The Lyme Disease Trip ~ Part 2

My test results came back negative but this is no surprise to me and I'll tell you why.  

Lyme Disease is a tiny bacterium that invades the body fully and causes havoc as well as great pain for the human.  The bacterium are too small to be detected in a typical blood test ~ but the body's natural antibodies against the bacterium CAN be detected in a routine blood test.  SO, if the person has had Lyme Disease for a long period of time there will be plenty of antibodies running around.  IF the person caught the disease recently (as I did), there are not enough antibodies present in the blood to be detected, so a 'negative' blood test can result and be rather deceiving.    .... Since my test was negative, that says that I have not been living with this disease for a long period of time (Yay!) and that the treatment should be effective (Yay!  Again). 

What is the typical treatment for Lyme Disease?  Massive doses of antibiotic for a long period of time.   Up until this time, the most potent antibiotic I've had was about 20mg doses over a 5 day period for a sinus infection.  That seemed pretty potent.   The antibiotics for Lyme is 100mg doses over a 20 day period.   Twenty days.   Nothing foreign within my body will survive this onslaught.   Dairy must be avoided within a 4 hour window around each and every dose, twice a day.  That's half my day 'dairy free'.   Why?  Dairy binds with the antibiotic and reduces its effectiveness.    Sun exposure is to be avoided as well as this antibiotic thins the skin and increases sensitivity.... so, either stay inside or lather on the sunscreen, don a hat and covering clothing.   So I stay inside and drink a lot of water.   LOL

The first 3 days of treatment were the worst and even then it wasn't too bad.  The disease itself is far worse, symptomatically.   With the antibiotic I just feel tired and as the days progress my stomach gets more edgy and unhappy ~ no doubt the declining number of bacteria in my gut.   Yogurt cups are carefully timed and consumed each and every day!  .... Sure, it's a pain with all the discomfort and inconvenience, but I will say that the disease is SO much worse that 20 days of chemical crap is a small price to pay.

I hope this little jaunt into what Lyme Disease is and how it feels will be helpful to someone.  I hope MORE that you'll join me in taking every precaution in avoiding getting bitten in the first place ~ and knowing the signs if you do.

Speaking of pooches ~  Dogs get Lyme Disease too!  
According to all I've read, dogs do not show the tell-tale rash like we do (plus they have all that body hair to hide it, even if they DID!).   So, what's an owner to do?  Watch for the signs:  8 to 12 days after infection the biggest sign is extreme tiredness and maybe reduced appetite.   Lyme Disease can be fatal to dogs.   The best advice is to faithfully use monthly preventative. 

The Lyme Disease Trip ~ part 1

I'm lying in bed, the only place that's truly comfortable right now, all snugged between well softened sheets coated in handmade quilts, a soft breeze and welcome 'white noise' of a fan gently blowing from the other side of the room.
I'm bored!  I've been here way too long.  I'd rather be doing ANYTHING else.
I'm sipping soup and wishing the phone would ring.  I've been asleep all morning since taking my antibiotic.  That helps the time to pass and removes me from my discomfort for a while.  I'm waiting to hear from the doctors office.  I'm waiting to be told what I already know.  I have Lyme Disease.

I know so little about it, but I (thankfully!) took note of the symptoms, apparently.  At least I knew to worry.  Here's my journey:


I got home from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and my 5th TTouch training on Thursday March 29th.  Sometime that weekend (April 1st) I found a tick on my groin.  I was pretty freaked about that.   Less than a week later I removed a tick from my right shoulder/upper back, that was April 7th.  I remember the date of this bite because I was frustrated that I had gotten bitten by 2 ticks within a week and no doubt it was my dogs who transported the little vampires into my vicinity.  I shared my frustration on FaceBook, "I really appreciate that modern flea and tick repellants work so great for our pets. I'd really like my own tick repellant, PLEASE!!... I feel so left out... I feel so vulnerable. I'm developing an unnatural reaction to every little itch!"

Both bites itched for about a week, a normal reaction to being bitten by a tick.  The first bite on my groin was back to normal after a week with no color or skin disturbance where the bite had been.  Whew.  But, I continued to monitor it ~ all the while the bite on my shoulder still distracted me with its itch, but I had been bitten there later, so it didn't really register.

(April 14th, seven days later)  The bite on my shoulder still itches and is still red and a bit raised, the area is about an inch in diameter.  I can feel bumps in the skin around it, like small welts that haven't broken the surface of the skin.  They itch too and I assume its contact dermatitis.   I mysteriously get poison ivy in this area several times a year thanks to a snugly Dachshund, or scratching an itch while gardening.  Since I have an itch in the area I'm pretty sure I've added poison ivy to the mix.  So, I'll make it a point to not scratch directly, maybe gently rub through a t-shirt when the area is bothering me... which is frequent.

