- Joined
- Feb 23, 2017
- Messages
- 5,312
November 2013, Mel asked:
Can you recommend a treatment to speed up the recovery from papilloma virus? Our adolescent female was exposed to a dog with the virus and in turn, caught it when her immune system was lowered (she was coming into her first heat cycle--we keep our dogs intact for as long as possible for the health benefits of growth hormones). She's had 3 warts for two months now and they don't look like they're changing/reducing in size. We neutered our 11 year old male (he's never been bred) a few days ago because of what seems to be a testicular tumor (awaiting histiopath to confirm). I just noticed a few lumps that look like warts and almost certain he's caught the virus from our other dog. I would like to provide them with additional support for their immune systems as it seems they're both weakened. They are on raw diets with a few additional supplements, minerals, vitamins: digestive enzymes, standard process whole body support, EPA/DHA, chlorella, vitamin d and c, biopreperation algae superfood, agricus blazei mushroom. They have been minimally vaccinated. The adolescent female has only been given a Parvo/Distemper (Nobivac DPV) vax at 9 weeks and 14 weeks, followed by Thuja, and a rabies shot at 8 months followed by thuja and lyssin. Thank you so much for any suggestions you can provide
Dear Mel-
Fortunately, oral warts in dogs are primarily a cosmetic problem and not a serious health issue. The main exception is when there are so many warts in the mouth that they make eating difficult. Luckily, this doesn't sound like the case with your pup.
Viral warts are most commonly seen in younger animals. This higher incidence is probably related both to greater viral exposure and an immature immune system. The good news is that repeated natural exposure to infectious agents such as this benign papillomavirus is the best natural way to strengthen it. Measuring antibody titers is one way to quantitate both this exposure and the immune response to it. However, antibody production does not equal immune protection.
Congratulations about keeping your girl intact. Spaying before first estrus (heat) is no longer recommended by many veterinarians. There is mounting evidence and clinical experience that keeping a bitch intact into maturity may reduce degenerative diseases like arthritis. For more information about this, see Dr. Chapman's excellent reply to Cristina this week. However, you also point out one of the arguments for spaying before the first heat. Although most dogs have no problems going through estrus these hormonal changes can be very stressful to some individuals. This difficulty dealing with hormonal changes may become a key to treatment during homeopathic therapy.
Physical, mental and emotional stressors of any kind are very hard on immune function. Stress increases susceptibility to disease. Estrus may very well have been a stress that predisposed her to the virus. You might think that you will therefore need to spay her as soon as possible to avoid other problems. I'd argue that on the contrary, you need to allow her to go through enough estrus cycles to insure that she is not having recurrent immune symptoms associated with them. Elimination of dis-ease expression through spaying and other surgical interventions is a deep form of suppression. The symptom is thereby eliminated without addressing the underlying cause.
Physiologically, viral warts usually resolve spontaneously within 5 months no matter what you do. Many simple changes will help her body deal better with the warts and can help speed their natural elimination. Perhaps start a high quality probiotic if you are not already giving one. I use Rx Biotic from Rx Vitamins and Probio Defense from Xymogen (a human supplement company). A methyl donor like dimethylglycine or SAMe would also be helpful. I have no personal experience with the herbal mushroom supplement that you are using. Interestingly, homeopathic remedies derived from the Agaricus mushroom are very useful for other problems. I am not aware of its' use for oral warts. Herbal mushroom extracts that I use are D-Fraction maitake extract as in Maitake DMG from Vetriscience labs. Liquid Immuno from Rx Vitamins, is also a potent immune stimulator and modulator.
In my opinion, the best way to help speed her recovery is to strengthen her immune system. Fresh food feeding, supplements, vitamins, antioxidants, etc. will all help, but not as much as the needed homeopathic medicine. The best remedy can be determined by evaluating all of her symptoms by the vet homeopath. In young dogs without many problems it is often most important to differentiate her common but abnormal symptoms http://bit.ly/HcCy6A.
Your older dog may never even get a full-blown case of the warts and if he does, he should recover quickly from them. His more mature immune system is better be able to restore balance. The stress associated with surgery and recovery probably lowered his resistance. Many times an older dog living in the same household as a pup with an infectious disease does not contract the illness.
You can improve your pup's overall health and resistance to dis-eases by helping her live close to nature. Continue to feed fresh foods, provide plenty of opportunities for her to play and be outdoors, and minimize exposure to toxins, drugs and vaccines. Maintaining and regaining a healthful energetic equilibrium leads to a stronger immune system. Doing so will help speed recovery from the papilloma virus and help minimize other infectious and degenerative dis-eases.
