My Lucy
In Loving Memory my Lucy December 2016
January 29, 2012
More Dog Cancer Diet Stuff
Recent research showed some promising developments for specific diets for dogs with cancer. It was found that diets that appeared to work best were those low in carbohydrates, high in protein and with good levels of quality fats (hey people heard this before? this is what we should be eating too). Carbohydrates are made up of chains of saccharides, which are sugars. Sugars in turn offer good fuel for cancer cells.
Current commercial dog foods are too high in grains and starches to be the best defense for a dog with cancer.
To prepare the diet, we need to look at carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It is important to know what to avoid and what to incorporate into the diet.
Carbohydrates
Foods included in this category are fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains (oatmeal, wheat, rice, barley, millet, amaranth, corn). For a dog with cancer, some carbohydrates are more ‘friendly’ than others, especially those that contain less sugar, or have a lower glycemic value.
In other words, carbohydrates that you can eat when on the Atkins diet. These would include summer squashes such as zucchini, yellow crookneck squash, and patty pan squash, along with dark leafy greens, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and bok choy. Use sparingly, the starchy types of vegetables, such as potatoes, yams, carrots, green peas, sweet potatoes and winter squash (hard rind squashes). I would avoid all grains if possible.
Protein
It is important to use proteins from animal sources. Avoid plant protein sources such as tofu or other soy products, grain proteins or plant based protein powders. Proteins from plants are incomplete for dogs. They need the additional amino acids found in animal sources. Soy products are also high in phytates, which can block absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, iodine and zinc.
Good sources of animal protein include beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, canned fish such as mackerel, salmon and sardines, eggs and dairy products such as whole fat yogurt and cottage cheese.
Fats
Meat is a good source of fat, and the fattiest meats include lamb, pork and goat. When feeding poultry, leave the skin on, which is where most of the fat resides, and use dark meat, which is higher in fat, rather than light meat. Canned fish is also a good source of fat. Always use whole milk dairy products. Eggs also contain fats. Another kind of fat that is very beneficial is that found in salmon or fish body oils (not cod liver oil). Suggested dose is 1,000 mg (with 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA) per ten pounds of body weight daily.
For a cancer starving diet, I would suggest using a ratio of approximately 40% protein, 40% fat, with the rest being carbohydrates. Better a fat dog than the alternative. Besides once you limit out those carbs it doesn't really change that much. My dog Lucy didn't really gain any weight.
Cooked Diets
Cooked diets also need to offer variety, and large batches can be packaged into meal sized portions and frozen for later use. Feeding amounts are the same, approximately 2% to 3% of the dog’s body weight daily. For instance, a 100 pound dog would eat two to three pounds of food a day, a fifty pound dog would eat one to one and a half pounds of food daily, and a 25 pound dog would eat 1/2 pound to 3/4 pound daily. A cup is approximately 8 ounces or 1/2 pound, some dogs will do well on two meals a day, others may need three or four smaller meals a day.
More vegetables are used in the cooked diets, to use as fiber. Do not overcook the meat, but rather cook lightly which will retain more of the nutrients. Butter can be used for cooking (unsalted butter for those dogs with kidney or heart problems), for flavor and palatability.
I am uncomfortable going the "Raw Diets" route because of e-coli and salmonella in todays meats at such high levels to a dog with a comprimised immune system.
Sample Diet One
(one meal for a 100 lb dog, or two meals for a 50 lb dog, or four meals for a 25 pound dog)
- One lb regular hamburger, 4 oz beef liver or kidney, cook with small amount of butter
- 1 or 2 eggs, scrambled or soft boiled
- 1/2 cup steamed or boiled broccoli
- 1/2 cup cooked yellow crookneck squash
- 4 oz whole milk yogurt
Cook meat, eggs and vegetables and mix. When cooled, add yogurt.
To this, add:
- 1600 mg of calcium , or one teaspoon of dried, ground eggshell
- Add 1,000 mg of EPA fish or salmon oil per ten pounds of body weight daily
Sample Diet Two
- One lb ground chicken, four oz of chicken liver, cook with small amount of butter
- 1 or 2 eggs, scrambled or soft boiled
- 1/2 cup steamed or boiled Spinach
- 1/2 cup cooked cabbage
- 4 oz Cottage Cheese
Cook meat, eggs and vegetables and mix. When cooled, add cottage cheese.
To this, add:
- 1600 mg of calcium, or one teaspoon of dried, ground eggshell
- Add 1,000 mg of EPA fish or salmon oil per ten pounds of body weight daily
Sample Diet Three
- One lb ground pork, 4 oz of pork or beef liver, cook with small amount of butter
- 1 or 2 eggs, scrambled or soft boiled
- 1/2 cup steamed or boiled Bok Choy or Chinese cabbage
- 1/2 cup zucchini
- 4 oz Whole Milk Yogurt
Cook meat, eggs and vegetables and mix. When cooled, add yogurt.
To this, add:
- 1600 mg of calcium, or one teaspoon of dried, ground eggshell
- Add 1,000 mg of EPA fish or salmon oil per ten pounds of body weight daily
Sample Diet Four
- One can 16 oz Mackerel or Salmon
- 1 or 2 eggs, scrambled or soft boiled
- 1/2 cup broccoli
- 1/2 cup Kale or other dark leafy green
- 4 oz Cottage Cheese
Cook vegetables and eggs (no need to cook the canned fish, it is already cooked) and mix together. No calcium is needed as mackerel, salmon or sardines already contain soft, steamed bones for calcium content.
To this, add:
- Add 1,000 mg of EPA fish or salmon oil per ten pounds of body weight daily
Snacks
Snacks for these dogs are fairly easy. High protein, high fat treats without carbohydrates include cheese cubes, hard boiled eggs, beef jerky and liver squares.
To Make Liver Squares
Boil liver for ten to fifteen minutes and drain. Cook at low heat on either side for ten minutes in the oven. Let cool and cut into squares or cubes.
In the event you may run out of home made diets, you can keep cans of mackerel, salmon or sardines in the cupboard, and have a supply of frozen vegetables in your freezer. The vegetables can be quickly cooked and added to the mackerel.
Scrambled eggs made with butter and adding yogurt is also another quick meal.
If this is all too much to deal with, you can just use something like Taste of the Wild or Earthborne Primitive Naturals kibble and just add some cooked ground turkey (pan fry a cheap chub of it and it lasts a few days) or fried eggs, veggies, and some fish oil to the kibble.
January 26, 2012
Homeopathic Cancer Treatment without Side Effects?
Effective Cancer Treatment without Side Effects?
Although in conventional medicine chemotherapies are used to treat patients with malignancies, adverse effects are common, and damage to normal cells is a widespread problem. Chemotherapy agents can do serious damage to the cells of the bone marrow that play an important role in blood-formation. In their search for potential alternative agents that can kill cancer cells without adverse effects on normal cells, scientists with the Departments of Cancer Biology and Laboratory Medicine at the University Of Texas Department of Molecular Genetics, at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, in Houston, Texas, have turned to evaluating homeopathic drugs. These researchers believe they may have found just such an agent in a common homeopathic remedy, Ruta graveolens.57
They tried the drug Ruta graveolens 6C along with Ca3(PO4)2 (calcium phosphate) in the 3X potency in vitro and in vivo. Of 15 patients, 6 of 7 glioma patients showed complete regression of tumors. The results of both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that the drug induced “survival-signaling pathways in normal lymphocytes and death-signaling pathways in brain cancer cells” and that “telomere erosion initiated cancer cell death and mitotic catastrophic events completed the process.” The authors proposed that Ruta graveolens in combination with calcium phosphate could be used as an effective treatment for brain cancers, particularly gliomas.
Conventional cancer treatment can harm the DNA, and has the potential to cause mutations, tumors and neoplasms. Homeopathic cancer drugs, in the customary doses, apparently do not have these harmful effects. One study, conducted at the Laboratorio de Citogenetica Humana, Centro de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal do Para, Belem, PA, in Brazil, evaluated the genotoxic effects of a homeopathic combination treatment labeling it the Canova Method (CM).58 CM is a homeopathic medicine developed for the treatment of patients with cancer and for pathologies that involve a depressed immune system, such as AIDS. This product is composed of homeopathic dilutions of Aconitum napellus, Arsenicum album, Bryonia alba, Lachesis mutus and Thuja occidentalis. According to the author of the study, it stimulates the immune system by activating and accelerating the activity of macrophages and lymphocytes. Activated macrophages stimulate the lymphocytes so they will increase their cytotoxic action in response to tumoral growth or infection.
The study evaluated the genotoxic effects induced in human lymphocytes treated with this homeopathic medication in vitro. The team scored structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations for the assessment of induced genotoxic effects, while evaluating possible variations in the mitotic index as a monitor for induced cellular toxicity. Treatments with CM did not affect mitotic indexes, nor did they provoke chromosomal aberrations, when compared with untreated controls. There was no cytotoxicity or genotoxicity at the chromosomal level.
58 Seligmann IC et al. The anticancer homeopathic composite "Canova Method" is not genotoxic for human lymphocytes in vitro. Genet Mol Res. 2003 Jun 30;2(2):223-8.
Quote from Amazon.com
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knocking the pain and bringing absolute relief. I breathe easier with it. It has many benefits. I use 5 of these very little pills several times during the day. It is just amazing for relieving inflammation. It has a variety of uses that people can use it for. Some people use it for aiding menopausal hot flashes, aiding inflammation like lupus or fibromyalgia, headaches, circulation problems of various types, and just pain in the hands from typing all day. It is just a very soothing product when the body is hurting anywhere. I am thrilled that it costs so little and does so very much. Highly recommended."
My comments....
The venom from the bushmaster snake is called Lachesis Mutus. WHA!
January 23, 2012
List of Veterinary Medications for Cancer and Other Symptoms
Gosh, many of these are the same human drugs.
Acepromazine (PromAce)
Although acepromazine has several actions that might be useful, it is mostly used as a tranquilizer.
Allopurinol (Zyloprim)
There is one reason to use allopurinol: to reduce uric acid in the blood stream.
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Alprazolam, like its more famous cousin Valium, is a benzodiazepine tranquilizer. Alprazolam lasts longer than Valium. (need to verify this statement)
Amantadine
Amantadine was first used as an antiviral medication against influenza, but its main use now is as a type of pain reliever.
Amitriptyline (Elavil)
This antidepressant has been helpful for animals with obsessive grooming, inappropriate urination, and separation anxiety.
Amlodipine Besylate (Norvasc)
We have discussed hypertension and how it affects our pets. Right now the drug of choice for the treatment of hypertension in cats is Amlodipine Besylate. We invite you to learn more about its use.
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin represents a synthetic improvement upon the original Penicillin molecule. Amoxicillin is better able to resist damage from stomach acid so less of an oral dose is wasted. While it is still susceptible to destruction by Staphylococcal enzymes, it does have a much broader spectrum against the Gram negative cell wall and is able to last a bit longer.
Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (Clavamox, Augmentin)
The combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (sodium clavulanate) is similar as for amoxicillin except that the clavulanate is able to protect the penicillin structure from destruction by Staphylococci. This combined medication can be used against anything amoxicillin could be used for plus Staphlylococcal infections (usually skin infections).
Arthritis: Medications for Degenerative Arthritis
Arthritis pain causes discomfort and loss of mobility in aged pets, and there are numerous remedies on the market. Which ones can be combined? Which are proven reliable and which may only work in some individuals?
Aspirin
Aspirin inhibits an enzyme called cyclo-oxygenase that is involved in the production of inflammatory chemicals called prostaglandins. Arachidonic acid, a fatty acid that is essential in the diet of cats and dogs, makes up cell membranes. When the inflammatory cascade is active, cells begin to convert their arachidonic acid into prostaglandins. Aspirin puts a stop to this.
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Atenolol is a beta blocker and has been designed to block the heart's beta-one receptors while leaving the beta-two receptors of other tissues alone.
Azathioprine (Imuran)
Immune mediated diseases are conditions where the immune system becomes inappropriately active and damages the body. Azathioprine is a common medication used in the treatment of immune mediated disease. It is a drug to respect and use wisely.
Azithromycin (Zithromax)
Azithromycin has activity against many bacterial species.
Benazepril (Lotensin)
Benazepril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, also called an ACE inhibitor or simply an ACEI. Benazepril effectively acts as a dilator of blood vessels.
