Sometimes the hardest thing to do it to take the first step.
You may be thinking "I'm just going to wait and see what happens with my dog's health.......... maybe things will get better." Maybe you are not really seeing any symptoms yet. Maybe your vet is not that concerned. OR you may be paralyzed with fear about what it might be.
Here are comments from a dog owner whose dog died shortly after contacting me. Rupert was a Mini Schnauzer - only 10 years old:
"Wednesday as I stated, he went to vet and all his labs were within normal limits. But, the following morning, he was extremely uncomfortable and unwilling to move. By midnight he was crying and I took him to the emergency vet hospital. He was extremely dehydrated, hemoconcentrated, blood sugar extremely low and his belly was extended. Breathing rapid and raspy. His liver enzymes still looked good, as did pancreatic numbers. There was no blood in any vomit and he produced no stool. The vet started him on IV fluids and got a couple lines in. Ultrasound showed perforated bowel with septic peritonitis. I was not willing to carve him open and find out exactly whatever it was that perforated his small bowel, but we think it was one or more tumors which invaded the intestinal lumen and eventually ate right through. I am devastated understandably. Due to his age & condition we opted to euthanize.
Now, a few days later, I have had some time to reflect after losing Rupert. Here are some thoughts I'd like to bring to you to possibly add to help other people:
We thought we were doing everything right, by the book, taking care of Rupert all these years. The traditional Western Dog Medicine "Book". Annual teeth cleaning and all the yearly vaccines. Flea, tick and Heartworm prevention monthly. Best dog food we thought we'd found. Free of melamine and additives supplemented with wholesome vegetables and proteins. No grains, no soy, no carrageenan, no corn and nothing GMO. What we missed though was huge. Enormous.
We had a dog exhibiting lack of appetite, which was steadily increasing in frequency over a period of several month as the tumors in his gut closed in. We saw a decrease in playfulness. Not an absence, just less demand to play. More sleep. Shortness of breath on a hot day. And while this killer grew in his bowel we thought, he's ten. He's winding down. We were wrong. Dead wrong.
No one should ever override their instincts and accept a vet's statement that the dog is getting older. Or tired of his food. We have to question what we see, but first, know what it is we are seeing. An exuberant tireless pup doesn't just retire from his antics. An unrolled roll of toilet paper knee deep in a bathroom is something I won't see again. Why did I decide he was finally growing up?
Before, a pair of socks left by the sofa needed to be relocated to the toys area. All toys needed to be brought back and piled up. But over the last few months socks were neglected. Toys left in hallways. Why didn't we see this? Because it was easier to blame it on age. Wednesday I hiked our favorite route through the neighborhood. Thursday my dog riddled in pain was put out of his misery. I am angry. But not with my vet. With myself.
I should have known better. Your program likely couldn't have saved our Schnauzer from what was probably a very aggressive cancer. But I just know that you are reaching people - I found your site and I know others are as well. Maybe if we had started Rupert on a good diet from the beginning. My message to everyone is ACT NOW. DON'T WAIT. Don't trust a stranger in a white coat who does not look into those pleading brown eyes every day. Those eyes are shuttered forever and it may not have been avoidable. But maybe it was. I just wish I'd listened to that little voice inside of me that was telling me to ACT NOW."
You may be thinking "I'm just going to wait and see what happens with my dog's health.......... maybe things will get better." Maybe you are not really seeing any symptoms yet. Maybe your vet is not that concerned. OR you may be paralyzed with fear about what it might be.
Here are comments from a dog owner whose dog died shortly after contacting me. Rupert was a Mini Schnauzer - only 10 years old:
"Wednesday as I stated, he went to vet and all his labs were within normal limits. But, the following morning, he was extremely uncomfortable and unwilling to move. By midnight he was crying and I took him to the emergency vet hospital. He was extremely dehydrated, hemoconcentrated, blood sugar extremely low and his belly was extended. Breathing rapid and raspy. His liver enzymes still looked good, as did pancreatic numbers. There was no blood in any vomit and he produced no stool. The vet started him on IV fluids and got a couple lines in. Ultrasound showed perforated bowel with septic peritonitis. I was not willing to carve him open and find out exactly whatever it was that perforated his small bowel, but we think it was one or more tumors which invaded the intestinal lumen and eventually ate right through. I am devastated understandably. Due to his age & condition we opted to euthanize.
Now, a few days later, I have had some time to reflect after losing Rupert. Here are some thoughts I'd like to bring to you to possibly add to help other people:
We thought we were doing everything right, by the book, taking care of Rupert all these years. The traditional Western Dog Medicine "Book". Annual teeth cleaning and all the yearly vaccines. Flea, tick and Heartworm prevention monthly. Best dog food we thought we'd found. Free of melamine and additives supplemented with wholesome vegetables and proteins. No grains, no soy, no carrageenan, no corn and nothing GMO. What we missed though was huge. Enormous.
