Homotoxicology Gets Its Turn

Vida's cancer has indeed decided to express itself again, but my vet Keith Weingardt consulted with the surgeon (Dr Mullen) and oncologist (Dr Proulx) and all agreed that surgery would be futile and perhaps worsen thing by propelling the body to make more tumors. The thought is that by leaving them be (since they're not causing problems) they might prevent new ones from developing. 


I have mainstream options in my reserve arsenal if needed: prednisone, melphelan, or even radiation (that last one is really not something I plan to do again simply due to the expense), and will be speaking with Dr. Proulx in a few days about that.


I've opted to start Vida on a homotoxicology treatment known as autosanguis therapy. You're probably scratching your head right now, and I'll explain it a bit, but first enjoy this photo of Vida taken the day of her first treatment.

The Importance of Taking Inventory

This will be a short post:


It's important to take regular inventory of your dog. 


What does that mean?


It means knowing every bump in their topography.
Is that a new one? 
What is it? 
What does it feel like? What does it look like?
Is it bigger than last month?


If you find something new, write it down. 


Vida has six discernible abnormalities. 


One I'd forgotten about.


One is new, and bad. A plasmacytoma, the same type she had in her mouth.


Thank goodness for her chiropractor. I had felt it a week or so before she got adjusted and thought it was a bit odd. Her chiropractor found it and was immediately concerned and strongly urged me to get it checked out. It was the size of a marble, just behind her right should and next to her spine.


Two weeks later the holistic vet felt it and immediately sent me to get it aspirated. That's how we got it diagnosed only 3 weeks before I'm due to leave for the summer.


Now it's a mad rush to do something about it. Surgery is most likely, perhaps also prednisone (something used last year as part of the treatment for the other tumor).




Do an inventory.

Chaga Redux - for pets and their people

I originally wrote about Chaga in March of 2009. I've continued to use it off and on, and have refined my preparation and learned more about its effect on Vida and me. From my experience this is the easiest way to get the most effective medicine. 

Getting Creative

If you've read this blog for awhile you know I do a lot my own herb concoctions for Vida, but often they've been for specific acute situations. Well now I'm playing around with her daily herbs.


I've been thinking about how useful some herbs are on a daily (or almost daily) basis, but how I'd like to reserve the right for a little customization. I want her to get herbal foods in her daily diet that help strengthen her immune system and ensure healthy organ function. I do this because the basic food I feed her as basic vegetables in it, but not the power-veg that I want her to get. 


So I've been playing with powders.

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day. It's been a day of thinking, listening, and writing.... and a day of digging, watering, and weeding. 

I started my morning listening to a special Earth Day program on Democracy Now. I was really inspired by snippets of presentations done at PowerShift 2011, a youth conference on environmental issues.  Van Jones and Tim DeChristopher were exciting speakers. I encourage you all to watch them online by using the links. I started my morning off with more serious awareness of Earth Day than ever before, and I carried that energy through the day and right on to writing this post.

Spring Sprouts

Yep, simple. Sprouts. Add 'em to your dog's bowl and see what happens. 

Vida eats them, but usually dumps them out on the floor to finish with after she's cleaned the bowl, so your dog might do that too.

If your dog's never had sprouts before I would suggest offering a pinch of them as a treat. Nothing gets a dog's attention more than being handed something you just took out of the fridge.

If your dog isn't a veggie eater you can mix them into your meat, starting with a small amount.

I usually use red clover sprouts, sometimes alfalfa, but try whatever you like - the only thing more enticing than a food you've gotten out of the fridge is a food that you just ate yourself.

Springtime is the natural time to use sprouts. You'll often see dogs eating young grass this time of year, that's your hint. 

Start with sprouts, and move into spring detox foods next.