Bethanechol Chloride (Urecholine, Myocholine)
Bethanechol chloride works to strengthen the detrusor muscle’s contraction. If the lower sphincter is too tight from an upper motor neuron injury, this medication will help the bladder to contract harder to overcome it. If the bladder is flabby, this medication will help it regain some shape and strength so that it can empty in a controlled fashion rather than just leaking.
Budesonide (Entocort EC, Entocord)
How nice it would be to have a corticosteroid that could be applied to the site of the inflammation but not be absorbed into the body systemically! This is the idea behind budesonide.
Buprenorphine (Buprenex)
Buprenorphine is considered approximately 30 times stronger than morphine because morphine is more active at the mu receptor, so morphine is a much a stronger pain reliever. Buprenorphine is best used for mild to moderate pain.
Buspirone Hydrochloride (Buspar)
In veterinary medicine, buspirone has been especially helpful in the treatment of phobias (such as fear of thunder, people in uniform, etc.) and in the treatment of urine marking in cats.
Butorphanol Tartrate (Stadol, Torbutrol, Torbugesic)
Because butorphanol antagonizes the mu receptor, it will fight against opiates that are mu agonists: morphine, oxymorphone, meperidine, etc. If butorphanol is used with any other drugs that have sedating properties, these sedating properties will be more blatant.
Calcitriol (Rocaltrol)
This medication actually represents activated vitamin D. Vitamin D is not a vitamin in the way other vitamins are or in the way we think of vitamins; vitamin D is actually a hormone. It plays an important role in calcium phosphorus balance and can be beneficial in preventing the progression of kidney failure.
Carprofen (Rimadyl)
Carprofen is a member of the class of drugs known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), the same class as such common over-the-counter remedies as Advil (ibuprofen), Orudis (ketoprofen), and aspirin. The chief use for such drugs in the dog has been pain relief, usually joint pain or post-surgical pain relief.
Cefpodoxime Proxetil (Simplicef, Vantin)
Cefpodoxime is able to treat more complicated infections, so it is often selected for jobs where other antibiotics are expected to fail.
Cephalexin (Keflex)
Cephalexin is a good broad spectrum antibiotic, which means it is useful in most common and uncomplicated infections. It is especially useful against staphylococcal infections (most skin infections) and is commonly used for long (6-8 week courses) against deep skin infections (pyodermas).
Chlorambucil (Leukeran®)
A drug used most commonly for chemotherapy to treat cancer, chlorambucil is also used to treat some immune mediated diseases such as pemphigus, feline infectious peritonitous, or inflammatory bowel disease.
Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin, CHPC)
Chloramphenicol represents years of antibiotic development. Due to its pH, it shines above most other antibiotics in terms of ability to penetrate. Chloramphenicol can easily pass deeply through purulent material to the organisms hiding within, through cell membranes to attack parasites living within, and into organs where other antibiotics cannot go.
Chlorpheniramine Maleate (Chlor-Trimeton)
Chlorpheniramine maleate has several important effects and uses. Most obviously, it's an antihistamine and it's used for acute inflammatory and allergic conditions such as snake bites, vaccination reactions, blood transfusion reactions, bee stings and insect bites, and to manage itchy skin.
Cisapride (Propulsid)
One of the stomach's most important functions is to grind the food we eat into a fine slurry that will pass through the intestines freely. A strong rhythm of contraction is necessary to effect this and this rhythm creates the stomach's motility. Cisapride is thus an excellent alternative to those patients who have unacceptable side effects with metoclopramide.
Cisplatin
The treatment of cancer is scary and the word chemotherapy conjures up unpleasant images. But what are the facts of these powerful medications? Cisplatinum is an important weapon against cancer.
Clemastine fumarate (Tavist)
Clemastine fumarate is one of the more effective antihistamines albeit relatively expensive. Its efficacy makes it a common first choice for itchy skin. It has found to be helpful in 30% of itchy dogs and 50% of itchy cats. Other studies have found higher percentages. Clemastine fumarate is probably the most reliably effective antihistamine for itchy dogs of all of the antihistamines available.
Clindamycin Hydrochloride (Clindadrops, Antirobe, Cleosin)
Clindamycin is an antibiotic of the lincosamide class and possesses similar properties to its sister compound lincomycin. To understand how these medications work, it is important to understand how cells make proteins.
Clomipramine (Clomicalm, Anafranil)
Anxiety is not a problem exclusive to humans. Many pets have anxiety about separation from their owner, aggressive pets with whom they share their home, and other issues. The medications used to help animals with these issues are the same medications that humans use. Clomipramine is the first to achieve FDA approval for use in dogs as well as humans.
Colchicine (Colchicinum, Artex, Colchily, Cholchicquim, etc.)
Colchicine is used in scarring diseases such as hepatic cirrhosis and in abnormal protein depositions such as amyloidosis.
Compounding Pharmacies
Sometimes the medication that your pet needs was designed for people and does not come in a form convienient for a cat or dog. A compounding pharmacy has the ability to reformulate the medication so that your pet may actually be willing to take it!
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
Because of its ability to kill rapidly dividing, cyclophosphamide has been used most successfully in treating cancer and immune mediated disease.
Cyclosporine
Cyclosporine, sometimes referred to as cyclosporin A, is an immunosuppressive agent. Unlike other medications of immune suppression that act by killing cells of the immune system, cyclosporine acts by interfering with helper T-lymphocyte interleukin production.
Cyproheptadine (Periactin)
Cyproheptadine is an antihistamine that in many ways is similar to other antihistamines with which we are more familiar. Cyproheptadine also has some other properties of interest. It also antagonizes serotonin, a neurotransmitter, in the brain. This leads to an increase in appetite and often is the reason this medication is used.
Deracoxib (Deramaxx)
Deracoxib is a member of the class of drugs known as NSAIDs, the same class as such common over-the-counter remedies as Advil (ibuprofen), Orudis (ketoprofen), and aspirin. The chief use for such drugs in the dog has been pain relief, usually joint pain or post-surgical pain relief.
Dexamethasone (Azium, Voren)
Dexamethasone is a member of the glucocorticoid class of hormones. This means they are steroids but, unlike the anabolic steroids that we hear about in sports, these are catabolic steroids. Instead of building the body up, they are designed to break down stored resources (fats, sugars and proteins) so that they may be used as fuels in times of stress.
Diazepam (Valium)
There are many uses for this medication since it is effective as an anti-anxiety medication, a muscle relaxant, an appetite stimulant, and a seizure control drug. The injectable form of diazepam is often used in anesthetic protocols.
Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
DES has only one primary use: treating sphincter tone incontinence in female dogs. DES is used at extremely low doses to avoid the toxicity issues that have been a problem for estrogen derivative medications.
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Diphenhydramine has several important effects and thus several uses. Most obviously, diphenhydramine is an antihistamine and it's used for acute inflammatory and allergic conditions such as snake bites, vaccination reactions, blood transfusion reactions, bee stings and insect bites.
Dirlotapide (Slentrol)
The weight loss medication dirlotapide works not by preventing fat absorption into the body but by fooling the brain into feeling satisfied with a smaller meal.
Doxycycline (Vibramycin)
The tetracycline antibiotic family provides broad anti-bacterial protection by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. The body possesses many barriers through which antibiotics have difficulty penetrating. Infections behind these barriers can be difficult to treat. Doxycycline represents a modification of the basic tetracycline structure to enhance its ability to penetrate such biological barriers and to increase its duration of action.
Enalapril Maleate (Enacard, Vasotec)
The ACE inhibitor group of heart failure medicines has doubled the survival of heart failure patients. This is the only ACE inhibitor approved for non-human use.
Enrofloxacin (Baytril)
This medication may be used in either dogs or cats to combat different types of infections, especially those involving Pseudomonas. Enrofloxacin is also active against Staphylococci, and thus is commonly used for skin infections.
Erythromycin (Ery-tab, Ery-Ped, Eryc)
Today erythromycin has seen some resurgence in popularity. This is partly because of over use of drugs that had previously eclipsed erythromycin. Staphylococci developed resistance to the new drugs leading to a return to older drugs.
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin is the hormone responsible for inducing red blood cell production by the body’s bone marrow. Erythropoietin is primarily produced by the kidney when a drop in blood oxygen is perceived, though 1% to 15% of the total erythropoietin produced comes from the liver. A dose of erythropoietin lasts about a day but its effect is seen approximately 5 days later when the red cell proliferation it has induced is mature enough for release into circulation.
Etodolac (EtoGesic, Lodine)
Etodolac is a member of the class of drugs known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and is used for pain relief.
Famotidine (Pepcid AC)
More commonly known by its brand name Pepcid AC, this drug can be helpful in the treatment of Helicobacter infection, inflammatory bowel disease, canine parvovirus, ingestion of a toxin that could be ulcerating (overdose of aspirin, for example), any disease involving protracted vomiting, or chronically in combination with medications that irritate stomachs.
Fenbendazole (Panacur)
Fenbendazole (often abbreviated "FBZ") is used in both large and small animals. In dogs, it is useful against roundworms, hookworms, and the more difficult to treat whipworms.
Fentanyl (Duragesic Patch)
The primary use of the fentanyl patch is to provide a continuous delivery of pain reliever to a patient with on-going pain. These patches are especially useful after a surgical procedure but are also helpful in the management of cancer pain, or after injury.
Flea Product Comparison
Confused about flea protection? This FAQ compares the three popular topspot flea control products to assist you in determining which is right for your situation.
Fluconazole (Diflucan)
Fluconazole works by inhibiting the fungal enzymes that produce ergosterol, an important component of the fungal cell wall. Without adequate ergosterol, the fungal cell becomes weak, leaky, and ultimately dies.
Fludrocortisone Acetate (Florinef)
There is really only one use for this medication: the treatment of hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease). In this disease, the adrenal gland is unable to produce hormones called mineralocorticoids. In the normal animal, these hormones are responsible for the balance of sodium and potassium and without these hormones a life-threatening circulatory shock ultimately results. Fludrocortisone acetate prevents this circulatory crisis.
Fluoxetine (Reconcile, Prozac)
Fluoxetine is used in veterinary medicine for animals with anxiety, compulsive behavior, and other behavior issues. In 2007 a version of fluoxetine specifically labeled for animal use became available.
Furosemide (Salix, Disal)
The kidney is one of the most complicated organs of the body. Furosemide acts on the kidney to increase the body’s loss of water and assorted minerals and electroyltes.
Gabapentin (Neurontin)
Originally this medication was used for treating partial seizures in humans but it was found to be useful in treating neuropathic pain (the burning and tingling sensations that come from damaged nerves.)
Glargine Insulin
So far, studies show glargine works pretty well and in newly diagnosed diabetic cats, it seems to provide such good control - when used in combination with a low carbohydrate diet - that many cats revert to a non-diabetic status in a matter of weeks
Glipizide (Glucotrol)
This oral medication works by causing the pancreas to release insulin more effectively. It also helps increase tissue sensitivity so that smaller doses of insulin may have a greater effect. Some cats will respond adequately to this treatment and thus avoid the use of insulin injections at home.
Glucosamine/Chondroitin Sulfate (Cosequin, Glycoflex, Cartiflex, Arthri-Nu)
Degenerative joint diseases are painful conditions frequently treated with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents. It has been of interest to seek a medication that might actually strengthen damaged joints rather than simply blocking pain. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates theoretically represent a solution.
Griseofulvin (Fulvicin)
This medication is used to treat ringworm, a fungal infection of the skin involving fungi. While it's possible for a ringworm lesion to be localized and require only topical therapy, this is not the usual situation and oral medication is necessary to control the skin disease.
Heartworm Treatment
It has been said that the treatment of heartworm infection is somewhat of an art. There are several strategies that can be used including the option of not treating at all. The important concept to realize is that very harsh arsenic based drugs are necessary to kill adult heartworms and that treating for heartworm infection is neither simple nor safe in itself.
Hydrocodone Bitartrate (Hycodan, Tussigon, Mycodone)
Narcotics are able to bring about many bodily effects beyond the notorious addictive euphoria. Other effects include: analgesia, anti-diarrheal effects, cardiovascular effects, and cough suppression. Hydrocodone represents a narcotic developed to accentuate the cough suppression effect.
Hydroxyzine (Atarax)
This drug is an antihistamine used to deal in various ways with itchy skin. Hydroxyzine is frequently included in antihistamine trials for allergic skin disease.
Insulin Administration in Cats
Insulin is the injectable medication you use to control your diabetic cat’s blood sugar. This beginner's guide will explain how to give your cat insulin injections.
Interferon (Roferon, Intron A, Alferon N)
Interferons are generally produced in the body in response to viral infections and have antiviral activity as well as immunostimulating properties.