(April 16th, nine days later).   The bite is about the same, though since I can't see it easily, I don't think about it much.  It still itches.  The dermatitis isn't going away, but I don't expect it too, yet.  My knees are terribly sore and aching today and I take several 'breaks' going up or down the steps on the front walk.  It must be the rain coming in, my arthritis is going nuts.  I decide that I must cut back on sugar & sweets because me knees feel so swollen.  I attribute all my aches and pains to the change in weather pressure, arthritis and diet.   I'm unusually tired all day and simply help myself to more caffeinated beverages.  Than call it an early night for a change.  No thoughts of 'a problem' have entered my subconscious. 

(April 18th, eleven days later).   Today I feel like I'm walking through thick molasses with lead ankle weights.  Absolutely exhausted and listless the and more achy than usual.   After resting most of the morning, I gather myself up and decide it's high time to give the dogs a bath, they certainly need it, anyway.  Nestle has gotten into something.  It's bath time!   
I can not believe how physically demanding and difficult it is to bathe the dogs!  I can barely move!  It is surreal, like an out-of-body experience.  My limbs are like lead and I can not move without a great deal of effort.   It takes me 90 minutes to do the 30 minute job of washing both little dogs, trimming their nails and blow drying them.  I've done it a thousand times.  I'm astonished at how slow and difficult it was!   My subconscious puts on her reading glasses while seated behind her executive desk and begins reciting the symptoms of Lyme Disease to me, "extreme exhaustion, feels like you can't hardly move, body aches and pains...".   I look at the bite on my groin, it's history by all appearances.  The area looks fine, the one on my shoulder just has poison ivy... I rationalize my thoughts without thinking to take a look at it in the mirror.  The thought had begun to trickle in and my subconscious keeps up her symptomatic lecturing as I busy myself.
After cleaning up from the enormously long dog bathing routine, I decide to take a shower.  My husband arrives home and comes in the bathroom to greet me.  He parts the shower curtain to say hello when he sees my shoulder.  "Oh my, Kat.  You should have a took at that tick bite...."   Oh, my God.  The color drains from my face.  Lyme Disease.  I don't mention my symptoms to him.  I must see the bite.  I quickly finish my shower.
I turn my back to the mirror once I'm out of the shower and dried off.  Wow!  An area the size of a silver dollar around the bite is yellowish orange and puffy.  Around that is a huge red ring of welts, all told about 4-6 inches in diameter ~ and it itches terribly.  Oh my God.  That's NOT poison ivy.   I get dressed and head to the living room.  It's 6:30.   The doctor's office won't be open.
My daughter, Sarah, is on her computer.   "Sarah, please go to Google Images and look up "Lyme Disease" and compare what you get to this", I turn away from her and pull up my shirt to show her my bite.  I catch the hitch in her breath when she sees it.  I feel the same way, too.
"Yeah, that's it.  Mom."   Is all she can say in breathy utter astonishment.  I really wished in that moment that the doctors office was open, or that this warranted a visit to the ER.  I really don't want to do research on the Internet and learn my fate in this moment so I head off to the kitchen and prepare dinner.   I take a moment to post on Facebook.   Since no one is sure, it doesn't seem worth worrying about....yet.  But folks should know I'm harboring deep worry for my health.
I check on FaceBook after dinner and I'm astonished with the response!  I really don't want to believe this is serious.  I'm scared.  Symptoms are starting to increase and I'm beginning to understand what they mean by "flu like symptoms", the only thing absent is the vomiting and fever.   The level of tired is astonishing.  Maybe this is why my knees ache so much and the overall discomfort in my bones is increasing rapidly.  I'm very uncomfortable and tired.  Thankfully the sleep induced tired takes me away from the discomfort and I find the urge to take naps welcoming.

