Name: Danielle
Email: happyteacher79<at>yahoo.com
Location: USA
I want to send out a warning to pet owners that they do not actually
need to PUT Hartz products on their cat to
have it affect them. I found this out yesterday when my cats went into
a horrible state after coming in contact with a Hartz product through application
on a dog. My mother-in-law is kind enough to take care of my cats while
my husband and I live in an apartment. She is an avid animal lover and
protector of animal rights so we feel completely safe having them with
her. She also has two cats of her own and a little dog. The little dog
loves to roll in the grass and brings in fleas so she is very good at keep
flea medicine on her. She usually uses Frontline, which is wonderful, but
she ran out and decided to use a tube of Hartz that she had left. She had
used this before on her dog with no symptoms, which is good. However, my
two cats, nosey critters that they are, were right in the action while
she was putting it on the dog.
She must have reached out and pushed them away with the Hartz on her
fingers and it got on them. The next morning at 8:00am the first cat had
to be rushed to the vet because it could not walk and was twitching. After
we returned home the other cat started to show symptoms and was rushed
there as well. They are both still at the vet's office awaiting bloodwork.
The first cat is in a really bad state. After we returned home all of the
remaining animals got baths and we scrubbed the house down from top to
bottom. The point is that THEY WERE BARELY TOUCHED WITH THIS PRODUCT AND
THEY HAD A SEVERE REACTION!!! She must have gotten a small bit on them,
they licked themselves, and the next day they were sick. THIS IS NOT A
SAFE PRODUCT!!!! Even if your dog is not having symptoms, if you have cats
in the house you are putting them at risk. If your dog rolls on the furniture
and smears it somewhere your cat can get into it and become very ill! Please
be aware of this!
Name: Diane
Email: dimarroc<at>yahoo.com
Location: Rochester NY/United States
I urge all people not to use ZODIAC flea control...my
friend's cat has been on life support for nearly 2 weeks after applying
it on him. His head dropped down immediately and he went into convulsions.
The Vet told my friend to wash down his other 2 pets immediately with Dawn
Detergent. My friend made a report to the PET POISON CONTROL (online) and
a report to the manufacturer.
The cat is almost ready to come home, but he is BLIND and can barely
walk (goes in circles). What's surprising???? SOMEONE ANONYMOUSLY
SENT A CASHIER'S CHECK TO THE VET FOR $2,500!! The Pet
Poison Center said they would look into the poisoning when he reported
it. Is the MANUFACTURER paying people off to avoid a lawsuit?? This terrible
product is still on the market! The Vet said it is VERY bad! What can you
do to help others avoid this kind of heartsick tragedy?
Update: the poor cat (6 yrs old) had to be put to sleep...no quality
of life whatsoever. This should be a warning to avoid the flea drops made
by Hartz called ZODIAC. The cat was buried in a Pet Cemetery with a headstone.
Name: Amber
Email: lilangels0987654@aol.com
Location: Maryland
My dog who was three- was murdered by Hartz flea
products. We put on him and the next day he was sick and vomited
evrywhere, we rushed him to the vet, were testing showed he had acute-renal-failure.
The night before Sky was running,playing, wagging, the next day he was
dying. Sky could not pee,drink, or eat. Sky could not even walk. He was
put down in our arms October 2, 2005. It is unfair. Our stores only sell
Hartz products. Please pass my story on. Thank you!
Feline
Owners Against Hartz
The primary goals and purpose of the site is to inform the public
of the dangers that have been associated with the use of 'Hartz
Flea and Tick Drops', 'Hartz Flea Collars' and 'Hartz Flea Shampoo'
for cats and dogs. To educate the public on what their recourses are should
their pets show any reaction to the use of these products. To enlist
the aid of other pet lovers to join with us in our efforts to have these
products removed from sale.
We are a group devoted to stopping Hartz from hurting animals with their
flea products. Please join us in honoring the thousands of pets who have
been injured or killed by Hartz products. We are inviting you to
become part of a very special project. We are creating a Hartz Victims
Memorial quilt, a real quilt and a cyber quilt for online. The quilt may
be viewed at http://www.geocities.com/hartzquilt.
We are hoping to display the real quilt at a number of different venues
including a museum. We also hope to have the press present for the unveiling
of the real quilt. It is our hope that in doing this we will be raising
public awareness to the dangers of using Hartz flea products and gain support
for our movement.
If you have an animal that has been victimized by Hartz and would like
to have a photo included on our 'cyber quilt' we'll be happy to include
you.
To have a photo included you will need to send a photo of the pet only,
in a .gif or .jpeg format to HartzQuilt@yahoo.com
In the subject line please put : HartzQuilt. Please include
the following information: Pets name, Your State, If your pet went to the
Rainbow Bridge due to Hartz also include the date, Your name, Your email
address, (so we can notify you when the photo has been added).
If you would like to also have a photo square on the real quilt please
go to the web site and click on 'Real Quilt' at the bottom of the page.
That will provide you with the information about the real quilt photo squares
and a confirmation form you can send if you decide you want to participate
in the project.
We hope you'll join us in the fight against Hartz.
Sincerely,
Feline Owners Against Hartz
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FelineOwnersAgainstHartz/
Against Hartz at http://www.geocities.com/againsthartz/
Hartz Victims Quilt Project http://www.geocities.com/hartzquilt/
The Petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/hartz/petition.html
Hartz Victims at http://www.hartzvictims.org
Against Hartz Store Against Hartz Shop http://www.cafeshops.com/againsthartz
Flea
product putting cats in danger
05/13/2002
By Jeremy Desel / 11 News
There is no doubt that many pet owners love to pamper their animals.
But could you be putting you pet in peril by trying to help keep them comfortable?
For months, 11 News has been looking into a product that is pushed by the
largest pet product company in America. It's a product that may be in your
home right now.
Spring is the time of year that fleas and ticks start to pester our
pets and people look for ways to protect them. One of the hottest products
is also one of the newest. And some say it's potentially dangerous, even
deadly.
Kiser and Stryker are two important feline members of the Hiatt family.
Brian Hiatt likes to think he looks out for his animals and takes good
care of them, "They're very special, they are a part of our lives," Brian
says.
That's why he decided, two weeks ago, to get them set up for spring
with an anti-flea treatment. But not long after he applied the product,
Hiatt says Stryker started acting strange.
"It looked like the cat was almost drunk. If it tried to walk, it was
really unstable, and then it would just drop and fall, and fall on his
side. And all throughout his muscles, through his side, and his back, would
just sit there and convulse," says Brian.
Then Kiser began to exhibit the same symptoms. Hiatt says he was worried
for his cats' lives. He rushed both Stryker and Keiser to Dr. Cindy McCauley's
emergency clinic in Sugar Land
In the animal hospital, they received anti-seizure drugs and were cleaned
with dishwashing soap. But even hours later, the cats still exhibited muscle
tremors.
Brian says he applied Hartz Advanced Care Plus to both of his cats.
Tens of millions doses of the product have been sold nationwide. The active
ingredients are Phenothrin and S-Methoprene; they're both pesticides.
Dr. McCaully's report shows the Hiatt's cats had a reaction to flea
meds, acute Phenothrin toxicity.
According to vets consulted by 11 News, what happened to Keiser and
Stryker is not an isolated incident. Dr. Angela Rose saw enough cats come
through her Arkansas office that she started to videotape them.
