I’m Your Huckleberry Spay & Neuter Clinic

10/11/2025

🌿 Let’s Talk Yeast, Allergies & Smelly Dogs 🐶💚

We’ve seen so many pups suffer with red, itchy skin, smelly ears, and endless scratching — even after vet visits, steroid creams, and “allergy” foods. Many of us have been there, and through experience, we’ve learned there’s usually more going on beneath the surface.

Here’s a compilation of advice from nutritionists and experienced owners who’ve helped their dogs heal naturally 👇

🧠 What’s Really Happening

• Yeast overgrowth isn’t just a skin issue — it’s a sign of imbalance inside the body.

• Heavy metals (from vaccines, poor-quality foods, and environmental exposure) can feed yeast. The body pushes these toxins out through the skin and ears, causing itching, odor, and infection.

• Antibiotics and steroids often make it worse by destroying good gut bacteria — the immune system’s foundation.

• Yeast is a living organism — it thrives on sugars, starches, and metals, so tackling diet and detox is key.

🥦 Step 1: Clean Up the Diet

🚫 Avoid:

• All grains (rice, oats, barley, wheat, corn, quinoa)

• Soybean meal, corn syrup, smoke flavoring, or fillers

• Kibble with long ingredient lists or artificial preservatives

✅ Choose:

• Fresh, single-protein meals (rabbit, kangaroo, venison, turkey, or fish)

• Low-starch veggies (zucchini, pumpkin, broccoli, green beans)

• Add small amounts of organ meats and bones from the same animal source

• Rotate proteins slowly once your dog stabilizes

🧬 Step 2: Support Gut Health & Detox

🦠 Probiotics:

• Dog-safe strains like Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis restore healthy gut flora.

• Add plain Greek yogurt or coconut kefir for extra live cultures.

🌿 Herbal Detox Support:

• Broken cell chlorella – binds and removes heavy metals.

• Milk thistle & dandelion root – support liver detox.

• Parasite cleanse (herbal blends with wormwood, clove, black walnut) – helps eliminate hidden gut parasites that feed yeast.

• Vitamin C & turmeric – natural anti-inflammatories.

🥥 Coconut Oil (CO):

• Antifungal, antibacterial, and soothing!

• Rub a small amount into paws, belly, ears, and inflamed areas.

• Feed ½–1 tsp daily (depending on size) to help from the inside out.

💦 Step 3: External Care

🛁 Weekly bath with gentle, SLS-free shampoo (oats, aloe, or Malaseb-type).
🍎 Rinse with 50/50 raw apple cider vinegar + cool water — restores skin pH and kills yeast.
🧴 After drying, massage with raw organic coconut oil into red or scaly spots and between toes.
🧦 For paws: pop little socks on for 20 minutes to let oil absorb.

⚡ Step 4: Natural Immune Boosts

• Add a tin of sardines in oil weekly for omega-3s (great for smell and coat).

• Use colloidal silver – 5ml by mouth daily for 10 days, then 1 capful in water weekly (antibacterial, antifungal).

• Quercetin + bromelain – natural antihistamine combo.

• Caprylic acid – helps kill yeast internally (found in coconut oil).

🐕 Important to Remember

• Yeast is a symptom, not the root cause — it shows the immune system is under stress.

• Healing takes time (weeks to months). Track foods and symptoms — every dog is unique.

• Slowly wean off Benadryl or steroids as your dog’s natural balance returns.

• 🔍 Quick Note: Ear Mites vs Yeast — Don’t Confuse Sometimes dogs scratching their ears have ear mites, not just yeast. Mites often cause very intense, non-stop scratching and a dark, crumbly “coffee-ground” discharge; they’re contagious to other pets. Yeast infections usually produce a greasy, smelly discharge and are tied to underlying body imbalance. If your dog’s ears are involved, ask your vet for a proper ear cytology or microscopic exam to rule out mites and yeast — treatment is different for each

✨ With patience, clean nutrition, and natural support, so many of us have seen our dogs’ itch, odor, and redness disappear — replaced with shiny coats, calm skin, and happy tails ❤️

10/10/2025

Please read this little story about the cafeteria. There’s a lesson for us all.

They call it “lunch shaming.” I call it cruelty. For 38 years, I watched it happen from my history classroom. Then, one Tuesday, I decided to become a quiet criminal.

My name is Arthur Harrison. For nearly four decades, my world has been cinder block walls, the smell of old books, and the drone of the 2:15 PM bell. I teach American History. I’ve lectured on the Great Depression, on bread lines and poverty, trying to make the black-and-white photos feel real to kids who live in a world of vibrant color and constant noise.

