Using Titer Tests and Staying Informed

As discussed in Chapter 10 of Outsmart Your Pet’s Cancer, it is now known that pet vaccines can cause long-term health problems, or serious side effects including cancer.  In fact, years ago the cancer connection became such a big issue that many veterinarians decided to stop giving vaccines in a pet’s neck like they often did and began giving them to dogs and cats in a back leg instead.  That way, if the pet developed tumors later on at the site of the injection, they could amputate the pet’s leg to try to save its life.  This is a very unsettling thing to hear about, as is the long list of detrimental health consequences that can be caused by over vaccination, or what some are calling “vaccine over dosing.”

This blog article is not intended to question the value of vaccines, but rather, to reveal that many times, pet vaccines can be administered much less frequently than are currently recommended and still be protective to the pet.  For instance, rabies vaccines are recommended annually, yet a recent study showed that the protective action of the shots lasts at least 5 years.

Dr. Karen Becker is a well-known veterinarian who has had a huge online presence for many years.  In her June 26, 2022 newsletter, she detailed what pet owners need to know about how to prevent over vaccination and therefore avoid some of the health problems that may occur from giving too many vaccines.  The article is titled, Should You Vaccinate Your Pet Every Year?   In it, Dr. Becker reveals how pet owners can request a simple blood test called a “titer test” to determine if their pet is still showing immunity from their previous vaccination.  If they are, then that means they do not have to be re-vaccinated just yet.  To read Dr. Becker’s full article, go to https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2022/06/26/antibody-titer-testing.aspx?ui=8e886c95c13f99ee00b70bf49bb61fbe3ce2c2944d37be39ea135e2890dedee5&sd=20140408&cid_source=petsnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art1ReadMore&cid=20220626Z1&mid=DM1193857&rid=1530944572

Dr. Becker also includes a link in her article to an interview she did with Dr. John Robb, founder of “Protect The Pets.”  Dr. Robb has taken up the fight against the establishment and speaks out against too many unnecessary vaccinations for pets.  You can read more about this topic on his website www.protectthepets.com .  And to listen to an excellent discussion about over vaccination, titering, and the dangers of pet vaccines in general, watch this highly informative 26-minute video with Dr. Robb and Dr. Becker discussing these issues together.  ( click here )  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETpOIriQ4Tc

Overall, requesting titer testing and staying informed about studies that are revealing new information (such as how long the rabies shots really last) can go a long way toward avoiding the dangerous health consequences of over vaccination!

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Hormone Sparing Sterilization

Have you ever felt bad about having to spay or neuter a pet?  (“Spaying” is the sterilization procedure for female dogs and cats and “neutering” is the sterilization procedure for male dogs and cats.)  The main reason for sterilization, of not wanting to have more animals come into the world that might not get homes, is a legitimate one since pet overpopulation is a real and compassionate concern in today’s world.  But what about the negative impact that removing the bulk of your pet’s sex hormones at a young age may have on its physical development and long-term health?

A growing body of evidence shows that removal of hormones through early sterilization negatively impacts the development of bones in pets as they grow and mature.  This can cause problems for larger dogs in particular that need to have a strong musculoskeletal structure because of their size and weight.  But there are other serious health concerns as well for both males and females of all sizes and breeds.  Numerous studies have proven that removing such a large part of an animal’s hormone production through spaying and neutering can cause increased rates of hip dysplasia, ligament problems, incontinence, diabetes, adrenal gland dysfunction, thyroid gland dysfunction, and even a variety of cancers and shorter life span, among other things.

A healthy balance of hormones contributes to overall good health in ALL animals — whether they are dogs, cats, or humans — so it is a mistake to think that removing the sex hormones is only going to impact procreation.  Unfortunately, most vets in the U.S. don’t mention any of the above health concerns when a pet owner schedules their dog or cat for sterilization.

When it comes to people who don’t want to produce children, the typical choice for an adult female or male is to have their tubes tied or to have a vasectomy.  These are simple procedures that prevent impregnation, but do not remove any of the person’s hormone production.  So, why can’t something like this be done for dogs and cats?

Well, the answer is that some of that CAN be done for pets, so hang in there ‘till the end of this article because you might just find you have a new choice.  But it’s a little complicated because there are other issues to consider with animals that don’t have to be considered with humans.  Here is a brief overview.

Vasectomies for Male Dogs and Cats :   This procedure has been done for decades by certain veterinarians, so it is not unheard of.  Though more often performed in Europe than the U.S., it is safe and easy on the animal and effectively stops males from being able to impregnate females.  But some pet owners don’t go for it because it does not stop the production of testosterone and, thus, common behaviors of intact males such as possible aggression with other intact males or humping behaviors may continue.  But many male dogs are of a breed or individual personality where aggression is not a problem and humping isn’t either, so vasectomy is often seen as a very good choice for them.  With cats, vasectomy is also effective at stopping impregnation, but will not stop “spraying,” a male territorial behavior, or seeking out females in heat.  The common thinking among vets in the U.S. is that castrating male dogs and cats is best because it avoids prostate problems down the line, but it is unclear how solid the data is to support this conclusion and studies on this conflict.