(April 19th ~ twelve days later)   I wake feeling fine, but I know that this will end by mid-morning if not sooner.  I can't wait to get to the doctor!  After dropping off the kids I head straight to Urgent Care and thankfully they're already open and not busy.  It won't be a long wait.  Already I'm physically uncomfortable with the aching.  My hips are still screaming at me from the drive.  My knees really want me to go lie down and they join the aching chorus.  My muscles feel like noodles.  I really want to get this over-with and go home.
Dr. R is his usual chipper self and greets me with a warm, "it's been a while".  I smile, I've been healthy and accident free for quite some time and so have the kids.  I tell him why I'm there and he has no doubt, he knows I do my homework and my symptoms are spot on.  ...Glad we're on the right track but I so wish it were a different train...   Dr. R. gives me the option of just going ahead and treating it or getting the test as well.  I opt for having the test done as well and he adds that they'll check for Rocky Mtn. Spotted Fever in addition to Lyme Disease.  Oh yeppie, I hadn't even considered that one.
I'm home by 10:30 and take my first antibiotic.  The roofers are much farther along than I had anticipated.  I get settled in and scoot out to the back porch to clean up dog poop before the roofers are working over there ~ ick.  It needs doing anyway.   While in the midst of that, I hear it coming and without a glance I ran like hell.  A large sheet of metal roofing is sliding down the roof barreling right towards me!  I turned to see if I was clear of it when it slams into the side of my face.  My head ducked and my arms deflecting it surely saved the day.  I run inside, shocked to see blood and spend the rest of the morning icing my face and doing TTouches to the surprisingly small (though deep) gash on my cheekbone. 
Despite all my intentions to have a somewhat productive day, I end up under the covers in bed, fast asleep till it's time to go pick up the kids from school.  Thank goodness my daughter can drive and she takes over driving us back home where I nap again till dinner time.
The gash on my face is much better than it has any right to be.  I cry fiercely about it.  I don't want anyone blamed or to get in trouble.  It was an accident and no one knew I was there.  I agree with my lawyer husband that the workers need to be more careful about tossing large metal knives through the air and I need to stay inside.   I should have needed stitches.  It should have been much worse.  It should be swollen and painful and bruised.  But, it's not.   It's very much a 'non issue' to me compared to this disease coursing through my body. 

Today ~ April 20th.   I'm still waiting for my test results, but I'm without doubt ~no matter the results~ that I'm dealing with Lyme Disease.  I'm holding on to the fact that it was caught early and hope deeply that the treatment will work and I'll be fit as a fiddle in a couple of weeks.   The ache in my bones is beyond anything I've experienced.  Worse than the flu, as far as I can remember.  As long as I don't 'do' much, I don't experience the leaden feeling I did bathing the dogs a couple days ago.  I'm beyond physically tired.  Absolutely exhausted.  I'm glad the antibiotics make me sleepy, naps help the day go by and give me a vacation from the ache.  The ache.  The awful, painful ache.
I stay inside today and just rest.  I know the roofers were spoken to about the errant sheet of roofing that hit me.  I know they're as horror stricken as I am about how that could have (and frankly should have) played out.  I just want to stay out of the way and I want to sleep.  I am sooo tired.  My flu-like symptoms are much more than they were even yesterday.  I really hope it's the drugs doing their job that's causing all this agony.  I really hope it stops soon.

Thursday April 19th.  The yellow center is gone and is much less 'bulls-eye' like than the day before.  Approximate size is 4" x 6"

This is my gash (pictured 18 hours after impact) from the sheet of metal roofing that came down on me.  I was hit hard enough that I should have a black eye and a swollen, heavily bruised cheek.  Thanks to a couple hours of TTouch, it looks pretty good and there's very little tenderness.  ~Beyond fortunate!!

Herbs - Hemp

Early January 2010 I was assisting with admitting my Mother to a long-term care facility for her dementia/Alzheimer's way out there in California near one of my brothers'. During a "care planning" meeting, one of the very kind administrators was going over supplements, diet, etc., when she mentioned that Hemp oil is much higher in essential fatty acids (EFA's) than fish oils and she highly recommended it for our Mother. This was important because Mom had been carefully managing her cholesterol for many years and EFA's were an essential part of that regiment. .... Did I freak out when the hemp supplement was mentioned? No...but I was surprised as I had had no knowledge of this product existing or its benefits....legalness, etc.

Over a year later, I'm in an organic market and I run across a big-ol-bag of hemp powder and (to the horror of my friend), I purchased it! Which brought to mind the stigma of "Hemp" and a thriving population who haven't learned that there's a difference in organic hemp and the illegal bastard cousin of the stuff ~ which causes all sorts of interesting expressions.

There's hemp and then there's HEMP. They're all in the same family, but varieties differ in THC levels (that's the magic ingredient) by an order of magnitude. Commercial hemp powders and oils sold in organic markets contain almost no THC. Sure, the THC is its claim to fame, but this plant offers so much more.