Itraconazole (Sporonox)
Itraconazole works by inhibiting the fungal enzymes that produce ergosterol, an important component of the fungal cell wall. Without adequate ergosterol, the fungal cell becomes weak, leaky and ultimately dies.
Ivermectin (Ivomec, Heartgard 30, Acarexx, Iverheart Plus)
Ivermectin is effective against most common intestinal worms (except tapeworms), most mites, and some lice. It is not effective against fleas, ticks, flies, or flukes. It is effective against larval heartworms (the microfilariae that circulate in the blood) but not against adult heartworms that live in the heart and pulmonary arteries.
Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
This drug fights fungal infections both minor and life threatening, but because of the way it works it can also be used to treat Cushing’s disease (a cortisone imbalance).
L-Asparaginase (Elspar)
The battle against cancer must exploit biological differences between cancer cells and normal cells. Asparagine is an especially important amino acid for lymphatic cancer cells and asparaginase is able to destroy it in a way that hurts cancer cells only. L-Asparaginase is a helpful chemotherapy agent, especially in the treatment of lymphatic cancers.
L-Deprenyl Hydrochloride (Anipryl, Eldepryl, Carbex)
There are two uses for L-Deprenyl (also known as selegiline hydrochloride) in dogs: the treatment of Cushing’s disease, an adrenal hormone imbalance, and the treatment of senile mental deterioration.
Lactulose
Lactulose is primarily used as a stool softener or in the treatment of liver patients.
Levetiracetam (Keppra)
As advances are made in seizure control in humans, medications eventually spill down into veterinary use; levetiracetam is a good example.
Lomustine
Lomustine is a member of the nitrosourea class of chemotherapy agents that act by binding DNA to other DNA strands or to protein in such a way that the DNA double helix strand cannot replicate. In addition to essentially tying DNA up, lomustine generates a by-product that prevents normal DNA function.
Loperamide (Imodium AD)
If your pet has diarrhea, it may be a condition that disturbs your well-being as well as your pet's. One medication that can help in some circumstances is the human medication Imodium AD. One interesting little fact: this medication is a member of the opiate class of drugs!
Loratadine (Claritin)
Loratadine represents a new generation of antihistamine that does not cross the blood-brain barrier and does not cause drowsiness. It also is much longer lasting than some of the classic antihistamines in use. The size of this tablet and its twice a day dosing schedule make it a convenient antihistamine for feline use.
Lufenuron (Program)
Insects are protected in the world by a hard exoskeleton made of a material called chitin. Lufenuron, Program's active ingredient, inhibits the production of chitin in insects.
Maropitant Citrate (Cerenia)
Maropitant citrate is a strong anti-nausea medication for dogs.
Meclizine Hydrochloride (Bonine, Antivert, Meclizine Hydrochloride)
An excellent product for people that can also be used for car-sick pets, meclizine hydrochloride is generally used for nausea relief due to motion sickness. It is also used to control the nausea resulting from vestibular disease, a syndrome characterized by vertigo and loss of balance.
Medication For Hyperthyroidism
The most common medication prescribed to treat feline hyperthyroidism is called methimazole (trade name Tapazole).
Meloxicam (Metacam)
Meloxicam is generally given to control arthritis pain in dogs though it can be given for many other painful conditions. It is often used an analgesic in conjunction with surgery.
Methocarbamol (Robaxin-V)
Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant that exerts its effect by acting on the central nervous system (the nerves that control the muscles) rather than on the muscles themselves.
Metoclopramide (Reglan)
Motility disorders are common and may be chronic or of sudden onset. When motility is reduced in the stomach, food pools there and creates a sensation of nausea and bloating. In some cases, bile refluxes from the intestine into the stomach, causing irritation and more nausea. Metoclopramide (Reglan) normalizes stomach contractions so that food and bile can pass in the correct direction.
Metronidazole (Flagyl)
Metronidazole is an antibiotic especially effective against anaerobic infections. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties in the large intestine and is an effective anti-diarrhea medication. It's also an effective antibiotic against certain protozoal infections, especially Giardia.
Mirtazapine (Remeron)
The side effects make mirtazapine a desirable medication for animals. It has strong anti-nausea properties and acts as a strong appetite stimulant.
Omeprazole (Prilosec, GastroGard)
Omeprazole represents a different tact from other antacids: proton pump inhibition. The quantity of acid ultimately amounts to the quantity of protons. The proton pump is central to secreting acid into the stomach and with this pump inhibited, stomach acid production is halted.
Orbifloxacin (Orbax)
Orbifloxacin may be used in dogs and cats to combat different types of infections, especially those involving Pseudomonas. This medication is also active against Staphylococci, and thus is commonly used for skin infections.
Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium (Elmiron, Cartrophen)
Pentosan polysulfate sodium can be used in acute feline lower urinary tract disease to facilitate the resolution of the episode. It is more commonly recommended as an on-going therapy to prevent future episodes. The jury is still out as to whether or not it is effective.
Pentoxifylline (Trental)
Pentoxifylline is used to enhance healing in chronic ulcerative conditions such as dermatomyositis of collies and shelties and has been helpful in treating allergic reactions caused by physical contact with the allergen (i.e., contact allergic dermatitis). Ear margin vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation) can also be treated with pentoxifylline.
Phenobarbital
In dogs and cats, phenobarbital is probably the first choice for seizure suppression. It is effective, safe if used responsibly, and is one of the least expensive medications in all of veterinary practice.
Phenylpropanolamine (Propagest, Pro-In)
Phenylpropanolaminecan be used to help control appetite or as a decongestant, but in veterinary medicine it is used almost exclusively for the control of urinary incontinance in the female dog.
Piroxicam
The most common target of this medication is transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, although it is also used against mammary adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and transmissible venereal tumors.
Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan (Adequan)
In treating arthritis, injections are given twice a week for 4 weeks for a maximum of eight injections. Injections are given intramuscularly. Dogs, cats, and horses are the usual patients. There is another use for this medication and that is in the treatment of feline lower urinary tract disease.
Ponazuril
Ponazuril represents a new approach to treatment for coccidia, which can cause potentially life-threatening diarrhea.
Potassium Bromide (K Brovet)
This medication is generally reserved for dogs who cannot tolerate phenobarbital for seizures control due to unacceptable side effects or lack of effectiveness.
Praziquantel (Droncit)
Praziquantel is primarily used against parasites known as "Cestodes" (tapeworms). It is also effective against flukes.
Prednisone/Prednisolone
Prednisone and prednisolone are members of the glucocorticoid class of hormones. They break down stored resources (fats, sugars and proteins) so that they may be used as fuels in times of stress. We do not use the glucocorticoids for their influences on glucose and protein metabolism; we use them because they are the most broad anti-inflammatory medications that we have.
Pyrantel Pamoate (Strongid T, Nemex)
Pyrantel pamoate is effective against numerous parasitic worms, such as roundworms, hookworms, and stomach worms. When a new puppy or kitten is adopted and has been said to have been dewormed, the chances are it is this product that was used.
Ranitidine (Zantac)
Ranitidine is useful in any situation where stomach irritation is an issue and ulceration is a concern. It is often used in the treatment of Helicobacter infection, inflammatory bowel disease, canine parvovirus, ingestion of a toxin that could be ulcerating (over dose of aspirin, for example), any disease involving protracted vomiting, or chronically in combination with medications which may have stomach irritating properties.
S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe, Denosyl, Zentonil)
In veterinary medicine, this product is chiefly used in liver disease.
Silymarin (Milk Thistle)
Silymarin has been traditionally used in the treatment of liver disease and, while it has recently been advocated for use in pets, all scientific information available concerns human use. Silymarin is regularly used for an assortment of liver diseases including cirrhosis and viral hepatitis in humans.
Spinosad (Comfortis)
Spinosad is an ultra-fast flea killing tablet that lasts an entire month. It is safe for dogs but not for cats.
Sucralfate (Carafate)
Sucralfate was developed as an adjunctive treatment for stomach ulcers in humans. It dissolves to form a protective covering over stomach ulcers and injuries. It's effective in the upper GI tract: stomach, duodenum, and possibly the esophagus.
Sulfadimethoxine (Albon)
Sulfa drugs may have numerous uses, but in small animals sulfadimethoxine is used almost exclusively for the treatment of intestinal parasites known as coccidia. These parasites are single-celled organisms capable of causing intense diarrheas in their hosts.
Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
Sulfasalazine represents an innovative exception in antibiotics used for colitis. Essentially, a salve is applied to the surface of the inflamed colon.
Terbinafine (Lamisil)
Terbinafine has activity against other types of fungi but at this time it is mostly used against ringworm.
Theophylline (Theo-Dur)
This medication has been a helpful airway dilator for humans with asthma and animals with heart disease or bronchitis.
Toceranib Phosphate (Palladia)
This medication was developed to address the mast cell tumor in dogs.
Trimethoprim-Sulfa (Bactrim, Tribrissen, Septra, Sulfatrim, Cotrim)
Trimethoprim-sulfa is known by many names as it's a commonly used antibiotic in both human and veterinary medicine. It's become a popular choice thanks to its broad spectrum and inexpensive cost.
Tylosin (Tylan®)
An antibiotic, tylosin is used for its anti-inflammatory properties in the large intestine rather than for its ability to fight infection.
Ursodiol (Actigall)
Ursodeoxycholic acid is one of the bile acids produced by the Chinese black bear and it has been used in the treatment of liver disease for centuries. Nowadays, it is produced in the laboratory rather than extracted from bear gall bladders.
Vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar)
Vincristine is chiefly used as one drug in multi-drug combination protocols against lymphoid and round cell tumors.
Acepromazine (PromAce)
Although acepromazine has several actions that might be useful, it is mostly used as a tranquilizer.
Allopurinol (Zyloprim)
There is one reason to use allopurinol: to reduce uric acid in the blood stream.
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Alprazolam, like its more famous cousin Valium, is a benzodiazepine tranquilizer. Alprazolam lasts longer than Valium. (need to verify this statement)
Amantadine
Amantadine was first used as an antiviral medication against influenza, but its main use now is as a type of pain reliever.
Amitriptyline (Elavil)
This antidepressant has been helpful for animals with obsessive grooming, inappropriate urination, and separation anxiety.
Amlodipine Besylate (Norvasc)
We have discussed hypertension and how it affects our pets. Right now the drug of choice for the treatment of hypertension in cats is Amlodipine Besylate. We invite you to learn more about its use.
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin represents a synthetic improvement upon the original Penicillin molecule. Amoxicillin is better able to resist damage from stomach acid so less of an oral dose is wasted. While it is still susceptible to destruction by Staphylococcal enzymes, it does have a much broader spectrum against the Gram negative cell wall and is able to last a bit longer.
Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (Clavamox, Augmentin)
The combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (sodium clavulanate) is similar as for amoxicillin except that the clavulanate is able to protect the penicillin structure from destruction by Staphylococci. This combined medication can be used against anything amoxicillin could be used for plus Staphlylococcal infections (usually skin infections).
Arthritis: Medications for Degenerative Arthritis
Arthritis pain causes discomfort and loss of mobility in aged pets, and there are numerous remedies on the market. Which ones can be combined? Which are proven reliable and which may only work in some individuals?
Aspirin
Aspirin inhibits an enzyme called cyclo-oxygenase that is involved in the production of inflammatory chemicals called prostaglandins. Arachidonic acid, a fatty acid that is essential in the diet of cats and dogs, makes up cell membranes. When the inflammatory cascade is active, cells begin to convert their arachidonic acid into prostaglandins. Aspirin puts a stop to this.
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Atenolol is a beta blocker and has been designed to block the heart's beta-one receptors while leaving the beta-two receptors of other tissues alone.
Azathioprine (Imuran)
Immune mediated diseases are conditions where the immune system becomes inappropriately active and damages the body. Azathioprine is a common medication used in the treatment of immune mediated disease. It is a drug to respect and use wisely.
Azithromycin (Zithromax)
Azithromycin has activity against many bacterial species.
Benazepril (Lotensin)
Benazepril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, also called an ACE inhibitor or simply an ACEI. Benazepril effectively acts as a dilator of blood vessels.
Bethanechol Chloride (Urecholine, Myocholine)
Bethanechol chloride works to strengthen the detrusor muscle’s contraction. If the lower sphincter is too tight from an upper motor neuron injury, this medication will help the bladder to contract harder to overcome it. If the bladder is flabby, this medication will help it regain some shape and strength so that it can empty in a controlled fashion rather than just leaking.
