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Sorry I haven't found Part 2 yet. I may not have gotten it yet. Hope this is helpful to all. These are very interesting.

From: Dr Andrew Jones
Author: Veterinary Secrets Revealed
Website: www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com

PART 3

The At Home Pet Health Exam

The Cardiovascular system
Today’s course focuses on the heart, lungs, blood pressure and mucous membranes.

The Heart.
Your pet’s heart is easiest palpated on the left side of the chest at the 3rd,
4th and 5th rib space. This is located directly behind the left armpit. Place
your hand over the heart to feel it beating. You should be able to count the
number of heart beats in one minute. A normal canine range is from 70-140. A
normal feline range is from 120-200.
Listen to the heart by placing your ear directly over it. You should be able to
hear a quiet lub/dub. In some pets with heart problems you can actually hear a
heart murmur. This sounds like a swish; at times you can actually feel a
sensation with your hand (in veterinary terms this is called a precordial
shrill). If you suspect a heart murmur, have it confirmed by your veterinarian.
There are some things you can do at home. I discuss the use of two herbs that
have been effective in heart disease.

HERBAL HELP. Hawthorn. It has been shown to increase the ability of the heart to
contract as well as causing the outside blood vessels to dilate, make heart
contraction easier. The dose is 2 drops per lb twice daily of the tincture.

DIURETICS. In heart disease fluid will accumulate in the lungs and abdomen.
Dandelion is a very safe diuretic herb. The dose is 2 drops per lb twice daily.
Apis is a homeopathic treatment for excess fluid. The dose is 30C twice daily.
There are more details in www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com.

Evaluate your pet’s blood pressure by palpating their pulse. The best spot to do
this is on the inside of the back leg (thigh). Place your three middle fingers
across the middle of your pets inside thigh and apply moderate pressure. Here
you are feeling the femoral artery. This is more difficult in small dogs and
cats. The pulse should be strong and regular. In some conditions, the pulse can
be too strong (high blood pressure). This is a common condition in cats with
kidney failure. If this is the case, then your pet must be seen by a
veterinarian, and may be checked for diseases that can cause elevated blood
pressure.


Lungs.
The lungs provide the oxygen to your red blood cells that allow our bodies to
function. In evaluating the lungs, stand back and watch your pet breath. Normal
respirations are only with slight rises and falls of the chest. The rate is
quite low, 10-30 per minute. Put your ears over the chest and listen to the lung
sounds. They should be clear. Listen on both sides of the chest. Any cracking is
abnormal. This may indicate fluid in the chest, which is common in heart
disease.


The Airways.
Put moderate pressure in the airway (trachea) located just below the larynx
(adams apple). Coughing indicates a problem. A common one in small dogs is due
to a condition called tracheal collapse (the airway collapses in on itself).
There are a number of home remedies for coughing.

NATURAL COUGH SYRUP. Lemon and honey can soothe any sore throat. Mix 2tbspns of
honey, 1tspn of lemon juice and ½ cup of water. Give to your dog twice
daily.
Homeopathic cough syrups may also be helpful. I have used Hylands cough syrup
dosing it at ¼ of regular adult dose per 15lbs.

HARNESS UP. Any irritated airway will benefit from having less pressure put on
it. Remove the collar and use a harness for restraint.
See more at www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com


Mucous membrane color.
This refers to the normal pink color of your pet’s gums. Lift up your pet’s lips
and examine the gums. They are normally a light pink color, although this is
difficult to tell in breeds with dark pigmented gums. Assess your pet’s blood
pressure by measuring capillary refill time. Press your index finger on the gums
and count the time it takes for the pink color to return. Three seconds or less
is normal. Greater than three seconds suggest low blood pressure, as is seen in
cases of blood loss. In cases of bleeding your pet may become anemic. This is
seen by the gums becoming a paler color, and at times even white. In this
situation it is first important to have your veterinarian determine the cause of
the anemia, but there are things that you can do at home.

HOMEOPATHIC. A common remedy for many types of bleeding is Phosphorus. I would
dose it at 1-3 pellets of Phosphorus 30C twice daily for 3-5 days. They will go
down easier when mixed with ice cream.

ACUPRESSURE. Some veterinarians have had success using this nitrating a variety
of immune related disorders. The GV14 point located at the base of the neck,
between the shoulder blades. Apply pressure for 1 minute three times daily.
More details are found in the e-book www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com

This concludes the at home physical exam mini-course. I hope you have found it
helpful. For monthly pet remedy tips sign up for my e-zine at
www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com.

For a complete list over 1000 safe, natural and effective home remedies for your
pets’ problems, purchase my e-book at www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com

Sincerely,

Dr Andrew Jones

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Nelson, BC, V1L 6Y9
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