She taped two-year-old Punkin, who's owner says she applied Hartz Advanced
Care Plus to her pet in July of last year. Hours later, the vet reported
extreme muscle tremors, and grand mal seizures. Dr. Rose says the cat suffered
a toxic reaction to a topical synthetic pyrethrin.
"If you look at all of the flea and tick products, there is always that
very small possibility that they may have an adverse event associated with
them," says Dr. Albert Ahn, Chief Scientific Officer for the Hartz Mountain
Corporation.
New Jersey- based Hartz Mountain is the world's largest manufacturer
of pet products and the maker of Advanced Care Plus. Learn
more
UNITED
STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON. D.C. 20460Office
of Prevention. Pesticides andToxic Substances Review of Incident Data for
Four Hartz Mountain Flea and Tick ControlProducts (2596-146, -147, -148
and -150
The purpose of HartzVictims.org
is to raise awareness and provide a one-stop website where consumers and
victims can find information on the lethal Hartz Advanced Care Flea and
Tick drops. It is up to us to get the Hartz Advanced Flea and Tick drops
off the shelves! There are hundreds thousands of us who have paid unnecessary
vet bills. I urge you to become a member of this site.
Report
An Adverse Drug Experience Veterinarians and animal owners are
encouraged to report adverse experiences and product failures to the government
Agency that regulates the product in question.
Subject: Hartz
Must Re-Label Pesticides After Cat Deaths
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 16:24:24 -0500
From:
Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State
of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Hartz Must Re-Label Pesticides After Cat Deaths
WASHINGTON, DC, December 2, 2002 (ENS) - Thousands of illnesses and
deaths in cats and kittens have led to a reissue of some flea and tick
products, along with new warning labels and other protective measures.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said last week that safety
concerns stemming from use of two flea and tick control products for cats
and kittens, led the agency to persuade the Hartz Mountain Corp. to enact
measures to reduce potential risks to pets from using these products.
"EPA sought this agreement due to concerns over safety issues based
on thousands of adverse effects incidents investigated by EPA," the agency
said.
Under an agreement with the EPA, Hartz has ceased the distribution of
Hartz Advanced Care Brand Flea and Tick Drops Plus for Cats and Kittens
and Hartz Advanced Care Brand Once-a-Month Flea and Tick Drops for Cats
and Kittens.
When the new packaging is available in January, Hartz will exchange
it for the current packages, a spokesman said today. This is considered
"an orderly product exchange" by the EPA, not a recall, and the company
is permitted to sell those products that are still on the shelves.
Hartz is required to recover, repackage, and re-label currently available
stock of the flea and tick drops and to educate consumers about their risks
if applied incorrectly. "The actual product formulation will not change,"
said Hartz in a statement November 21.
In the so-called "stripe-on" procedure now recommended by the company
to apply its flea and tick drops in a stripe down the cat's back, the animals
can reach around and lick it from their fur. The EPA says incident reports
ranged from "minor adverse effects including skin irritation or hair loss
at the application site and salivation to more serious effects on the nervous
system, such as tremors (twitching of muscles) and, in some circumstances,
severe full body tremors (convulsion). Unfortunately, in some cases, death
has also been reported."
In the new process, the drops are applied at the base of the cat's head.
As part of these changes, Hartz will also include a more detailed precautionary
statement on the label. The company worked closely with the EPA to develop
this new packaging and labeling.
To continue to evaluate safety concerns for cats, the EPA is also requiring
Hartz to submit an additional animal safety study conducted by an independent
laboratory, and to submit additional quarterly reports specific to cats,
summarizing any incidents of toxic effects from Hertz products.
The new product labels, which will start appearing on store shelves
over the next several months, will direct users to consult with a veterinarian
before use of these products on debilitated, aged, medicated, pregnant
or nursing animals, or animals known to be sensitive to pesticides. The
labels will advise that cats should be monitored after application of the
product and if any adverse symptoms are observed, the animal should be
washed with mild soap and rinsed with water and evaluated by a veterinarian.
The EPA is also requiring Hartz to conduct a consumer education program,
which will include a website, direct mail campaign to pet owners, pet stores
and veterinarians on the new safety improvements. If consumers choose to
return either of the two Hartz products, the company is expected to exchange
it for the relabeled product or refund the purchase price.
The company is also required to improve labeling on individual tubes
of the affected products to help ensure consumers are using them correctly.
For more information on the EPA's action, visit: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/citizens/hartzq_a.htm
For information regarding the product recovery and label improvements,
consumers may contact Hartz by phone at: 800-275-414.
News
8 Austin : Cats can react to flea medication
I urge all of you to contact your local news papers or television stations
with your stories
Heart breaking testimonial
September 20, 2002 - from Kit Bellamy Burmood, Pasadena,
CA, USA email: keb@usc.edu
I had to rush my cat to the emergency clinic last night due to an adverse
reaction to Hartz Flea and Tick medication. I did a Google search for "Hartz
adverse cat" to find any reports of cats having adverse reactions to Hartz
products, and I was amazed at how many reports of this I found. Your site
seems to post this type of thing, and I just want to add my comment regarding
Hartz Flea and Tick medications.
Last night, our cat Shady had an adverse reaction to the Hartz Flea
drops medication. She had what I now know to be the typical reaction: twitching,
shaking, nervousness, confusion and seizure-like symptoms. When we took
her to the 24 hour emergency clinic, the staff told us how common this
type of reaction is. They said, "Oh yeah, that Hartz is really Bad Stuff."
My husband and I were shocked! Of course, we had read all the package information
carefully before applying the product to our cat, and even called our own
vet to make sure the product was safe. (He endorsed it. Needless to say
we won't be returning to his office.) The only warning on the package stated
that "redness or irritation" may occur at the site of application. If we
had been aware of the type and severity of possible reactions (i.e.: seizures!
Liver and Kidney damage! Death!?) we would have never even considered using
the product. But, of course, that's exactly why the packaging does not
contain a more specific warning, isn't it?
If the following phrase was on the package: "Warning, may cause seizures
in cats" I would not have bought the product. It's obvious why that phrase
is not on the package - probably no one would buy the product if the proper
warnings were given. I am really angry that this product remains on the
market even though many people have reported that their pets have become
ill, or have even died after using it. I plan to file formal complaints
with Hartz, and the FDA, but I'm not sure what else I might do. If you
are aware of any groups or individuals seeking to force Hartz and other
companies to remove products like this from the marketplace, I would appreciate
knowing about them.
Thank you for your time, and for providing this important forum.
Kit Bellamy Burmood, Pasadena, CA, USA email: keb@usc.edu
Name: Jason Simerly
Email: allenjasim27@comcast.net
Location: Knoxville, TN
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004
I have a 3 year old Yorkie-Poo named Cody. I gave him a bath today with
HARTZ MEDICATED SHAMPOO. I placed him in the tub of water and made sure
he was completey wet, then applied the shampoo. Well after about 2 minutes,
hand fulls of his hair stated to fall out. It felt like the shampoo was
burning his hair off. The whole tub was just saturated with his hair. I
was in total shock because I bath him frequently and have never in my life
seen such a thing. He kept shaking like it was burning him. I rinsed him
off as fast as I could. I've never had any trouble with any other
shampoo. I contacted Hartz today and they said to mail them the bottle
and they would refund my money. The reason that I'm concerned is because
I
bought this shampoo for my Dalmatian witch had very bad dandruff and
dry skin. I used it on him several months ago. I didn't really notice a
lot of hair loss because he is mainly white. I ended up having to take
the Dalmatian to the Vet because he had sores on him and hair loss. Now,
as of today after bathing my little dog Cody, I see exactly why my Dalmatian's
hair fell out. At first I thought it was just his dry skin. I'm just not
sure what to do? I would like to let other people no what happened
so they don't use this on their dogs.