But the most brutal history lesson wasn’t in my textbook. It was in the cafeteria.

It was a Tuesday when I saw it happen to Marcus, a quiet sophomore who sat in the back of my third-period class. He was a good kid, drew incredible sketches of Civil War soldiers in his notebook margins. I saw him at the front of the lunch line. The cashier, a woman I’d known for twenty years, said something to him. I saw his shoulders slump. He was handed not a tray of hot food, but a cold cheese sandwich and a small milk carton—the “alternative meal.” The IOU. The badge of shame.

He walked past his friends, eyes glued to the floor, and sat at an empty table at the far end of the cafeteria. He didn’t eat. He just stared at the wall. In that moment, he wasn’t a student. He was a statistic. His family’s bank account balance was on public display, served between two slices of cheap bread.

Something inside me, a part of my soul worn thin by years of budget cuts and standardized tests, finally snapped.

The next day, I walked into the main office before school. Linda, the cafeteria manager, was there sorting receipts.

“Art,” she said, not looking up. “Don’t tell me the coffee machine is broken again.”

“It’s fine, Linda,” I said, sliding a folded fifty-dollar bill across the counter. “I want to start a fund. Anonymously. For the kids who come up short. When it happens, just… take it from this. No cheese sandwiches.”

She finally looked up, her eyes lingering on the money, then on my face. She didn’t say a word. She just gave a slow, deliberate nod and tucked the bill into her apron.

I started doing it every week. A fifty, sometimes a hundred if my pension check had a little extra. I called it the “Invisible Lunch Fund.” Linda never mentioned it, but sometimes I’d see her give a real hot meal to a kid I knew was struggling, and she’d catch my eye from across the room with that same quiet nod. It was our secret conspiracy of decency.

This went on for a year. It was my quiet rebellion.

Then, one afternoon, Sarah, the sharpest student in my AP History class, stayed after the bell.

“Mr. Harrison?” she started, twisting the strap of her backpack. “I have a question. It’s not about the homework.”

“Go ahead, Sarah.”

“I know about the lunch money,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “My mom works in the school office. She sees Linda’s accounting. There’s a line item she just writes in as ‘Donation.’ I know it’s you.”

My heart hammered against my ribs. I was caught. I imagined disciplinary meetings, being told I’d broken some obscure district policy.

But Sarah wasn’t angry. Her eyes were shining. “We want to help,” she said.

The next Monday, a group of students from my AP class set up a bake sale in the main hall. The sign, hand-painted on poster board, read: “BAKE SALE FOR BENEDICT ARNOLDS. (Because betraying your friends by letting them go hungry is treason.)”

By lunchtime, they had a shoebox overflowing with crumpled bills and coins. They placed it on my desk without a word. Over four hundred dollars. The administration, to their credit, looked the other way.

I’m retiring this year. The Invisible Lunch Fund is now just “The Fund,” and it’s run entirely by the students. They’ve made it their own.

For 38 years, I tried to teach kids that history is shaped by big speeches and epic battles. I was wrong. History isn’t just about the noise. It’s about the quiet moments, the unspoken acts of grace. It’s written not in textbooks, but on a lunch receipt when one person decides that another human being will not be shamed for being hungry. That’s the America I want to believe in. That’s the lesson I finally learned.
💐
This same message extends to our clinic. Those quiet donations often found in our little red box at the front desk allows us to offer surgery to a family or individual with a pet who cannot otherwise afford our low prices.

🐶A few weeks ago we were able to alter 9 pups that would most certainly have gone on to reproducing because of the kindness of a group of ladies that saw the need and opened their purses to help. There is good in our communities hearts and we see it everyday at our clinic.

🐱Soon we will need to amputate a kittens leg and our fund will help cover the cost of this surgery. As a stray he belongs to no one yet he needs our help.

If you are so inclined we are always in clinic Tuesdays and Thursdays and the little red box would be happy to accept your gift. Thank you for your kindness.

10/10/2025

Good morning to everyone! We hope you are ready to start a great weekend as the weather continues to be delightful. We checked our food pantry and found that we are out of dry cat food. If you’d like to help us out with a bag of any variety we would be most appreciative!

10/09/2025

Want to help I’m Your Huckleberry Spay and Neuter Clinic? Check out our Amazon wishlist or stop by the clinic to see our in-person list! Every item helps us care for more pets. ❤️

10/07/2025

As we begin another week we want to say thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 9 months. Without you we would not have touched the thousands of lives that have passed thru our doors in a humble little clinic in Pineville.

