by Audrey Harvey

In my opinion, chocolate is one of the five food groups. I am a chocoholic, and there is always some chocolate hidden away in my home for emergencies.

Althuogh we all enjoy sharing life’s little luxuries with our dogs, chocolate is one thing that you should definitely not give them. It can make them quite sick, and if they eat enough, it can be fatal.

Chocolate contains a compound called theobromine which is found in cocoa. It is theobromine which is poisonous to dogs, even in small doses. Incidentally, caffeine has a similar chemical structure to theobromine and can also make dogs ill. Because dogs don’t seem to enjoy the taste of coffee, caffeine poisoning isn’t nearly as common as chocolate poisoning.

How much chocolate will make your dog sick? That depends on two things - your dog’s body weight and whether he eats dark, milk or white chocolate.

Let’s do some number crunching. The lethal dose of theobromine is 100 to 150 mg per kilo bodyweight. We’ll use a 10kg dog as an example, that’s a nice round figure to work with. Breeds of dogs that reach 10kg, or 22lb as adults include Beagles, American Cocker Spaniels and Standard Fox Terriers. Using these figures, they would need to eat 1000 to 1500 mg of theobromine to become poisoned.

Cooking chocolate contains the most theobromine, 140mg per gram. Our 22lb dog would only need to eat 10g of this type of chocolate before he became seriously ill. That’s not much at all!

Milk chocolate contains15mg of theobromine per gram, so it would take 100g of this chocolate to affect your dog. White chocolate is least dangerous, as there is very little theobromine in it.

If, in spite of your best efforts at keeping your treats all for yourself, your dog eats enough chocolate to poison himself, he can start to show symptoms within half an hour. You can expect to see vomiting and diarrhea, and he will appear twitchy, hyperactive and excited. Depending on dose, he may then start to stagger and develop seizures. Finally he will lapse into a coma, and he may die.

As you can see, chocolate poisoning in dogs is an emergency, and it’s important that you contact your veterinarian as soon as you realize your dog has eaten some of your chocolate stash. Treatment is aimed at preventing him absorbing more theobromine, and controlling any symptoms he is showing.

Your vet can give your dog medication to make him vomit up any chocolate that remains in his stomach. Activated charcoal by mouth will absorb any theobromine that’s travelling along his gastro-intestinal tract, and sedatives or anesthesia will control twitching muscles and seizures.

As an alternative to chocolate, why not give your dog a bone, some dried liver treats or even carob - it contains no theobromine and is quite safe for dogs.

There are so many safe treats that are available for your dog, there is no reason to give him something that may kill him, no matter how good it tastes. That suits me just fine, because I don’t have to feel guilty when I keep my chocolate all for myself!

Since 2004 Los Angeles-based happytails has created eco-friendly spa, grooming and wellness products for the modern dog. We use the finest (“better than human quality”) ingredients to solve the toughest problems that dogs face, like itchy skin, tear stains and bad breath. Happytails is sold and recommended by veterinarians around the world for one simple reason- they work, naturally

For a while now we’ve been hearing stories about dog’s with red tear stains being given Eyemunity and seeing a noticeable improvement in their itchy skin and allergies.

Although Eyemunity was actually formulated to remove the staining caused by Epiphora (a yeast bloom caused by a bacterial infection) the results come as no surprise. In fact they make perfect sense; allergies, after all are an autoimmune response and Epicor, the active ingredient in Eyemunity, modulates some of the factors involved in immunity. (Most noticeably Ige levels)

Well now we have more than anecdotal evidence to rely on. Results from a study published in Advances in Therapy (2009:26(8):795-804) found that Epicor "significantly reduced the severity of allergic symptoms." The study (a human trial of 96 subjects) was a randomized, double blind test that included a placebo. The results were measured through in-clinic visits, validated questionnaires and serologic (blood serum) testing.

This is good news for  millions of owners who’s dogs suffer from allergies and itching. Eyemunity provides a long term complement to the arsenal of topical products available for itchy, allergic dogs.

The all natural formula is an easy-to-use supplement that’s added to a dog’s food once a day. Unlike other tear stain products on the market it contains no pharmaceutical antibiotics so doesn’t come with any of those nasty side effects. You can use Eyemunity for as long as you like and not only will it clear up any tear stains but it will also improve a dog’s overall health and comfort. Especially if he’s plagued by allergies.

