The doctor is in
Dr. Jason Rowan
Do you have a question you would like to ask?
SUMBIT YOUR QUESTIONS to info@downtowndog.ca or fill out the form below.
My dog is feeling the weather and her age. Is there anything I can add to her food to help her arthritis?
Answer Every aging canine should be getting a health dose of high quality fish oil, with enough EPA. All fish oils aren’t created equal: make sure your fish oil doesn’t smell like fish. If it does, it has gone rancid and actually contributes to inflammation. Instead, your quality fish oil should smell like ocean, and should be kept in the fridge to keep it fresh. Glucosamine and other glycosaminoglycans provide building blocks for joint fluid and cartilage. One of the best sources is green-lipped mussel, straight from the ocean, which you can buy in powdered form. Glucosaminoglycans are complementary to fish oil and and herbal medicines. Herbal remedies can also be extremely effective to ease the symptoms of arthritis. Our hospital’s mobility tincture includes ashwaganda and devil’s claw to reduce stress and quells inflammation, ginger to stimulate circulation, and St. John’s Wort to minimize pain and give a pick-me-up to depressed dogs. Herbal powders and tinctures are simply added to the dog’s food, can have excellent results, and are also complementary to the others sea-sourced supplements. Vaccines are a hot topic, and I’m interested how you weigh in. Do I need to vaccinate my dog and cats? Answer Our family has a new puppy. What kind of toys do you recommend? Answer As a general guideline, choose toys that are bigger than his mouth, so he doesn’t get them stuck or swallow them. This might mean you size up his toys as he grows. Depending on how aggressively he chews, you may be able to give him soft fabric toys, or may have to stick to leather or fabric reinforced with upholstery thread. Resist the urge to let him chew his toys apart, as he could digest the pieces. Instead, try hardy rubber or tiger-tested toys for maximum fun and minimal danger. Lastly, avoid playing hard games of tug with your puppy until he gets older, as those baby teeth are quite fragile and break easier than you might think. Sometimes my Boston terrier gets an upset tummy. Do you have any home remedies you recommend? Answer Of course, both vomiting, diarrhea and constipation can indicate more serious conditions. If your dog can’t keep water down, they are painful or lethargic, or the bowel upset last more than a day, it’s best to see your veterinarian. I was visiting my sister and was surprised to see her brushing her little dog’s teeth. Is this overkill, or does brushing really help? Answer I’ve heard that dogs need their ears cleaned regularly, but I don’t know what I should use, or how often. Answer When choosing a preventative ear cleaner, you want to look for an astringent, antiseptic herbal wash designed for that purpose. Use gauze or cotton balls to soak up and clean out the visible outside ear. As your grandmother says, never put anything inside your ear smaller than your elbow. So don’t use cotton swabs or tissues, which could hurt the ear or leave bits behind. If your dog’s ears start to smell bad or have brown goo inside of them, or your dog is continually shaking their head, please take those ears, and the dog, to the vet. Dr. Jason Rowan has a passion for integrative veterinary medicine, combining the best of conventional medicine and holistic approaches. His neighbourhood clinic, Pandosy Village Veterinary Hospital, offers herbal medicine, nutritional therapy and chiropractic care as well as surgery, conventional care and dentistry. Dr. Jason’s adjacent Pounce & Hound Fine Pet Goods shop supports holistic pet health with balanced raw food, nutritional supplements and quality pet gear. PandosyVet.com
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