.

July 2004

Natural Ear infection approaches
Dr. Stephen Blake

This past month I have been getting a great deal of questions about what tip I would give for ear infections. The first thing all of you need to know is there are only two types of ear infections.

The first is an acute ear infection which is due to a foreign body, i.e. foxtail, tick, etc. My standard recommendation to all my clients if their pup is out in a field and suddenly starts shaking his head and digging at his ears, is to fill his ear with almond oil. By doing this you will soften the foxtail or foreign body so that it doesn't do any harm, until you can get it out. This is why I always tell people to carry a small bottle of almond oil with them so they can treat immediately. By doing this you prevent the need for going to the emergency hospital and spending a great deal of money to have it removed. Often times the oil will soften the foxtail and when the dog shakes his head it will come out. If it were a tick the oil will smother it and generally it will come out or you can pull it out as it tries to escape. Make sure you fill the ear and if the oil is warm all the better.

Most ear infections I see are what we call in Homeopathy, an acute manifestation of a chronic disease. What this means is the ear is but a reflection of a deeper problem which is manifesting itself as an acute ear infection. These make up 90% of what I see in my practice. In order to truly cure these, you need to do your homework.

The best thing you can do is start working with an alternative veterinary practitioner who knows classical homeopathy and how to use a drainer (gemmotherapy) system to help cure your pets condition.

What I have found is that toxins have built up in the animals, such as vaccines, pesticides, petrochemicals, drugs, etc. and are blocking the body's ability to cure itself. Unless you remove these taints, the body become stuck and falls into a looping condition we call chronic. This simply means the body keeps creating the same symptoms over and over again hoping to resolve the situation. Unfortunately they are the same symptoms they used yesterday and since they didn't work yesterday, they do not work today.
Albert Einstein said it best. "Insanity is repeating the same process over and over again hoping for a different result," and Dr. Chopra made his point with his quote about human beings. "The average person has 30,000 thoughts a day, unfortunately they are the same ones they had yesterday."

At this point you are asking yourselves, "How does that help my dog's ear infection?" The answer is you must change the way you approach the care of your friend or you fall into the same old trap of "reductionism," which only tries to suppress or palliate the symptoms.

In order to help the animal cure itself, you must start by AVOID vaccines, chemicals, poor diets, unfiltered water, drugs, flea and tick products and heartworm medications. You have to do this based on your fear level. By this I mean if you are not comfortable eliminating these modalities from your pet's care, you must evaluate why you are doing these things and educate yourselves on the risk from taking the drugs or not. This is the only way you can move ahead.

You need to BUILD the immune and digestive systems. Use colostrum, clean food, aromatherapy, raw foods, herbs, etc. to strengthen a weak digestive and immune system.

You need to CLEAN the body of toxins. I like to use gemmotherapy, herbal or nutritional supplementation to accomplish this. You should be under the guidance of a qualified veterinarian who understands how to evaluate the detoxification program you are on, so you get the maximum benefits.

Last but not least you need to work with a qualified homeopath who can help with establishing a course of homeopathic care that will help the animal achieve a cure or at least a better quality of life.

As for managing the yeast and bacterial infections that occur with acute or chronic disease states, I use the following approach. I have the caregiver flush the ear with a good natural cleaning solution that has no antibiotics or cortisone in it. You first heat it to body temperature and then fill the ear. Massage it in at the base of the ear and then let the dog shake it out. Repeat until the solution is clean. If there is infection, I recommend they mix up a solution of 1/3 Vodka, 1/3 raw apple cider vinegar and 1/3 warm spring water. Fill the ear with this body temperature solution after cleaning the ear one to two times per day until it is has no odor or discharge.

The sign of chronic disease in any animal is the present of an excessive amount of wax or discharge from the ears. If you see this your pet is ill and needs you to take action.