Oils rich in EFA's are oily. I find feeding an EFA rich oil kind of dicey when it comes to dogs. I don't want loose stools to be the side effect. In fact, I don't want loose stools at all. Loose stools suggest an allergy, illness, or (in this case) a reduction in nutrient absorption. Traditional EFA oils have that one benefit going for them. Hemp offers a whole lot more: it cleanses the liver by burning fat; it is environmentally friendly being grown without pesticides; while oils contain omega-3 EFA's, hemp contains omega-3 AND omega-6; hemp is also high in protein (37%); it is easy to digest, and hemp is very high in fiber (43%).

I gravitated towards using hemp powders as a supplement when Elvis was diagnosed with diabeties. What woke me up was the commercial "prescription" diabetic diet produced by a famous kibble-making company found in every vets office. Obediently I followed along when the vet told me to switch to this RX diet. I then watched Elvis's blood sugar steadily rise over the following days to my complete and utter confusion and horror. THEN I read the ingredient label. Let this be a lesson.... read the labels! This "RX" kibble lists CORN as it's FIRST ingredient.

Remember what I told you about corn? Corn is a carbohydrate. The body burns it for fuel just like sugar. So, I freaked out a little bit. I donated the remainder of this expensive bag of crap and went back to our former (grain free) kibble. The vet was astonished when I informed her of all that had transpired. The dog food folks had told her that the "corn" was for fiber.
What an utterly crappy way to provide fiber for an animal with a sugar-regulating deficiency!!! I have no respect for the manufacturers of dog foods anymore... read the label. Don't believe their interpretation of the truth**.

Hemp powder is starting to sound pretty good after that! Loads of fiber, Omega-3's and Omega-6's, highly palatable, sugar free and protein rich. I put a large amount in the home brew I prepare every few days.

Now you know. Organic hemp contains no THC (or very little) and offers loads of benefits for you and your fur friends. Most health food stores will carry some variety of hemp supplement to try. I like the powder as it's higher in fiber... which is what Elvis needs.

Interested in the other benefits of organic hemp? Hemp was the plant originally used to make bullet-proof clothing before the invention of "modern" fabrics. Our constitution is written on hemp paper because of it's strength and lasting aspects. Hemp clothing is making a comeback as it's easy to produce and is long wearing. Hemp was the favored choice for marine rope long before synthetics came along. Hemp is natural. Nylon is not. So, some varieties of hemp are used for purposes other than clothing, rope, food supplements and the like.... those varieties are potent in specific areas and illegal in the US.... but, we're not talking about those hemps here. Night and day. Apples and oranges.

**I saw an ad a while back that pointed out that dogs and wolves are 90+% alike so they should be fed alike because that's the right thing to do. ....... Yeah, apes and humans are 99.7% the same but we don't eat the same stuff or look like twins! ......Ads will sell your sense of intelligence short at every opportunity. Use your noodle.

Herbs - Chamomile

I have been patiently waiting for my chamomile plants to bloom so I can give it a try on the critters.... but those blooms are being evasive even though the plants are growing and spreading nicely. During my impatient wait, I gravitated towards commercial chamomile tea! Fresh is always best and more potent... but commercial tea is worth a try and quite effective.

Chamomile is very mild and gentle, even safe for use in puppies and yes, I've used it on the cat and kitten. It is served as a tincture... which basically means "tea". How do you get your pets to sit nicely and sip tea?... LOL (love that image!) .... we pour it on their food. No pinky finger extension necessary.

Chamomile has many wonderful uses in addition to its sedative qualities. It is helpful for expelling worms; antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, pain reliever and also helps relieve anxiety and insomnia. Useful for gas, indigestion and vomiting as well. I most appreciate the qualities of chamomile for its calming effects, tummy tamer and help in keeping those internal areas parasite and pain free.

To prepare I use a lidded glass jar that'll handle boiling water (one with a sealing lid is best that goes "pop!" as it cools). Depending on the size of the jar, add 1-3 bags of chamomile tea, pour boiling water over it, lid it and let steep till cool enough to refrigerate. I don't remove the tea bags. What I look for is a nice medium to dark amber color. If it's too light shake vigorously and see if that darkens the tea, otherwise reheat and add another tea bag. I like the sealing lids because I can let my jar sit on the counter a long time to cool and steep without any worries, but that's just me.

At meal times I pour the chamomile tea over their food enough to just wet it and mix in. Nestle's 14.5 pound self gets about 1/4 cup per day spit into two feedings. Jazz (24 pounds) gets about the same. Elvis the huge (130 pounds) gets about 1 cup per day, total. His tea is diluted with regular water for wetting his food (he likes it really wet!).

