robertwoodsdvm.com Blog

Meet “Sugar”, she is a heinz 57 as you can see, but what describes her best is an Australian Shepherd wrapped up in a Chihuahua size package.
*She is a small breed dog, about ~20 pounds, and has medium length hair.
*She is female (not spayed yet, but in the process of planning), and about
1 and 1/2 years old.
*She is current on all vaccines, dewormed, and frontline is applied monthly as flea prevention.
*Crate trained.
*Good with any size dog and cats
*Good with kids
I can personally account for her being good with kids, as she plays with my own kids on a weekly basis.
She is a “working dog”, exactly like a aussie, has herding instincts, and honestly would probably enjoy some sort of agility. She is very smart, and enjoys frisbee. She may be a tiny dog, but she would like to be active, not a purse dog. Her owners are in the middle of moving to a smaller house, and would like her to have more opportunities to run and play.
If you have any further questions, feel free to email me, it means a lot to me that she is placed in a great home:
dr@robertwoodsdvm.com

About a week ago one of my favorite Boston Terriers (no it was not you Kwong bostons you know better) was mischevious as usual, and decided to steal some of her owners gum. Her owner called to check if she should be concerned and my first question was not how much, but what KIND of gum. Luckily, she decided to snack on bubblicious, a truly sugary gum, which in her case was a very good thing.
There are, however, many new types of gum on the market that are “sugar free”. Gums with XYLITOL, a sugar alcohol that is comprised of birch, raspberries, plums, and corn. Xylitol was known to cause hypoglycemia in dogs, but recently it has been linked to hepatic necrosis.
Hepatic Necrosis is just a fancy way of saying terminal liver failure. So if you know that your dog has eaten a product containing Xylitol you need to take it seriously, try to figure out how much they ate, call your veterinarian and let them know and listen to their advice. Your dog may need to be immediately treated. Symptoms of liver failure are: vomiting, weakness, ataxia, seizures, etc.

When I was looking for a list of products that contained xylitol there was not a specific list just a couple of products are identified. However, xylitol is found in most gums that say they are good for your teeth. Xylitol has been found to prevent tooth decay in humans. Some jams and jellies that advertise being sugar free as a healthy alternative to your kids PB&J contain xylitol. Also, low calorie baked goods tend to have the xylitol in them because they bake lighter and fluffier and are not as bitter tasting to us humans as sucralose. One thing I did find interesting, xylitol cannot be metabolized by yeast, so it cannot be used when baking bread. So hopefully that is in the clear.

I was waiting in line at the check out, staring at the rows of gum packages and remembered and had to let you know. So, as usual, just like having kids, with pets, read the labels, and keep harmful things out of reach. Sometimes that minty smell of gum hiding in your purse is irresistible to a dogs nose!!

