Treating Freckie Naturally With Diet and Remedies

by Evelyn
(Riverside, RI)

My little 12-yo beagle started with a cough about a year ago and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. The vet put her on enalapril and lasix which, through my investigation, is a must for dogs with this condition. The vet wanted her to go on pimobendan, but I was afraid, so I didn't start it.

I immediately started feeding her bananas and watermelon (as a smoothie with a lot of water, as she's not much of a drinker) as her morning meal to help replace her potassium. I started her on Vetri-Science cardiac formula, hawthorn, milk thistle (as they said her liver was somewhat enlarged as well), and she was already taking fish oil.

She needed to lose a few pounds, and though I would use a mixture of dry dog food and homemade food, I cut out all dry food and make her food from boiled chicken and beef along with summer and zucchini squash, pumpkin (not pie filling), broccoli, carrots, eggs (I boil them and put them in the food processor, shell and all, so she can get calcium from the shells), garlic, celery, green beans, and brown rice. I make enough food for about 6-8 weeks and freeze it in individual bags. I make sure she gets exercise daily as well and has baby carrots for treats. She's now at a perfect weight.

After about six months, the cough hadn't gone away, and the vet suggested the pimobendan again. I had reasearched it by then and agreed and she takes it daily. She still has the cough, though not too bad and she runs and plays and eats like a pig.

She has an issue now with scratching, and I'm looking up a natural remedy for that, but otherwise is still her mischeivous little self.

The vet, to my dismay, actually said last summer that he "didn't think she'd last THIS long". I don't bring her to the vet unless I have to, don't give her dangerous heartworm (reasearch how hard it is for a dog to actually contract heartworm) or flea/tick meds and give her brewer's yeast and garlic tablets for that along with an herbal flea and tick spray. I won't give her a rabies shot or any other vaccinations because I feel they'll compromise her health.

I think the biggest problem we have as animal parents is not doubting ourselves when it comes to saying "no" to the vet and treating our animals in a natural way, as we're always met with an attitude of being a problem or difficult to deal with by the vet. It's all about money for them, and I don't know about anyone else, but I feel the vet I use would rather see my dog sick than have me be right, which is why he's just a back up because his office is close and I basically use him for diagnostic purposes only.

So, my little Freckie is doing well (and will be even better once we can get to the bottom of her itchiness)and I intend to treat her as naturally as possible and have the pleasure of each other's company for many more years to come.