Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Supplements

I never thought figuring out supplements would be a chore with Athena. She always has had a iron stomach. So I thought adding Mushrooms to her diet wouldn't be such a big deal. I did a fair amount of research on mushroom supplements for dogs with cancer and it looked like a excellent idea. Turns out she HATES the supplements from the vet and they really do not agree with her. To the point where she was not eating her meals because of them.

So after a long phone convo with her new vet, who i love btw, we decided to take her off the mushrooms and go back to the beginning. So back to her normal food with wet and her immune support powered supplement from the vet. She tolerates the immune support very good and the vet said this supplement is very important for Athena and her immune system.

 I also wanted to put her on a anti inflammatory for her joints and to hopefully help any inflammation to the nodes because of her cancer.  So my vet recommended Boswellia. So off to the health food store in my city. They had a Boswellia and turmeric blend capsule. My vet had told me that turmeric would be excellent for cancer. So the capsule was hitting two birds with one stone so to speak. And let me tell you this stuff is amazing! She is doing wonderful and even demanded we play Frisbee every day this week despite the heat! I started her on them sat night and I really think they are helping her a lot.

Then we have the Yunnan baiyao and arnica for her random bruising. The bruising is so odd and the vet has no idea why she is bruising other then maybe she is knocking the swollen glands around while playing and it pops something in there.

I think after this next pay day I will order a different type of mushroom supplement. There are powder kinds and a liquid kind. I'm debating on which one to get. The powder is 3/4tsp once a day and the liquid is a ton of drops 2x a day. I'm no so sure drops are a good idea in the wee hours of the morning when I make her breakfast. I would try the mushrooms the vet gave me again but i worry about her upset tummy and they are 4 big chewable pills a day and she won't eat them with out crushing them up very small and mixing with something very smelly.

She is slowing down a bit. When I come home at lunch she is unimpressed and wants to go back to bed and sometimes she just doesn't want her snacks. But so far she is still eating all her meals, still wants her chews and squeaks her chews and wants her walks and play time. So really I'm happy she is doing good! My previous vets scared me to the point that I truly thought she would be gone by now. 8 weeks and counting since I noticed her swollen glands and she is still doing amazing! Take that vet who thought holistic care was a waste of money and would kill my dog.

Each meal she gets:

EVO grain free
Grain free wet to mix the supplements up and add more moisture to her diet. sometimes i mix in some freeze dried raw or frozen raw.
Omega 3 oil/salmon oil with low omega 6 (omega 6 bad for cancer)
Standard Process: Immune Support 3/4tsp
Boswellia/turmeric capsule
Yunnan Bai Yao and Arnica as needed for bruising.

Then her snacks are homemade cookies with cottage cheese and her bullies or tooth chews.

1 comment:

Molly said...

I'm so happy she is doing well and the supplements seem to be helping her. What a good girlie!!!