Blackbourn Pet Hospital

01/10/2025

The Forever Dog - "One of the most obscure mushrooms we use on a regular basis in all realms of life is Chaga🍄, in the form of tea🫖.
Chaga is a strange mushroom because its texture is similar to woody tree bark 🪵(so there’s no sautéing this particular gem). Its hard texture lends itself well to brewing supercharged teas and broths.🍵

We add small Chaga chunks to everything that requires a volume of pure water: from bathwater (Dr. Karen Becker) and hummingbird feeders (to reduce bacteria growth, Rodney Habib disscovered) to homemade batches of kombucha and soak water for seeds we are sprouting. We’ve had fresh Chaga tea in the fridge ever since we discovered this brilliant beverage, and its subtle vanilla flavor is delicious iced or hot (for humans) and can be used to supercharge freeze-dried or dehydrated dog food, in place of reconstituting these foods with plain water.

Chaga’s medicinal properties make it a calming paw rinse for removing road salt in the winter and soothing hot spots in the summer (soak a cotton ball with cooled Chaga tea and apply directly to the sore)."

12/30/2024

Remember no one is arguing the need for sterilization, it's the surgical technique that should be reevaluated. Hysterectomy and vasectomy achieve the same goal but leave important hormones intact according to science.

"The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract
Objective - To determine if gonadectomy in dogs is associated with the risk of cranial cruciate ligament disease (CrCLD) and to quantify the magnitude of the association.

Study design - Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sample population - Comparative studies with gonadectomized and entire dogs, with CrCLD as an outcome measure.

Methods - A systematic search of the primary and gray literature was performed. The effect size of the outcome measure was defined as the OR and 95% CI. Subgroup analysis was performed with s*x, breed, and age at gonadectomy. A pooled OR (95% CI) was generated from meta-analysis of relevant studies. Certainty in the body of evidence was rated with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework.

Results - The literature search yielded 1398 results and 24 relevant studies were included for synthesis. Gonadectomized female (pooled OR = 2.293, 95% CI = 1.768–2.945) and male (pooled OR = 2.117, 95% CI = 1.665–2.691) dogs were both at increased odds of developing CrCLD in comparison with entire female and male dogs, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that gonadectomy at 1 year or less was consistently associated with an increase in odds of developing CrCLD in both s*xes. Overall certainty in the evidence was rated as moderate. All included studies were observational and no controlled trials were available.

Conclusion - In data with moderate certainty, gonadectomy is associated with increased odds of developing CrCLD in both s*xes, particularly in dogs gonadectomized at 1 year of age or less.

Clinical significance - This study provides an estimate of the true effect size of gonadectomy on the odds of developing CrCLD, which may be useful for clinical decision making surrounding gonadectomy and the timing of gonadectomy."

11/23/2024

Tips for using full spectrum h**p extract in dogs and cats: using it safely, dosing and more!🐶🐱

Full spectrum h**p extract (FSHE) has shown promising potential in helping dogs with a variety of conditions, including arthritis, epilepsy, cognitive decline, and c🦠ncer.

Studies suggest that compounds in FSHE may help slow cancer-cell growth by promoting apoptosis (cell death), inhibiting angiogenesis (the formation of blood vessels tumors need to grow), and reducing inflammation.

And while FSHE is not a cure for c*ncer, its role as part of an integrated treatment approach is gaining interest in veterinary medicine. And the therapeutic benefits of FSHE — such as pain relief, appetite stimulation, and anxiety reduction — can significantly improve a dog’s quality of life.

Join us today at 12pm EST for this week’s Inside Scoop episode, where we explore the potential of FSHE in canine c🦠ncer prevention and treatment with board-certified veterinary oncologist, Dr. Trina Hazzah. We’ll also cover important tips on how to use FSHE safely with your pets, drug interactions to be aware of and dosing.

Comment SCOOPERS and I'll message you the link to join Inside Scoop, a Planet Paws monthly subscription group. You’ll also be able to watch over 5 years of content including: past live podcasts, interviews, ebook downloads, and more!

01/15/2024

Did Facebook send a message to delete my account due to a posting???
I have not posted anything on this account for some time.must be hacked.

