A Message from Dr. Basko
Please forgive me for waiting such a long time in getting this newsletter out.  Many things have occurred to keep me busy, including the death of my dear dad.

Phone Consultations Available

If you have a problem with one of your pets (dog, cat, horse, or birdie), and you need a second or third opinion, please fill out the consultation form on my website (www.drbasko.com), email or fax me (808-822-5229) pertinent information such as: xrays, blood test results, a few pictures, etc. then call for an appointment (808-822-4229) on any Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday from noon to 3PM Pacific Standard Time.

Even though I may be far and not near, I can help you with diet recommendations, supplements, and evaluate the treatment plan your veterinarian has recommended.

Although I prefer non-invasive procedures and the use of a limited amount of strong drugs and chemicals, I have a good working knowledge of them. Sometimes they are needed.  Unfortunately, most veterinarians rely too much on them and have no other options for you and your pet.

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Chocolate and Heart Health

Well, you probably have heard that chocolate is toxic to pets, and that may be well and so.  Most cases of chocolate toxicity has been in dogs who ate a “whole hell of a lot” of chocolate.  Because it has stimulating chemicals similar to caffeine, dogs become over-agitated, heart rate may go up dramatically, and some dogs will go into tremors and even seizures.

But is too much chocolate toxic to humans?  A recent study from the British Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism 2006 “Chocolate and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review” shows that the effects of chocolate can help people suffering from Heart Disease.  Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in humans and seems to be increasing in the USA.

The authors of this study reviewed over 130 publications and clinical studies from 1966 to 2005 involving cocoa, cacao, chocolate, stearic acid, and flavonoids and the risk of heart disease.  Chocolate contains many antioxidants including flavonoids, flavonols, catechins, epicatechins, procynadins,

Check with your naturopathic human doctor for yourselves for dosages, but what was stated in the article was about 75 gms daily
Buy only organic, and “free trade” chocolate that does not come from countries using “slave labor” practices.

For doggies?  I say no.

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Bird Flu Update: Cats Found Dying from Bird Flu in France & Austria

Last year, the “bird flu” virus had spread from Asia into Turkey, Egypt and Nigeria.  Now this virus seems to have mutated and is showing up in Poland, Sweden, Austria, Italy, France and Austria.

The significance of this is multifold: 

1. Because control of the disease means culling (killing) all birds infected and all of the carcasses must be disposed sanitarily, then vaccinating the healthy birds, an economic disaster is weighing on over 300 million farmers of poultry (ducks, chickens, turkeys, and other fowl) world wide.

2. Global economic losses will affect Third World countries the most causing more poverty and hunger in the world.

3. Wild ducks, swans, and other wild birds could be eradicated completely. Extinctions of endangered birds very possible.

4. Because the virus seems to be continually mutating, as evidenced with the recent incidence of cats dying from their exposure due to eating raw chicken and other wild poultry, other animals may soon become victim including us humans.

5. Although a vaccine was developed from the strain found in Vietnam, it may not be effective for the European out-break due to changes and mutation by the virus.

6. If the virus continues to mutate, it may be possible to spread it from carnivore to carnivore, and human to human.

7. If this virus continues to spread, zoo animals, especially endangered cats could experience massive losses.

8. Governments are not doing enough to prevent the spread.

Because we do not have the disease here, yet…..we should not just wait and pray, but encourage our law makers (congress and the senate) to push for more money (and veterinarians) to help stem the tide of this disease.  One problem, is there is a shortage of food animal veterinarians in the USA as of now.

If the disease comes to the US, avoid feeding raw chicken, turkey, and duck to your cats and dogs. Avoid handling raw poultry meat.  Avoid hunting for wild ducks and turkey, and work to maintain a healthy immune system.

Maintaining a healthy immune system is key to protection and prevention and includes avoiding the use of pesticides on your pets, feeding them fresh wholesome diets, plenty exercise, sunlight, and supplements such as: Echinacea, garlic,  Zinc, Selenium, Astragalus, Vit E and Vit C

One such supplement that includes many of the above ingredients is Feline Immune Support by Genesis / Resources.  Ask your veterinarian about it or go to www.genesispets.com

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How to Keep Your Dog’s Teeth Healthy?

