tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307506631340600983.post7339623934581029657..comments2023-09-13T09:18:15.028-04:00Comments on Chateau 7: Health care for our animalsReya Mellickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076092659507965666noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307506631340600983.post-40833876603616842082012-02-27T13:09:59.942-05:002012-02-27T13:09:59.942-05:00Thank you all for your responses. Pet owners are b...Thank you all for your responses. Pet owners are beautiful humans!Reya Mellickerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13076092659507965666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307506631340600983.post-57354771604281097652012-02-27T12:31:40.488-05:002012-02-27T12:31:40.488-05:00I agree that veterinary medicine has become insane...I agree that veterinary medicine has become insanely test-oriented. We spent nearly $1000 last summer to prove Eddy didn't have Addison's disease, and just last month a vet wanted to re-test him for it, even though I was convinced the problem was a much less severe one. And sure enough, it was.The vet says "Your pet can't tell us what's the matter; that's why we have to run these tests."<br /><br />I keep E&R off of heart guard for 8 months; luckily heartworm is not a huge problem here in OR, or I would be in for a big lecture every year. When we lived in the south it was a different matter: heartworm, fleas, ticks...it was tough.<br /><br />I must give kudos to our vet for the way they sweet-talk Reub, however. He is a difficult patient, and they really take their time with him.<br /><br />OK, I'm going to go give them both a hug from you.Kerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281288495129054688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307506631340600983.post-40277184388131292182012-02-27T11:29:17.167-05:002012-02-27T11:29:17.167-05:00We have 3 dogs, 2 cats and assorted chickens. Two ...We have 3 dogs, 2 cats and assorted chickens. Two of the dogs are rescues, one of which is 15 and the other 13. Lily the toy poodle is 9 thinks she is a cat and acts like a puppy. Since this winter has been so mild, we have had fleas in February! I am highly allergic to flea bites so we did use flea treatments once.<br /> We are holistically inclined and only use conventional medicine when we need to. We only vaccinate for rabies because of the law and because we are surrounded by woods.<br /> All dogs have been duly petted and ears have been scratched. They say thank you.debrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17676300309029588465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307506631340600983.post-11521777028844755932012-02-26T21:31:00.554-05:002012-02-26T21:31:00.554-05:00Daisy and Sunshine have been duly scratched and se...Daisy and Sunshine have been duly scratched and send licks. Because I don't give heartgard over the winter I pay a big bill in the spring for blood tests because they won't sell me heartgard in case my dogs contracted heartworm over the winter when everything was dormant. Deep sigh. But I had a dog years ago who reacted badly (couldn't walk, barely could stand, very ill) after a barrage of shots and so I made the decision many of my friends with children make. Each shot is decided on it's own merit. Single shots and only rabies, distemper, and parvo. Even Daisy and Sunshine who are young do not need so many shots. Although they do not seem to react badly except for soreness at the injection site. <br />It is a heartwrenching decision to have to put a beloved pet down but each time mine have made it clear that they were done. I try to listen to what they are telling me and not get caught up in my own desire to keep them with me. It is never easy though. <br /> MarjieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03406004600949297272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307506631340600983.post-55757977797400310982012-02-26T09:48:09.694-05:002012-02-26T09:48:09.694-05:00Thanks! Made me smile. XxThanks! Made me smile. XxReya Mellickerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13076092659507965666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307506631340600983.post-60869026298742390402012-02-26T09:13:06.007-05:002012-02-26T09:13:06.007-05:00I used a holistic vet when we lived in HI, and lea...I used a holistic vet when we lived in HI, and learned so much from her. We treated Ella's incontinence with Chinese herbs, with lots of success. I think she and my hairdresser were among my hardest goodbyes when we moved! My current vet, here in GA is more traditional, but supports my minimal vaccinine philosophy, and has been reading up on the use of herbs as canine remedies. <br /><br />I give heartworm meds every other month here. I'd skip them altogether, but our winters are so warm that our mosquitoes don't all die off. I think that traditional heartworm meds are so high-dose that you could probably get away with giving them every 6-8 weeks even in the summer. I do not use any anti-flea dosing whatsoever, now, but I imagine that would all change, were I to find a flea on either dog. We had a terrible infestation in HI (house, yard, car, Ella and the puppy Cricket) and it was a nightmare. My dogs are much more homebound, these days, only getting local walks in our woods and fields, no dog parks, no training classes, so I think our flea and disease threat is minimized. <br /><br />Ear scratches and big sloppy kisses in your name have been administered to both dogs.kbrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10563224602453410284noreply@blogger.com