08/21/2022

WHY THIS LONGEVITY HERB IS A MUST ADD TO YOUR DOG’S DIET! 🐶🍠

Cancer is considered the leading cause of sickness and death in dogs. In fact, when it comes to the golden retriever, one study found that 68.3% of golden retrievers were diagnosed with some form of cancer and 65.0% of golden retrievers had a death attributable to cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 6 million new cancer diagnoses are made in dogs each year. “Since not all pets receive medical care or a definitive cancer diagnosis, this number likely would rise if every pet saw a veterinarian annually.” 📈- AAHA

One of the world's most extensively researched and promising natural compounds for cancer treatment is a medicinal herb that so desperately needs to be incorporated into our pets’ lives. 🌿 That herb is turmeric root. Turmeric has been used for thousands of years not only as a spice but also as a medicinal herb, and now science is beginning to understand why. 👩🏼‍🔬 Its medicinal properties and components (primarily curcumin) have been the subject of over 5600 peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies, and has been shown to have anti-aging properties.

Over the years, curcumin has been studied as a potential tool to both reduce as well as possibly treat, different forms of cancer.🦠 Various studies have found that curcumin can help kill tumor cells, as well as inhibit tumor growth in test tube and animal studies. With the ability to selectively target cancer stem cells, curcumin plays a significant role in suppressing the metastasis of cancer cells.

In addition, curcumin has also been shown to help boost the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and improve cognition by making omega-3 DHA, more available in the brain.🧠 This means that in addition to improving memory, and maybe even delaying memory loss, curcumin-boosted BDNF could be effective in delaying or even halting age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

More recent research has discovered curcumin may also protect the body from oxidative stress and damage caused by advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Studies show that cooking some foods at high heat results in the formation of more than ten to hundred times of new AGEs in foods. Processed canned and kibble dog food may contain significantly high levels of these AGEs. Animal and human studies show dietary AGEs result in increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and potentially organ damage, with more than half of absorbed AGEs bound in the liver and kidney. Accumulation of AGEs in the body over time may be a significant contributor of aging. Curcumin has been shown to not only protect the body from AGE’s damage but may also inhibit the formation of AGEs in the body.

👉 Our suggested dose for dogs: 50 to 250 mg two times a day, this is roughly 2 mg per pound of body weight twice a day. *Based on curcumin's naturally low bioavailability, source a product that has been formulated for increased absorption.

As with people, the longest lived dogs often have healthy dietary habits in common. In the Herbs for Health section of our new book, The Forever Dog, turmeric is one of the many herbs we recommend sharing with your dog. We also explain how to incorporate herbs into your dog’s meals, along with how much to feed. 🐾 Get your copy now: foreverdogextras.com/pet-longevity

08/21/2022

THE MOST DANGEROUS PET CHEW EVER: RAWHIDE!

How can one of the most popular chew sticks on the planet be so dangerous for your pets, you ask? I mean, most dogs chew on rawhide for hours on end, and not only does it keep them busy, but they seem to last forever.

Well if you understood what it took to make this toxic “raw” leather stick, you would quickly understand what the problem is.

Aside from the horror stories circulating all over social media these days, of pets needing emergency surgery after consuming rawhide, the majority of pet parents today, especially the newbies, believe that this chew is some sort of dried up meat stick. Let me debunk that myth right away!

A rawhide stick is not the by-product of the beef industry nor is it made of dehydrated meat. Rather, rawhide is the by-product of the “Leather Industry”, so theoretically it is a leather chew. Sounds awesome, right?

“Producing rawhide begins with the splitting of an animal hide, usually from cattle. The top grain is generally tanned and made into leather products, while the inner portion, in its “raw” state, goes to the dogs.” TheBark.com

So, how does this leather, which is conveniently rolled up into pretty shapes, actually get made into those rawhide chews?

Follow along my friends and I will enlighten you on how this hide travels through a leathery process where it transforms from hide to a not-so beautiful, colorful, chew stick. Here is a paraphrased tutorial that was explained by the whole dog journal several years back:

STEP 1: Normally, cattle hides are shipped from slaughterhouses to tanneries for processing. These hides are then treated with a chemical bath to help “preserve” the product during transport to help prevent spoilage.

