Vaginitis - Bladder Infections - Puppy Acne - Demodectic Mange

An Alternative Approach

All four of these health problems are generally seen in young puppies and are really a "red flag" that something greater is going with the immune system. These opportunistic conditions are due to your puppy having a weak or underdeveloped immune system, which is very natural from 3 - 7 months of age, particularly in the large and giant breeds. These are not genetic conditions, but are based in diet and environmental factors. So in this article, rather than treating the symptoms, we look deeper at the cause and how to treat and feed for repair and prevention of these conditions.

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Puppy Vaginitis

Vaginitis is normally in puppy bitches from 4 - 10+ months of age (until their first season) and although it is often treated as an infection, which it is not, it is simply a condition caused by the normal sloughing off of cells and part of hormonal and developmental changes. I will not use any antibiotics internally for this problem - this is only a temporary condition and will pass as she matures. Here is part of a discussion with Dr. Hutchinson, one of the top reproduction specialist in this country. He is the Veterinarian we use for all our breedings.

Dr. Hutchinson -what is the treatment for puppy vaginitis & does it lead to problems later in breeding

DrHutch: Puppy vaginitis is a NORMAL mucous production in young bitches before their first heat cycle, the total treatment is warm water on a cotton ball and wipe these bitches DO NOT need to be on antibiotics it does NOT lead to infertility and it does NOT make them prone to pyometritis it is not an infection at all usually it's worse when the humidity is high.

To lean her up use: 1/2 teaspoon of OxEdrops in 1/2 cup of warm water, using a soaked cotton pad. You can do this 2 times a day.

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Puppy Bladder Infections:

Bladder infections in young puppies can be can be caused by many things:

• hormone changes, particularly in young bitches, hormones set up a situation where the system's pH balance changes and pathogenic bacteria likes flourish.

• dog foods that are carbohydrate/grain based or in too high a ratio of grain to the meat meal used, can be a problem because it changes the pH balance of the bladder. Always use a meat/poultry based dog food, if using a kibble.

• poor quality protein sources in a food, requires use of synthetic amino acid supplements to be added to the food to bring it up to par. These are often not usable by the system, and it can disrupt the pH balance of the urinary system.

• poor quality mineral package used on a food, or when people supplement minerals i.e.: calcium, zinc oxide, this can disrupt the body chemistry causing bladder infections. Only sequestered or chelated minerals should be used on commercial foods. Check the package....no oxides should be used for minerals. these are crude and unusual forms that do more damage than good over the long haul.

• lack of water - dogs who do not consume enough water are prone to bladder infections

• body chemistry......like in humans, there are variations within the breed and some bodies are prone to this, regardless of diet fed, raw or commercial. Just like in humans.
  

What to do?

Many times on young puppies, you can simply give them 1000 mg of ascorbic acid AM and PM - use Vitamin C , but not the buffered C (Ester C), just plain vitamin C and increase their water and it will alter the pH balance of the urinary tract and stop them from going into an infection.

Put extra water on their food or better yet, use broth, it is has sodium in it and will cause them to drink more. This will help to flush they system. If you don’t see a difference in two days, get them to a vet. Caught in the early stages, you can reverse it without much problem and no antibiotics.

Dogs prone to UTI should remain on Vitamin C, Cranberry Tablets which you can get from the health food store, and stay on the Nzymes- dietary enzyme.

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Demodectic Mange

This type of mange is also a problem of the underdeveloped or weak immune system, and it is not genetic, nor is it contagious. The mite is on all animals at all times, and when the system is suppressed, the little critters have a field day. Once the immune system is function, they go back to a state of dormancy. (for lack of a better explanation). Demodectic Mange is very common at 3 - 7 months of age. This is the worst time for puppies due to teething, growth, vaccines, hormones, wormers and cropping, training and being sent off to their new homes. A couple of things you can do before you rush off to the vet and have this puppy bombarded with dips and medicines.

