Benpaws

Hi Everyone,
I posted this quite some time ago but perhaps it would be beneficial to read it again. API: What's Really in Pet Food

When Benny got cancer right before his 4th birthday he was on a special, grain-free kibble from our Vet. It was supposed to be "top of the line" and very safe. Benny enjoyed it.

When the vets finally diagnosed the initial bump a year and a half later and removed the tumour but didn't get "clean margins" and Benny had Mast Cell Tumor Cancer, our hearts broke in a million pieces. I know I have reiterated this story over and over probably "ad nauseum." Never did any of you berate me for talking over and over about my experience with Benny. You only reached out with love and support and help for which I have always been so grateful

We had NO IDEA where the cancer came from, but immediately took him off the kibble, found a suitable grain-free and cancer formula food filled with antioxidants and all human grade ingredients. For 8 months Benny flourished and enjoyed every bit of food every meal.He also had the blended cottage cheese with cold -pressed flaxseed oil and sometimes I just ground the fresh flaxseed and added that instead. We gave him the best free-range meats and organic fruits and vegetables. Nothing was too good for Benny.

After 8 months the cancer returned with no suggestions for chemo or radiation but we just continued the food, many supplements, lots of exercise, lots of love.

We also wondered if vaccinations caused the cancer. We DON'T VACCINATE OUR CHILDREN EVERY YEAR!!! What about the HEARTWORM MEDICATIONS given by vets???

We will never know how our Benny got his cancer, but we do know we did the best we could to keep him well for as long as we could. the vets made a grave error by neglecting to biopsy the first lump!!! I am still ANGRY about their negligence and always will be since I know that Benny could have been a "cancer survivor."

Our one year old Shadow is also on the puppy formula muffins which were given to Benny and he gets a wild salmon oil capsule every other day. Now we face the decision of whether to go with the HEART WORM protection and do we just do "blood test" (titres) to determine if his immune system is strong and healthy and not give him vaccinations this year??

Frankly, I am terrified of the upcoming appointment in May when we have to make those decisions with our new and very trusted vet whose wife is an holistic vet.

I would really appreciate some "feedback" from all of you on what you have learned and what you would do.

Shadow will be our last puppy for sure due to our age and he is just a huge part of our hearts as was Benny. We so want to do what is right for our little pal and even after all we went through with Benny, all the research, all the reading, all the advice,the late nights spent on the computer, we still are unsure what to do with Shadow.

As much as I have read and I have posted, I still feel very much an amateur here and CANCER scares me. I cannot go through it AGAIN with my precious puppy.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thank You!

Blessings,
Joanne & Shadow

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rockytola

Joanne:

We should chat. I will post a private message

Benpaws

Thanks so much John.
We really want to do everything "RIGHT" with Shadow. Any advice would be SO APPRECIATED!

Blessings,
Joanne & Shadow

Meesh

Hi Joanne,
I too am already facing a similar situation with my other dog Rufus. He actually received his annual shots the month before Hamlet was diagnosed so that's moot for this year. But, now, I'm faced with flea and tick treatment internal debate. Everyone on Hammy's team - holistic vet included - said that the Frontline was fine but my gut tells me to try something natural. I've read that pure citronella oil works so I may give that a go; I've also heard about some other oils but I'd have to check the archive on my other support group to jog my memory. My concern is this: what if it doesn't work and we get fleas and then Hamlet ends up trying to deal with that AND his chemo/cancer. The good thing is we go to the onc 1x week through June but then what. I really am torn on this. My house backs to a retention pond so giving them the Heartguard was a no brainer due to the mosquitoes but I only do that from March - November every 6 weeks anyway - again this was something all of Hamlet's treatment team said was fine to give him. I think ultimately regardless of all the advice and recommendations we get from our friends (on our support networks and offline) and our treatment teams, we still have to trust our instincts for what is best for our babies. Best of luck as you try to determine what's best for Shadow!
Michelle, Rufus & Hamlet

Benpaws

Hi Michelle,

As far as vaccinations go with Shadow we will be having our vet do "titres" which are blood tests to determine the health of his immune system. We do not plan to vaccinate every year.