(No one wants to purchase a black, spoiled rawhide stick!)

Once at the tannery: the hides are soaked and treated with either an ash-lye solution or a highly toxic recipe of sodium sulphide liming. This process will help strip the hair and fat that maybe attached to the hides themselves.

(No, no one wants to see a hairy hide…)

Next on this glorious journey, these hides are then treated with chemicals that help “puff” the hide, making it easier to split into layers.

The outer layer of the hide is used for goods like car seats, clothing, shoes, purses, etc. But, it’s the inner layer that is needed to make the rawhide. (Oh and other things like gelatin, cosmetics, and glue as well!)

STEP 2: Now that we have the inner layer of the hide, it’s time to go to the post-tannery stage! Hides are washed and whitened using a solution of hydrogen peroxide and/or bleach; this will also help remove the smell of the rotten or putrid leather. Bonus!
(Research also shows that other chemicals maybe used here to help the whitening process if the bleach isn’t strong enough.)

STEP 3: Now it’s time to make these whitened sheets of this “leathery by-product” look delicious! So, here is where the artistic painting process comes in.

“Basted, smoked, and decoratively tinted products might be any color (or odor) underneath the coating of (often artificial) dyes and flavors. They can even be painted with a coating of titanium oxide to make them appear white and pretty on the pet store shelves.” - whole-dog-journal.com

“…the Material Safety Data Sheet reveals a toxic confection containing the carcinogen FD&C Red 40, along with preservatives like sodium benzoate. But tracking the effects of chemical exposure is nearly impossible when it’s a matter of slow, low-dose poisoning.”– thebark.com

Ok, now that these hides have been painted, it’s time for the final process.

STEP 4: Getting it to last forever!

Because the FDA does not consider these chews to be food, really it’s a free for all when it comes to the manufacturers of these leather strips, and the products they may want to add to these chews, to get them to last forever. Any sort of glue can be added here to get these bad boys to never come apart.

When tested: Lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium salts, formaldehyde, and other toxic chemicals have been detected in raw hides. So it’s safe to say that any sort of glues can be used as well!

Finally, it’s time to package and attach all the glorious marketing labels to the product.

Check out the fine print warning that’s attached with some of these rawhides:
“Choking or blockages. If your dog swallows large pieces of rawhide, the rawhide can get stuck in the esophagus or other parts of the digestive tract. Sometimes, abdominal surgery is needed to remove them from the stomach or intestines. If it isn’t resolved, a blockage can lead to death.“

(Oh, how lovely…)

And there it is! It’s now ready to be shipped to store shelves where it can be purchased for our loving animal companions.

How do proactive veterinarians feel about these chews?

Here is world-renowned veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker's take on the matter:

“The name ‘rawhide’ is technically incorrect. A more accurate name would be processed-hide, because the skin isn’t raw at all. But the term “rawhide” has stuck.

Rawhide chews start out hard, but as your dog works the chew it becomes softer, and eventually he can unknot the knots on each end and the chew takes on the consistency of a slimy piece of taffy or bubble gum. And by that time your dog cannot stop working it -- it becomes almost addictive.

At this point, there’s no longer any dental benefit to the chew because it has turned soft and gooey, and, in fact, it has become a choking and intestinal obstruction hazard.“

P.S. Ready for the jaw dropper?

An investigation by Humane Society International stated in their report, “In a particularly grisly twist, the skins of brutally slaughtered dogs in Thailand are mixed with other bits of skin to produce rawhide chew toys for pet dogs. Manufacturers told investigators that these chew toys are regularly exported to and sold in U.S. stores.” – dogingtonpost.com

Rodney Habib Pet Health Site

"An educated, informed and well-researched community of pet owners can only put more pressure on the pet food industry to be better! When pet owners know better, they will only do better!"

07/01/2022

This is what hives look like on a dog

04/05/2022

04/05/2022

BIRD QUIZ. Here are a couple of powerful looking birds floating in a rather wintry sky. Do you know which species they are? Leave your answer in the comments box below and we'll post the answer at the end of the day. Thank you to David Brown and the eBird/Macaulay Library for sharing this photo, taken yesterday in New York.