Budesonide (Entocort EC, Entocord)
How nice it would be to have a corticosteroid that could be applied to the site of the inflammation but not be absorbed into the body systemically! This is the idea behind budesonide.
Buprenorphine (Buprenex)
Buprenorphine is considered approximately 30 times stronger than morphine because morphine is more active at the mu receptor, so morphine is a much a stronger pain reliever. Buprenorphine is best used for mild to moderate pain.
Buspirone Hydrochloride (Buspar)
In veterinary medicine, buspirone has been especially helpful in the treatment of phobias (such as fear of thunder, people in uniform, etc.) and in the treatment of urine marking in cats.
Butorphanol Tartrate (Stadol, Torbutrol, Torbugesic)
Because butorphanol antagonizes the mu receptor, it will fight against opiates that are mu agonists: morphine, oxymorphone, meperidine, etc. If butorphanol is used with any other drugs that have sedating properties, these sedating properties will be more blatant.
Calcitriol (Rocaltrol)
This medication actually represents activated vitamin D. Vitamin D is not a vitamin in the way other vitamins are or in the way we think of vitamins; vitamin D is actually a hormone. It plays an important role in calcium phosphorus balance and can be beneficial in preventing the progression of kidney failure.
Carprofen (Rimadyl)
Carprofen is a member of the class of drugs known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), the same class as such common over-the-counter remedies as Advil (ibuprofen), Orudis (ketoprofen), and aspirin. The chief use for such drugs in the dog has been pain relief, usually joint pain or post-surgical pain relief.
Cefpodoxime Proxetil (Simplicef, Vantin)
Cefpodoxime is able to treat more complicated infections, so it is often selected for jobs where other antibiotics are expected to fail.
Cephalexin (Keflex)
Cephalexin is a good broad spectrum antibiotic, which means it is useful in most common and uncomplicated infections. It is especially useful against staphylococcal infections (most skin infections) and is commonly used for long (6-8 week courses) against deep skin infections (pyodermas).
Chlorambucil (Leukeran®)
A drug used most commonly for chemotherapy to treat cancer, chlorambucil is also used to treat some immune mediated diseases such as pemphigus, feline infectious peritonitous, or inflammatory bowel disease.
Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin, CHPC)
Chloramphenicol represents years of antibiotic development. Due to its pH, it shines above most other antibiotics in terms of ability to penetrate. Chloramphenicol can easily pass deeply through purulent material to the organisms hiding within, through cell membranes to attack parasites living within, and into organs where other antibiotics cannot go.
Chlorpheniramine Maleate (Chlor-Trimeton)
Chlorpheniramine maleate has several important effects and uses. Most obviously, it's an antihistamine and it's used for acute inflammatory and allergic conditions such as snake bites, vaccination reactions, blood transfusion reactions, bee stings and insect bites, and to manage itchy skin.
Cisapride (Propulsid)
One of the stomach's most important functions is to grind the food we eat into a fine slurry that will pass through the intestines freely. A strong rhythm of contraction is necessary to effect this and this rhythm creates the stomach's motility. Cisapride is thus an excellent alternative to those patients who have unacceptable side effects with metoclopramide.
Cisplatin
The treatment of cancer is scary and the word chemotherapy conjures up unpleasant images. But what are the facts of these powerful medications? Cisplatinum is an important weapon against cancer.
Clemastine fumarate (Tavist)
Clemastine fumarate is one of the more effective antihistamines albeit relatively expensive. Its efficacy makes it a common first choice for itchy skin. It has found to be helpful in 30% of itchy dogs and 50% of itchy cats. Other studies have found higher percentages. Clemastine fumarate is probably the most reliably effective antihistamine for itchy dogs of all of the antihistamines available.
Clindamycin Hydrochloride (Clindadrops, Antirobe, Cleosin)
Clindamycin is an antibiotic of the lincosamide class and possesses similar properties to its sister compound lincomycin. To understand how these medications work, it is important to understand how cells make proteins.
Clomipramine (Clomicalm, Anafranil)
Anxiety is not a problem exclusive to humans. Many pets have anxiety about separation from their owner, aggressive pets with whom they share their home, and other issues. The medications used to help animals with these issues are the same medications that humans use. Clomipramine is the first to achieve FDA approval for use in dogs as well as humans.
Colchicine (Colchicinum, Artex, Colchily, Cholchicquim, etc.)
Colchicine is used in scarring diseases such as hepatic cirrhosis and in abnormal protein depositions such as amyloidosis.
Compounding Pharmacies
Sometimes the medication that your pet needs was designed for people and does not come in a form convienient for a cat or dog. A compounding pharmacy has the ability to reformulate the medication so that your pet may actually be willing to take it!
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
Because of its ability to kill rapidly dividing, cyclophosphamide has been used most successfully in treating cancer and immune mediated disease.
Cyclosporine
Cyclosporine, sometimes referred to as cyclosporin A, is an immunosuppressive agent. Unlike other medications of immune suppression that act by killing cells of the immune system, cyclosporine acts by interfering with helper T-lymphocyte interleukin production.
Cyproheptadine (Periactin)
Cyproheptadine is an antihistamine that in many ways is similar to other antihistamines with which we are more familiar. Cyproheptadine also has some other properties of interest. It also antagonizes serotonin, a neurotransmitter, in the brain. This leads to an increase in appetite and often is the reason this medication is used.
Deracoxib (Deramaxx)
Deracoxib is a member of the class of drugs known as NSAIDs, the same class as such common over-the-counter remedies as Advil (ibuprofen), Orudis (ketoprofen), and aspirin. The chief use for such drugs in the dog has been pain relief, usually joint pain or post-surgical pain relief.
Dexamethasone (Azium, Voren)
Dexamethasone is a member of the glucocorticoid class of hormones. This means they are steroids but, unlike the anabolic steroids that we hear about in sports, these are catabolic steroids. Instead of building the body up, they are designed to break down stored resources (fats, sugars and proteins) so that they may be used as fuels in times of stress.
Diazepam (Valium)
There are many uses for this medication since it is effective as an anti-anxiety medication, a muscle relaxant, an appetite stimulant, and a seizure control drug. The injectable form of diazepam is often used in anesthetic protocols.
Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
DES has only one primary use: treating sphincter tone incontinence in female dogs. DES is used at extremely low doses to avoid the toxicity issues that have been a problem for estrogen derivative medications.
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Diphenhydramine has several important effects and thus several uses. Most obviously, diphenhydramine is an antihistamine and it's used for acute inflammatory and allergic conditions such as snake bites, vaccination reactions, blood transfusion reactions, bee stings and insect bites.
Dirlotapide (Slentrol)
The weight loss medication dirlotapide works not by preventing fat absorption into the body but by fooling the brain into feeling satisfied with a smaller meal.
Doxycycline (Vibramycin)
The tetracycline antibiotic family provides broad anti-bacterial protection by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. The body possesses many barriers through which antibiotics have difficulty penetrating. Infections behind these barriers can be difficult to treat. Doxycycline represents a modification of the basic tetracycline structure to enhance its ability to penetrate such biological barriers and to increase its duration of action.
Enalapril Maleate (Enacard, Vasotec)
The ACE inhibitor group of heart failure medicines has doubled the survival of heart failure patients. This is the only ACE inhibitor approved for non-human use.
Enrofloxacin (Baytril)
This medication may be used in either dogs or cats to combat different types of infections, especially those involving Pseudomonas. Enrofloxacin is also active against Staphylococci, and thus is commonly used for skin infections.
Erythromycin (Ery-tab, Ery-Ped, Eryc)
Today erythromycin has seen some resurgence in popularity. This is partly because of over use of drugs that had previously eclipsed erythromycin. Staphylococci developed resistance to the new drugs leading to a return to older drugs.
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin is the hormone responsible for inducing red blood cell production by the body’s bone marrow. Erythropoietin is primarily produced by the kidney when a drop in blood oxygen is perceived, though 1% to 15% of the total erythropoietin produced comes from the liver. A dose of erythropoietin lasts about a day but its effect is seen approximately 5 days later when the red cell proliferation it has induced is mature enough for release into circulation.
Etodolac (EtoGesic, Lodine)
Etodolac is a member of the class of drugs known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and is used for pain relief.
Famotidine (Pepcid AC)
More commonly known by its brand name Pepcid AC, this drug can be helpful in the treatment of Helicobacter infection, inflammatory bowel disease, canine parvovirus, ingestion of a toxin that could be ulcerating (overdose of aspirin, for example), any disease involving protracted vomiting, or chronically in combination with medications that irritate stomachs.
Fenbendazole (Panacur)
Fenbendazole (often abbreviated "FBZ") is used in both large and small animals. In dogs, it is useful against roundworms, hookworms, and the more difficult to treat whipworms.
Fentanyl (Duragesic Patch)
The primary use of the fentanyl patch is to provide a continuous delivery of pain reliever to a patient with on-going pain. These patches are especially useful after a surgical procedure but are also helpful in the management of cancer pain, or after injury.
Flea Product Comparison
Confused about flea protection? This FAQ compares the three popular topspot flea control products to assist you in determining which is right for your situation.
Fluconazole (Diflucan)
Fluconazole works by inhibiting the fungal enzymes that produce ergosterol, an important component of the fungal cell wall. Without adequate ergosterol, the fungal cell becomes weak, leaky, and ultimately dies.
Fludrocortisone Acetate (Florinef)
There is really only one use for this medication: the treatment of hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease). In this disease, the adrenal gland is unable to produce hormones called mineralocorticoids. In the normal animal, these hormones are responsible for the balance of sodium and potassium and without these hormones a life-threatening circulatory shock ultimately results. Fludrocortisone acetate prevents this circulatory crisis.
Fluoxetine (Reconcile, Prozac)
Fluoxetine is used in veterinary medicine for animals with anxiety, compulsive behavior, and other behavior issues. In 2007 a version of fluoxetine specifically labeled for animal use became available.
Furosemide (Salix, Disal)
The kidney is one of the most complicated organs of the body. Furosemide acts on the kidney to increase the body’s loss of water and assorted minerals and electroyltes.
Gabapentin (Neurontin)
Originally this medication was used for treating partial seizures in humans but it was found to be useful in treating neuropathic pain (the burning and tingling sensations that come from damaged nerves.)
Glargine Insulin
So far, studies show glargine works pretty well and in newly diagnosed diabetic cats, it seems to provide such good control - when used in combination with a low carbohydrate diet - that many cats revert to a non-diabetic status in a matter of weeks
Glipizide (Glucotrol)
This oral medication works by causing the pancreas to release insulin more effectively. It also helps increase tissue sensitivity so that smaller doses of insulin may have a greater effect. Some cats will respond adequately to this treatment and thus avoid the use of insulin injections at home.
Glucosamine/Chondroitin Sulfate (Cosequin, Glycoflex, Cartiflex, Arthri-Nu)
Degenerative joint diseases are painful conditions frequently treated with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents. It has been of interest to seek a medication that might actually strengthen damaged joints rather than simply blocking pain. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates theoretically represent a solution.
Griseofulvin (Fulvicin)
This medication is used to treat ringworm, a fungal infection of the skin involving fungi. While it's possible for a ringworm lesion to be localized and require only topical therapy, this is not the usual situation and oral medication is necessary to control the skin disease.
Heartworm Treatment
It has been said that the treatment of heartworm infection is somewhat of an art. There are several strategies that can be used including the option of not treating at all. The important concept to realize is that very harsh arsenic based drugs are necessary to kill adult heartworms and that treating for heartworm infection is neither simple nor safe in itself.
Hydrocodone Bitartrate (Hycodan, Tussigon, Mycodone)
Narcotics are able to bring about many bodily effects beyond the notorious addictive euphoria. Other effects include: analgesia, anti-diarrheal effects, cardiovascular effects, and cough suppression. Hydrocodone represents a narcotic developed to accentuate the cough suppression effect.
Hydroxyzine (Atarax)
This drug is an antihistamine used to deal in various ways with itchy skin. Hydroxyzine is frequently included in antihistamine trials for allergic skin disease.
Insulin Administration in Cats
Insulin is the injectable medication you use to control your diabetic cat’s blood sugar. This beginner's guide will explain how to give your cat insulin injections.
Interferon (Roferon, Intron A, Alferon N)
Interferons are generally produced in the body in response to viral infections and have antiviral activity as well as immunostimulating properties.
Itraconazole (Sporonox)
Itraconazole works by inhibiting the fungal enzymes that produce ergosterol, an important component of the fungal cell wall. Without adequate ergosterol, the fungal cell becomes weak, leaky and ultimately dies.