As far as Heartworm treatments go we used Frontline last year but I have read that it contains toxins which poison your dog's blood stream and can cause sever and irreversible liver damage.

This email came to me this morning from a very trusted friend who lost his beloved 5 year old Sheltie, Kobe to cancer a few months ago.


I guess NOBODY paid attention to Vic's account of how heart worm meds KILLED his dog at 4 YEARS OLD! HELLO is anybody listening here?!? God, what does it take to understand that vaccines, heart worm, flea, tick "preventatives" (and I use the term loosely)KILL dogs! And if it doesn't it maims them for life. Wake up people and read this again:

Vic's story...

My first Scottie was conventionally reared. She had the shots and vet care. When spring began to approach when she was 3 years old I took her to the vet for heart worm meds. I remember seeing the poster on the wall in the vets office showing the effects of heart worm. This poster must have sold a lot of meds as it worked on me and I bought some. I gave her the meds and could see they had a effect on my dog, but was hoping this was temporary. I never made the connection to the meds, after all, if the vet sold them, they must be OK. I thought I was doing something really good for my dog. After several months of treatment I began to notice she was not herself. I noticed she was putting on weight and expressed concern to my wife Barb. Several weeks went by and her belly was protruding and we checked her out. It was not fat but a fluid. We took her to the vets to get checked out. He ran some tests and her liver enzymes were off the charts. I was told to bring her to a special hospital that specializes in this. They checked her out and drained the fluid. I was given all kinds of meds. She began to get worse fast. She would not eat and was having trouble walking so I had to carry her everywhere. She began to have blood in her stool. Then blood was coming out of her nose. She lost control of her BM movements.There was blood all over the house. I continued to take her to the vet. She went down fast and never made 4 years of age. She died of liver failure. During her illness and a long time afterward we were searching for answers. I found them. It was the heart worm meds. I got ticked and confronted the vet. Of course he denied the meds had any thing to do with this, but I could see on his face he knew different.. The package insert states the meds cause liver damage. Too bad I did not read the package insets until after Muncie died. I have to say this was one of the most horrible experiences of my life. I then began to question everything and discovered many new things. I wanted to get another Scottie but did not want to kill another dog. We found out toxins stay in the liver, this was the case with Muncie. We did our homework and found out about natural rearing. I have two natural reared dogs one soon to be 5 and another soon to be 7. Both have no health issues.

(During Muncie illness we kept asking the different specialists about milk thistle. Since it was not a drug they kept skating the issue.)

My wife Barb and I have done tons of research since my Muncie died. What I found out is what natural rearers have known for a long time. I discovered the why. Every dog is born with a certain set of genes. Certain sections of these genes can be turned off by toxins and a non species appropriate diet. This is the cause of disease. In some cases these these genes can be turned back on by removing the toxins and providing the missing nutrition. This explains why one can not poison a body back to health with meds and toxins. None of which will turn the genes back on.
With this bit of knowledge, I can see the gene testing being done as useless. It is the diet that prevents gene mutation, genes shutting off, and a lack of toxins. It is for this reason I will seek a natural solution for any issues that show up including wormers.


Ted Schneck also has much information on giving Heartworm medications to dogs presently fighting cancer. I will not post what i received but will ask Ted if he might post it for others since it is his information

Good luck in your choices.

Blessings,
Joanne & Shadow

levenshugh

Dog food is food intended for consumption by dogs or other canine. Some people make their own dog food, feed their dogs meals made from ingredients purchased in grocery or health-food stores or give their dogs a raw food diet. Many others rely on commercially manufactured dog food.

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connie

Pet food is plant or animal material intended for consumption by pets. Typically sold in pet stores and supermarkets, it is usually specific to the type of animal, such as dog food or cat food. Most meat used for non-human animals is a by-product of the human food industry, and is not regarded as "human grade".


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