I.  Healthy diets:
Feeding your dogs wholesome diets which include freshly prepared cooked and raw meats is one of the best ways to promote healthy teeth and gums.  The carbohydrates which make up the bulk of dry dog foods promote the growth of bacteria that are NOT beneficial to the teeth and instead help promote more plaque formation. Avoid commercial foods (canned or dry)  containing processed and refined corn, wheat, and other grains. Snacks such as raw carrots and broccoli can help promote gum health as well as provide antioxidants.

II.  Cleaning

1. Manual cleaning can be done a few times a week using       mouth flushes, tooth brush, or a dish rag with a solution of 1oz of hydrogen peroxide + 1 oz of aloe vera juice + 1 tablespoon of baking soda.

2. Mechanical cleaning can be performed with the help of your Veterinarian.  It is very effective once a year, but can be costly   and the anesthesia risk is a factor.

3. Natural cleaning: chewing on bones: raw / fermented /boiled

III. Bones provide the nutrients needed to keep the skeletal system fed growing and adapting.
        Warrants:

1. Supervision / Observe your dogs chewing on bones.
   Don't allow them to devour the whole bone in one sitting/20 minutes a day of chewing is sufficient to keep teeth clean.

2. Avoid Problem Bones: Avoid the 4 B’s

• Baked

• Broiled

• Barbequed

• Brachio-cephalic : Avoid giving bones to pugs, Pekinese, Lhasa apsa, Shitzu , Yorkshire terrier, Chihuahua, Boxers, and any dogs with “pushed in” faces and muzzles.

• Also avoid “Greenies”

Brachiocephalic breeds are NOT mechanically designed to be able to chew bones effectively.
       
        Risky:  have small jaws & small breathing tubes
        Risky for bones and also anesthesia for teeth cleaning

Bones can be made more “user friendly” by:

• Boiling

• Pressure cooking = softness

Pressure cooked bones or raw bones ground with a meat grinder can be fed as part of the diet, but will not provide the mechanical help to keep the teeth clean; although, giving bones in this form will help maintain nutrition and beneficial bacterial flora.

Raw Bones are not for all dogs. Look at what your breed of dog ate 100 -200 years ago.  Whether your dog can eat bones or not depends upon the evolution of that particular breed of dog. Dogs with long and large muzzles can be trained to eat bones safely.

Just don’t over do it.
Once or twice a week, you can give your dogs a large knuckle bone (for large dogs) or a beef rib bone (for smaller breeds)  after meals.
Let them chew on if for at least 20 minutes, then put it away (in a plastic baggie in the fridge)

WHEN you can get in TROUBLE feeding bones:

• dog is hungry and has never had a bone or any table food

• dog is hungry and over eats / too many / breaks into the trash at the park or neighbors

• does not know how to chew properly; swallows instead of chewing

• bone is brittle and/or sharp

• dog is a brachiocephalic breed

What about GREENIES?

Recent TV and Newspaper stories have reported that many dogs had died by choking or by impaction of the intestines with Greenies and subsequent peritonitis.  This occurred because:

• owners gave too many

• owners did not supervise their dogs properly

• owners did not pay enough attention to what there dogs were doing or eating

• Greenies are difficult to digest.

Greenies are good IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE.  But be careful!

IV. Prevention of Plaque formation and Gum Disease
Plaque forms on the teeth when the saliva becomes too acidic, the diet contains too many carbohydrates (helping to proliferate pathogenic and harmful bacteria), and the teeth are not properly cleaned.

• FEED less processed foods (dry or canned) Instead feed Freshly made cooked or raw diets

• Teach your dog how to use a bone / or use large Kong toy

• Examine their teeth at least once a week and wipe stains away with baking soda and peroxide

• Add a special seaweed powder from www.international-dental.com. This sea weed helps to promote healthy bacteria in mouth.

• Add pre & pro-biotics to the food such as the different species of lactobacillus (acidophilus, plantarum, bifidus, etc.)

• IF you have to feed commercially prepared dry food, add enzymes with each meal.