Ivermectin (Ivomec, Heartgard 30, Acarexx, Iverheart Plus)
Ivermectin is effective against most common intestinal worms (except tapeworms), most mites, and some lice. It is not effective against fleas, ticks, flies, or flukes. It is effective against larval heartworms (the microfilariae that circulate in the blood) but not against adult heartworms that live in the heart and pulmonary arteries.
Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
This drug fights fungal infections both minor and life threatening, but because of the way it works it can also be used to treat Cushing’s disease (a cortisone imbalance).
L-Asparaginase (Elspar)
The battle against cancer must exploit biological differences between cancer cells and normal cells. Asparagine is an especially important amino acid for lymphatic cancer cells and asparaginase is able to destroy it in a way that hurts cancer cells only. L-Asparaginase is a helpful chemotherapy agent, especially in the treatment of lymphatic cancers.
L-Deprenyl Hydrochloride (Anipryl, Eldepryl, Carbex)
There are two uses for L-Deprenyl (also known as selegiline hydrochloride) in dogs: the treatment of Cushing’s disease, an adrenal hormone imbalance, and the treatment of senile mental deterioration.
Lactulose
Lactulose is primarily used as a stool softener or in the treatment of liver patients.
Levetiracetam (Keppra)
As advances are made in seizure control in humans, medications eventually spill down into veterinary use; levetiracetam is a good example.
Lomustine
Lomustine is a member of the nitrosourea class of chemotherapy agents that act by binding DNA to other DNA strands or to protein in such a way that the DNA double helix strand cannot replicate. In addition to essentially tying DNA up, lomustine generates a by-product that prevents normal DNA function.
Loperamide (Imodium AD)
If your pet has diarrhea, it may be a condition that disturbs your well-being as well as your pet's. One medication that can help in some circumstances is the human medication Imodium AD. One interesting little fact: this medication is a member of the opiate class of drugs!
Loratadine (Claritin)
Loratadine represents a new generation of antihistamine that does not cross the blood-brain barrier and does not cause drowsiness. It also is much longer lasting than some of the classic antihistamines in use. The size of this tablet and its twice a day dosing schedule make it a convenient antihistamine for feline use.
Lufenuron (Program)
Insects are protected in the world by a hard exoskeleton made of a material called chitin. Lufenuron, Program's active ingredient, inhibits the production of chitin in insects.
Maropitant Citrate (Cerenia)
Maropitant citrate is a strong anti-nausea medication for dogs.
Meclizine Hydrochloride (Bonine, Antivert, Meclizine Hydrochloride)
An excellent product for people that can also be used for car-sick pets, meclizine hydrochloride is generally used for nausea relief due to motion sickness. It is also used to control the nausea resulting from vestibular disease, a syndrome characterized by vertigo and loss of balance.
Medication For Hyperthyroidism
The most common medication prescribed to treat feline hyperthyroidism is called methimazole (trade name Tapazole).
Meloxicam (Metacam)
Meloxicam is generally given to control arthritis pain in dogs though it can be given for many other painful conditions. It is often used an analgesic in conjunction with surgery.
Methocarbamol (Robaxin-V)
Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant that exerts its effect by acting on the central nervous system (the nerves that control the muscles) rather than on the muscles themselves.
Metoclopramide (Reglan)
Motility disorders are common and may be chronic or of sudden onset. When motility is reduced in the stomach, food pools there and creates a sensation of nausea and bloating. In some cases, bile refluxes from the intestine into the stomach, causing irritation and more nausea. Metoclopramide (Reglan) normalizes stomach contractions so that food and bile can pass in the correct direction.
Metronidazole (Flagyl)
Metronidazole is an antibiotic especially effective against anaerobic infections. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties in the large intestine and is an effective anti-diarrhea medication. It's also an effective antibiotic against certain protozoal infections, especially Giardia.
Mirtazapine (Remeron)
The side effects make mirtazapine a desirable medication for animals. It has strong anti-nausea properties and acts as a strong appetite stimulant.
Omeprazole (Prilosec, GastroGard)
Omeprazole represents a different tact from other antacids: proton pump inhibition. The quantity of acid ultimately amounts to the quantity of protons. The proton pump is central to secreting acid into the stomach and with this pump inhibited, stomach acid production is halted.
Orbifloxacin (Orbax)
Orbifloxacin may be used in dogs and cats to combat different types of infections, especially those involving Pseudomonas. This medication is also active against Staphylococci, and thus is commonly used for skin infections.
Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium (Elmiron, Cartrophen)
Pentosan polysulfate sodium can be used in acute feline lower urinary tract disease to facilitate the resolution of the episode. It is more commonly recommended as an on-going therapy to prevent future episodes. The jury is still out as to whether or not it is effective.
Pentoxifylline (Trental)
Pentoxifylline is used to enhance healing in chronic ulcerative conditions such as dermatomyositis of collies and shelties and has been helpful in treating allergic reactions caused by physical contact with the allergen (i.e., contact allergic dermatitis). Ear margin vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation) can also be treated with pentoxifylline.
Phenobarbital
In dogs and cats, phenobarbital is probably the first choice for seizure suppression. It is effective, safe if used responsibly, and is one of the least expensive medications in all of veterinary practice.
Phenylpropanolamine (Propagest, Pro-In)
Phenylpropanolaminecan be used to help control appetite or as a decongestant, but in veterinary medicine it is used almost exclusively for the control of urinary incontinance in the female dog.
Piroxicam
The most common target of this medication is transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, although it is also used against mammary adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and transmissible venereal tumors.
Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan (Adequan)
In treating arthritis, injections are given twice a week for 4 weeks for a maximum of eight injections. Injections are given intramuscularly. Dogs, cats, and horses are the usual patients. There is another use for this medication and that is in the treatment of feline lower urinary tract disease.
Ponazuril
Ponazuril represents a new approach to treatment for coccidia, which can cause potentially life-threatening diarrhea.
Potassium Bromide (K Brovet)
This medication is generally reserved for dogs who cannot tolerate phenobarbital for seizures control due to unacceptable side effects or lack of effectiveness.
Praziquantel (Droncit)
Praziquantel is primarily used against parasites known as "Cestodes" (tapeworms). It is also effective against flukes.
Prednisone/Prednisolone
Prednisone and prednisolone are members of the glucocorticoid class of hormones. They break down stored resources (fats, sugars and proteins) so that they may be used as fuels in times of stress. We do not use the glucocorticoids for their influences on glucose and protein metabolism; we use them because they are the most broad anti-inflammatory medications that we have.
Pyrantel Pamoate (Strongid T, Nemex)
Pyrantel pamoate is effective against numerous parasitic worms, such as roundworms, hookworms, and stomach worms. When a new puppy or kitten is adopted and has been said to have been dewormed, the chances are it is this product that was used.
Ranitidine (Zantac)
Ranitidine is useful in any situation where stomach irritation is an issue and ulceration is a concern. It is often used in the treatment of Helicobacter infection, inflammatory bowel disease, canine parvovirus, ingestion of a toxin that could be ulcerating (over dose of aspirin, for example), any disease involving protracted vomiting, or chronically in combination with medications which may have stomach irritating properties.
S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe, Denosyl, Zentonil)
In veterinary medicine, this product is chiefly used in liver disease.
Silymarin (Milk Thistle)
Silymarin has been traditionally used in the treatment of liver disease and, while it has recently been advocated for use in pets, all scientific information available concerns human use. Silymarin is regularly used for an assortment of liver diseases including cirrhosis and viral hepatitis in humans.
Spinosad (Comfortis)
Spinosad is an ultra-fast flea killing tablet that lasts an entire month. It is safe for dogs but not for cats.
Sucralfate (Carafate)
Sucralfate was developed as an adjunctive treatment for stomach ulcers in humans. It dissolves to form a protective covering over stomach ulcers and injuries. It's effective in the upper GI tract: stomach, duodenum, and possibly the esophagus.
Sulfadimethoxine (Albon)
Sulfa drugs may have numerous uses, but in small animals sulfadimethoxine is used almost exclusively for the treatment of intestinal parasites known as coccidia. These parasites are single-celled organisms capable of causing intense diarrheas in their hosts.
Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
Sulfasalazine represents an innovative exception in antibiotics used for colitis. Essentially, a salve is applied to the surface of the inflamed colon.
Terbinafine (Lamisil)
Terbinafine has activity against other types of fungi but at this time it is mostly used against ringworm.
Theophylline (Theo-Dur)
This medication has been a helpful airway dilator for humans with asthma and animals with heart disease or bronchitis.
Toceranib Phosphate (Palladia)
This medication was developed to address the mast cell tumor in dogs.
Trimethoprim-Sulfa (Bactrim, Tribrissen, Septra, Sulfatrim, Cotrim)
Trimethoprim-sulfa is known by many names as it's a commonly used antibiotic in both human and veterinary medicine. It's become a popular choice thanks to its broad spectrum and inexpensive cost.
Tylosin (Tylan®)
An antibiotic, tylosin is used for its anti-inflammatory properties in the large intestine rather than for its ability to fight infection.
Ursodiol (Actigall)
Ursodeoxycholic acid is one of the bile acids produced by the Chinese black bear and it has been used in the treatment of liver disease for centuries. Nowadays, it is produced in the laboratory rather than extracted from bear gall bladders.
Vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar)
Vincristine is chiefly used as one drug in multi-drug combination protocols against lymphoid and round cell tumors.
Tippner Cancer Protocol for Dog Cancer
HEY!
Lucy is now near 22 months (as of end of February 2013) post biopsy proven diagnosis of Nasal Adenocarcinoma Nasal Nose Cancer using the Tippner Protocol for Dog Cancer .
She is showing no symptoms. Zero. Plus some of the other skin tumors she had went away. Using no radiation or chemo. Just specific diverse supplements, chinese herbs, diet change to higher protein medium fat no grain diet, and Rx of Low Dose Naltrexone (boosts immunity - proven - generic med - cheap - read blog post on this for links to research).
Usual Prognosis (from Veterinary Texts on Nasal Cancer)
"The prognosis is generally grave to very poor. Untreated dogs and cats usually die within two to seven months of diagnosis. If rhinotomy (cutting of much of snout!) is the only treatment, survival is actually shorter. In selected cases that receive radiation therapy (plus or minus adjuvant therapy), survival can be raised to a range of eight to 25 months. The one-year treatment survival may be only 40 percent and can go up to 80 percent in select cases. Half of the one-year survivors die in the second year. (remember burning your dogs face with radiation is not fun and takes quality time away and costs upwards of $6000-$10000 plus 3 weeks of almost daily radiation) Palliative chemotherapy may improve clinical signs for a time but does not seem to extend survival. If you are trying to select a good case for radiation therapy, sarcomas do better than carcinomas and respiratory adenocarcinomas do better than other carcinomas.Tumor size and location are also factors. Localized lesions in the rostral to middle part of the nasal passage do better; most are in the caudal two-thirds of the nasal passage.Lymphomas respond the best and low-grade chondrosarcomas have the potential to survive the longest. Radiation therapy for nasal passage cancer is a difficult process for the patient and caregivers. The risk-benefit ratio must be weighed carefully in each case.Therefore, during consultation with the pet owner, it may be difficult to recommend conventional therapy over palliative therapy, especially for advanced cases due to the overall poor prognosis."
This herb below is one of many I use but it's REALLY important.
Yun Nan Bai Yao Yunnan Bai Yao - Chinese Herbs for Bleeding Type Cancers
Dog Nasal Cancers Rare but Deadly
This article appeared in a Vet Magazine I found.
*things in parenthesis are my input
"Nasal passage cancer generally develops very insidiously in older pets. (my dog is only 7 though...)It is rare in cats and not common in dogs. (not common? then why do I find when I talk to people in general in my town, someone more often than not says 'oh, I know so and so whose dog had it!) It composes about 1 percent of feline tumors and up to 2.5 percent of canine tumors. Long-nosed breeds (dolichocephalic) and senior dogs are at higher risk.
Clinical Signs
The early signs of nasal cancer in dogs or cats are unilateral nasal and/or ocular discharge, epistaxis, stridor, loss of smell, loose teeth and sometimes pawing at the face. (don't forget sneezing and that weird hard reverse sneezing)Late-stage signs may include a facial deformity along the dorsal aspect of the maxillary bones or over the paranasal and frontal sinuses. Some cases develop a raised or pitting facial bone deformity.Some cases may exhibit a firm or soft focal, raised mass protruding around or between the eyes. Some cases may have a palatine deformity from the softening and bowing out of the hard palate due to demineralization of the palatine bone and growth of the mass.In every case of facial deformity, there is bone lysis and tumor invasion at that site. If the lesions extend into the brain, seizures and behavior changes are often exhibited. (there are meds that help this)A complication of nasal cancer is the over production of mucus. It collects and clogs the nasal passages and sinuses.