Tubal Ligation for Female Dogs and Cats :   “Getting One’s Tubes Tied” may be common for women, but can have complications in pets.  Thus, a discussion with your vet on whether this procedure would be an option for your particular pet is warranted.  But, overall, Veterinarian Dr. Patty Khuly of PetMD.com sees the positive side to both vasectomies and tubal ligations for many cases and her thoughts are expressed in the following article that can be read for more details.   https://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2010/april/ligations_vasectomies-7245

Ovary-Sparing Spay :   Another type of hormone sparing sterilization procedure that is gaining in popularity is the “Partial Spay”  for female dogs and cats.  This type of spay procedure removes the entire uterus of the female, rendering it impossible for the female to ever become pregnant, yet it leaves both ovaries completely intact.  This preserves the production of hormones in the animal, which are largely produced by the ovaries.  The procedure is more and more common now, safe to do, and reduces possible health problems that can be caused down-the-line from the more common conventional spay procedure which has always removed most of the uterus AND both ovaries (akin to throwing a woman immediately into menopause).  The partial spay procedure is preferred by many pet owners to keep the female dog or cat healthier and happier even though conventional veterinary thought claims that there could be an increased risk of ovarian cancer after partial spays.  But more and more vets are agreeing now that the occurrence of ovarian cancer is so low, it does not outweigh the other negative effects of removing such a large part of a female’s hormone production.  The only downside is that female dogs and cats will continue to go into “heat” cycles on a regular basis and display certain heat behaviors even though they won’t bleed.   This is because the ovaries continue to produce hormones that create heat cycles, whereas the bleeding can only come from the uterus which has now been removed. These heat cycles should be expected and possibly discussed with your vet before making a decision.  However, without the bleeding, many pet owners feel the heat cycles are not a problem.

Pet owners may be surprised that they have never heard about hormone sparing sterilization options.  But certain areas of thinking can take a while to change in the medical world, including in veterinary medicine, and this is one area that is in the process of changing.  For pet parents who are committed to helping their pet have its best life, requesting a form of hormone sparing sterilization could make a positive difference in your furry companion’s health and happiness!

The Parsemus Foundation offers a list of veterinarians who perform hormone sparing sterilization procedures.  To find a vet near you, click here.

You can also explore the pros and cons of different procedures by talking to your own veterinarian or by visiting the sites below for more information.

https://petsinstitches.com/blog/hormone-sparing-pet-sterilizations/

https://www.parsemus.org/2017/08/growing-interest-hormone-sparing-spay/

https://www.smallanimalclinic.com/services/reproduction/blog/should-i-consider-hormone-sparing-sterilization-my-dog

https://riversideanimalclinic.net/dr-jim-carlson-holistic-veterinarian/

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What do you do if your devoted companion is diagnosed with cancer and your veterinarian has no cure to offer?  Terminal cancer in dogs and cats occurs more frequently than most people realize.  Sometimes, the animal can be cured.  But often, the best a vet can offer is treatment that will merely buy your pet some time.  Then, you may hear the dreaded words, “There’s nothing more we can do.”

Outsmart Your Pet’s Cancer  was written to provide pets and their owners with another legitimate treatment option  . . .  one that is powerful, yet most veterinarians will not likely tell you about it.  This option is a Native American herbal preparation called “Essiac,” or “Essiac Tea.”  Though Essiac can improve many different health challenges, it is best known and documented as a cancer treatment.  It is non-toxic, safe, and inexpensive, and can be purchased without a prescription.  In recent years, more and more people have used this approach to cure their pet’s cancer – even, in many cases, after they were told there was no hope for a cure.

In Outsmart Your Pet’s Cancer,  the heartwarming stories of 16 dogs and 6 cats treated with Essiac are told.  Described largely in their owners’ own words, these real-life cases give valuable information about how various pet owners were able to help or, more importantly, completely cure their pet’s cancer.

Over the past 20 years of researching and writing about alternative non-toxic cancer treatments for people, I learned some important things about using any self-administered cancer treatment at home.  For example, knowing the history of the treatment you are using and understanding as much as you can about how it works is one of the keys to successfully overcoming cancer.  Therefore, the first 2 chapters of Outsmart Your Pet’s Cancer provide a look at the fascinating history of Essiac and some details on what is known about each herb in it.  This information not only gives readers an appreciation of just how remarkable this herbal treatment really is, but it also explains why Essiac has been used with great success for so long, yet most people have still not heard about it.

Knowing the best way to use a self-administered approach for optimum results is another key to success.  Thus, another chapter provides valuable tips for giving Essiac to a pet — including what NOT to do.  These tips can be critical to know about and may make the difference between overcoming your pet’s cancer or not.

Other chapters detail extra information that helps put this powerful approach into perspective, such as why it is not an officially approved approach to treating cancer and how to understand skeptics who may be “naysayers.”

Finally, a slightly different chapter, called “Writing this Book,” reveals some of my own experiences and surprises that occurred during this project.  As a veteran researcher into non-toxic approaches to cancer, I am rarely surprised when an alternative treatment works well.  But I found myself surprised quite often by the cases I included in this book that are truly astounding recoveries.  And I was also surprised by some of the stories the pet owners revealed to me about their own use of Essiac for themselves.  For instance, one man decided to give Essiac to his dog after he had used Essiac to cure himself of Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer!

My recommendation to pet owners is to always work with their vet whenever possible, especially since some cases may require initial surgery, pain medication or antibiotics. Outsmart Your Pet’s Cancer  will provide you with what you need to know about using Essiac to treat the cancer if another option is what you need, and you and your vet can decide whether it is something to give your pet by itself or along with a conventional treatment your vet wants to administer.  As always, my very best wishes go out to everyone!

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