We had a dog exhibiting lack of appetite, which was steadily increasing in frequency over a period of several month as the tumors in his gut closed in. We saw a decrease in playfulness. Not an absence, just less demand to play. More sleep. Shortness of breath on a hot day. And while this killer grew in his bowel we thought, he's ten. He's winding down. We were wrong. Dead wrong.
No one should ever override their instincts and accept a vet's statement that the dog is getting older. Or tired of his food. We have to question what we see, but first, know what it is we are seeing. An exuberant tireless pup doesn't just retire from his antics. An unrolled roll of toilet paper knee deep in a bathroom is something I won't see again. Why did I decide he was finally growing up?
Before, a pair of socks left by the sofa needed to be relocated to the toys area. All toys needed to be brought back and piled up. But over the last few months socks were neglected. Toys left in hallways. Why didn't we see this? Because it was easier to blame it on age. Wednesday I hiked our favorite route through the neighborhood. Thursday my dog riddled in pain was put out of his misery. I am angry. But not with my vet. With myself.
I should have known better. Your program likely couldn't have saved our Schnauzer from what was probably a very aggressive cancer. But I just know that you are reaching people - I found your site and I know others are as well. Maybe if we had started Rupert on a good diet from the beginning. My message to everyone is ACT NOW. DON'T WAIT. Don't trust a stranger in a white coat who does not look into those pleading brown eyes every day. Those eyes are shuttered forever and it may not have been avoidable. But maybe it was. I just wish I'd listened to that little voice inside of me that was telling me to ACT NOW."
Click here so that I can help you & your dog with a Free Consultation.
It is better to start SOONER rather than later. Sometimes poor liver health is a slow developing situation. But often the liver health is declining without you knowing it and then when you realize something is wrong and a crisis appears, it is harder to turn things around.
Here is a much happier story than Rupert's and may give you some hope about your own dog:
"Just last week Portia the Pug was in critical condition and not expected to make it. I reached out to you and all I can say is AMAZING. It's only been four days of diet and one day of supplements and I'm scratching my head, asking myself "is this the same puppy that almost went to puppy heaven?!" Portia is playing, running and alert. I'm impressed with everything that you have guided us through, your quick responses and you actually CARE."
Here is another story about someone who wishes she had found me and started using my approach sooner.
"This is a post I made to the liver support Group on Yahoo about my dog Buster. I want to thank you, Rick for taking the time to talk with me yesterday morning. I wish I would have discovered you earlier.
I took Buster to Texas A&M to have his extraheptatic shunt repaired. He was very healthy and managed on Royal Canon Hepatic wet food, Lactulose and occasionally antibiotics - or so I thought. He had a small episode before surgery. I believe it was because our house had been sprayed for bugs. However I took it upon myself to research the surgery to a greater length.
Over and over I was told that medicine was only a bandaid and that I should opt for surgery. Unfortunately I did. The surgery went very well. The vet said he was amazed how fast Buster recovered. They discharged him. That evening he started having seizures. I rushed him to an emergency vet. It was two in the morning. They had to sedate him because the seizures would not stop. He was placed on oxygen with antiseptic. Each time they tried to remove him from the oxygen or even dial it down, he would begin to seize again uncontrollably.
After 24 hours with no change I made the decision to let him go. My heart is broken.
MY ADVICE, please research your options thoroughly! I was told over and over on the liver shunt & MVD support group on Yahoogroups.com that surgery was the best option. I talked to Rick while Buster was seizing. In fact I talked to my regular vet, the surgeon and also made contact with this website in a frantic attempt to try to save him. It was too late.
I highly recommend to all pet owners who have dogs with liver shunts to PLEASE make contact with Rick before opting for surgery. He believes he can help the liver with better nutrition and has a successful track record of doing so. I wish I could go back in time and use his approach with Buster. I am grieving horribly."
Click here so that I can help you & your dog with a Free Consultation.
Here is a happier story about Ginger with multiple liver shunts:
"If it was not for Rick and his approach I have no doubt that our two year dog Ginger would not be alive today. After finally agreeing to surgery for liver shunts I was called by the vet in the middle of the surgery to be told that Ginger had a least 30 of the shunts and the best thing to do was sew her back up and let her live as long as she could. I picked her up the next day and was given prescription dog food. After about a month Ginger could not keep any food or water down. She had also developed a large sore on her back. After immediately switching to Rick’s recommended diet and plan Ginger kept all her food down. It’s been a year and she is eating well and has lots of energy. The vet said she looks great, tooth and gums are healthy, and her fur is soft and shiny. I am most grateful. You saved our Ginger Ella's life!!
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