Be well.
Dr. Jeff
Vicki How do you help dogs and cats who are hyper sensitive to fleas.
Hi Vicki-
There are two main ways. The first is to minimize and eliminate all flea bites. Unfortunately, this can be very difficult to achieve. Many effective natural topical and oral products are available. Daily manual inspection and flea combing are among my favorite control methods. Flea combing also has the added benefit of decreasing itchy dry skin.
The other way is to reduce the underlying immune over reaction. Flea bites are certainly a trigger but it is the body's response to the trigger that causes the skin symptoms. Living a natural and holistic life with minimal vaccination and without any symptom suppression is critical. In general, try to use only only gentle palliation of symptoms like itching and hot spots.
Good luck. Even in southern climates you should be able to overcome this problem.
Dr. Jeff
Tracy any homeopathic arthritis helps? Jay is nearly 11 and she has joint pains and creaks, she had a bit of a bad start and her hips/back legs have always been a bit off, runs like pingu poor lady x
There are lots of ways to help arthritic symptoms Tracy. Homeopathic medicines are chosen based on many specific factors so the diagnostic label or general description of arthritis is not enough to recommend one. All homeopathically chosen medicines address the "whole" (are holistic). However not all holistic and natural supplements are homeopathic.
Various antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and glucosamine products are the mot commonly used supplements. Ideally she would be on a fresh food diet before adding supplements. At that time, if Jay is still having problems then try adding plain (Knox) gelatin to her meals. This is inexpensive, safe, easy and effective.
Dr. Jeff
Sallie wrote My GSD (18 mons) has had 3 bouts with hot spots. He itches all the time. He eats raw and a high end dry food. He has had anti-biotic meds because the hot spots infected. What do I do?
Hi Sallie-
You most certainly will get fewer hot spots and have fewer problems in general if you decrease the amount of kibble, and increase the % of fresh raw and even freeze-dried and dehydrated foods. Even many canned foods are better than dry. Canned foods tend to have more meat and fewer carbohydrates and fillers compared to dry food. Any commercial food however may contain artificial preservatives that can trigger allergic flare-ups.
In addition, a 3-4 week course of a high quality probiotic is indicated to improve his dysbiosis (a gastrointestinal imbalance) from the ANTI-biotics. Culturelle is one which is readily available in human health food stores and which can help allergy symptoms in many ways.
Dr. Jeff
Can you recommend a treatment to speed up the recovery from papilloma virus? Our adolescent female was exposed to a dog with the virus and in turn, caught it when her immune system was lowered (she was coming into her first heat cycle--we keep our dogs intact for as long as possible for the health benefits of growth hormones). She's had 3 warts for two months now and they don't look like they're changing/reducing in size. We neutered our 11 year old male (he's never been bred) a few days ago because of what seems to be a testicular tumor (awaiting histiopath to confirm). I just noticed a few lumps that look like warts and almost certain he's caught the virus from our other dog. I would like to provide them with additional support for their immune systems as it seems they're both weakened. They are on raw diets with a few additional supplements, minerals, vitamins: digestive enzymes, standard process whole body support, EPA/DHA, chlorella, vitamin d and c, biopreperation algae superfood, agricus blazei mushroom. They have been minimally vaccinated. The adolescent female has only been given a Parvo/Distemper (Nobivac DPV) vax at 9 weeks and 14 weeks, followed by Thuja, and a rabies shot at 8 months followed by thuja and lyssin. Thank you so much for any suggestions you can provide
Dear Mel-
Fortunately, oral warts in dogs are primarily a cosmetic problem and not a serious health issue. The main exception is when there are so many warts in the mouth that they make eating difficult. Luckily, this doesn't sound like the case with your pup.
Viral warts are most commonly seen in younger animals. This higher incidence is probably related both to greater viral exposure and an immature immune system. The good news is that repeated natural exposure to infectious agents such as this benign papillomavirus is the best natural way to strengthen it. Measuring antibody titers is one way to quantitate both this exposure and the immune response to it. However, antibody production does not equal immune protection.
Congratulations about keeping your girl intact. Spaying before first estrus (heat) is no longer recommended by many veterinarians. There is mounting evidence and clinical experience that keeping a bitch intact into maturity may reduce degenerative diseases like arthritis. For more information about this, see Dr. Chapman's excellent reply to Cristina this week. However, you also point out one of the arguments for spaying before the first heat. Although most dogs have no problems going through estrus these hormonal changes can be very stressful to some individuals. This difficulty dealing with hormonal changes may become a key to treatment during homeopathic therapy.