For more in tear stain control click here

For more on Epicor the active ingredient in Eyemunity click here

For a list and explaination of the ingredients in Eyemunity click here

by Carlotta Cooper

What’s in a Label?

I have five dogs, all of the same breed, and each one of them has a different kind of coat texture. Little Pearl has a smooth, sleek coat year-round. She’s always easy to groom. Beautiful Billie, my champion girl, looks like a curly Poodle unless I spend hours stripping her coat. Her brother Colin has coat that grows like Rapunzel’s hair – it never stops growing. It just gets longer and longer every day. His coat is a little frightening. Taylor has a soft coat that mats easily and his brother Beau is prone to hot spots. All of this means that I end up using different shampoos for different dogs.

It has WHAT in it?

Reading shampoo labels can be confusing, to say the least. Shampoos can contain chemicals with polysyllabic names and you have no idea what those chemicals are or what they may do. Often times you have to rely on what the shampoo says it will do on the label and that may or may not be the truth.

Here are some of the most important things to look for when choosing a shampoo.

Avoid shampoos with the following ingredients:

• Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulfate — This is what makes your shampoo foam up and is called a surfactant. In recent years SLS has come under scrutiny for being too irritating and damaging to the hair follicle, causing skin damage and more. Most human salon and grocery store brands still have some form of this surfactant in thier formulas.

• Tar — a known cancer-causing agent

• Co Co Amide — a known cancer causing agent in animals

• Propylene Glycol — a form of mineral oil that retains moisture in the coat; can be a skin irritant. Botanicals and herbs often come in a base of propylene glycol or butylene glycol which are then put into your shampoo. Little by little raw ingredient manufacturers are offering other alternatives like glycerine to use as a base for the herbs.

• Mineral Oil, Methyl Paraben and Propyl Paraben — may cause allergic reactions

• Ethyl Alcohol (found in synthetic fragrances used in some shampoos) — may cause allergic reactions and dry out your dog’s coat
• Parabens- are one of the most commonly used preservatives and certainly the most controversial. In recent years concerns have been raised that parabens could cause allergic reactions, disrupt our hormonal systems and even contribute to breast cancer. The theory is that even though any given product contains extremely small amounts of parabens, over time they may build up to toxic levels because they are found in so many of the products we use each day. Parabens, including methyl-, butyl-, ethyl-, and propyl-, may cause skin irritation, and there is concern that parabens may be linked to the development of breast cancer. Of course some form of preservative is necessary so nasty bacteria, mold and fungi don’t take over our products! (Any product that has water in it has the ability to grow mold very quickly). While the evidence isn’t totally concrete, it’s best to steer clear!

Look for shampoos that contain ingredients or statements like the following:

• Look for surfactants (which makes shampoos foam) like cocamidopropyl betaine which is an exceptionally mild coconut based surfactant which does not irritate skin.

• Soap-free or low-lathering

• Vitamins A, D, E

• Oatmeal for itchy skin

• Herbs like comfrey and calendula which help soothe skin irritations.

• Antibacterial agents such as tea tree oil and neem

• Sodium PCA — derived from vegetable sources, a naturally-occurring skin component that softens and hydrates skin

• Glycerin (instead of Propylene Glycol).

• Citric acid and Potassium sorbate are preservaties that are safe and FDA approved.

Too Harsh!

Some shampoos for dogs contain harsh detergents and chemicals. They may strip all of the natural oils from your dog’s coat. One of the most important issues when choosing a shampoo is what kind of surfactant the shampoo has. A surfactant is the surf ace act ing agent in a shampoo. They allow the shampoo to spread and interact with the water when you bathe him and to strip the oil and dirt from your dog’s coat. If you use a surfactant that is too harsh, such as Sodium Laureth Sulfate, it will remove too much of the oil from your dog’s coat when it washes out the dirt. This will damage your dog’s coat and leave it looking dry and harsh. The natural oils in a dog’s coat are good for the coat and protect it from damage so you want a shampoo that will only wash out the dirt and excess oils. You should choose shampoos that are free of Sodium Laureth Sulfate both for yourself and for your dog.