HartzVictims.org
The purpose of this site is to raise awareness and provide a one-stop
Website where consumers and victims can find information on the lethal
Hartz Advanced Care Flea and Tick drops.
Join other concerned
and caring animal lovers by signing this petition.
Animal
Rights Legal Foundation's Attorney Referral Network ("ARN").
The ARN is designed to connect individuals with animal law questions
or potential cases with attorneys who practice animal law. In this website
you will find a list of attorneys by state, currently in the ARN. Before
contacting any of these attorneys, please note their areas of practice
so as to ensure that you are contacting an attorney who practices in the
area of law in which you are seeking assistance.
Sign the
petition online
To: Hartz Mountain Corp. and Retailers carrying Hartz brand topical
flea and tick products
Class action suit against Hartz :
Subject: hartz toxic reaction Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 From: "rhonda
holland" <rgh_43@bellsouth.net>
"On july 17, 2000, I purchased Hartz Flea and Tick Drops For Cats
on our family cat. In one hour, my daughter found our cat in the bathroom
floor twitching very badly and semi-comatose. I grabbed the cat up and
the product which had 2 more unused tubes and the used tube off the counter
and rushed the cat to our vet. I showed him the product that I had applied
onTiger Lily as he looked the cat over. The product was still wet on her
back where I had appied it so he told assistant to washoff product as best
as he could as he finish talking to me. He stated this was not the first
time he had seen this type reaction from Hartz and the cat's symptions
coupled with the application of the chemical led him to conclude that Tiger
Lily was having a toxic reaction to the preparation. After bathing and
medical treatment, the patient was able to be discharged after 48 hours.
Upon discharge, he recommended that we should monitor Tiger Lily's liver
for damage over the next year with testing at one month, four months, seven
months, and twelve months after this terrible episode.
When Ireported the toxic reaction to Hartz's consumer relations, they
asked me to send them the unused and used tubes of product plus vet bills
to them and they would pay the bills for a release on their product. They
also said that some cats are just allergic to product and this was not
the first report. I never heard back from them so I called Animal Legal
Defense Hotline (1-800-555-6517 Brad Woodall) and he wanted me to take
class action suit against them. I found a very good, understanding, and
concerned lawyer who also is on the board committee for Humane Society
here in Jackson, TN. After sending notices to Hartz's company for over
six months, she finally got a reply from them. They are wanting to send
me a check for 296.00 for expenses which don't even touch the vet bills
I have had to pay if I sign a release form on their product. My lawyer
and I are not going to let them get away with hurting and killing our beloved
pets. I would like to see this product off the shelf or a big improvement
done to it to make it safe for all pets. Please contact me if you have
any information around this product or know someone who does. If we all
help each other the maybe we can take Hartz off the shelf like we did Blockcade
several years ago. We can do it again if we have to. My e-mail address
is rgh_43@bellsouth.net
. Please Note: "A product may look and seem cheaper on the shelf but do
you want to kill your loved one over a few extra dollars or better yet
lose them and end up with an 500.00 dollar vet to go with the suffering."
rhonda
Are
You Poisoning Your Pets?: A Guidebook to How Our Lifestyles
Affect the Health of Our Pets by Nina Anderson
Countless pets are poisoned each year, either suffering a sudden illness
or death or encountering toxins on a daily basis that erode their health
slowly and shorten their lifespan. This helpful guide tells how to guard
against both kinds of poisoning and explains how to identify and remove
such causes as cleaning products, paint and varnish, fumes, certain houseplants,
and more .
SICK OF DRUGGING YOUR PET?
Dr Charles E Loops DVM - "After
10 years of traditional veterinary practice I became tired of having no
treatment for chronic disease, incurable conditions, and a plethora of
allergic maladies which seem to plague all veterinary practices. I was
frustrated with giving animals cortisone because
I had no other solutions, or using antibiotics
for infections which I knew were of viral origin. There is so much that
can be done for an animal, bird, or reptile that is ailing by utilizing
homeopathic medicine."
For years dog health supplies have included toxic
materials to artificially maintain dog health as a temporary measure.
The time has come to change to a more natural approach toward animal health.
Natural remedies have been shown to achieve more immediate, more complete
and longer lasting health, vitality, quality and longevity of animal lives.
Learn
about herbal remedies and other safe alternatives to drugs, chemo, radiation
and surgery
Michael Dym, VMD - "Over the past 40 years and 17 generations
of dogs and, cats we are seeing tremendous increases in chronic ill health
in our pets that was rare back in the early 1960's. Most of these illnesses
revolve around breakdown in our pets' immune systems, and include chronic
skin/ear allergies, digestive upset, thyroid/adrenal/pancreatic disorders,
seizures, gum/ teeth problems, degenerative arthritis, kidney/liver failure,
and cancer across all ages and breeds. We are also seeing a record number
of behavioral and emotional disorders including alarming and unexplained
fears/aggression., as well as difficulty focusing/training and paying attention.
The analogy of these compared with escalating immune/behavioral diseases
in children is quite disturbing. The two biggest factors in our pets' population
health decline over these generations has been the severe overuse
of multiple vaccines and nutrient poor and toxin
filled commercial pet foods. We have also failed to address the underlying
cause of disease by only sup pressing symptoms with antibiotics,
cortisone
and related drugs, so the disease progresses and goes deeper. Homeopathy
offers a viable alternative in truly curing pets and making their bodies
healthier."
Dr. Pat Bradley, DVM, Conway, USA - "The most common problems
I see that are directly related to vaccines
on a day to day basis are ear or skin
conditions, such as chronic discharges and
itching.
I also see behaviour problems such as fearfulness
or aggression. Often guardians will report
that these begin shortly after vaccination, and are exacerbated with every
vaccine. In a more general and frightening context, I see the overall health
and longevity of animals deteriorating. The bodies of most animals have
a tremendous capacity to detoxify poisons, but they do have a limit. I
think we often exceed that limit and over-whelm the body's immune system
function with toxins from vaccines, poor quality foods,
insecticides,
environmental toxins, etc. This is why we've seen such a dramatic increase
in allergies, organ failures, and behaviour
problems."