Prepare the Owner
The stridor and mess from sneezing out phlegm along with the vivid color of blood during episodes of epistaxis cause great distress for pet owners. (IT SURE DOES! I stopped the bleeding using the chinese herb Yunnan Bai Yao. Here is a link to info)Most animals with nasal cancer exhibit sporadic signs in the early stages, then show progression over a period of about three months before diagnosis.Initially, the clinical signs fit the assumption that the pet has one of a variety of nasal conditions. Most clinicians would suspect or that a foreign body is lodged in the nasal passages.A search for the offending material finds nothing. If the nasal passages are cultured, pathogens are often found and identified on culture and sensitivity reports.So, the diagnosis of rhinitis may suffice for a time. Some elder pets have oronasal fistulas from infected or extracted teeth to complicate matters.If the symptoms persist, the working diagnosis is often presumed to be either a foreign body that remains wedged in the upper turbinates or chronic rhinitis.In some case histories, the nasal passages were explored several times without locating a foreign body yet no biopsy or culture was taken. (GEEZ JUST GET A BIOPSY)Since the problem is presumed to be either infectious or allergic, the patient is placed on symptomatic treatment with antibiotics, steroids and antihistamines or nose drops for topical therapy. (good luck with the nose drops...)The patient often gets relief from symptoms. This is why most nasal cancers go undetected for three months and why some cases may go undetected as long as six months in dogs and up to two years in cats.
Diagnosis
The best radiographs for visualizing the nasal cavity are taken under general anesthesia with the X-ray film placed into the open mouth for an intranasal view. $300Teach your X-ray technicians to use the positions from a good radiology text for open-mouth studies of the nasal cavity.Place the X-ray film inside the mouth. Place one corner extending as far back toward the tonsils as possible and take a DV image. This provides the best exposure of the nasal passages.Intra-oral radiography is best accomplished with high quality non-screen film; we use mammography film.The A-P skyline position for the best view of the frontal sinuses of the skull is also very important to complete a full skull series. Look for space occupying or lytic disease in the nasal passages or sinuses. Look for an asymmetrical density or lysis or interruption of the fine scroll pattern of the nasal turbinates, a break in the fine lines of the nasal septum or a density in one of the frontal sinuses.Too many cases of nasal cancer are initially missed on the first X-ray series because of poor visualization.Magnetic resonance imaging or computerized tomography scans of the nasal passages and paranasal sinuses have become the gold standard for imaging nasal tumors. Localization of the lesion is necessary for treatment planning.A small number of patients may have lymphadenopathy. It is important to discuss the usefulness of MRI or CT scan in this setting with the pet owner. ($1000)CT technology is used for computerized treatment planning for radiation therapy patients. So, if the patient will be receiving radiation therapy, it may save time and money to order a CT scan from the start.Since general anesthesia is needed for these studies, it may be the best opportunity to also request tissue samples for definitive diagnosis. Some imaging services are set up to accommodate biopsy procedures and some are not. I prefer to refer cases to facilities that will do a biopsy.
Something NewMr. Shelton, an engineer, with a 10-year-old black Labrador retriever named B.J., taught me a new way to deal with night stridor for affected dogs. I tell clients that their pet can breathe through the mouth despite occlusion of the nasal passages. When dogs are having difficulty with sleep, we try to have clients devise ways that their dogs can breathe through the mouth while sleeping. Mr Shelton used a Milk Bone and a rawhide bone wedged between B.J.’s front teeth. At first. I suggested using a toy waffle ball for B.J.Mr. Shelton devised the perfect solution for his playful dog. He cut holes in a tennis ball because B.J. loved to hold her tennis balls for hours. This was a natural extension for her. She slept with the ball in her mouth in comfort without stridor.— A.(hey not a bad idea!)
Biopsy
If a geriatric patient is going to be anesthetized for X-rays, a biopsy should be done at the same time. The radiographs will suggest the best area to sample.
Various instruments can be used but all require precautions to avoid penetrating the ethmoid plate. Rhinoscopy with direct biopsy of the abnormal tissues is most direct.A long true-cut biopsy needle, a plastic cannula or biopsy forceps is passed through the nostril into the nasal cavity and thrust into the suspected lesion to harvest a sample for histopathology.For safety, always measure the distance between the tip of the nose to the area just in front of the ethmoid (cribriform) plate. This should be just in front of the medial canthus. Mark the biopsy instrument with tape or ink.In cases with nasal bone deformity or a bulge over a sinus, one can generally pass an FNA needle directly through the skin and softened bone into the lesion and aspirate a sample for cytology.One can also insert a true cut instrument through the bulging defect and into the sinus to get a sample for histopathology.In most cases, the harvested material is gelatinous and difficult to distinguish from phlegm. Expect bleeding and if necessary, use cotton soaked in epinephrine to pack the nostrils.It may be necessary to keep the patient under anesthesia or quiet with sedation until bleeding is controlled.
Pathology
Pathology reports identify most canine nasal tumors as carcinomas. Most of them are respiratory adenocarcinoma followed by squamous cell carcinoma and a few miscellaneous or undifferentiated carcinomas.About one third of nasal cavity neoplasia in dogs are sarcomas, with fibrosarcoma being most common followed by chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, lymphoma, and then other miscellaneous and undifferentiated sarcomas.North Carolina State University summarized 320 cases of nasal tumors in cats, finding that 60 percent were carcinomas, 18 percent sarcomas and 12 percent lymphoma.There is no correlation with grade and survival. However, some tumors may have a low mitotic rate or a slower rate of growth or a less aggressive biological behavior than others, such as low-grade chondrosarcoma.
Treatment
Surgery for dogs with nasal cancer was routinely performed until data showed that rhinotomy (opening the nasal passages and scooping tumor out) was a negative factor for survival time.However, rhinotomy followed by orthovoltage radiation therapy yielded the longest survival times but rhinotomy was not necessary if the pet was to receive cobalt radiation therapy.This information and the poor survival data made treating nasal tumors confusing and frustrating.Today the norm is to avoid surgical rhinotomy. However, if pet owners are interested in radiation therapy, they should be referred for imaging studies to locate the extent of disease.Then refer them to a radiation oncologist for consultation regarding the risk-benefit ratio and an honest survival time discussion based on the tumor type and the individual pet’s stage of disease.The owner needs to reconcile his psychological, emotional, financial and ethical considerations regarding treatment for the pet. (up to $10,000 in total..... that is why I went the natural and holistic route and Lucy is past the average survival time of 4 months past diagnosis, she is many months past diagnosis and she is in total remission as of 11/2012)Most facilities use cobalt radiation therapy and CT scan technology for treatment planning. Some facilities treat pets with linear accelerators. There may be no difference in the survival times with either machine, but side effects may be less severe in animals treated with the higher energy linear accelerators.Of all nasal passage tumors, nasal lymphomas respond the best to radiation therapy as well as to chemotherapy.Most oncologists recommend systemic chemotherapy in addition to radiation therapy for nasal lymphoma because lymphoma is considered a systemic disease rather than a focal disease. This is especially true in cats.Drugs that enhance the effect of radiation (radiation sensitizers) such as mitoxantrone or carboplatin (some use low dose cisplatin) have been used. However, the advantage for survival is not yet firmly established.I think it makes sense to use systemic chemotherapy because it may enhance the radiation’s effects and also addresses the metastatic potential.This is important because 10 percent of patients present with lymph node metastases and 40 percent will go on to metastasize. Local recurrence and metastases are the main reasons for death of pets treated for nasal cavity cancer.So, there is a need to keep searching for better ways to enhance local control and control of metastatic disease.The side effects of radiation therapy for nasal cancer are quiet severe, especially if the tumor approaches the ethmoid plate or invades the orbit.Patients experience radiation-induced oral mucositis, chealitis and conjunctivitis.The client must be informed and prepared for the responsibilities of home care during and following treatments. Pet owners must also be told to expect chronic nasal discharge following treatment.The normal delicate tissue of the nasal turbinates will never again function properly due to permanent injury from the radiation therapy. Cataracts and blindness following radiation therapy will occur if the orbit is invaded by the cancer and if the eyes are included in the treatment field.Chemotherapy is often elected as a palliative and less aggressive therapy, especially in advanced cases that have poor prognoses. Many oncologists offer medical management for clients who decline conventional radiation therapy for their pets.I like to use carboplatin rotating with mitoxantrone every 21 to 30 days for most adenocarcinomas and carboplatin rotating with adriamycin for sarcomas.
Case Report: Rufus GleasonRufus, a 10-year-old male, black Labrador retriever, was referred with a history of epistaxis and stridor due to nasal passage chondrosarcoma. Rufus, a 10-year-old male, black Labrador retriever, was diagnosed with nasal passage chrondrosarcoma. After chemotherapy, he
went into a 146-week remission, during
which Rufus walked in many 10-K events
and traveled across the country with his
family.
His owner declined radiation therapy for Rufus and requested a less demanding path of treatment.We recommended palliative chemotherapy and chemoprevention for Rufus. Six cycles of carboplatin chemotherapy at 300mg/M2 IV every 21 days were administered.These were followed by treatments every six weeks for six months, then every eight weeks for the following two years. We also kept Rufus on piroxicam at 10 mg once daily and IP-6 and beta glucan.During his prolonged 146-week remission and maintenance, Rufus walked in numerous 10K events and traveled across the country with his family.Facial deformity finally appeared and caused discomfort. Rufus was entered into our end-of-life pawspice care program with special attention to analgesia, and he lived two more precious months before euthanasia. — A.V.
http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-practice-news-columns/oncology-outlook/nasal-cancers-in-pets.aspx I also use long-term doxycylcine as my antibiotic of choice and an NSAID such as piroxicam, deracoxib or meloxicam for pain control and their anti-angiogenesis action. (this can be a good idea, I have not needed it yet this is a basic metronomic protocol like Navy protocol)
Clinical improvement is often reported for pets on chemotherapy with reduction of epistaxis, sneezing, snorting, stridor, nasal discharge and pain relief. Patients do not seem to have extended life spans with chemotherapy but many seem clinically improved for a variable amount of time.
Prognosis
The prognosis is generally grave to very poor. Untreated dogs and cats usually die within two to seven months of diagnosis. If rhinotomy is the only treatment, survival is actually shorter.In selected cases that receive radiation therapy (plus or minus adjuvant therapy), survival can be raised to a range of eight to 25 months.The one-year treatment survival may be 40 percent and can go up to 80 percent in select cases. Half of the one-year survivors die in the second year. (remember burning your dogs face with radiation is not fun and takes quality time away and costs upwards of $6000-$10000 plus 3 weeks of almost daily radiation) Palliative chemotherapy may improve clinical signs for a time but does not seem to extend survival.If you are trying to select a good case for radiation therapy, sarcomas do better than carcinomas and respiratory adenocarcinomas do better than other carcinomas.Tumor size and location are also factors. Localized lesions in the rostral to middle part of the nasal passage do better; most are in the caudal two-thirds of the nasal passage.Lymphomas respond the best and low-grade chondrosarcomas have the potential to survive the longest. Radiation therapy for nasal passage cancer is a difficult process for the patient and caregivers. The risk-benefit ratio must be weighed carefully in each case.Therefore, during consultation with the pet owner, it may be difficult to recommend conventional therapy over palliative therapy, especially for advanced cases due to the overall poor prognosis." end of article
(The stuff I researched DEEPLY and am posting on this blog has put Lucy into full remission within 4 months after Dx and I did not use radiation or chemo or surgery)
Lucy is now near 22 months (as of end of February 2013) post biopsy proven diagnosis of Nasal Adenocarcinoma Nasal Nose Cancer using the Tippner Protocol for Dog Cancer .
She is showing no symptoms. Zero. Plus some of the other skin tumors she had went away. Using no radiation or chemo. Just specific diverse supplements, chinese herbs, diet change to higher protein medium fat no grain diet, and Rx of Low Dose Naltrexone (boosts immunity - proven - generic med - cheap - read blog post on this for links to research).