Physical, mental and emotional stressors of any kind are very hard on immune function. Stress increases susceptibility to disease. Estrus may very well have been a stress that predisposed her to the virus. You might think that you will therefore need to spay her as soon as possible to avoid other problems. I'd argue that on the contrary, you need to allow her to go through enough estrus cycles to insure that she is not having recurrent immune symptoms associated with them. Elimination of dis-ease expression through spaying and other surgical interventions is a deep form of suppression. The symptom is thereby eliminated without addressing the underlying cause.
Physiologically, viral warts usually resolve spontaneously within 5 months no matter what you do. Many simple changes will help her body deal better with the warts and can help speed their natural elimination. Perhaps start a high quality probiotic if you are not already giving one. I use Rx Biotic from Rx Vitamins and Probio Defense from Xymogen (a human supplement company). A methyl donor like dimethylglycine or SAMe would also be helpful. I have no personal experience with the herbal mushroom supplement that you are using. Interestingly, homeopathic remedies derived from the Agaricus mushroom are very useful for other problems. I am not aware of its' use for oral warts. Herbal mushroom extracts that I use are D-Fraction maitake extract as in Maitake DMG from Vetriscience labs. Liquid Immuno from Rx Vitamins, is also a potent immune stimulator and modulator.
In my opinion, the best way to help speed her recovery is to strengthen her immune system. Fresh food feeding, supplements, vitamins, antioxidants, etc. will all help, but not as much as the needed homeopathic medicine. The best remedy can be determined by evaluating all of her symptoms by the vet homeopath. In young dogs without many problems it is often most important to differentiate her common but abnormal symptoms http://bit.ly/HcCy6A.
Your older dog may never even get a full-blown case of the warts and if he does, he should recover quickly from them. His more mature immune system is better be able to restore balance. The stress associated with surgery and recovery probably lowered his resistance. Many times an older dog living in the same household as a pup with an infectious disease does not contract the illness.
You can improve your pup's overall health and resistance to dis-eases by helping her live close to nature. Continue to feed fresh foods, provide plenty of opportunities for her to play and be outdoors, and minimize exposure to toxins, drugs and vaccines. Maintaining and regaining a healthful energetic equilibrium leads to a stronger immune system. Doing so will help speed recovery from the papilloma virus and help minimize other infectious and degenerative dis-eases.
Be well.
Dr. Jeff
Vicki How do you help dogs and cats who are hyper sensitive to fleas.
Hi Vicki-
There are two main ways. The first is to minimize and eliminate all flea bites. Unfortunately, this can be very difficult to achieve. Many effective natural topical and oral products are available. Daily manual inspection and flea combing are among my favorite control methods. Flea combing also has the added benefit of decreasing itchy dry skin.
The other way is to reduce the underlying immune over reaction. Flea bites are certainly a trigger but it is the body's response to the trigger that causes the skin symptoms. Living a natural and holistic life with minimal vaccination and without any symptom suppression is critical. In general, try to use only only gentle palliation of symptoms like itching and hot spots.
Good luck. Even in southern climates you should be able to overcome this problem.
Dr. Jeff
Tracy any homeopathic arthritis helps? Jay is nearly 11 and she has joint pains and creaks, she had a bit of a bad start and her hips/back legs have always been a bit off, runs like pingu poor lady x
There are lots of ways to help arthritic symptoms Tracy. Homeopathic medicines are chosen based on many specific factors so the diagnostic label or general description of arthritis is not enough to recommend one. All homeopathically chosen medicines address the "whole" (are holistic). However not all holistic and natural supplements are homeopathic.
Various antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and glucosamine products are the mot commonly used supplements. Ideally she would be on a fresh food diet before adding supplements. At that time, if Jay is still having problems then try adding plain (Knox) gelatin to her meals. This is inexpensive, safe, easy and effective.
Dr. Jeff
Sallie wrote My GSD (18 mons) has had 3 bouts with hot spots. He itches all the time. He eats raw and a high end dry food. He has had anti-biotic meds because the hot spots infected. What do I do?
Hi Sallie-
You most certainly will get fewer hot spots and have fewer problems in general if you decrease the amount of kibble, and increase the % of fresh raw and even freeze-dried and dehydrated foods. Even many canned foods are better than dry. Canned foods tend to have more meat and fewer carbohydrates and fillers compared to dry food. Any commercial food however may contain artificial preservatives that can trigger allergic flare-ups.
In addition, a 3-4 week course of a high quality probiotic is indicated to improve his dysbiosis (a gastrointestinal imbalance) from the ANTI-biotics. Culturelle is one which is readily available in human health food stores and which can help allergy symptoms in many ways.
Dr. Jeff