• If gums are unhealthy rinse and flush the mouth out with

• Saline rinse

• Goldenseal tea

• 5 drops of clove oil + 4 oz of aloe vera juice

• Green tea or herbal teas such as chamomile, peppermint,

• Ginger & garlic tea (take 1 clove of garlic and a piece of fresh ginger 1 inch by 1 inch boil for 20 minutes, cool to room temperature and rinse

• Veterinary Dental care  (recommended) if all of the above is not being performed. 1 X a year

• If your pet already has gum disease, supplement with Coenzyme Q10 antioxidant  30mg twice daily for cats and small dogs up to 100mg twice daily along with Vit C 250 – 1,000 mg daily (Antibiotics may be necessary)

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Environmental Issues

Spring is coming and so are the weeds.  Please don’t be lazy and use herbicides such as Round Up. Not only do these agents pollute our environment, when exposed they are harmful to our pets.

The producers of pesticides and herbicides always tell you how “safe” they are, but we have become too accustomed to their use, and it’s ruining health of our soil and the animals that are exposed to them.

What I have seen in my practice in animals exposed to herbicides from walking through areas sprayed are:

1. Neurological problems: seizures

2. Eye and skin irritation

3. Lethargy, appetite loss, vomiting, and drooling,

4. eye discharge.

5. liver disturbances

When in doubt be without…… chemicals.  They are one of the reasons we have so much cancer.

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A Little Feast for the Little Beast (Cat Recipe)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 CUP Shrimp (cleaned and de-shelled…….and chopped up into small pieces)

• 1 can of Sardines in olive oil or water (drain, rinse with tap water and blot with a paper towel)

• 2 hard boiled eggs / Chopped into small pieces

• ¼ cup of chicken broth, turkey soup, or 2 tablespoons of butter.

• 1 pinch of spirulina, chlorella, or blue green algae

Directions: 

• Heat up your broth or butter in a small sauce pan on medium heat / add shrimp and cook for 5 minutes.

• Remove from heat.

• Drain any excess juice……..save, and set aside.

• Then add your boiled eggs / and sardines / Mix well.

• Place about 4 tablespoons of the mix into a little bowl

• Spoon a little of the left over juice over the meal (only about 1 teaspoon)

• Sprinkle with a little pinch of spirulina, chlorella, or blue green algae and serve.

IF YOUR CAT LIKES THIS COMBINATION. YOU CAN MAKE A LOT AND FREEZE the portions IN LITTLE ONE-MEAL DIXIE CUPS OR a LARGER CONTAINER.

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Hearty Party Left-Overs (Doggie Recipe)

After a party, there is always food you can’t eat that gets thrown away.  Recycle instead!

Ingredients: scrounged from a party

• 1 cup of raw salad greens

• ½ cup of  baked potato or cooked rice

• 1 cup of left over chicken meat (bones removed)

• ¼ cup of avocado

• ¼ cup of broccoli

• 1 tablespoon Olive oil

• 1 clove of Garlic

Directions:

• Heat oil and garlic in a wok or frying pan for 5 minutes on medium high, or until the garlic turns golden brown

• Add your chicken / Stir well 1 minute

• Add raw salad greens / Stir well 2 minutes

• Stir in your potato or rice, broccoli, and avocado

• Remove from heat

• Let sit at room temperature and serve.

• Makes 1 -3 meals

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Spring Cleaning Your Pet Recipe: Peppermint Rosemary Shampoo

You can use this shampoo 2 -3 times a week if you must without worry to keep your house dog (or cat) clean and free of fleas.

Ingredients:

• Dr Bronner’s Peppermint liquid Magic Castile soap 12 oz

• Rosemary extract oil 1 teaspoon

• Chamomile Tea (4 bags) ½ cup hot water

• Canned Coconut Milk  1 oz

• Witch Hazel 1 oz

• Fresh juice of 1 lemon

Directions:
In a separate larger plastic bottle (16oz) add and mix the following:

• Dr. Bronners  Peppermint soap

• Chamomile tea, coconut milk, Witch Hazel & Rosemary extract. 

• Shake well and apply to a wet dog or cat

How they work:

• Rosemary extract oil = stimulates circulation, decreases pain, anti-flea & ticks

• Chamomile Tea = calms nerve endings and soothes the skin

• Aloe vera Juice  = heals and cools inflammation /softens and hydrates skin

• Witch Hazel (reduces itching and oozing)

• Coconut Milk = soothes and heals/ skin emollient

• Lemon = adjusts the pH and helps clean the mean dirt out

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All Creatures Great & Small, Inc.
P.O. Box 159 Kapaa, Kauai, Hawaii 96746
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E-mail: drbwavevet@hawaiilink.net
©2003 Ihor Basko, DVM

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