While the weather is still pretty nice we know that the cold will soon be upon us so we ask that if you have or know of dog houses in good shape that we might start collecting to help those in need, please keep us in mind. We will purchase straw to stuff them and have some available to folks that already have houses that need to fill them. The cold will be here all too soon.

We are also on the lookout for tradional hard sided cat carriers. We have a pretty big project coming up that we are going to need ALOT of carriers for so if you have one sitting around collecting dust or are a garage sale person, we’d love to be considered.

Thank you again and hug your pets!

10/05/2025

Excellent explanation of why kennel training is so important. It’s a longer read and we suggest a second reading because there is alot to absorb. Bottom line, a kennel is a safe place for your dog!

If You Think Crate Training Is Cruel, You’re Probably Doing Everything Else Wrong Too

Every few days someone tells me, “I’d never crate my dog , it’s cruel.” I understand where that comes from. Nobody wants to harm their dog. But here’s the truth that may sting a little:

Crates aren’t the problem. Your lack of structure is.

If you believe a crate is automatically mean, it usually signals a bigger misunderstanding about what dogs actually need to feel safe, calm, and connected.

A Crate Is Not a Cage — It’s a Bedroom for the Canine Brain

Humans see bars and think prison. Dogs don’t.

Dogs evolved from animals that slept in dens, enclosed, predictable spaces where they could fully let down their guard. The limbic system (the emotional brain) is wired to feel safe in a contained space when it’s introduced correctly. That safety lets the autonomic nervous system shift out of hyper-arousal and into rest.

When I say “kennel” or “crate” in my house, I mean bedroom. It’s the place my dogs retreat to when they want zero pressure from the world , to nap, chew a bone, or just exhale. My German Shepherds and Malinois will often choose their crates on their own when the house is buzzing with activity.

Why So Many Dogs Are Stressed Without Boundaries

Freedom sounds loving, but for many dogs it’s chaotic and overwhelming:
• Hypervigilance: They scan every sound and movement because no one has drawn a line between safe and unsafe.

• Over-arousal: Barking, pacing, and destructive chewing are the brain trying to find control in a world without limits.

• Problem behavior rehearsal: Every hour a dog practices bad habits (counter surfing, jumping, door dashing) is an hour those neural pathways strengthen.

From a neuroscience standpoint, the prefrontal cortex — the impulse-control center — is limited in dogs. They rely on our structure to regulate. A dog without clear boundaries burns out its stress response system, living in chronic low-grade cortisol spikes.

A structured dog isn’t “suppressed.” They’re relieved , free from the constant job of self-managing a complex human world.

Crates Give the Nervous System a Reset Button

Here’s the part most people miss: A properly introduced crate isn’t just a place to “put” a dog. It’s a tool for nervous system regulation.

• Sleep: Dogs need far more sleep than humans , around 17 hours a day. A crate gives them uninterrupted rest.

• Decompression: After training or high stimulation, the crate helps the brain down-shift from sympathetic (fight/flight) to parasympathetic (rest/digest).

• Reset: Just like humans may retreat to a quiet room to recharge, dogs use the crate to self-soothe and recalibrate.

But here’s the catch: PLACEMENT MATTERS!!! My crates in my bedroom are for Little Guy, Ryker and Walkiria, Garage is for Cronos, Guest Bedroom for Mieke and my bathroom is for Rogue and my Canace is in my Shed.

Stop Putting the Crate in the Middle of the Storm

Most people stick the crate in the living room because that’s where they hang out. But think about what that room is for your dog: constant TV noise, kids running, doorbells, guests coming and going, kitchen clatter.

That’s not decompression. That’s forced proximity to stimulation with no way to escape.

If you want the crate to become a true bedroom, give it its own space , a quiet corner of your house, a spare room, a low-traffic hallway, garage , shed. Somewhere your dog can fully turn off. The first time many of my clients move the crate out of the living room, they see their dog sigh, curl up, and sleep deeply for the first time in months.

Why Some Dogs “Hate” Their Crate

If your dog panics, it’s almost never the crate itself. It’s:
• Bad association: Only being crated when punished or when the owner leaves.
• No foundation: Tossed in without gradual acclimation or positive reinforcement.
• Total chaos elsewhere: If the whole day is overstimulating and unpredictable, the crate feels random and scary.