Dr. Blanco, D.V.M - "You take healthy animals
and often very quickly after you vaccinate,
you can see simple things like itching of
the skin or
excessive
licking of the paws, sometimes even with no
eruptions. We see a lot of epilepsy,
often after a rabies vaccination. Or dogs or cats can become aggressive
for several days. Frequently, you'll see urinary
tract infections in cats, often within three
months after their [annual] vaccination. If you step back, open your mind
and heart, you'll start to see patterns of illness post-vaccination." more
about vaccinosis
Will Falconer, DVM - "Most of the chronic diseases we commonly
see in animals (and humans) have an immune basis, e.g. diabetes, allergies,
asthma, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, repeated ear infections,
cancer, etc. While they can be cured through the careful use of homeopathy,
the road to cure can be a long one -- often years if the animal has had
years of disease. Transfer factors can significantly shorten the course,
by giving a much needed balancing effect to the immune system. If the immune
system is overactive as in allergies, ear infections, asthma, diabetes,
or hypothyroidism, Transfer Factor can balance this overactivity so the
system is not attacking its own organs, overreacting to things that shouldn’t
be perceived as a threat. If, conversely, the immune system is under-active
as in mange, parasites, viral infections, or cancer, Transfer
Factor Plus can clearly stimulate it to better meet the challenges
it needs to be alert to." Prevaccination
Protection Dr. Falconer D.V.M. explains how to protect your animal
from vaccines damage
Sam Jones, DVM - "Two cats, both about 8 years old, had severe
diabetes. It was impossible to get the insulin requirements adjusted. They
had lost weight to a point that they were skin and bones. Both cats had
no quality of life left. After one week of being on transfer
factors; we were able to get their insulin requirements adjusted. It
is now 6 months and they have regained their weight and have a great quality
of life and health."
Our
pets are prone to suffer from minerals and trace mineral deficiency. For
optimum health, I supplement my animal's diet (and my diet too) with the
following: fulvic minerals , marine phytoplankton (consist of an immense
arsenal and array of naturally occuring powerful phytochemicals, biochemicals,
supercharged antioxidants, free-radical scavengers, super oxide dismutases,
nutrients, enzymes, hormones, amino acids, antibiotics, antivirals, and
antifungals), bee pollen (rich in naturally occuring
vitamins),
kelp (marine plants),
the
right kind of salt
(not common table salt) and therapeutic
clay (to promote healing and to detoxify) and with omega
3 oils. Shasta does not drink
tap water. I give her only
energized,
alkaline microwater which is free from toxic chlorine and fluoride.
I never cook or warm up food in a microwave
oven. Please read about the Hidden Hazards of
Microwave Cooking. Shirley
Just like humans, domesticated animals like dogs and cats are affected
by the health hazards of modern living. Pollution, poor nutrition, stress
and unhealthy lifestyles can lead to a variety of illnesses and conditions
that are very similar to those experienced by humans. These days, emotional
and psychological problems like depression, anxiety, ADHD and behavioral
problems are just as prevalent in pets as they are in their owners. Similarly,
physical ailments such as diabetes,
arthritis, chronic fatigue, digestive disorders, cystitis, kidney and liver
disease, skin disorders, obesity, thyroid dysfunction and other problems
are becoming more and more common in domesticated animals. Many, if not
most of these conditions can be prevented by helping your pets to live
a healthier lifestyle. For pets already suffering from existing conditions,
a combination of lifestyle changes and natural medicine can work wonders!
Dr. John Hanover, DVM - "Young puppies and kittens with
respiratory infections are given Shipibo
Treasure Tea which they will lap up even when they will not drink water.
I frequently recommend Amazon Herbs for my patients, especially geriatric
animals and our Search and Rescue dogs.” more...
Dr. Jerry Tennant, M.D.
says that marine phytoplankton contains
almost everything one needs to sustain life and to restore health by providing
the raw materials to make new cells that function normally. Learn
how phytoplankton saved a dog's Life
Hidden Danger in Your Animal's
Drinking Water
Chlorinated water can cause serious animal health problems
"Chlorine is a halogen that damages enzymes. It does not belong in our
bodies as part of our water needs !! For starters, chlorine potentiates
magnesium
deficiency, which can cause almost any symptom you can think of from
high blood pressure, to chemical sensitivity or even sudden death. Furthermore
it also decreases the absorption while increasing the excretion of calcium
and phosphorus. The increased loss of calcium into the urine, promotes
osteoporosis. It is known that it not only contributes to hypertension,
but also cancers of the pancreas, colon, bladder and has been linked to
heart attacks, diabetes, kidney stones and much more. "
"To make matters worse for pets, some people still use plastic water
bowls. Most, if not all, of these absorb and retain numerous toxic materials.
Dr. Christopher Day (England) reports..."I once had an epileptic dog I
had been treating unsuccessfully for eighteen months. One day its plastic
feeding bowl was accidentally broken and replaced with a ceramic one. The
fits stopped immediately."
Although many breeders are aware of the chlorine problem in drinking
water, a common mistake is to overlook the fact that bathing in it can
have the same effect !! Please remember that because of dermal absorption,
anything on the skin is like drinking it !!"Marina Zacharias fromCHLORINATED
WATER.... A BIG NO-NO !!! From
the Natural Rearing web site: alternative, holistic,
complementary health care for pets
CHLORINATED
and FLUORIDATED WATER.... A BIG NO-NO !!! There
is a perception among many people that bottled water is somehow more healthy
or pure than water from their tap. This is simply an illusion of marketing.
A four-year study by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), released
in 1999, found that one-fifth of the sampled bottled waters contained known
neurotoxins and carcinogens such as styrene, toluene and xylene. Another
NRDC study found that, out of 103 brands of bottled water, one-third contained
traces of arsenic and E. coli. This means that out of a sample of 1,000
bottles sold in the U.S., at least 300 would have some level of chemical
contamination. It is well known that the average city water today contains
over 500 chemicals that do not belong in it. Part of this is due to the
fact that most delivery systems in the U.S. include cement, asbestos pipes,
cast iron, PVC (porous to certain solvents, herbicides and pesticides)
and that lead, cadmium and other toxic metals leach out of valves and couplings
of pipes between a water treatment plant and a faucet in the home. Why
Purified and Distilled Bottled Water are Bad For You and Your Animals
Safe,
toxin-free, Ionized,
Energized, Drinking Water helps to naturally flush toxins and acidic
waste from the body and is a powerful antioxidant. Ionized Water makes
more oxygen available to our cells than distilled, reverse osmosis, filtered
only, bottled or tap water and is the best possible drinking water. "Disease
and early death is more likely to be seen with the long term drinking of
purified water. Avoid it except in special circumstances." Zoltan P.
Rona M.D
Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Veterinary
Medicine
Pesticides
in our animal's food
Eating organic food and drinking pure water can have profoundly beneficial
effects on the health and longevity of our animals
"According to Consumer Reports, January 1998, there are 9,700 pesticides
in existence, and in 1995, U.S. farmers applied 566 million pounds of pesticides
to major fiber and food crops. Last summer, the U.S. Geological Survey
announced the first results of a massive study of pesticides in 5,000 water
samples from wells and rivers. Half the wells--and nearly all streams--contained
at least one pesticide." Carolyn Swicegood has excellent articles on the
adverse effect of pesticides on parrots and the incredible health benefits
of feeding organically grown food. While she
writes about parrot's sensitivity and suceptibility to being poisoned,
the information also applies to our dogs, cats, and any animal on earth,
including us, humans.
Are you unknowingly placing
your animal at risk?
Toxic Pet Product: consumer
alert! part 1
Countless pets are poisoned each year, either suffering a sudden illness
or death or encountering toxins on a daily basis that erode their health
slowly and shorten their lifespan.
Flea Control Product WARNING
for Cat and Dog Households!
Rimadyl Risk-Be Aware
Death after Proheart 6 shot
SteroidsThe sleaziest of
drugs
Are Antibiotics Making Your
Pet Sick?