Why does Nestle get a larger portion relative to his size? Have you met this dog? ... LOL ... Nestle has more nervous issues than the other two by an order of magnitude. Anything that can assist this little guy in feeling more centered and calm in life is a gift. Elvis gets so much less because I'm aiming more at the healing, anti-microbial, pain relieving qualities for him with his diabetes. Same for Jazz.

Within days of adding chamomile tea to meals, my husband noted (more than once) how calm and content everyone seemed to be... most especially Nestle. His new calm makes receiving TTouches during stress much more effective as that impenetrable edge is not so impenetrable!

Chamomile can also be given topically to irritated skin by steeping flowers (or a tea bag), letting cool to a comfortable temperature then applying as a compress (soaked towel) to the affected area.

NOTE**
Some dogs may be allergic to the plant. Check for sensitivity first.
Do not give to pregnant or lactating bitches.

Palliative Care & TTouch

There's no getting around the fact that we're all leaving this journey the same way. Linda & I share the personal belief that our animals are in our lives for a reason. They have come to be with us for a purpose and to teach us something.... and vice versa.... if you ask me. Because they are with us for such a short period of our own lives, they give us the opportunity to embrace and find peace with crossing the rainbow bridge... or, "a change of address" as the Hawaiians put it.

There are so many accounts of TTouch having played an important part in the end of an animals' life. For some, when the end comes it is a painful or terrifying experience... for whatever reason. It is then that we can offer TTouch in creating calm or releasing pain/tension so that the dieing process can proceed in a positive way.

What a gift to leave a life in peace rather than pain and or fear!

This is a heartfelt entry. I think back to the animals I helped leave this life who were frightened or in pain and it brings tears to my eyes knowing (now) that I could have made it so much better for them. But animals do forgive in life and beyond. So, I go forward knowing TTouch can make such a difference during this end stage of being.

Linda recently posted an entry on her blog that shares an end of life story that is worth the time to read: http://tellingtonttouch.wordpress.com/2011/06/04/raffis-goodbye-ttouch-and-palliative-care/

Colic, if you're not familiar, is a twisting of the intestines (to put it in few words) and is (I would imagine!) terribly painful. For TTouch to be able to relieve such acute discomfort is really quite interesting and remarkable.

I recall another case in which the horse had terrible colic and the vet held no hope for a positive outcome. The handler continued with TTouches for quite some time hoping only bring calm and comfort to the horse in what appeared to be the his/her final hours. Surprisingly, the horse eventually produced a large bowel movement and recovered.

For long-term sufferers, regular TTouches can bring welcome relief which would not only lower their own stress level but also the stress in everyone caring for him/her.

In closing - our animals give us so very much of themselves throughout their lives. It is a real gift to be there for them in their final moments, however long those final moments are. It's not easy to be there for them as they depart, but it is part of an amazing journey and a chapter that can be cherished rather than stressed and painful.

Brenna & Mac
Two dearly departed spirits I'll forever cherish

Herb Thyme

If you've ever grown your own herbs, you know exactly where I'm coming from when I say they are hard to beat and very worth your time and effort. Herbs are an important ingredient to every day health and well being. Our domesticated friends are no different. Although I have yet to witness great hoards of dogs converging upon vast corn fields to munch on ears of dried corn, they do forage on greenery. Add some well selected herbs to your dogs diet and you may witness real changes.

Truth about corn
Corn is a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are sugars. There are complex carbs and there are simple carbs. Refined white sugar is a simple carb, which means it is basically pure rocket fuel. Corn is a complex carb, which means the rocket fuel is released more slowly into the body. Corn, of the complex carb world is more "simple" than many of its complex cousins, like sweet potatoe. Sugars cause the glycemic index in the body to spike and then plummet. Instant fuel that is quickly burned off, basically. Complex carbs burn slower and last longer. If your dogs diet consists mainly of ground yellow corn, your dog is getting quick "highs" followed by a dramatic "crash" every time he eats.

Check out the ingredient label on your dogs food. Many of the inexpensive kibbles host corn as the first (most abundant) ingredient item. Think of this like feeding your kids hamburgers smothered in high-fructose corn syrup. Not a healthy way to be, yet many dogs live life this way. Is it any wonder there are more health issues with our canine friends? If we lived off meaty candy bars day in and day out, believe me, we'd be sorta nuts and ill feeling, too.

My recommendation is once you've figured out your dogs food ingredients, consider going lower glycemic. Although the kibble you convert to will be a bit more costly, you will find you won't need to feed as much of it because it's not full of "empty fillers" like corn. Fecal material will be less as well.... and probably gas production. Remember, corn is an inexpensive filler and makes producing the dogs food more economically viable to the company.

