Pet Pointers: Pets and the Outdoors

There is a great amount of fear surrounding tick borne diseases and how they relate to our furchildren. The reality is most dogs handle tick borne diseases very well. In fact, most dogs who test positive for exposure never show a symptom or suffer any ill effects. Up until recent history, the past twenty-five years or so, these types of products did not even exist. Whenever our dogs got a tick, we removed it, and went on with our day. We didn’t take our dogs to the vet, they didn’t get sick and nobody died. What has changed? Why the hysteria? 

I had a chance to interview animal wellness consultant Maria Reich for April’s Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month. “Almost every wild canine population on the planet has ticks and unlike primates they don’t have hands,” says Reich. “They keep their ticks until the ticks are engorged and fall off on their own. It was either adapt or die, and as we can clearly see they adapted.”

What affect do pesticides have on pets, especially kidneys?

In our attempt to eradicate organisms we consider harmful, or perhaps just annoying, we have exposed our companion animals to toxic pesticides. These can and do cause a range of health issues.  The link between lawn chemicals and illnesses such as lymphoma and soft tissue sarcoma in dogs has been well documented, with articles appearing in the public sphere as far back as the 1990’s.  Fipronil, the active ingredient in Frontline, is classified as a carcinogen by the EPA.  Because of the neuro-toxic properties of many chemical flea and tick control products, the FDA issued an alert last year to pet owners and veterinarians. They are also requiring manufacturers to provide clearer labelling on these products. Keep in mind that the liver and the kidneys are the major filtering organs of the body.  As such, they will be exposed to most of the chemicals put in or on your pets  body as they attempt to detoxify and eliminate them.

Why does the Lyme vaccine not offer complete protection?

Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochete responsible for Lyme disease, has developed an amazing adaptation that makes it difficult for current vaccines to be completely effective in preventing Lyme disease. This organism can change its outer protein covering.  This ability effectively allows it to “hide” from the immune system. The vaccines currently available target either one or two of these protein coverings, but numerous variations have been identified.  Since the vaccines do not create antibodies for all variations of the outer protein covering, they are not completely effective in preventing the disease.

How can people help pets enjoy the outdoors safely?

The most important element in protecting pets from parasites is a healthy immune system.  The best way to achieve this begins with a healthy species appropriate diet. Just like us, diets rich in quality whole foods is optimum.  In addition, a quality whole food multi-vitamin along with digestive enzymes and probiotics will create a solid foundation for overall wellness.  Fleas find the sulfur compounds in garlic repellent; adding a small amount of garlic to your pet’s meals will be enough to keep them away in many areas of the country.  In areas where fleas are a more persistent problem, I would consider The Pet Health & Nutrition Center’s Internal Powder which contains organic herbs that are healthy for your pet but can make him less attractive to fleas.  Ticks are more difficult to dissuade than fleas and I suggest The Pet Health & Nutrition Center’s Tick Protection herbal formula to help strengthen your dog’s immune system to help make him more resistant to disease.  Keeping your lawn mowed will help keep tick’s out of your yard.  If walking your dog in a tick-heavy area spray him with an herbal spray that will help repel ticks.  In tick season make sure to comb through your dog’s coat daily to remove any ticks he may have picked up before they have a chance to feed.