Routine Vaccination: Is
it really safe and effective
Protecting Your Pet from
Veterinarian Negligence
Natural Solutions for
animal suffering from sickness to toxic drugs or chemicals
It is not too late to help your poisoned furry loved
one.
Natural Solutions for animal suffering from sickness
to toxic drugs or chemicals
A growing number of veterinarians are recommending Transfer
Factor to improve animal's health and boost their immune system, including
in cancer cases, toxic conditions, diabetes, and neurological conditions.
Charles W. Brown, DVM writes: "My colleagues and I have found
this product to be very effective in modulating the immune system. Transfer
factor is a "soup" of immune-modulating factors, which contains a leukocyte-type
molecule that can passively transfer immunity from one mammal to another
by stimulating cell-mediated immunity and is antigen specific. Richard
Bennett, Ph.D., an Infectious Disease Microbiologist and Immunologist
from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine,
believes this could be the most significant development in animal health
care in decades. We have a great number of veterinarians and clients who
are experiencing very positive results in a broad area of disorders, including
periodontal."
Baruch Rosen, M.D. wrote a testimonial of the experience he had
with his own dog who came down with distemper: "...Blood studies confirmed
distemper and showed a white cell count (lymphocytes) of only 264 slightly
more than ten percent of normal. Our vet plus a second out-of-state consulting
vet, an expert in distemper were very sympathetic and advised me to prepare
myself to euthanize Romeo. Knowing little to nothing about canine distemper,
I turned to the internet and luckily stumbled on to Transfer Factor Plus,
a preparation which enhances and stimulates the body's own immune system
to fight against all pathogens, viral or otherwise. My thirty years
in medicine told me this was the only solution. I hurriedly became
a distributor to get the product and started Chico and Romeo on one cap
daily encased in one teaspoonful of raw hamburger. Over the next
two weeks all cough and mucus drainage ceased. Romeo's follow-up blood
count had risen to normal range at 2217 and he surprised to whole family
by jumping afive foot wall. He romps and plays all day long with
Chico, now responds normally to his name and appears to be his old joyful
self again" I have his full testimonial on my site (see link
below)
Sam Jones, DVM writes: "Two cats, both about 8 years old, had
severe diabetes. It was impossible to get the insulin requirements adjusted.
They had lost weight to a point that they were skin and bones. Both cats
had no quality of life left. After one week of being on transfer factors
we were able to get their insulin requirements adjusted. It is now 6 months
and they have regained their weight and have a great quality of life and
health."
Testimonial: Dogs, Distemper, and
Transfer Factor Plus by Dr. Baruch Rosen, M.D.
More about Transfer Factor and where to purchase
Transfer
Factor for Animals - Transfer Factor for children - QandA about Transfer
Factor - Education and Instinct - An Explanation of T-Factors Plus By William
J. Hennen, Ph.D.
Fulvic
Acid are Nature's Poison Detoxifier Fulvic acid acts as an important
protective agent. An important aspect of humic substances is related to
their sorptive interaction with environmental chemicals, either before
or after they reach concentrations, toxic to living organisms. 33
The toxic herbicide know as Paraquat is rapidly detoxified by humic substances
(fulvic acid). 34 Fulvic acids have a
special function with respect to the demise of organic compounds applied
to soil as pesticides. As the most powerful, natural electrolyte known,
fulvic acid restores electrical balance to damaged cells, neutralizes
toxins and can eliminate food poisoning within minutes. When it encounters
free radicals with unpaired positive or negative electrons, it supplies
an equal and opposite charge to neutralize the free radical. fulvic acid
acts as a refiner and transporter of organic materials and cell nutrients.
According to A. Szalay, fulvic acid has the ability to dramatically detoxify
herbicides, pesticides, and other poisons that it interacts with – this
includes many radioactive elements. This detoxification process may extend
to animals and humans, since we are the end-users of these plants.
Milk
Thistle's Therapeutic Uses Milk thistle can be used as a nutritional
supplement to promote health by protecting the liver against the many adverse
factors that can cause damage to the vital organ. In an increasingly toxic
world, we place growing burdens on the body's detoxification system,
the hub of which is the liver. Millions of compounds are detoxified within
each liver cell, or hepatocyte. Inevitably, this wear and tear compromises
liver cells and surrounding connective tissue. Milk thistle, also known
as St. Mary's thistle and lady's thistle, offers a reliable and safe solution.
Milk Thistle herbal extracts is available here
Testimonials:
saving pets from toxic nightmare
Personal accounts of by pet owners who saved their animal's life by
protecting them from hidden toxic products
A
Different Grief: Coping with Pet Loss
by Marty Tousley
Trying to sort through my feelings and better understand my own reaction,
I began to investigate the nature of people's attachment to their animals,
reading all I could find on the human-animal bond and learning all I could
about other people's reactions to the loss of their companion animals.
I soon came to realize how important it is to understand and respect
the person's level of attachment to a terminally ill or deceased pet, the
role the animal played in the person's life, and the significance of the
loss from the person's point of view. Over time I began to understand and
accept my own profound loss and was able to find meaning in the midst of
my grief. Today my work with bereaved animal lovers combines my background
and training in counseling with my respect for the bond people have with
their animals, and with my own experiences of healing from the loss of
both human and animal loved ones.
If you are mourning or anticipating the loss of a cherished companion
animal, you already know that you are in need of information, compassion
and support. You deserve to feel comforted, understood and acknowledged
as a person in grief, and reassurance that you are normal and healthy in
loving your animal so deeply. (guiding
map: click here
to access the site, then click on "enter"
then click on "courses"
on the top of the page, scroll down and you'll see "A
Different Grief: Coping with Pet Loss.
Click on it.)
Identify and Treat the Causes
of Disease
Illness does not occur without cause. Causes may originate in many
areas. Underlying causes of illness and disease must be identified and
removed before complete recovery can occur. Symptoms can be expressions
of the body's attempt to defend itself, to adapt and recover, to heal itself,
or may be results of the causes of disease. Excerpt from
http://www.naturopathic.org
The word "holistic" means "whole". In providing holistic care, the therapist
addresses your animal not only from the point of view of its disease, but
also considers what may have caused the condition. There are many
levels to look at: the animal's lifestyle, the food it eats, the medication
it receives, the emotions it undergoes and the environmental factors; these
may all have a relationship with the symptoms you observe. more
Routine Vaccination:
Is it really safe and effective?
Most recently, an article appeared in the Journal of the American Veterinary
Medical Association entitled"Are We Vaccinating Too Much?"
Dr. Richard Pitcairn D.V.M. Ph.D:"In this
article we begin to address the subject of vaccinosis, the general name
for chronic dis-ease caused by vaccines. For some readers the very idea
that vaccines are anything but wonderful and life-saving may come as a
surprise, and it's not a very pleasant one. After all, the general population
pictures vaccines as one of modern medicine's best and brightest moments,
saving literally millions from the scourge of diseases like poliomyelitis
and smallpox. " Dr. Pitcairn DVM, Ph.D
Dr. McCluggage DVM,- "...we must stop advocating
yearly vaccines because of the harm we are doing to the animals we vaccinate.