Usual Prognosis (from Veterinary Texts on Nasal Cancer)
"The prognosis is generally grave to very poor. Untreated dogs and cats usually die within two to seven months of diagnosis. If rhinotomy (cutting of much of snout!) is the only treatment, survival is actually shorter. In selected cases that receive radiation therapy (plus or minus adjuvant therapy), survival can be raised to a range of eight to 25 months. The one-year treatment survival may be only 40 percent and can go up to 80 percent in select cases. Half of the one-year survivors die in the second year. (remember burning your dogs face with radiation is not fun and takes quality time away and costs upwards of $6000-$10000 plus 3 weeks of almost daily radiation) Palliative chemotherapy may improve clinical signs for a time but does not seem to extend survival. If you are trying to select a good case for radiation therapy, sarcomas do better than carcinomas and respiratory adenocarcinomas do better than other carcinomas.Tumor size and location are also factors. Localized lesions in the rostral to middle part of the nasal passage do better; most are in the caudal two-thirds of the nasal passage.Lymphomas respond the best and low-grade chondrosarcomas have the potential to survive the longest. Radiation therapy for nasal passage cancer is a difficult process for the patient and caregivers. The risk-benefit ratio must be weighed carefully in each case.Therefore, during consultation with the pet owner, it may be difficult to recommend conventional therapy over palliative therapy, especially for advanced cases due to the overall poor prognosis."
This herb below is one of many I use but it's REALLY important.
Yun Nan Bai Yao Yunnan Bai Yao - Chinese Herbs for Bleeding Type Cancers
Chinese Herbs
If your dog has hemangiosarcoma, leukemia, or any type of bleeding tumor such as nasal cancer, you’ll want to know about Yunnan Baiyao (aka Yunnan Paiyao), a Chinese herb that stops bleeding. Yunnan Baiyao has been used in Asia for more than one hundred years and is considered a miracle drug for wounds and hemorrhage. It first gained recognition by western practitioners during the Vietnam War. The Vietcong carried it with them and took it if they were wounded to stop bleeding and recover more quickly. It is now recognized as an effective remedy for reducing clotting time by as much as 55%. Hemangiosarcoma is a very deadly cancer in dogs, which generally isn't diagnosed until the dog collapses or dies. This sort of cancer is genetic, hereditary, and it runs in bloodlines. It causes a tumor in the heart (also seen in the spleen, and other organs) that leads to fluid build-up in the pericardium. Yunnan Baiyao has been used successfully to relieve the fluid build up and help with the dog's comfort level.
Yunnan Baiyao also known as Yunnan Paiyao has been extensively used and considered a sort of miracle drug for wounds, pain, and hemorrhage. Unlike Western pain drugs, it does not turn off pain centers in the brain, but instead facilitates circulation, bringing oxygen to the injury.
It is useful for any type of open cuts and any kind of surgery. It reduces recovery time for surgery by half because it mends injured blood vessels. It does not interfere with Western sedative drugs, so can be used the same day as surgery.
By immediately activating blood circulation, it helps resolve bleeding, pain, and swelling. It heals oozing wounds and damaged blood vessels, while expelling pus and counteracting toxins.
Although the ingredients are still secret, the two main herbs are raw and steamed tienchi ginseng. The raw form is cooling, the steamed form is warming. It is the combination of the two forms, along with other herbs, that make Yunnan Baiyao a balanced and powerful "drug" for pain and injury.
Its primary application is acute traumatic bleeding, where the powder is applied directly to the cut. The product is antibacterial as well as homeostatic.
Cuts heal quickly with even a single application, and with a butterfly bandage it can help seal smaller wounds that might otherwise require stitches. In various clinical studies, it has shown to reduce clotting time by 33% to 55%.
The powder form is more appropriate for topical application in traumatic bleeding, while the capsules are meant to be taken internally. Otherwise it is used orally in the food.
It is used for traumatic swelling or bruising, or for other blood disorders including thrombocytopenic purpura and leukemia. It is also used to inhibit internal bleeding due to trauma, surgery or cerebral hemorrhage.
It is useful for any type of open cuts and any kind of surgery. It reduces recovery time for surgery by half because it mends injured blood vessels. It does not interfere with Western sedative drugs, so can be used the same day as surgery.
By immediately activating blood circulation, it helps resolve bleeding, pain, and swelling. It heals oozing wounds and damaged blood vessels, while expelling pus and counteracting toxins.
Although the ingredients are still secret, the two main herbs are raw and steamed tienchi ginseng. The raw form is cooling, the steamed form is warming. It is the combination of the two forms, along with other herbs, that make Yunnan Baiyao a balanced and powerful "drug" for pain and injury.
Its primary application is acute traumatic bleeding, where the powder is applied directly to the cut. The product is antibacterial as well as homeostatic.
Cuts heal quickly with even a single application, and with a butterfly bandage it can help seal smaller wounds that might otherwise require stitches. In various clinical studies, it has shown to reduce clotting time by 33% to 55%.
The powder form is more appropriate for topical application in traumatic bleeding, while the capsules are meant to be taken internally. Otherwise it is used orally in the food.
It is used for traumatic swelling or bruising, or for other blood disorders including thrombocytopenic purpura and leukemia. It is also used to inhibit internal bleeding due to trauma, surgery or cerebral hemorrhage.
DOSAGE: I give Lucy, a 90 pound Lab, 1 capsule 2x per day just thrown in her food. Her bleeding stopped, her infections therefore stopped, and the scary and messy scenes stopped. This bleeding had been going on for months out of her nose. Within a week it was less each time and after maybe a couple of months, the bleeding was hardly ever. At this point many months after diagnosis of canine nasal adenocarcinoma cancer, she has not bled AT ALL for months now. This is not a blood thickener, it just helps the body clot faster when told to clot. The bleeding itself comes from the arteries feeding the tumor breaking due to the tumor increasing in size.
Oddly this stuff can be ordered easily and cheaply from Amazon at this link Yun Nan Bai Yao Yunnan Bai Yao - Chinese Herbs for Bleeding Type Cancers such as Dog Nasal Cancer
Many Holistic Vets tell you to use this for bleeding (or want to sell it to you for a high price....). Assuming you can even find a Holistic Vet near you.
Emotionally anyway, not seeing your dog bleed makes this whole 'my dog has nasal cancer' much less stressful.
Emotionally anyway, not seeing your dog bleed makes this whole 'my dog has nasal cancer' much less stressful.
This article appeared in a Vet Magazine I found.
*things in parenthesis are my input
"Nasal passage cancer generally develops very insidiously in older pets. (my dog is only 7 though...)It is rare in cats and not common in dogs. (not common? then why do I find when I talk to people in general in my town, someone more often than not says 'oh, I know so and so whose dog had it!) It composes about 1 percent of feline tumors and up to 2.5 percent of canine tumors. Long-nosed breeds (dolichocephalic) and senior dogs are at higher risk.
Clinical Signs
The early signs of nasal cancer in dogs or cats are unilateral nasal and/or ocular discharge, epistaxis, stridor, loss of smell, loose teeth and sometimes pawing at the face. (don't forget sneezing and that weird hard reverse sneezing)Late-stage signs may include a facial deformity along the dorsal aspect of the maxillary bones or over the paranasal and frontal sinuses. Some cases develop a raised or pitting facial bone deformity.Some cases may exhibit a firm or soft focal, raised mass protruding around or between the eyes. Some cases may have a palatine deformity from the softening and bowing out of the hard palate due to demineralization of the palatine bone and growth of the mass.In every case of facial deformity, there is bone lysis and tumor invasion at that site. If the lesions extend into the brain, seizures and behavior changes are often exhibited. (there are meds that help this)A complication of nasal cancer is the over production of mucus. It collects and clogs the nasal passages and sinuses.
Prepare the Owner
The stridor and mess from sneezing out phlegm along with the vivid color of blood during episodes of epistaxis cause great distress for pet owners. (IT SURE DOES! I stopped the bleeding using the chinese herb Yunnan Bai Yao. Here is a link to info)Most animals with nasal cancer exhibit sporadic signs in the early stages, then show progression over a period of about three months before diagnosis.Initially, the clinical signs fit the assumption that the pet has one of a variety of nasal conditions. Most clinicians would suspect or that a foreign body is lodged in the nasal passages.A search for the offending material finds nothing. If the nasal passages are cultured, pathogens are often found and identified on culture and sensitivity reports.So, the diagnosis of rhinitis may suffice for a time. Some elder pets have oronasal fistulas from infected or extracted teeth to complicate matters.If the symptoms persist, the working diagnosis is often presumed to be either a foreign body that remains wedged in the upper turbinates or chronic rhinitis.In some case histories, the nasal passages were explored several times without locating a foreign body yet no biopsy or culture was taken. (GEEZ JUST GET A BIOPSY)Since the problem is presumed to be either infectious or allergic, the patient is placed on symptomatic treatment with antibiotics, steroids and antihistamines or nose drops for topical therapy. (good luck with the nose drops...)The patient often gets relief from symptoms. This is why most nasal cancers go undetected for three months and why some cases may go undetected as long as six months in dogs and up to two years in cats.
Diagnosis
The best radiographs for visualizing the nasal cavity are taken under general anesthesia with the X-ray film placed into the open mouth for an intranasal view. $300Teach your X-ray technicians to use the positions from a good radiology text for open-mouth studies of the nasal cavity.Place the X-ray film inside the mouth. Place one corner extending as far back toward the tonsils as possible and take a DV image. This provides the best exposure of the nasal passages.Intra-oral radiography is best accomplished with high quality non-screen film; we use mammography film.The A-P skyline position for the best view of the frontal sinuses of the skull is also very important to complete a full skull series. Look for space occupying or lytic disease in the nasal passages or sinuses. Look for an asymmetrical density or lysis or interruption of the fine scroll pattern of the nasal turbinates, a break in the fine lines of the nasal septum or a density in one of the frontal sinuses.Too many cases of nasal cancer are initially missed on the first X-ray series because of poor visualization.Magnetic resonance imaging or computerized tomography scans of the nasal passages and paranasal sinuses have become the gold standard for imaging nasal tumors. Localization of the lesion is necessary for treatment planning.A small number of patients may have lymphadenopathy. It is important to discuss the usefulness of MRI or CT scan in this setting with the pet owner. ($1000)CT technology is used for computerized treatment planning for radiation therapy patients. So, if the patient will be receiving radiation therapy, it may save time and money to order a CT scan from the start.Since general anesthesia is needed for these studies, it may be the best opportunity to also request tissue samples for definitive diagnosis. Some imaging services are set up to accommodate biopsy procedures and some are not. I prefer to refer cases to facilities that will do a biopsy.
Something NewMr. Shelton, an engineer, with a 10-year-old black Labrador retriever named B.J., taught me a new way to deal with night stridor for affected dogs. I tell clients that their pet can breathe through the mouth despite occlusion of the nasal passages. When dogs are having difficulty with sleep, we try to have clients devise ways that their dogs can breathe through the mouth while sleeping. Mr Shelton used a Milk Bone and a rawhide bone wedged between B.J.’s front teeth. At first. I suggested using a toy waffle ball for B.J.Mr. Shelton devised the perfect solution for his playful dog. He cut holes in a tennis ball because B.J. loved to hold her tennis balls for hours. This was a natural extension for her. She slept with the ball in her mouth in comfort without stridor.— A.(hey not a bad idea!)
Biopsy
If a geriatric patient is going to be anesthetized for X-rays, a biopsy should be done at the same time. The radiographs will suggest the best area to sample.
Various instruments can be used but all require precautions to avoid penetrating the ethmoid plate. Rhinoscopy with direct biopsy of the abnormal tissues is most direct.A long true-cut biopsy needle, a plastic cannula or biopsy forceps is passed through the nostril into the nasal cavity and thrust into the suspected lesion to harvest a sample for histopathology.For safety, always measure the distance between the tip of the nose to the area just in front of the ethmoid (cribriform) plate. This should be just in front of the medial canthus. Mark the biopsy instrument with tape or ink.In cases with nasal bone deformity or a bulge over a sinus, one can generally pass an FNA needle directly through the skin and softened bone into the lesion and aspirate a sample for cytology.One can also insert a true cut instrument through the bulging defect and into the sinus to get a sample for histopathology.In most cases, the harvested material is gelatinous and difficult to distinguish from phlegm. Expect bleeding and if necessary, use cotton soaked in epinephrine to pack the nostrils.It may be necessary to keep the patient under anesthesia or quiet with sedation until bleeding is controlled.