Herbs 101

If your dog is pregnant or lactating ~ consult an herbalist for animals before adding any herb to your dogs diet.


Grass isn't your dogs first choice in herbs... it's just easy to obtain and works like Pepto. Natural dried herbs added to their kibble will delight you in their palatability and 2-3 weeks later you'll start noticing improvements in the overall well being as well as a rich luster and feel to their coat.

Dandelions ~ If you have a lawn you probably have Dandelions. A generous amount of steamed dandelion leaves is an easy herb to add that has a nice flavor. It's also good for human consumption but I understand the aversion to eating something you typically mow.

Rosemary is so easy to grow, smells heavenly and is as good for your dogs as it is for you. Rosemary is both an anti-spasmodic, an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory containing salicin, a natural pain killer. It also strengthens heart and liver and stimulates circulation. I gather rosemary along with all the other herbs I steam, cutting them into bits and steaming till tender. I add this to the homebrew I cook... but it can also be kept in the refrigerator and added at each mealtime. ~ Do not give to pregnant or lactating dogs.

Sage is one of my favorites and fresh seems to make the hugest difference over commercially dried varieties. It has astringent and antiseptic properties. Not all sages are safe for doggies, artemisia sages should not be used internally. ~ Do not give to pregnant or lactating dogs.

Garlic - This can be grown or purchased in large containers in "minced" form. Either preserved in water or oil is fine. Dogs benefit from olive oil, same as we do. Garlic is a potent antibiotic, antiseptic and expectorant. Excellent for treating cough and respirator issues, mucus buildup and infections. It also helps repel skin parasites. Best combined with basil, parsley, oregano and thyme. .....I add a generous amount of garlic to my homebrew at the time of cooking. Garlic helps repel parasites. ~ Not for use in dogs under one year of age. May cause diarrhea (discontinue use if it does).

Mint family (including Catnip): all members of the mint family are excellent for soothing digestive disturbances, including gas, colic, indigestion and other internal aches and pains. This is also true for humans: Tums contains aluminum (which has been suggested to play a role in dementia). Historically Catnip was used for indigestion and colic in babies, personally speaking: when we experience tummy upset the sufferer goes outside and picks some catnip and eats that. Catnip his much more effective than it's commercial counterpart ~ and there's no aluminum in it. I add a large amount to my homebrew mixture for the doggies.


Chamomile flowers offer a gentle sedative safe for even young animals. It can be used to help alleviate anxiety, insomnia and indigestion. There have been tests to suggest a reduction in aggressive behavior in animals as well. Also a great choice for flatulence. ~ Do not use on pregnant or lactating animals. Note - some dogs are allergic to Chamomile. Consult an herbalist before use.

How to add herbs:

As a poultice to external areas, brewed to make a tea, dried, steamed.

I add my herbs in two forms: My fresh herbs are minced, steamed (and allowed to cool) and mixed in with their raw diet (what I call "Homebrew"). I retain the water from steaming and add that to the homebrew as well. ... I also purchase prepared dried herbs (specifically formulated for dogs) that are added at the time of feeding according to the manufacturers directions. These dried herbs contain plants I either have no interest in growing, or ones I simply can not find for growing in the garden.

~

Nestle's coat has always been dry and dull with flaky, dry, delicate skin. Recently he showed balding along the top-line of his tail coupled with a dramatic reduction in tail feathering. For a long-haired Dachshund, his coat wasn't looking good at all. His reactive way of being doesn't help matters in that stress effects the entire body.

Nestle began an herbal regiment about 6 weeks ago. It took two weeks for physical signs to emerge. His fur has gone from brittle, washed out and dull to being rich in color with a deep luster and soft, supple feel. His semi-bald tail is beginning to fill in with new growth and I add daily TTouches along his tail to promote blood flow to the area, helping to further stimulate the hair growth.

He's a bit calmer, too. This I can attribute to many things, herbs being an important part of that puzzle. TTouches and ground work finish out the puzzle for a whole dog doing very well in finding his inner calm. It's a process. I'm eager to share any new results once the chamomile blooms and I can add blossoms to his diet.... carefully.

If you're considering herbs for your dog, go for it. When in doubt, consult an herbalist on what to use and how much. For beginners, parsley, catnip, dandelion are safe.

Nestle enjoys his time with Linda Tellington-Jones
founder of TTouch

Teeth

Rarely do we get strays around our neck of the woods and when we do they somehow find our yard. Somehow? Hello... dogs live here and that's why they come here. Fence... really want a fence!