He covered the homeopathic concept of "vaccinosis". Vaccinosis is a disease
entity that may be introduced through vaccinating animals or people. Once
vaccinosis develops, there is a disturbance in the bodies vital forces
that leads to symptoms of chronic disease that can be very difficult (and
often impossible) to cure. Dr. McCluggage also stated that there are no
good reasons to recommend annual vaccinations for our companion animals.
" Dr. McCluggage DVM
Donna Starita Mehan DVM: "Routine" vaccination
has adverse side-effects, either short or long term. With vaccines that
are repeated year after year, the frequency and severity of these side-effects
in our pets has increased dramatically. Most of the problems involve the
immune system. After all, the immune system is what vaccines are designed
to stimulate. But they do so in a very unnatural way that can overwhelm
and confuse the immune system and can result in increased susceptibility
to acute infections (such as ear infections in dogs, bladder infections
in cats), chronic tapeworm problems, or in more degenerative cases, cancer."
Donna
Starita Mehan DVM
Read about the comments of other
vets
who believe that vaccines are damaging our pets. Read
the above quotes in their entirety please get
informed!
Do
you have a question about animal vaccination or need assistance?
or use this contact
form
or call 206-984-3009 or 323-389-0560
Correctly
prescribed homeopathic remedies can often undue the damage caused by vaccines
Homeopathy
is
noted for its success to antidote or remove the toxic effects of vaccines
and to re-establish balance in the organism and restore health. Certain
homeopathic remedies taken after vaccination can minimize
vaccine damage. A professional homeopathic vet should
be consulted for more information.
If you'd like to copy, print or send to a friend a summary of the information
about holistic animal health click here
William Pollak D.V.M. - "Recent studies have shown
processed foods to be a factor in increasing numbers of pets suffering
from cancer, arthritis, obesity, dental disease
and heart disease, comments Dr
Wysong. Dull or unhealthy coats are a common problem with cats and dogs
and poor diet is usually the cause, according to many veterinarians and
breeders. "Dogs, cats and other animals live for years on foods
that come out of bags, cans and boxes. But do these foods promote health?
If they did, our companion animals would enjoy long, happy lives free of
arthritis, hip dysplasia, eye problems, ear problems, fleas and other parasites,
gum disease, lick granulomas, thyroid imbalances, skin and coat problems,
personality disorders, birth defects, breeding problems, diabetes, cancer
and other major and minor illnesses. Before World War II, most North Americans
fed their pets raw bones and table scraps. Today, everyone uses convenience
foods, and pet food companies are industry giants. Diet isn't the only
thing that has changed. So has life expectancy, with the life span of many
breeds now less than half what it was two or three decades ago. Skin and
coat problems are so common that we accept them as unavoidable, and today's
vets routinely treat conditions that used to be unusual or even rare."
learn more: The Poisons in Pet Food
A fresh look at optimum diet for animals
"The food your animal eats should provide all of the nutritional components
which are necessary for all organs and systems of a healthy body to perform
in harmonious unison. A properly functioning body does an amazing job at
preventing disease and healing itself, and to do this it requires the energies
and nutrients of a well-balanced diet. In terms of finding the proper diet
for our companions, this means learning to look beyond our own needs, opinions,
and agendas to address the natural needs of the animals that we caretake.
The business of selling pet food at times seems to be focused more on what
appeals to animal guardians than on the dietary needs of pets. The market
success of most commercial foods is judged by how convenient it is, and
how good it looks, smells, feels, or even tastes to pet owners. The natural
reality is this: what is good for our animals may be appalling to us, but
if we really wish to provide them with the nutrition they truly need, we
must learn to look beyond standards of human acceptance to consider what
our pets might eat if we weren't around. Dogs for instance, wouldn't be
eating sirloin-like chunks of meat with a rich gravy , or seafood buffet
from a can--- they would be eating berries, grasses, rodents, and the rotting
flesh of dead animals. This of course, doesn't appeal to us, so most dogs
and cats eat dried kibbles or sterilized canned foods which lack live enzymes
and dozens of other important nutrients that were destroyed by cooking."
Mary
L. Wulff-Tilford author of All
You Ever Wanted To Know About Herbs For Pets...more
Alfred Plechner, DVM - "The most common and most visible symptoms
of nutritionally caused deficiencies are allergies of one kind or another.
Because many commercial foods are woefully deficient in key nutrients,
the long term effect of feeding such foods makes the dog hypersensitive
to its environment. . . . [I]t's a dinosaur effect. Animals are being programmed
for disaster, for extinction. Many of them are biochemical cripples with
defective adrenal glands unable to manufacture adequate cortisol, a hormone
vital for health and resistance to disease." Allergies can be, and often
are, unrecognized deficiency diseases.
Alfred
Plechner, DVM (author of Pet
Allergies: Remedies for an Epidemic)
William Pollak D.V.M. - "In the wild, no one cooks for the coyote
or wolf; no one brushes their teeth. Their foods are raw and unprocessed."
Routine
Vaccination: Is it really safe and effective?
Dr. Richard Pitcairn D.V.M. Ph.D - "In this article we begin
to address the subject of vaccinosis, the general name for chronic dis-ease
caused by vaccines. For some readers the very idea that vaccines are anything
but wonderful and life-saving may come as a surprise, and it's not a very
pleasant one. After all, the general population pictures vaccines as one
of modern medicine's best and brightest moments, saving literally millions
from the scourge of diseases like poliomyelitis and smallpox. "
Dr. McCluggage DVM - - "...we must stop advocating yearly
vaccines because of the harm we are doing to the animals we vaccinate.
He covered the homeopathic concept of "vaccinosis". Vaccinosis is a disease
entity that may be introduced through vaccinating animals or people. Once
vaccinosis develops, there is a disturbance in the bodies vital forces
that leads to symptoms of chronic disease that can be very difficult (and
often impossible) to cure. Dr. McCluggage also stated that there are no
good reasons to recommend annual vaccinations for our companion animals.
"
Donna Starita Mehan DVM -"Routine" vaccination has adverse side-effects,
either short or long term. With vaccines that are repeated year after year,
the frequency and severity of these side-effects in our pets has increased
dramatically. Most of the problems involve the immune system. After all,
the immune system is what vaccines are designed to stimulate. But they
do so in a very unnatural way that can overwhelm and confuse the immune
system and can result in increased susceptibility to acute infections (such
as ear infections in dogs, bladder infections in cats), chronic tapeworm
problems, or in more degenerative cases, cancer."
Read about the comments of other
vets
who believe that vaccines are damaging our pets. Read
the above quotes in their entirety Please get informed!
Correctly
prescribed homeopathic remedies can often undue the damage caused by vaccines.
Homeopathy
is
noted for its success to antidote or remove the toxic effects of vaccines
and to re-establish balance in the organism and restore health. Certain
homeopathic remedies taken after vaccination can minimize
vaccine damage. A professional homeopathic vet should
be consulted for more information.
Animals aren't the only ones at risk! What Every Parent Should Know
BEFORE Their Childen Are Vaccinated!
Vaccines:
are they really safe and effective? Why
are a growing number of parents and health care professionals around the
world questioning vaccination? The controversy stems from the thousands
of deaths and permanent disabilities attributed to vaccination annually,
as well as the many published medical studies, government statistics, congressional
testimonies, and other credible sources that directly contradict commonly
held assumptions about vaccine safety and effectiveness.