Pathology
Pathology reports identify most canine nasal tumors as carcinomas. Most of them are respiratory adenocarcinoma followed by squamous cell carcinoma and a few miscellaneous or undifferentiated carcinomas.About one third of nasal cavity neoplasia in dogs are sarcomas, with fibrosarcoma being most common followed by chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, lymphoma, and then other miscellaneous and undifferentiated sarcomas.North Carolina State University summarized 320 cases of nasal tumors in cats, finding that 60 percent were carcinomas, 18 percent sarcomas and 12 percent lymphoma.There is no correlation with grade and survival. However, some tumors may have a low mitotic rate or a slower rate of growth or a less aggressive biological behavior than others, such as low-grade chondrosarcoma.
Treatment
Surgery for dogs with nasal cancer was routinely performed until data showed that rhinotomy (opening the nasal passages and scooping tumor out) was a negative factor for survival time.However, rhinotomy followed by orthovoltage radiation therapy yielded the longest survival times but rhinotomy was not necessary if the pet was to receive cobalt radiation therapy.This information and the poor survival data made treating nasal tumors confusing and frustrating.Today the norm is to avoid surgical rhinotomy. However, if pet owners are interested in radiation therapy, they should be referred for imaging studies to locate the extent of disease.Then refer them to a radiation oncologist for consultation regarding the risk-benefit ratio and an honest survival time discussion based on the tumor type and the individual pet’s stage of disease.The owner needs to reconcile his psychological, emotional, financial and ethical considerations regarding treatment for the pet. (up to $10,000 in total..... that is why I went the natural and holistic route and Lucy is past the average survival time of 4 months past diagnosis, she is many months past diagnosis and she is in total remission as of 11/2012)Most facilities use cobalt radiation therapy and CT scan technology for treatment planning. Some facilities treat pets with linear accelerators. There may be no difference in the survival times with either machine, but side effects may be less severe in animals treated with the higher energy linear accelerators.Of all nasal passage tumors, nasal lymphomas respond the best to radiation therapy as well as to chemotherapy.Most oncologists recommend systemic chemotherapy in addition to radiation therapy for nasal lymphoma because lymphoma is considered a systemic disease rather than a focal disease. This is especially true in cats.Drugs that enhance the effect of radiation (radiation sensitizers) such as mitoxantrone or carboplatin (some use low dose cisplatin) have been used. However, the advantage for survival is not yet firmly established.I think it makes sense to use systemic chemotherapy because it may enhance the radiation’s effects and also addresses the metastatic potential.This is important because 10 percent of patients present with lymph node metastases and 40 percent will go on to metastasize. Local recurrence and metastases are the main reasons for death of pets treated for nasal cavity cancer.So, there is a need to keep searching for better ways to enhance local control and control of metastatic disease.The side effects of radiation therapy for nasal cancer are quiet severe, especially if the tumor approaches the ethmoid plate or invades the orbit.Patients experience radiation-induced oral mucositis, chealitis and conjunctivitis.The client must be informed and prepared for the responsibilities of home care during and following treatments. Pet owners must also be told to expect chronic nasal discharge following treatment.The normal delicate tissue of the nasal turbinates will never again function properly due to permanent injury from the radiation therapy. Cataracts and blindness following radiation therapy will occur if the orbit is invaded by the cancer and if the eyes are included in the treatment field.Chemotherapy is often elected as a palliative and less aggressive therapy, especially in advanced cases that have poor prognoses. Many oncologists offer medical management for clients who decline conventional radiation therapy for their pets.I like to use carboplatin rotating with mitoxantrone every 21 to 30 days for most adenocarcinomas and carboplatin rotating with adriamycin for sarcomas.
Case Report: Rufus GleasonRufus, a 10-year-old male, black Labrador retriever, was referred with a history of epistaxis and stridor due to nasal passage chondrosarcoma. Rufus, a 10-year-old male, black Labrador retriever, was diagnosed with nasal passage chrondrosarcoma. After chemotherapy, he
went into a 146-week remission, during
which Rufus walked in many 10-K events
and traveled across the country with his
family.
His owner declined radiation therapy for Rufus and requested a less demanding path of treatment.We recommended palliative chemotherapy and chemoprevention for Rufus. Six cycles of carboplatin chemotherapy at 300mg/M2 IV every 21 days were administered.These were followed by treatments every six weeks for six months, then every eight weeks for the following two years. We also kept Rufus on piroxicam at 10 mg once daily and IP-6 and beta glucan.During his prolonged 146-week remission and maintenance, Rufus walked in numerous 10K events and traveled across the country with his family.Facial deformity finally appeared and caused discomfort. Rufus was entered into our end-of-life pawspice care program with special attention to analgesia, and he lived two more precious months before euthanasia. — A.V.
http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-practice-news-columns/oncology-outlook/nasal-cancers-in-pets.aspx I also use long-term doxycylcine as my antibiotic of choice and an NSAID such as piroxicam, deracoxib or meloxicam for pain control and their anti-angiogenesis action. (this can be a good idea, I have not needed it yet this is a basic metronomic protocol like Navy protocol)
Clinical improvement is often reported for pets on chemotherapy with reduction of epistaxis, sneezing, snorting, stridor, nasal discharge and pain relief. Patients do not seem to have extended life spans with chemotherapy but many seem clinically improved for a variable amount of time.
Prognosis
The prognosis is generally grave to very poor. Untreated dogs and cats usually die within two to seven months of diagnosis. If rhinotomy is the only treatment, survival is actually shorter.In selected cases that receive radiation therapy (plus or minus adjuvant therapy), survival can be raised to a range of eight to 25 months.The one-year treatment survival may be 40 percent and can go up to 80 percent in select cases. Half of the one-year survivors die in the second year. (remember burning your dogs face with radiation is not fun and takes quality time away and costs upwards of $6000-$10000 plus 3 weeks of almost daily radiation) Palliative chemotherapy may improve clinical signs for a time but does not seem to extend survival.If you are trying to select a good case for radiation therapy, sarcomas do better than carcinomas and respiratory adenocarcinomas do better than other carcinomas.Tumor size and location are also factors. Localized lesions in the rostral to middle part of the nasal passage do better; most are in the caudal two-thirds of the nasal passage.Lymphomas respond the best and low-grade chondrosarcomas have the potential to survive the longest. Radiation therapy for nasal passage cancer is a difficult process for the patient and caregivers. The risk-benefit ratio must be weighed carefully in each case.Therefore, during consultation with the pet owner, it may be difficult to recommend conventional therapy over palliative therapy, especially for advanced cases due to the overall poor prognosis." end of article
(The stuff I researched DEEPLY and am posting on this blog has put Lucy into full remission within 4 months after Dx and I did not use radiation or chemo or surgery)
January 6, 2012
January 4, 2012
Hecla lava Homeopathy Dogs Tumors
Hecla lava
(Fine ash from Mount Hecla, an Icelandic volcano)
Bone, especially a marked action on the jaw, and it is mostly employed for boney tumors and inflammation. The glands in the region of the bone are often enlarged as well. All swellings are generally painful to touch.
Tumors in general. Bone necrosis (premature death of cells and living tissue) . Necrosis and sinus after mastoid operation.
Keynotes
Modalities:
Dose: 6c to 12c. Works best in the lower potencies.
For detailed treatments and dosing instruction in veterinary homeopathy, we recommend using Pet Remedy Charts, 'Homeopathy to the Rescue' for dogs, cats, horses or birds.
Please Note: Any information given in this website is not intended to be taken as a replacement for medical advice. Anyone with an animal with a medical condition requiring veterinary attention should consult a qualified DVM practitioner or veterinary emergency care clinic.
Hmm. Seems like this would help dog nasal cancer treatment or even canine aspergillus treatment. You should be able to get at your health food store. I know they have it on amazon.com
I will likely give it to Lucy. Can't hurt.
(Fine ash from Mount Hecla, an Icelandic volcano)
Homeopathic remedy for
Bone, especially a marked action on the jaw, and it is mostly employed for boney tumors and inflammation. The glands in the region of the bone are often enlarged as well. All swellings are generally painful to touch.
Tumors in general. Bone necrosis (premature death of cells and living tissue) . Necrosis and sinus after mastoid operation.
- Abscessed and Decaying Teeth - Mouth, Gums, and Teeth.
- Ulceration of nasal bones.
- Facial neuralgia from carious teeth and after extraction.
- Toothache, with swelling around jaws. Abscess of gums. Difficult teething.
- Enlargement of maxillary (jaw) bone. Cervical glands enlarged and indurated (hardened).
- Epulis - mouth tumors.
Keynotes
- Swelling about the jaw
- Bone tumors
- Glands hardened
- Toothache
- Glandular pain
Modalities:
Dose: 6c to 12c. Works best in the lower potencies.
For detailed treatments and dosing instruction in veterinary homeopathy, we recommend using Pet Remedy Charts, 'Homeopathy to the Rescue' for dogs, cats, horses or birds.
Please Note: Any information given in this website is not intended to be taken as a replacement for medical advice. Anyone with an animal with a medical condition requiring veterinary attention should consult a qualified DVM practitioner or veterinary emergency care clinic.
Hmm. Seems like this would help dog nasal cancer treatment or even canine aspergillus treatment. You should be able to get at your health food store. I know they have it on amazon.com
I will likely give it to Lucy. Can't hurt.
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So small you would have to take some where around a swimming pool full of the pills to get even one atom of the original "stuff".
Description I found in multiple sites:
My opinion?
So, it might help healing, but since it is anti-coagulant I really feel that you must take it with Yun Nan Bai Yao anti bleeding herbs if you have bleeding tumors. Yes, even though it's a homeopathic theory. Read below about homeopathy. Why risk it.
This text below is from tripawds.com a dog bone cancer site:
Homeopathic medicine is based on a “Principle of Similars,” or “like cures like” philosophy. This means that illnesses can be cured by small doses of a natural substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy people. For example, tiny doses of one plant medicine that causes vomiting in a healthy person, may actually cure vomiting in a sick person.
Arnica Montana
Produces conditions upon the system quite similar to those resulting from injuries, falls, blows, contusions. Septic conditions; prophylactic of pus infection.
It is especially suited to cases when any injury, however remote, seems to have caused the present trouble. After traumatic injuries. Traumatism of grief, remorse or sudden realization loss. Limbs and body ache as if beaten; joints as if sprained. Relaxed blood vessels, black and blue spots. Tendency to hemorrhage and low-fever states. Tendency to tissue degeneration, septic conditions, abscesses. Sore, lame, bruised feeling.
Belladonna
Belladonna acts upon every part of the nervous system, furious excitement, exaggerated senses, twitching and pain. It has a marked action on the vascular system, skin and glands. Belladonna is associated with hot, red skin, glaring eyes, throbbing pulses, excited mental state, restless sleep, dryness of mouth and throat, neuralgic pains that come and go suddenly. Heat, redness, throbbing and burning. Spasms followed by nausea and vomiting. Belladonna stands for violence of attack and suddenness of onset.
Barberry Vulgaris
Rapid change of symptoms-pains change in regard to place and character-thirst alternates with thirstlessness, hunger, and loss of appetite, etc.
Old gouty constitutions. Pain in region of kidneys is most marked; hence its use in renal issues and gall-stones. Pains may be felt all over body, emanating from small of back. Often called for in arthritic affections with urinary disturbances. Wandering, radiating pains. Spinal irritation. All Berberis pains radiate, are not worse by pressure, but worse in various attitudes, especially standing and active exercise.
Pulsatilla Pratensis
The disposition and mental state are the chief guiding symptoms to the selection of Pulsatilla. It is especially good for mild, gentle, yielding disposition. Sad, crying readily; weeps; changeable, contradictory. The patient seeks the open air; always feels better there, even though he is chilly. Discharges thick, bland, and yellowish-green. Symptoms ever changing. Thirstless, peevish, and chilly. Great sensitiveness. Timid, irresolute. Fears in evening to be alone. Likes sympathy. Pet likes fuss and caresses. Easily discouraged. Extremes of pain. Highly emotional.
Lachesis Mutus
When Lachesis is indicated, a hæmorrhagic tendency is marked. Septic states and other low forms of disease, when the system is thoroughly poisoned and the prostration is profound. Much trembling and confusion. Very important for patients of a melancholic disposition. Ill effects of suppressed discharges. Sensation of tension in various parts. Cannot bear anything tight anywhere. Great loquacity. Sad in the morning; no desire to mix with the world. Restless and wants to be off somewhere all the time.
My opinion of above text?
Something must be there for it to work on animals. There is no placebo effect on a dog. I have not tried any of these yet.