Truth4Dogs

Most people believe tear and beard staining are inevitable in some breeds: Maltese, Bichon, Poodle, Shih Tzu, Chihuahua and many others. But they’re not.

While researching various aspects of holistic dog health care for my book, Scared Poopless, I stumbled upon the “cure” for the tear staining of my first two Maltese. I was able to quickly resolve the staining of my next two little guys as well. I fancied myself quite the Tear Stain Guru, that is, until I adopted Mulligan (shown left). Mulligan’s staining actually worsened in my care and resisted all efforts to control it for more than 18 months. Mulligan is now 95% stain free — and much healthier.

Tear staining in rats, hamsters, cats and even pigs has been studied by scientists, but not in dogs. No one knows the exact mechanism causing staining. Most veterinarians see it as a cosmetic problem and don’t give it much thought. People selling remedies think they know what’s happening (but mostly don’t) and truly bizarre Internet myths abound.

As long as there’s money to be made selling untested tear stain “remedies,” research will not likely be undertaken. But promoting long-term antibiotic use to stop staining — while underlying causes go untreated — disturbs me so much that I’m trying to gather hard data on causes and cures. This not a problem of too many tears; it’s a health or lifestyle problem. I’m writing a book on the subject.

2,526 people have taken my in-depth questionnaire. I’m analyzing data now and will start writing my book. Follow us on Twitter or Facebook and get updates and sneak peeks. Tell us what you know there or here. It’s time to end this problem once and for all.

Related post: Dog Tear Stains: Everything You’ve Been Told is Wrong

Do you have a great photo of your dog’s tear or beard staining? Make your dog famous as a canine health advocate. Donate it to the book at stopstains at gmail.com.

Update on Hemopet animal blood bank from Dr. Jean Dodds:

Draft Letter
Download Sample Letter (Word Document)

Letters
Barbara Hodges, DVM, MBA, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association Advisor
Charles Bridges, California Federation of Dog Clubs President
Charles Emely, DVM, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association
Sheila Goff, American Kennel Club Vice President of Government Relations
W. Jean Dodds, Hemopet President

Previous post:

Dear Friends of California dogs and cats, Dr. Jean Dodds tirelessly works to help pets all over the world, fighting ignorance and even answering emails from strangers in need in the middle of the night. You have likely read her articles here and all over the Internet. I hope you take her wonderful newsletter. Now she needs our help.

Her lab, Hemopet, is the canine equivalent of the Red Cross. The lab does low-cost titer testing, diagnostic work and food sensitivity scans. I have used all these services many times. My little Chiclet received blood from Hemopet when she was hospitalized. Now the California Board of Equalization is threatening her nonprofit status. I hope you’ll read what’s going on and help her as she has so many times helped our dogs.

Even a short letter of support will really help. We have to save her blood bank and diagnostic labs. 

Jean has been told that letters should be addressed to Assemblymember Gonzalez but e-mailed to Charles Berman, her husband.  (They have to collate them and FAX them directly to the Assembly person’s privatefFax to keep them from being lost in the incoming e-mail system there.) 

Here are all the details: http://us3.campaign-archive2.com/?u=65fe703d8ce705ddce0e30120&id=c0a72d9157&e=a31788af9a

Time is of the essence. Please respond before August 3. Jean needs us and we need her.

Jan Rasmusen

If a dog or cat has been exposed to rabies and is overdue for a vaccine booster, the animal can now have “a booster shot followed by an observation period rather than be subject to quarantine or euthanasia.” This comes from JAVMA, The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and will be published soon in the 2016 Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control (the rabies vaccination “bible”) from the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians.  The compendium is a compilation of best practices which state laws can follow.

I asked Jean Dodds, DVM, vaccination expert: Does this mean that an overdue dog or cat that has NOT been exposed to rabies can now get just a booster and not have to start the series over again? Read more »

The San Diego Union-Tribune has reported that a rescued tiger cub died January 13 at the Lions Tigers & Bears animal sanctuary near San Diego. The six-month-old tiger cub, named Himmel, had just undergone surgery for neutering and hernia repair. Although vaccine manufacturers recommend against it, the vet decided to vaccinate while the cub was still under anesthesia. Himmel suffered “profound respiratory failure and collapse” from “a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.” Read more »

The results of the pilot study concerning the use of half doses for vaccinating small dogs, conducted by Jean Dodds, DVM, and supported by the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Foundation, has been published. The results are exciting for those of us with small breed dogs.

In short, Dr. Dodds is proving what she and many holistic veterinarians have known all along: Small breed dogs, that is, dogs under 12 pounds, receive the full results of vaccination with just a half dose of parvovirus and distemper vaccines. This is shown by vaccine titer (blood antibody) testing. (Read Titer Testing: A Crash Course on my all-vaccination website for more information.) Read more »