More pictures of vaccine damage available
to view at the
CDC
website
"Bart Classen, a Maryland physician,
published data showing that diabetes rates rose significantly in New Zealand
following a massive hepatitis B vaccine campaign in young children, and
that diabetes rates also went up sharply in Finland after three new childhood
vaccines were introduced." Nicholas Regush ABCNEWS.com
In
fall 1997, two influential professional magazines featured articles asking
the question: Has the decrease of infectious diseases in childhood through
the mass use of vaccines been replaced with an increase in chronic diseases
such as diabetes and asthma? The Economist, a prestigious international
magazine read by world leaders in government, business and public policy,
and Science News, a magazine read by both health care professionals and
the general public, explored the reported links between vaccines and chronic
diseases in their November 22, 1997 issues. Learn
more about vaccine and diabetes connection --- asthma and
vaccine connection --- SIDS and autism and vaccine connection
--- "Shaken Baby Syndrome": the vaccination link
The FDA
- Who Do They Really Protect? by James DeMeo,
Ph.D.
Anti-Constitutional Activities and Abuse of Police Power by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration and other Federal Agencies
Without your voice,
there is no choice! http://www.citizens.org
Citizens For Health is a free, grassroots, consumer advocacy group
that champions public policies empowering individuals to make informed
health choices. Let your voice be heard! Join
efforts to end chemical pollution of the environment and our food supply.
Zorro the Cat: veterinary malpractice
and vaccination killed him
On November 4, 2005, my wife Manuela and I took our beautiful, 10 and
a half your old black cat Zorro to a Vet for a 4-in-1 vaccine.
On November 26, 2005, our beloved, cherished cat died of what a different
Vet said was FIP. What transpired between those dates is on of the saddest
things I’ve ever had to endure.
I had made an appointment at Central Veterinary Associates for Zorro
to have a routine exam and a 4-in-1 shot. He’d been getting these shots
(and occasionally others) each and every year. At the time we didn’t know
better. We were brought into an examination room and were greeted by a
doctor’s aide - a kid who looked about 20 - who without even examining
Zorro was already recommending a new, mite and tic powder that their office
was selling. Although we had only booked the 4-in-1 shot, the doctor himself
walked in with three things in his hand - the 4-in-1, a rabies vaccine,
and Bordatella drops to put up Zorro’s nose.
When we questioned him, he said that we "had" to give Zorro the rabies
- it was the law. This may be true, I’m not sure, but the year before Zorro
had a 4-in-1 shot at another Vet, without getting a rabies shot. We explained
that Zorro was an indoor, only housecat, but the Vet didn’t care. He said
we had to do it. Would he had called the police on us if we didn’t let
him do it? He proceeded to give Zorro the 4-in-1 and the rabies shot; Zorro
didn’t seem to mind the 4-in-1, but cried when the rabies shot went in.
The doctor started to give him the Bordatella drops but we stopped him,
asking what it was and why Zorro had to have it. He said it was to help
Zorro to fight off upper respiratory problems and that all cats - especially
older cats - should have it. We said that we hadn’t booked that, the office
staff hadn’t said anything on the phone about it (they hadn’t mentioned
the rabies, either) and that we would wait and think about it. The Vet
then said that it would be completely irresponsible not to give it to him,
that all cats (even housecats) should have it and that he could see no
reason for him not to get it. He shamed us into reluctantly agreeing. We
had never heard of Bordatella before and trusted this man who is supposed
to have our pet’s best interests, not the all mighty dollar, as his basis
for actions.
Did I neglect to mention that he did examine Zorro before administering
the vaccines? This examination took all of about 25 seconds - he looked
in Zorro’s eyes, ears and at his teeth. He quickly took his temperature
with a rectal thermometer. There was no stethoscope involved at any time.
After the nose drops went in, he started telling us that we "needed" to
have bloodwork done for Zorro - the Vet’s eyes probably saw dollar signs
as he told us that the price was " only" $138. Not trusting him,
we decided to wait. Needless to say, we left not happy with this veterinary
office and vowed never to return.
The next day, Zorro was asking a little strange, but we attributed this
to him having a small reaction to the vaccines - he was usually a little
down a day of two after getting a 4-in-1 shot, so we didn’t make out of
it. Over the next ten days, we noticed some very gradual changes. He wasn’t
eating as well as normal and he didn’t have as much energy as normal, either.
Normally Zorro was an extremely playful cat - even at 10 years old - and
had a very hearty appetite. He seemed to be spending a lot of time under
chairs, which was unusual for him. He also wanted to be on our 2nd floor
balcony a lot; this was as far "out" as he ever got. This was not so unusual,
except that now he wanted to spend more time there than usual, strange
because it was getting colder outside. We started thinking he might have
a low fever. Then came the strangest thing - he started eating his litter.
Not a lot of it, but we assumed that eating any litter at all isn’t good
and we got nervous.
On November 14, we called Central Veterinary Associates back and told
them that we were nervous that the Bordatella, which we never asked for
or wanted (not to mention the rabies vaccination) was making Zorro do strange
things. I was speaking with office staff who said "absolutely not, there’s
no way anything we gave your cat could cause anything like that". I asked
to speak to a doctor and I was told "NO". They said I could bring Zorro
back in and a doctor would have a look at him. I felt like they were just
after our money and said that I felt they should be responsible, if something
they did caused our cat problems. They said "cats can always have reactions
to things, we’re in no way responsible if that happens". I asked again
to speak to a doctor and was again told "NO - it’s not possible, you have
to bring him in".
I complained more and they offered to waive the exam fee but said that
we’d still be completely responsible for anything else they did. They didn’t
even seem sorry about the fact that our cat wasn’t feeling well.
I spoke with my wife about it and we decided that not only were they
going to try to fleece us financially, but more importantly, based on our
initial visit and then the subsequent reaction of the office staff on the
phone, we just didn’t trust them to give Zorro the care he needed. We asked
some friends and called the place in our town called All Creatures Veterinary
Hospital. The reaction at All Creatures was completely different. They
seemed very caring and had no problem having a Vet call us back - even
though we’d never even been there yet.
The Vet called me and after I explained to him what had happened, he
said something that shocked me: "I don’t know why a Vet would give your
cat Bordatella. We don’t even carry that for cats - only for dogs. Indoor
cats never need it; it’s only for cats in catteries or boarding situations
and even then it’s rare that it’s necessary".
I was floored! The Vet at Central told us that "every cat should have
it" and now I hear that our Zorro, being a housecat, absolutely didn’t
need it. I told the Vet at All Creatures everything that had happened,
including the litter eating. He said that we could (not that we needed
to) bring Zorro in for bloodwork, but that it was his cat, he would monitor
him for a few days to see if he got better. He said that the important
thing was that Zorro was eating, drinking and going to the bathroom. I
think it is important to say that all through the ordeal - right up to
the end - Zorro was as sweet as ever, pourring every time we were close
to him.
We watched Zorro - he ate (though not as much as usual), he drank and
he went to the bathroom. On about the 4th day after speaking to All Creatures,
he ate a bit more than he had been (still not quite as much as usual) and
had much more energy. We truly thought he was getting better. The next
day he didn’t eat much; we weren’t letting him out on the balcony because
it was getting colder, we still thought he might have a cold and that the
chilly air might be bad for him. He started spending a lot of time at the
buttom of the staircase near the door - this was the coldest spot in our
apartment. Very, very unusual for him.
