This one is long as well. Sorry
From: Dr Andrew Jones
Author: Veterinary Secrets Revealed
Website:
www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com
PART 1
The At Home Pet Health Exam
Your pet should receive a thorough nose to tail check up once a week.
Today’s course focuses on the head and neck.
The Eyes.
The surface of the eye (cornea) should be clear. The middle of the eye (pupil)
should respond to light. You can shine a light into your pet’s eyes and see the
pupil constrict. The right and left pupils should be equal size. The lens, which
sits behind the pupil, should be clear. If it appears cloudy, then your pet may
be developing cataracts. This may be normal for an aging pet, or may be a sign
of disease, such as diabetes. The area around the eye, the white tissue, is
called the sclera. It should be a clear white color. In cases of liver disease
it will become yellow (jaundiced).
The pink tissue around the eye is called the conjuctiva; it is normally a light
pink color. In infections it becomes a darker pink and the eyes will produce a
white or greenish discharge. There are a number of home remedies to treat
conjunctivitis.
TO THE KITCHEN. Tea is more than just a drink. It has a product in it called
tannins which are anti-inflammatory and have antimicrobial properties. Brew up a
strong cup of black tea and place 3-4 drops in the affected eye three times
daily. It should be made daily to prevent contamination.
More details are found in the e-book
www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com.
The Eyelids should be free of any lumps or bumps; older pets commonly develop
benign eyelid tumors, which may need removal by your veterinarian. There should
be no discharge from your pet’s eyes; excessive tearing may indicate a blocked
tear duct. The last part of the eyes to examine is the 3rd eyelid. It sits in
the corner of the lower eye closest to the nose. It is not usually seen. In
cases of conjunctivitis it may become very red. It contains a gland that can pop
out (prolapsed 3rd eyelid gland). This may respond to anti-inflammatory
medication or have to be treated surgically.
The Ears.
Your pet should not be shaking their head; if they do there may be an ear
infection. The outside of the ear (pinna) should be a light pink and palpate as
being flat. Any thickening could indicate an ear infection, allergy or a blood
blister in the ear (aural hematoma). The inside of the ear (ear canal) should be
easy to see and free of discharge. A small amount of light yellow discharge is
probably normal wax. Any foul smelling odor indicates an infection. A yellowy
discharge often indicates a yeast infection. Hard black debris in your cat’s
ears likely indicates ear mites. If debris an odor are present, then clean your
pet’s ears. A safe home remedy involves a 50:50 mixture of vinegar and water.
Drop the mixture in the ear canal, rub the base of the ear well to loosen up the
debris, then wipe out the excess by placing a cotton ball as deep as you can
into the ear canal. Repeat the cleaning until the debris appears removed from
the ear .One home remedy involves garlic soaked in olive oil for 12 hours.
Remove the garlic clove and apply 5-6 drops into the ear twice daily for 7-10
days.
More remedies are found in
www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com
Nose.
Check for any signs of discharge from the right or left nostril. The occasional
clear discharge is normal for some pets, but ongoing discharge indicates a
problem, such as an allergy. Your pet may benefit from a hypoallergenic diet,
which can be bought commercially. In my home remedy book Veterinary Secrets
Revealed, found at
www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com, I give sample home made
allergy diets. Any purulent (thick, whitish) discharge is abnormal and indicates
a bacterial infection in the nasal cavity or sinuses. Feel that air is flowing
through both nostrils by placing a hair in front of each nostril. An abnormal
growth in the nose can block airflow into the nostril. The nose may appear dry
or wet; a wet nose means that the glands in the nose are producing more fluid.
This is not a sign of disease. The nose and end of the muzzle should be black or
light pink.
If it becomes inflamed and red, then your pet may have a condition called
“Collie Nose”. This is a localized type of immune problem in which the immune
system attacks the end of the nose. Two simple home remedies involve removing
plastic dishes if they are being used for feeding and applying a very safe
topical herb, Aloe Vera.
More details at
www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com.