01/17/2021

Pet food recall

09/14/2020

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings, especially in areas of community transmission. A cloth face covering does not protect the wearer from viruses, but it may prevent the spread of viruses from the person wearing the covering to those around them. Face coverings are not PPE and are not appropriate where masks or respirators are required.
Supply face masks or cloth face coverings for all employees. Employees should wear a facemask or cloth face covering when near other employees and customers, and at all times when indoors.
Maintain as much social distance as possible between employees, and limit clinic access or capacity for client/customers to maintain social distance.

Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet between people in the clinic at all times. The capacity of your clinics should be reduced to ensure that adequate distancing is possible for staff and customers.
Clinics should take precautions to minimize staff contact with all pet owners. Examples of actions to take to minimize contact with pet owners or other people include:
Using professional judgement when determining whether a case is urgent or non-urgent and when procedures should be postponed.
Scheduling drop-off appointments or receiving companion animals from their owners’ vehicles (also called “curbside” service).

This is new from CDC and we at Blackbourn Pet Hospital will continue with curbside service. Please call for an appointment. Thank you.

06/01/2020

With the growing threat of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is recommending that shelters and rabbit owners review their biosecurity measures to help protect their animals.
The disease has not been detected in Wisconsin, but since March it has been found in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas and Nevada. The strain that has been detected in the United States, Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype 2 (RHDV2), is a highly contagious viral disease that affects wild and domesticated rabbits. Although fatal to rabbits, the disease does not affect humans.
Often, the only signs of RHDV2 are sudden death and blood-stained noses caused by internal bleeding. Infected rabbits experience fever, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing or seizures. A vaccine is currently not licensed in the United States, but vaccines licensed in Europe could be approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for use in affected states.
While the disease has not affected Wisconsin animals, DATCP recommends that shelters and rabbit owners follow these biosecurity practices from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS):
Do not allow pet, feral or wild rabbits to
have contact with your rabbits or gain entry to the facility or home.
Do not allow visitors in rabbitries or let them handle pet rabbits without protective clothing (including coveralls, shoe covers, hair covering and gloves).
Always wash hands with warm soapy water before entering your rabbit area, after removing protective clothing, and before leaving the rabbit area.
Do not introduce new rabbits from unknown or untrusted sources. Do not add rabbits to your rabbitry from animal shelters or other types of rescue operations.
If you bring outside rabbits into your facility or home, keep them separated from your existing rabbits for at least 14 days. Use separate equipment for newly acquired or sick rabbits to avoid spreading disease. For more information, please see resources below.
Sanitize all equipment and cages moved on or off premises before they are returned to the rabbitry. We recommend disinfecting with 10% bleach OR -10% sodium hydroxide mixed with water.
Work with your veterinarian to review and improve biosecurity practices in your facility.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Update
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Division of Food and Recreational Safety
2811 Agriculture Dr., P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708 https://www.datcp.wi.gov

Other Steps to Prevent Disease Spread 1.If you live near or visit an area where this disease was confirmed, do not touch any dead wild rabbits. Get information on where RHDV2 has been detected.
2.To report multiple dead wild rabbits, visit dnr.wi.gov, keywords “wildlife health.”
3.If you own domestic rabbits, do not release them into the wild. If your rabbits appear ill or die suddenly, contact your veterinarian.
4.If you volunteer at animal shelters or wildlife rehabilitation facilities, be aware that this disease has been found in feral and wild rabbits in other states. If rabbits appear ill or die suddenly, contact the facility’s veterinarian.
Resources:
USDA APHIS: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Factsheet
USDA APHIS: Recommendations for Disinfectants
USDA APHIS: Confirmed RHDV2 Detections
General Information from the House Rabbit Society
General Information from the Rabbit Breeders Associat

Home page for the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources.

04/17/2020

01/16/2020

11/24/2019

Cesar Millan teaches how to correct dogs that bark in response to the doorbell.

11/24/2019

They're best buddies.

11/19/2019

L-asparaginase and MEK inhibitor starve the tumour of vital nutrients and pathways which help cells multiply, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute showed in mice studies.