We made an appointment at All Creatures. They examined him, thought
his breathing might be a little laboured and did bloodwork. The Vet said
he thought it might be bronchitis. They called the next day and said that
he had an elevated white blood cell count and also high protein levels
in his blood. They suggested to bring him in for a chest x-ray and worried
that it might be pneumonia. I wanted to know more about this Bordatella;
All Creatures said that they didn’t know too much about it because they
never gave it to cats. They don’t even keep the feline version there -
they have to order it when they need it.
I called Central Veterinary Associates back. The office manager - Mary
- told me there was no way that the Bordatella or anything that they gave
Zorro could have caused any problems. I asked to speak to a doctor, she
said "NO". I voiced my displeasure; she said "if you have a complaint,
put it in writing". I said "I need to speak to a doctor - now". She said
"I guess you’re not too bright, you’re not speaking with any doctor - any
complaints, put them in writing". I answered "What good does it do to mail
in a complaint to you if something bad is happening to my cat - that is
retarded. I feel like going to the media about this". She hung up on me.
I called back and was transferred to Eleanor; she started out very aggressive,
telling me that I "spoke with the nice one already" (Mary??????) "and now
I had to deal with her".
I told her that I wanted to speak with a doctor because the doctor had
pushed us into giving our cat Bordatella drops when we didn’t want to and
now I learned that these drops aren’t necessary with housecats. She replied
"you sound like an adult and you’re having no trouble speaking with me
- I’m sure that if you didn’t want something you could have told the doctor."
I asked her again to speak to a doctor (isn’t that my right?), she said
"NO - you have a complaint, put it in writing. Your calls are no longer
welcome here" and hung up the phone on me.
I called back repeatedly and was either insulted, hung up on, or both.
I spoke with Cathy, Diane, and Aaron, among others. Cathy was as rude as
unfeeling as Mary and Eleanor, Aaron seemed indifferent and Diane listened
and said the doctor would call back. One never did.
I called later and was again hung up on. I tried again, they said they
were calling the police, I said "I hope what happened to my cat happens
to you so you know what it feels like" and hung up. This might not have
been the nicest thing to say, but at this point I was so frustrated with
their attitude and lack of caring that I said it anyway.
A police officer called me later - he seemed understanding. I said I
was only trying to speak with a doctor. He replied I was better off not
calling anymore and that I should write instead. In the middle of this
phonecall, my wife got home and found Zorro in his cold spot at the buttom
of the stairs having trouble breathing. I told the officer that I had to
go to bring our cat to the hospital. We brought Zorro to All Creatures
- they took him away from us, told us that he was stable and that they
were doing the chest x-ray. They sent us home - they called a little later
and said they found fluid in his chest and wanted to draw it out. They
also mentioned that he "might pass away" during the procedure. Horrified,
we hung up the phone. They called again and said that the procedure went
find and that they draw 60 ml out of the chest area around his lungs.
After the call, we went back to see him. He was in an oxygen unit, half
his torso was shaved. He also was on IV. He recognized us and began talking
to us right away, but we weren’t allowed to take him out of the oxygen
tank to touch him. The doctor told us that they needed to test the fluid
to see what it was and where it came from - another big question was: would
more fluid come back? We said goodbye to Zorro, having no idea that this
would be the last time that we would see him alive.
This was the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving; we’d had plans to
visit my family in Massachusetts for months. The doctor assured us that
Zorro would get the proper care in the hospital, that they’d get the test
results back to see if he had pneumonia or bronchitis or whatever it was
and that Zorro would get antibiotics if he needed them. We were scheduled
to drive to Massachusetts on Thursday morning. That morning, before we
left, we got a phone call from the doctor on duty that the fluid had not
come back on Zorro’s chest and that he seemed to be breathing comfortably
- outside the oxygen tank. He thought it fine for us to go - he had our
numbers to give us updates and we planned to pick up Zorro (presumably
healthy) either Saturday night or Sunday morning. Unfortunately, we couldn’t
visit Zorro on Thursday because the Hospital didn’t allow visitors on the
Holiday.
We went to visit my family. Friday morning we got a call that he wasn’t
doing so good and that it could be FIP (this was the first time we heard
about this), although it still could be a bacterial infection. If it was
FIP, it was probably fatal. They didn’t say anything about how fast it
could act. We cried and were depressed, but still had hope that it was
only a bacterial infection. He was on a broad array of antibiotics, just
in case. That night another doctor called - they didn’t have any more test
results back (because of the Thanksgiving Holiday), but Zorro was still
not doing so good. They’d given him an appetite stimulant; he’d eaten but
thrown most of it back up. My wife was devastated. I asked about seeing
him when we got home - we’d been hoping to pick him up Saturday night -
and the doctor said we could see him but that he should stay there until
Sunday. Looking back (hindsight is always 20-20) we should have left from
home right then and there. It was about 9pm Friday night. We didn’t.
The next morning the doctor called and said that Zorro was worse - the
prognosis was now "guarded". We moved our plans up and got out of there
as quick as we could. About half way through the five-hour car ride home,
they called and said that he was now very bad and that we should consider
putting him to sleep. We wanted to say goodbye to him. It seemed like fate
wasn’t on our side; we hit traffic and what seemed like every single red
light possible. We finally got to All Creatures; they told us that Zorro
had died 10 minutes before. They brought in his body so that we could say
goodbye - he was still warm. We cried our eyes out. My wife held, hugged
and kissed him. I scratched his face in the place that he always loved
it. We were (and still are) in shock, devastated, traumatized.
We feel guilty for being away. We miss him so much and feel like we
were robbed of one of our best friends. We have since learned that the
vaccinations and Bordatella drops that the Vet at Central Veterinary Associates
gave Zorro may have precipitated, worsened or even caused a dormant virus
which 80% if all cats have, to mutate into the deadly FIP. We are heartbroken
and stricken with grief. We went away Thanksgiving morning feeling good
that we’d brought Zorro to a Hospital, sure that he’d be fine soon. When
we got back, he was gone. One of the office staff told us that it was better
that we didn’t see him at the end, that he wouldn’t have recognized us
because he was so out of it.
I don’t know what to think. Did we cause this by choosing the Vet who
over-vaccinated him? Is it all our fault? We would never, ever do anything
to hurt our precious Zorro. If he could, would he forgive us? We were only
trying to do what was right for him. 10 days ago, we had no idea that vaccinations
can harm a cat. We trusted someone who’s job it is to care for our pet.
And now we feel terrible.
We will miss you Zorro - forever - and we are sorry. We didn’t do it
on purpose.
We love you.
Erik and Manuela
Email: erik_feder@yahoo.com
Location: Long Beach
Phone: 516-897-2797
Highly
toxic and dangerous pet products
previous page Toxic Pet Product: consumer alert! part 1: Countless pets are poisoned each year, either suffering a sudden illness or death or encountering toxins on a daily basis that erode their health slowly and shorten their lifespan.
from
licking skin eruptions, hot spots, or inflammed and infected area
on their bodies. The built in germicide found in the saliva of a dog or
a cat amazingly heals wounds in record time. Any injuries are carefully
licked and coated with antiseptic saliva from the tongue. This aids in
preventing infection entering into a wound. 
Advanced
Daily Supplement with Phytonutrient Power for