I’ve turned around countless “crate haters” by reshaping the experience: short sessions, feeding meals inside, rewarding calm entry, keeping tone neutral. In a few weeks, the same dogs trot inside happily and sleep peacefully.

Freedom Without Foundation Hurts Dogs

I’ve met hundreds of well-intentioned owners who avoided the crate to be “kinder” , and ended up with:
• Separation anxiety so severe the dog destroys walls or self-injures.
• Reactivity because the nervous system never learned to shut off.
• Dangerous ingestion of household items.
• A heartbreaking surrender because life with the dog became unmanageable.

I’ll say it plainly: a lack of structure is far crueler than a well-used crate.

When we don’t provide safe boundaries, we hand dogs a human world they’re ill-equipped to navigate alone.

How to Introduce a Crate the Right Way
1. Think bedroom, not jail. Feed meals in the crate, offer a safe chew, and keep the vibe calm and neutral.

2. Give it a quiet location. Not the busiest room. Dogs need true off-duty time.

3. Pair exercise + training first. A fulfilled brain settles better. Every Dog at my place get worked at east 4-5 times per day (yes this is why I am always tired)

4. Short, positive sessions. Build up time slowly; don’t lock and leave for hours right away. (I work my dogs mentally for max 15 minutes, puppies shorter, physical activity and play around 20 minutes, when I take dogs for a workout walk around 1 hour walk )

5. Never use it as AVERSIVE punishment when conditioning. The crate should predict calm, safety, and rest. When you are advanced eventually we can use the crate as "time out" to reset the brain after proper conditioning has taken place.

6. Create a rhythm: Exercise → training → calm crate nap. Predictability equals security. ( I have 10 dogs on my property right now so every dog works about 15 minutes x 10 dogs = 150 minutes = 2 1/2 hours. Every dogs get worked every 2 1/5 hours, I do that minimum 4 times per day = 600 minutes or 10 hours. yes this is why I wake up so early and go to bed late lol )

The Science of Calm: What’s Happening in the Brain

When a dog settles in a safe, quiet crate:
• The amygdala (fear center) reduces activity.
• The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis down-regulates, lowering cortisol.
• The parasympathetic nervous system engages: heart rate slows, breathing steadies.
• Brain waves shift from high-alert beta to calmer alpha/theta — the same pattern seen in deep rest.

This is why dogs who have a true den space often become more relaxed and stable everywhere else in life.

The Bottom Line

If you think crates are cruel, you’re missing the bigger picture. The crate isn’t about punishment — it’s about clarity, safety, and mental health.

A dog without structure lives in a constant state of uncertainty: Where should I rest? What’s safe? Why am I always on guard? That life is stressful and, over time, damaging.

A well-introduced crate says: Here is your safe space. Here’s where you rest and reset. The world makes sense.

Kindness isn’t endless freedom. Kindness is clarity. And sometimes clarity looks like a cozy, quiet bedroom with a door that means you can relax now.

Bart De Gols

10/04/2025

Thank you to our friend Steve Roark for donating these beautiful and sweet smelling roses to us. Our staff has enjoyed them all week. And since today was the end of the week, we offered each volunteer the chance to take one home with them. They are absolutely gorgeous and smell divine.

10/04/2025

Thank you to Pineville Bowling for donating today’s lunch for our volunteers. As always, the pizza was delicious and we might have over indulged! We love pizza and we love Pineville Bowling!

10/04/2025

We bet you’ve seen this young lady at our front desk many times. Meet Whitney Witkowski who joined our group last year. Whitney is trained in many areas of the clinic including front desk operations, recovery and the sterilization team too!

Whitney is also on our board of directors working to develop the scope of operations and promote community activism. Whitney has attended the HSUS conference to learn about efforts nationwide and is also our data keeper. Those numbers we share are all in her capable hands; why she can tell you how many animals came out of a certain zip code in a flash!

Whitney’s kindness was learned early being raised on an equine farm in south Arkansas. She continually has a foster (or 2 or 3) at her house and is also a driver for our trips to Rolla.

Bright individuals like Whitney are the future of animal husbandry and we are grateful she has chosen to share her time and talent with us. Thank you Whitney!

10/03/2025

Our crazy photographer is back! Today’s lunch is vegetable fried rice and leftover soup. Yes, we use all of our leftovers. Oh, forgot to mention the cherry cinnamon rolls. Yum!

10/03/2025

Thank you so much to fan Cheryl Moore who provided lunch for our volunteers on Thursday, October 2. She gifted us with chicken soup, crusty bread, fruit and a cranberry crisp cobbler. Thank you Cheryl.