The Mouth
Examine the outside of your pet’s mouth first. The base of the chin can become
infected in cats with a condition called feline acne. One effective treatment
for this is topical Calendula. The lips should appear smooth and have no signs
of inflammation. Pay close attention to lip folds in the large breed dogs with
lots of extra skin. If saliva accumulates, then wipe the area with a medicated
antiseptic such as hibitane. Lift up your pets lips and examine their teeth. The
gums should appear a healthy light pink color (except in breeds such as Chows
with dark pigment). Pay close attention to the area where the teeth begin.
Inflamed gums appear a darker red and may even bleed if you touch them. This is
a sign of gingivitis and may mean your pet needs a dental cleaning. There are
some little known home remedies for gingivitis.
SUPPLEMENTS. For cats with recurring gingivitis, lactoferrin can be helpful. The
dose is 1/2 a 350mg capsule daily mixed in syrup or baby food. Propolis is a
product of honeybees and is an oral antiseptic. It is applied topically to the
inflamed gums.
HEALING LOTION. Calendula lotion can be used to heal ulcers in the mouth and
promote healing of damaged tissue.
More details at
www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com
Examine all the teeth (42 in a dog), (32 in a cat). The teeth should not be
broken or cracked. None of the tooth roots should be visible. In cats pay close
attention to where the teeth join the gum line. They are prone to a condition
called FORL (Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesion). The tooth actually erodes
at his spot. Unfortunately the only answer may be a dental extraction, but this
is important to discover early because they are very painful.
The Neck.
Palpate base of the jaw and the beginning of the neck. In this area you can feel
the corner of the bottom jaw (mandible). Here you should be able to feel the
submandibular lymph nodes and parotid salivary gland. Most of the time you won’t
feel anything in this area. If there are palpable swellings, then the lymph
nodes are probably enlarged suggesting an infection in the body. There are two
other area that I routinely check the lymph nodes. The area in front of the
shoulder blades has the prescapular lymph nodes. The area behind the knees in
the rear legs has the popliteal lymph nodes. The lymph nodes may be enlarged due
to a local infection, a generalized infection or even due to cancer.
Any lymph node swelling is serious, so have your veterinarian look for the
causes of the swelling, but it is important to catch the signs early. Your pet
may benefit for some immune stimulation. In the ebook I discuss the use of
specific herbs in cancer.
GREEN TEA ( CAMELLIA) may stimulate the immune system and inhibit tumor growth.
Standardized green tree extract is dosed at 200mg per 40 lbs daily.
ESSIAC TEA. This contains a combination of herbs which may inhibit tumor growth.
GARLIC. It has antioxidant and immune enhancing properties. It is best used in
conjunction with other antioxidants. When given at high doses it can cause
anemia in your pet, so it is best used in conjunction with your veterinarian.
The dog dose is 1 clove per 50 lbs daily; the cat dose is 1/8 clove daily.
More details are found at
www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com.
The Larynx and thyroid gland.
The last area of the neck to focus on is your pet’s adams apple (larynx). Feel
for your pet’s airway with your thumb and forefinger. Move your hand along the
windpipe (trachea) until you feel the large firm cartilage in the middle of the
neck. This is the larynx. In palpation you should find that with mild pressure
your pet shows no discomfort and doesn’t cough. In cats pay close attention to
the area around the larynx as this is where the thyroid gland sits. In cats with
hyperthyroidism the gland is enlarged and often palpable. If your cat is 10
years and older you should regularly check the thyroid gland and if it is
enlarged, have your veterinarian screen for hyperthyroidism. There are some
things you can do at home for your hyperthyroid cat.
CARNITINE. A supplement which has been found to be effective in reversing the
signs of hyperthyroid disease in people. The starting cat dose is 250mg daily.
BUGLEWEED ( Lycopus europeus) and MELISSA ( Melissa officinalis). These are two
herbs that have been used in combination to combat the effects of hyperthyroid
disease. Bugleweed has been shown to decrease thyroid hormone levels in rats 24
hours after administration. The standard dose is 1 drop per pound of the
tinctures given twice daily.
This concludes Part 1 of the Veterinary Secrets Revealed Minicourse, The At Home
Pet Health Exam.
You will receive Part 2 of the minicourse two days from today.
Sincerely,
Dr Andrew Jones
For ways to treat your pet’s problems
with over 1000 safe, natural and effective at home remedies visit:
www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com.
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