Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Visit with Dr. Anne

I took Ike in to see Dr. Anne today for a tune-up and to pick her brain a bit about Ike's steady weight (while there is a dearth of calories), chicken wings, and tick repellents.

First, and most importantly, Dr. Anne said Ike's pelvis has held up very well. Even with the indoor trials his body was in good shape. Hooray!

I mentioned to her that I was trying to have Ike lose a half pound, maybe a pound, and that it just wasn't happening. For those of you who haven't been to see Dr. Anne, not only is she a chiropractor and a homeopath, but she also practices kinesiology.

From the Applied Kinesiology web site (you all know how terrible I am at explaining things!):
Applied kinesiology (AK) is a form of diagnosis using muscle testing as a primary feedback mechanism to examine how a person’s body is functioning. When properly applied, the outcome of an AK diagnosis will determine the best form of therapy for the patient. Since AK draws together the core elements of many complementary therapies, it provides an interdisciplinary approach to health care.

Wendy Volhard has a very readable chapter on it in her book The Holistic Guide for the Healthy Dog (a good resource, and one I need to add to my dog-book library).

Anyway, Dr. Anne asked Ike if he had low thyroid. The answer was yes. She selected a bottle of powder and then asked what amount of supplement for Canine Thyroid he should be given (1/4 teaspoon 2x day). Interesting. I mentioned to her that his test results has just come back as completely normal and she suggested it could be that his thyroid is sub-clinically lower than normal. So, I am going to give it a go.

I told her that I am now feeding Ike a completely raw diet but not as many whole bones as I would like. Ike really does not seem to like chicken wings no matter what I do to them (smash 'em, cut them up, etc). Anne suggested if I wasn't using organic chicken wings (I'm not) that I try organic. She said her Kelpie will not eat non-organic chicken wings! In fact he has gone so far as to urinate on them.

So I am going to pick up some organic chicken wings and see if it makes a difference. I am also considering ordering some quail from Hare Today an on-line raw food supplier. Anne also suggested that lamb's neck would be appropriate - I mentioned the high incidence of pancreatitis in Schnauzers and she didn't feel like the occasional lamb's neck would send Ike into pancreatic shock when he eats well over all.

Finally I asked her what should would recommend for ticks. I currently add BugOff Garlic to Ike's meals and while that works well for fleas, lately I have been finding a fair amount of ticks on him. I had just read (oh, the danger of the web) that black walnut hull can be given with your dog's food twice a day to repel ticks. When I told Anne that, she told me it was a poison and recommended a spray instead! If anyone is interested, let me know and I will share. It is simple and not as strong as some other natural oil sprays.

We have a follow-up appointment in two weeks for a final all over tune-up.

7 comments:

Katrin said...

If you're ordering from Hare Today LMK, I'll split shipping with you and get some stuff for my guys.

Jules said...

Cool! I will e-mail you.

Cat, Tessie, & Strata said...

I use lemongrass oil on Tessie as a natural bug repellant. I used to rub some into my hands and go over her jacket, now I just apply a line of it just like Frontline, etc. and it REALLY helps. She is allergic to fleas and mosquitos and it seems to keep the skeeters away.

Jules said...

Thanks, Cat! I'll look into it. Thank the dog gods I think it is finally cold enough to freeze the little tickies!

Katrin said...

Um, no it isn't...It takes at least of 24hr below freezing to do that, kill ticks. We haven't had that.

Jules said...

oh, you party pooper! I'll just wish them all dead. Funny thing is, I haven't found any on Ike since then.

Katrin said...

that should have said 'at least a week of 24hrs below freezing' which we certainly have NOT had