How To Handle Demodectic Mange

First, the MOST important thing you can do follow the Blackwatch Puppy Feed Program - the complete program - do not cut corners or skimp this is very important. This program now comes with the supplements in a kit and you can add them to your holistic dog food -1 kit lasts one dog 2 months.

There are two kit options - Puppy Kit#1 - Baby Growth 8 - 12 weeks of age, this kit includes Colostrum for those weak new immune systems.

Puppy Kit # 3 for 12 weeks - 12 months (all breeds).

Topically you need to order Black-Leaf and first wipe the spot with a 2% solution of OxE-drops then rub Black-leaf into it f (do this twice a day).

 

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Puppy Acne

Puppy acne is very common and you normally see it from 3 - 18 months of age especially in the giant breeds. It shows up on the chin and lips, sometimes the vulva area, and in chronic cases you will see pimples along the back and rump. Normally it is treated with an antibiotic, usually Cephalexin (Keflex or Cefa-Tabs) which can be a real problem in this breed. (See antibiotic reactions).

How To Handle Puppy Acne

The best way to treat puppy acne at first is NOT internally with an antibiotic, but by altering the outside environment and boosting the immune system. The if that does not do it, you can resort to an antibiotic. Again the one they want to use is normally Cephalexin which can be a problem for this breed. The antibiotic destroys the integrity of the beneficial bacteria that grows in the gut and protects the lining of the intestines so if you have to resort to an antibiotic, you MUST use a probiotics twice a day on their food.

First, the MOST important thing you can do follow the Blackwatch Puppy Feed Program Kit#1 (with Colostrum) - the complete program - do not cut corners or skimp - this is very important. Then wipe the acne with a 2% solution of OxyEdrops
(mix 1 cup distilled water + 1 teaspoon of water). Wipe the acne 2-3 times a day.
Also take internally - instruction are on the label.

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So why is this puppy acne (staph infection) so common?

Staph infections are only the tip of the iceberg. Staph is a secondary infection because of a weak or immature immune system.

At first puppy’s immune system is very week and will gather strength with age provided their body is given the nutrients necessary to do this job. But just as it starts to develop we knock it back down with an onslaught of vaccines, wormers, cropping and antibiotics. At the same time the rapid growth, hormones and teething of the large and giant breeds, and this is more than the poor body can handle at this young age.

When the immune system becomes weakened, the good bacteria of the gut does not grow and multiple, protecting the lining of the gut from pathogens (bad bacteria, yeast, fungus etc.) and then we start to see the a domino effect such as Puppy Acne, Vaginitis and Demodectic Mange.

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Why Are Probiotics So Important?

The use of beneficial bacterias (probiotics) are critical to maintaining a strong immune system, so if using an antibiotic you must ALWAYS feed a probiotics at the same time, to keep the gut reseeded with good bacteria. The antibiotics will kill off the good AND the bad bacteria, but as you reseed the gut with good bacteria (probiotics), it will take hold even though some is lost due to antibiotics. Give probiotics AM and PM when you are on an antibiotic. (See Puppy Feed Program)

 

An Illustration: Think of it this way….you have a new apartment with few nice pieces of furniture, and the longer you live there the more you will add to your collection of nice furniture to make an environment of harmony and balance.
But along comes your new roommate who brings his flea market furniture, a lava lamp, some crates, bricks and boards making demands on your space. Before you know it…your "Feng Shui" interior is in chaos!

This is like the environment of the gut…in the beginning it has a few good bacteria (probiotics) living there, gaining strength and multiplying in harmony and balance. Then along comes other factors like stress, vaccines, antibiotics, diet, and rapid growth, teething, all making demands on the body, it can’t handle all this at once and there is chaos on the weak immune system.

The role of good bacteria is to keep the bad bacteria (pathogens) and the yeast/fungus in check, and stops them from causing chaos in the form of secondary infections or a systemic yeast infection, therefore keeping a good balance within the digestive tract.

The best preventative measure is always a sound feeding program and the use of functional foods such as Nzymes, Oxydrops and 4 in 1 Probiotics.