Many shampoos that contain Sodium Laureth Sulfate (or SLS) are very high lathering shampoos. They can be more like detergents than shampoos. Unfortunately, high lathering shampoos can also be irritating to your dog’s skin. Look for shampoos that are soap-free or low lathering and which do not contain SLS. These shampoos are easier to rinse out and less likely to irritate your dog’s skin.

Some shampoos even contain chemicals with known carcinogens such as tar, which is found in tar-based dandruff shampoos. It’s also found in artificial dyes and fragrances. These are shampoos that you want to steer clear of when you’re choosing a shampoo for your dog.

Just Right

Choosing shampoos with natural ingredients is usually much better for your dog. No matter what kind of skin and coat your dog has, there are likely shampoos with natural ingredients to suit him. If your dog has dry skin and itching then a shampoo with oatmeal would be just the thing. Comfy Dog shampoo contains colloidal oatmeal as well as botanical extracts of peppermint, burdock and comfrey. Comfy Dog doesn’t lather excessively so there’s no residue left behind to irritate your dog’s skin either.

Other shampoos with essential oils such as rosemary, tea tree and neem can prevent dandruff. Bubbles ‘n Beads features healing tea tree oil which also fights infections on your dog’s skins and helps heals skin damage. There are essential oils to repel fleas and other essential oils for leave the coat soft and silky. Whatever your dog’s need, you can find great shampoos with natural ingredients instead of harsh chemical shampoos.

For my dogs I like to use Sparkle & Shine Brightening Shampoo with yogurt and honey for Taylor. He’s almost 13 so he’s getting pretty old but he’s still a handsome dog. He’s mostly white so I like a shampoo that can brighten his coat and make him look his best. I think he likes to look good after a bath and show off a little for the other dogs. We’re using Comfy Dog for Beau because it has tea tree oil for his hot spots. And we’re using Bubbles ‘n Beads for the other dogs since it’s a good all around shampoo and conditioner.

It’s amazing what you can learn by reading the labels on dog shampoos. Look for shampoos with natural ingredients, especially those with plant-based ingredients. When it comes to taking care of your dog’s skin and coat, Mother Nature really does know best.

by Kevin Fisher

Happytails ‘ Bubbles n’ Beads contains a unique amino acid blend formulated to resemble the amino acid composition of the proteins in the hair. It penetrates the cuticle to condition and repair - all while delivering noticeable shine and luster.

Amino Acids and the hair

A dog’s hair is made primarily from keratin, an insoluble protein that like all proteins is built from amino acids (in this case cystine, tyrosine and leucine). As you probably know, the hair grows from a follicle just under the skin. In humans each hair emerges from a single follicle but dogs (depending on the breed) can have what are called compound follicles that produce as many as 25 hairs each. These follicles require a constant supply of amino acids to remain healthy. In fact hair follicles contain some of the fastest growing and dividing cells in the body so they consume vitamins, minerals and amino acids very rapidly. If any of these components is lacking the hair will look unhealthy and easily dry out.

Bubbles n’ Beads

That’s why we included amino acids in our Bubbles n’ Beads shampoo. Not only does the shampoo clean the hair and condition the fur but the amino acids are transported to the skin by the microencapsulated beads and release into the follicle helping to create healthier hair at the root.

A dog’s skin cells are replaced on average every 3 -4 weeks so regular washing with Bubbles n’ Beads will show excellent results very quickly.

Flower Essence Essentials

One of my dogs, Beau, has a terrible fear of thunderstorms and fireworks. I don’t know why he’s scared of them. He wasn’t scared when he was a puppy and my other dogs aren’t afraid. But, as he’s gotten older he’s become more and more spooked by loud noises associated with storms and fireworks. One loud BOOM and he comes running to me and wants to climb up in my lap. You should probably know that Beau weighs almost 100 pounds, so when he tries to get in your lap, you know it! I feel so sorry for him.

We’ve tried different things to help Beau including flower essences such as rescue remedy. When we give Beau a few drops of one of the flower essences he’s able to calm down and relax enough to get through his fear until the storm passes or the fireworks are over. Sometimes he’ll relax enough to take a nap.

