Q.
I’m hoping you can help my Sphynx or at least help me understand what might be happening with her. She turned two in December. Her pale splotchy tortie coloration has become very dark and prominent. My first thought was that she spent too much time in the window and got a tan. She also complains more when held in positions she was normally carried in before, and shakes her feet off whenever she goes from one surface type to another. Her skin has become dry, not to the extent of being flaky, but it has a different touch and sheen, especially on her chest. She was fairly vocal before but now her voice is a bit louder and quivery, like a mourning dove. Her diet hasn’t changed, her drinking is the same, and I haven’t changed her soap. I find it so perplexing and want to make sure there is nothing more serious going on.

A.
Firstly, to make sure nothing serious is happening, you should have her examined by a veterinarian. In my practice, we do much of our work based on blood results, since the blood is “life’s mirror”. I highly recommend you have this done. Then you can supplement accordingly, remembering that the skin serves as a powerful elimination route for the body (it’s even nicknamed the “third kidney”). I have seen an animal’s fur change color during phases of detoxification. Work from the inside out. Just as a car always using the same fuel can get out of tune, living bodies can, in a sense, be tuned using supplementation.

Q.
I took my beloved Dachshund to the vet to have her teeth cleaned. Now her lack of eyesight has me worried. She is four years old and could chase a ball like nobody’s business. Now she bumps into gates, bed frames, and can’t see the ball even if I toss it to her. I took her back to the vet and he says her pupils won’t open or dilate. I asked him if it was due to the surgery and he said he’s never seen that happen before. He said I would need to see a specialist, but I’m still beside myself that my dog’s eyesight was perfect before the surgery and now it’s not.

A.
I think you do need a specialist’s opinion to determine whether this is a problem directly related to the eyes, or a neurological problem higher up where the eyes receive their enervation. If it’s an eye problem, I like the supplements Visioplex by Progressive Labs and/or Oculotrophin by Standard Process Labs. If it’s neurologically based, then the focus would shift depending on what the specific problem is. According to Eastern medical philosophy, there is a correlation between the liver and the eyes, so your dog’s liver function should also be assessed.

Q.
My 11-year-old silver tabby was just diagnosed with cystic liver disease. The cysts are on about 20% of his liver. They want to do another ultrasound in six months to see how fast the cysts are growing. They said he could live six months or six years. Is there anything in particular that could have caused this? How do we treat it and is it hereditary? I am unable to find any information on this problem.

A.
As far as causes go, the possibilities are too numerous to list as the liver handles most of the toxins entering the body. Though it’s possible the problem is hereditary, I rather doubt it. Alternative treatments for the liver include homeopathic Liver/Gallbladder Drops from Professional Health Products. The herbs milk thistle and dandelion have pronounced beneficial effects, while Denosyl by Nutramax is excellent for liver support. Nutritionally, a liver glandular extract and some cod or fish liver oil could help. It’s most important to feed a diet of very high quality whole foods. Keep in mind that, according to university-based research, the liver is the most healing organ in the body.

Q.
My friend’s seeing-eye dog has EPI. Can you suggest an alternative (holistic) substance to replace the “pancreazyme”? Also, if they were to home cook the dog’s meals, how can he get more medium chain triglycerides in his diet and less long chain triglycerides? What kinds of foods should he have?

A.
One of the best and strongest digestive enzymes I’ve used for dogs is Ness Company’s Vet Zymes V1. However, in most cases of EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) I have treated, this product and others like it are not strong enough, so using the pancreazyme is okay and needed. I also like adding a pancreas glandular such as Pancreatophin from Standard Process Labs. Vitamin B12 can become deficient so supplementing orally or by injection would also be beneficial. Diet would depend on the individual, but the rule of thumb is to feed one with lean, highly bioavailable ingredients. I usually start with good quality, home cooked meals of lean meats, assorted vegetables and a low quantity of potatoes or cooked grains. The best source of medium chain triglycerides that I know of would be coconut oil.

Other questions answered in this issue:

Q.
When our one-year-old male dog was four months old, our larger dogs ran over him and broke his leg (he had surgery for it). Since then, every third or fourth night, he pees in his crate (I am assuming he does this while asleep since he is in our bedroom and I don’t hear him moving around as if he were awake). Our vet thinks it is male incontinence and prescribed Phenylpropanolamine. I really hate the thought of giving him drugs for the rest of his life. Is there anything natural we could give him?

Q.
We have five cats. They stay indoors, only going out on our patio in the summer. Last year they contracted fleas. I could find nothing holistic that would rid us and our home from this infestation. We had to resort to repeat treatments of chemicals that made me cringe with each application. Being rescues, these guys had a rough start in life, being subjected to antibiotics and the like as kittens, so one of our guys has IBS. Since the application of these chemicals three of them have had extremely itchy skin. Do you have any recommendations? I would like to detox my cats as I am certain they are extremely toxic.

Q.
Our rescue dog, Siegie, came to us with his teeth in very poor condition. After we had the bad teeth removed, Siegie was still occasionally wincing and yelping in pain for seemingly no reason, and then would move his mouth afterward. He also would not eat anything hard. The vet told us he had a bone infection and would need six weeks of antibiotics. We’re now on the eighth week and Siegie is still occasionally yelping. Is there an organic product that would help stimulate his immune system to help fight this infection? We’re also giving him garlic and CoQ10.

Q.
My 18½-year-old cat has had diarrhea (like chocolate pudding) for over a year. IVD Duck and Peas was recommended by our vet. Bloodwork was done approximately six to eight weeks ago; the creatine was slightly elevated, but the vet said she is okay with the level. Everything else is fine although I am unsure if thyroid was included. Flagel was recommended as the IVD diet has not made a noticeable difference. I hesitate to change her diet again but find Flagel difficult to administer. Prednisone is the next step, which I just started tonight. Can/should they be taken together?

Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated as she has begun to defecate in some strange places, but will sometimes use the litter box. I am very frustrated, especialy as it seems the expensive food goes right through her. She weighs just over six pounds and is always hungry.

Q.
We had blood titers done instead of giving vaccines to my dog Petey (a 10-year-old Jack Russell terrier). All the titer levels came back fine except for coronavirus, and our vet is recommending the vaccine for this. Is it really necessary? Is it true that a dog cannot contract coronavirus without contracting parvo? We live in southwest Florida and regularly attend Jack Russell terrier trials (in case region or exposure to other dogs comes into play in making this decision). Petey is very healthy and in great physical condition. I feed a home-cooked diet of ground leg of lamb, carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes and garlic in addition to Solid Gold Hund-n-Flocken. I also give a liquid glucosamine supplement and Solid Gold seameal supplement.