So, there was this little Pomeranian cutie-pie sniffing around my petite back yard the other day. I went out to great the little fellow and he came right over with little hesitation after I gave my "I'm harmless" postures. Groomed to some extent, wearing a (tagless) collar and quite elderly was he. "Must belong somewhere", I hoped and went back inside for him to wander back to where he belonged.

Meanwhile, my dogs were going nuts with this diminutive intruder.

My son followed suit to announce, "stray dog!" in the yard. So, out I went to chat with him about the little beast who at that time had decided "it's all good!" by trying to hump my very tall pre-teen. It was then that I noticed this dogs teeth. Did he have a canine tooth missing? Oh yeah, you bet he did! And the others were so rotten I can't imagine how they were staying in his mouth. ICK! Besides this little monster being adorably cute, his mouth was a trash pit and made me ill to look at it. Long story short, the dog disappeared and hopefully found its home.

I decided shortly after to clean my dogs teeth! Now, I do this very regularly and I know and understand that this can be a challenge to most owners because dogs simply aren't nuts about having us put a fist in their mouth (exaggeration, but you know what I mean)!

TTouch and common sense to the rescue!

Common sense: Dogs need to have their teeth cleaned. We as conscious beings know this. We know what happens to teeth that are neglected and the diseases that can result from it. News flash.... dogs get it too! No big surprise there, is it? They have teeth, they eat, they get tarter build up. Tarter can lead to gum disease. Gum disease can lead to other ailments such as liver problems and other colorful goodies your vet could tell you all about.

But the average doggie does not understand these truths (do any?), they just don't want YOUR hands in THEIR mouth. But as a considerate and caring human, should you take their feelings as a guideline and honor it? Would you do so if it was your child whining how he just doesn't like the toilet as much as his diaper?

Time to put on the big girl panties and teach Bowser how much fun tooth cleaning can be. Yeah, you'll be lieing a bit, but you CAN make it fun.... sort of. Okay, fun enough for them to comply and that's all you really need.

Let's talk about teeth cleaning products and choices. There are many OTC brands to choose from out there, then there's RX brands (vet), and finally the "whole hog" tooth cleaning done by your vet.... which does involve anesthesia and is only a few chapters short of actual surgery.

On one end of the spectrum are the OTC brands, they are the bottom feeders of tooth cleaning products. They will do an "okay" job, they're cheep and they will need to be used OFTEN to see any results. On the other end is the vet cleaning which does an amazing job but is rather costly, involves a day visit at their office and being "put under" for the procedure.... this is a "big" deal. Inquire with your vet about specials he or she may offer (mine does a reduced cost for the entire month of February every year).

Then, there's the RX brands such as "Oravet". This is not as inexpensive as the marginal cleaners in the pet shops, but is far cheaper than the vet cleaning and does an amazing job of removing tarter buildup.

Read that again..... Oravet does an amazing job of removing tarter. And, it's easy to use. EASY.

TTouch: "But, Bosco won't let me put my fingers in his mouth". Oh yes he will. Believe it. Gentle ttouches along the gum and lips will accustom Bosco to having his mouth fooled with. Although the paste comes with a wand for application.... I find "the finger" works better as the dog accepts it more readily and you can feel where you're applying the paste ~ and really rub it on there.

With regular use of Oravet, you can reduce those necessary vet cleanings to every-other-year or so plus not put your animals' health in jeopardy like some proverbial roll of the dice by simply ignoring his teeth.

Yes, you should consider having your animals' teeth professionally cleaned at regular intervals. Consult your vet. Since I have been using Oravet for the past 2 years, no one has had tartar buildup to the degree of needing that annual cleaning. Yet. The Oravet (for me) began as a take home/followup item after the last professional cleaning. I was so impressed with the outcome that I get a refill package every few months. My animals are small so we don't use an entire tray with every cleaning and I simply replace the foil lid and it keeps till next time.

My vet was impressed. She openly wished all her clients knew how great Oravet is and would use it. So, I'm here to tell you, it's great! You should try it. Just one package and see how it goes. No, it isn't dirt cheap, but you're not going to use the box up for at least 2 months and that's only if you use an entire tray to clean your dogs teeth each and every week....which may be the case if you have a HUGE dog with HUGE teeth.....the tray is a generic size, you see.

Think of it this way; you brush your teeth, why shouldn't your dogs have clean teeth too? Sure, they don't live 80+ years like we do.... but they'll be happier, healthier years if their teeth are not an issue. And then think of those brown/black rotten teeth in the mouth of that elderly Pomeranian with his swollen, red and bleeding gums. No dog chew is going to clean your dogs teeth as properly as they proclaim. You don't rely on bubble gum to keep your teeth clean, do you?