You may have heard of flower essences — you may have even used one for yourself or your dog — but most people don’t really know what they are or how they work they’re just happy because for many, they work.

What are flower essences?

Flower essences are the diluted essences of various types of flowers and plants. They’re often used in homeopathy and are a little similar to herbal remedies but there are some major differences.

When were flower essences invented?

Dr. Edward Bach, a famed British physician, first developed flower essences in the 1930s. He gave his name to his 38 Bach Flower Remedies.

How do flower essences work?

Dr. Bach believed that illness of the mind and body was the result of imbalances in the spirit. Flower essences work holistically to heal and repair these imbalances.

Flowers are gathered at the right time, immersed in water and exposed to sunlight or moonlight in order to infuse the water with their essence. Then the water is added to a substance such as glycerin so it can be bottled.

Dr. Bach identified flower essences to calm anger, ease anxiety (and fears, such as thunderstorm phobias), and give confidence, among other things. Today there are many more than the original 38 flower essences thanks to other people who have continued Dr. Bach’s research.

Should you give flower essences to your dog?

By all means, yes. Animals seem to respond just as well to the effects of flower essences as people do. They have many of the same kinds of emotional imbalances as people — anger, anxiety, fear — and can benefit just as much from the use of flower essences.

There are no side effects from using flower essences. There are no actual plant extracts or materials in a flower essence remedy so there is nothing to ingest that would interfere with other medication or cause you harm. If you take the wrong flower essence you won’t see any effects at all. When you or your pet take the correct flower essence you will see a subtle, gentle improvement in your condition.

Flower essences work holistically. They bring healing to the spirit so your body and mind can heal and they do the same for your pets.

How do you use flower essences?

Flower essences are very easy to use. You can give them to your pet with a dropper or by spraying them. You can put several drops (it doesn’t take many) in your pet’s mouth or put a few drops on a treat or in your pet’s food or water. You can also spray it on your pet’s paws where he will lick it off, or put a couple of drops on your finger and apply it to his gums or inside his ears, where it will be easily absorbed.

Which flower essences should I use for my dog?

Choosing the right flower essence depends on your dog’s problem. Is he anxious? Is he fearful because of things that have happened in the past? Is he in shock? There are many good flower essences for treating different kinds of fear and anxiety as well as the general purpose rescue remedy. Rescue remedy has helped many dogs overcome fear and anxiety. However, when you can blend flower essences with herbal extracts, you’ll achieve a synergy making the combination stronger. One such example is  Sleepytime Tonic .

Sleepytime Tonic

Sleepytime Tonic is a Bach Flower-based remedy but it also contains an herbal formulation created by Robert McDowell, the world’s leading authority on applying Western herbal medicines to canine health problems. The formulation in Sleepytime Tonic combines herbs and homeopathic medicine so that the metabolic and nervous system imbalances are all addressed together. The flower essences and the herbal mix work together synergistically to help your dog’s anxiety.

According to McDowell, “The herbal mixes are not toxic in any way, are free from side effects and are simple and safe to administer at home.”

And, Sleepytime Tonic works in just 20 minutes to calm your dog. It’s a wonderful herbal elixir for dogs who have problems with travel or who are anxious about trips to the vet or fireworks and thunderstorms.

Healthy Skin Shiny Coat

You can use another flower essence-based remedy to detoxify your dog’s system and save him from itchy skin.

Healthy Skin Shiny Coat is an all-natural detoxifier that works with your dog’s liver, kidneys and lymphatic system to eliminate toxins.

If your dog has a dull coat or itchy skin it’s often because his body has an accumulation of toxins. This can be from dog foods or other sources. Anti-itch shampoos and conditioners (and changing dog foods) are helpful, but Healthy Skin Shiny coat is a great way to help remove the toxins from your dog’s body.

After giving your dog Healthy Skin Shiny Coat for a little while you will see a reduction in skin problems, less itching and a general improvement in your dog’s overall health.

The holistic approach

Flower essences are a safe and effective way to address many of your dog’s problems, from behavioral issues to anxiety and itching skin. Naturally you should consult with your veterinarian for any acute or ongoing health problems. But, for problems that can be treated holistically, flower essences and herbal mixes such as Sleepytime Tonic and Healthy Skin Shiny Coat can do wonders.