Happy cleaning and feel free to contact me if you'd like some moral support. Give us a brag once you've tried it and seen the results.

The Great Dog Food Debate

Ol Roy vs premium dog food (or any "cheap" food vs the premiums). You'd think that feeding grocery store/pet store dog food would much, much cheaper to feed your pet with no doubt nor debate. Open your umbrella and be willing to capture new truths.

Truth is that feeds (like Ol' Roy) contain a LOT of corn and fillers. That's what makes it cheap, there's much less of the ingredients a dog NEEDS to be healthy. Corn is a glycemic, a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are sugars. Sugar is a fuel that spikes the blood sugar followed by a sugar crash. A dog who consumes a high carb diet will need to eat a LOT to fuel the body, because it's not going to be as filling as higher quality, healthier ingredients. Think of eating a plate of cornbread day in and day out vs a hearty steak with a baked sweet potato. The steak will fill you and fuel you much more and for a longer period than the cornbread will. Other misleading ingredients may include an animal "meal".... that means the leftovers of that animal (bone, skin, fat, gristle, etc.)....not the flesh which is what your pet needs. I agree that "meal" is a good thing, but it's not the protein you'd like to believe that it is. It's more like the A1 that ads "oomph" to the steak.

Dogs switching to a higher quality diet will have a few days of adjustment. Pavlov's theory plays a part in that: dogs switching from an 8 cup-a-day diet to less than half that will feel cheated at first. Sugar addiction is the other factor. Soon though, they won't be begging for more and will feel more full, possibly leaving uneaten food in the bowl. That's okay! They aren't living on corn and floor sweepings anymore.

Once the dog has adjusted to the new, higher quality diet the owner may notice a drop in feed costs. Sure, the better food is much more expensive at the cash register, but the dog is eating much less.... which typically produces a significant savings. Don't you wish your gas tank were as easy to fix? .... Another benefit is much, much less fecal waste because the dog is using what he's ingesting rather than having floor sweepings express through his GI to your back yard.

Health benefits are the other effect. A high glycemic diet can well bring on diabetes which is a forever adjustment in diet and care and yes, more expense. Daily insulin injections, specialized diet and regular monitoring. Other effects can be arthritis and an increase in dental issues.

We don't feed our children a diet of candy, so why feed the dog something equally as harmful?
Even if you do feed a quality food, do check the ingredient label. I was shocked to learn that the specialized "diabetic" kibble sold only by a prescribing vet is actually more harmful as it's first ingredient is.... you guessed it: CORN. Even the vet was unaware of the negative effects of corn on a diabetic. Don't blame the vet... blame the pet food manufacturer. A prescription diet that is more harmful than a quality feed from a reputable dealer. Never take a bag of food for granted.

How do you find these higher quality feeds? I did a search on a specific brand and found ("Canidae", "Taste of the Wild", "Evo", etc.) a feed store near me; paid them a visit and received helpful advise, lots of education and made a few new friends to boot. I dare ya, give it a try and enjoy a healthier pet.

Elvis Update

A few days after my last entry I successfully trimmed Elvis's toe nails with my Dremel tool for the first time..... ever!

Elvis is 7 1/2 years old. He has always fought me on nail trimming and has easily won these encounters since being old enough to really throw his weight around.... that would be since he was about 10 months old. I have over the years tried muzzling him; I have worn a bike helmet to prevent his head slamming into mine.... which has happened, and boy did that hurt! I have sat on him and I have restrained him. All to no avail. For the past 5 years the vet has trimmed his nails. I have not even been able to touch his feet or toes in all that time. Needless to say, every tactic I used years ago made his experience terrible and he wasn't going there again. Overcoming this seemed an impossible task only a few months ago.

Since October, I've had less than half a dozen TTouch sessions with Elvis..... where I actually worked with him for 20 minutes or more. Each time he relaxed and accepted more TTouches and accepted having his feet handled more and more. His warning growls reducing every time.

The nail trimming adventure was amazing. He accepted the noise and vibration of the tool fairly quickly and as TTouch increased his trust a thousand fold, he showed no tension or resistance to the Dremel making contact with his toenails. Once he realized the Dremel would not *hurt* like a traditional nail tool, he relaxed. ** I can not use a traditional nail tool after having incurred tendon damage to my hands in a bike accident.

I look back and recall how Elvis used to be with nail trimming. It would terrify him so much that he would loose all self control and reason. It was horrific and at his size.... dangerous.

TTouch works wonders.