New Findings on the Xylitol Effects of Xylitol Ingestion in Dogs

One of the most commonly frustrating situations for both veterinarians, pet owners, and of course pets is dietary sensitivity. There are several symptoms which alert me to the idea of a dietary sensitivity with a patient.
In dogs, it can be excessive gas, loose stools, and vomiting. But it can also present as chronic ear problems and skin problems. Most diets are a combination of poultry or beef based products with corn, rice, and wheat. Interestingly the most common allergens are known to be corn, wheat, dairy, beef, and soy. Whenever I’m presented with a dog who has GI signs or chronic ear problems, my first question is what is the animal being fed. Honesty is the best policy, so when looking at the diet, make sure you catalog the treats and chews as well. Alot of times the diet is ok but the rawhides, treats and “people food” have allergens which can trigger a reaction.
These sensitivities can start at a very early age, and in puppies,it is usually second to parasites as a cause for diarrhea. Probably the first thing to do when facing a dietary sensitivity is to change the diet initially to something that is easy to digest, and eliminate the treats etc. For example, most dogs are ok being fed chicken breast and white rice for several days. If the symptoms improve, try gradually introducing the previous diet. If the symptoms return, probably something in the diet doesn’t agree with your pet. Now, there are dogs who can have a sensitivity to chicken, rice or the combination. Often times feeding them mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes as the carbohydrate source will be helpful. Alot of controversy surrounds what type of food is best to feed to our animals. The simple answer is “it depends”. No one diet is agreeable to every dog, however, the better the quality, the better your chances are that it will not pose a problem. As a holistically minded veterinarian, I have patients on a variety of dietary choices. Some do well with their sensitivities being on a raw diet, some do well with comercial food, others with home cooked diets. The key is to find a diet that is economical for the most part and that is nutritionally complete and safe.
One of the latest crazes to hit pet food over the last few years is home prepared raw diets. The theory behind them has a good intent, but there are some serious consequences that can arise due to bacterial contamination both for the owners and the pets. These risks are due to the possibility of E.Coli and Salmonella contamination and possibly other organisms. Certain parasites can also be found in raw meat so as a general rule, I don’t recommend home prepared raw diets. After going through vet school and having seen how our food supply is prepared, there is definitely room for safety to fall thru the cracks. At least with commercial raw diets, there are some safeguards in place to prevent some of these risks. No food is completely safe, and even dry kibble and canned food can become rancid or contaminated. Always find a food that has not met it’s expiration date, and get in the habit of smelling the food for odd smells, and looking for an odd appearance. Especially when feeding from a new bag or new variety. Most commercial diets have some freshness policy and will often times provide you with a replacement bag or refund.
Home cooked diets can be economical when prepared in large batches but you will want to make sure it is a balanced diet. Often times owners will prepare home cooked diets and not include the right ratio of Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium and other nutrients. It is best to consult a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist when considering a home cooked diet for long term use.
Now, another question which I often get is in regards to testing for these food sensitivities or allergies via the blood. Most dermatologists and research suggests that the blood testing doesn’t produce reliable results. Food elimination trials are what seem to work best, and owner commitment to the food trial is the most important ingredient. If the animals are still getting treats or the kids cookies etc it can throw off the whole trial.
It is a good idea to consider comprehensive lab testing to screen for other issues when dealing with a really chronic situation. Low thyroid levels can affect an animals immune system and metabolism, and with treatment can help to improve the sensitivity. There are also other conditions which may initially seem like a dietary problem but require specific treatment. Screening the bloodwork and urine can help to determine if a concurrent illness may be complicating the sensitivity. Please don’t forget to check a stool sample as well, I’ve learned the hard way that even though a pet may have a “formed” stool, it can still have one or several gastrointestinal parasites. Stools should be checked at least on an annual basis and with new episodes of GI distress.
As for supplements, I usually recommend to keep it to a limited number under most situations. Some animals might require additional therapy which is best discussed under veterinary direction. The addition of 1 teaspoon of ground psyllium per cup or can of dog food can help with chronic loose stools. Basically it is insoluble fiber, which acts as a bulking agent and helps to solidify the stool. Probiotics are another good choice but it is important to use a product which has the right kind and quantity of beneficial organisms. One product which I highly recommend is Vetri Pro Biotic by Vetri Science. It is in a tablet form and I like it because it has a variety of beneficial bacteria and a beneficial yeast. The number of organisms per serving is also at a beneficial level based on current veterinary research and information.
A third supplement which I use quite a bit is called Prozyme. This product contains plant derived digestive enzymes which when applied to the diet, help to partially digest the food prior to feeding. This allows the pet to not have to work so hard digesting the diet and makes the food easier to absorb in the small intestine. I use this product personally with our dogs and it has made a big difference in their coat quality, stools and weight maintenance.
For some dogs, all it takes is the right diet and one if not all three of the supplements listed above. For others, they require additional therapy. From a holistic or alternative spectrum, I’ve had success with stubborn cases using a combination of Acupuncture, western herbs, homotoxicology, homeopathy, and occasionally chinese herbs. My last resort is the use of medication, but sometimes these medications can make all the difference. Two commonly used medications are metronidazole and tylan powder. Both of which are antibiotics, but are also believed to have an anti-inflammatory effect on the bowel. They can be used long term but only under veterinary supervision.
Cats are obviously a little bit different than dogs. With cats, it seems regurgitation of the food shortly after eating is the most common sign of food sensitivity or food intolerance. Sometimes just the texture of the food and it’s shape are enough to cause the problem. Cats will commonly eat rapidly, and the food when in the stomach expands faster than it can be digested. The body’s response is to regurgitate the food. Often times you will find a “food loaf” on the carpet or floor in close proximity of the bowl. More times than not changing the food from dry to canned can fix the regurgitation problem. Other times an easily digestible diet makes the difference.
Cats are different than dogs in the sense that they are strict carnivores, and need meat as their primary nutrition source. They share some of the common allergens of corn, wheat, and dairy. Most cats do well on poultry based diets.
The food elimination trial works well with cats also, but with home cooked diets you have to make sure it is balanced and has taurine in the diet. A good source of taurine is clams or clam juice. The same diagnostics are recommended for cats as they are with dogs for chronic cases.
In terms of supplements, I like Vetri Science Acetylator and the psyllium. I rarely recommend digestive enzymes for my cat patients. The same alternative therapies can work well for cats with chronic cases.
Another question I’m always asked from both my dog and cat clients pertains to which pet food companies are best. My top choices are wellness, natural balance, and honest kitchen. That is not to say there are not other great choices, but these brands I like due to their cost, availablity, and/or ease of use. The most important thing to consider with the diet is to avoid any animal by products, and avoid foods that have a laundry list of preservatives or ingredients that are hard to understand. Hopefully this information has been helpful and the old adeage “you are what you eat” is true for our four legged friends as well. If you have any additional questions, feel free to send me an email and I’m always available for consultations to help you customize your approach for your beloved friends.

I am sure you have heard me mention upon occasion that we have a collection of cats. Cat Castaway Island is how we refer to our house, we have the cats that no one else will take or manage.
Almost 4 years ago now, a client of mine had a cat named “Moe”, a GIANT orange round tomato of a cat that would board with us often. He also had developed type 1 diabetes because of his weight problem. Moe was a character in his home, would hide from his insulin shots and was hard to monitor his food intake. So his mom, wanting the best thing for him, approached Hannah about taking him. NEVER MENTION TO HANNAH THAT A CAT IS IN NEED!!
Needless to say, “Moe” came to live with us, he got to hang out in Melia’s room while he was getting used to the lay of the land. We got him down to a good weight, he did so well that he was able to get off of insulin as long as his weight didn’t increase again. For 3 years “Moe” was not on any insulin.

“Moe” is 14 years old, turns 15 in August, and has an adoration for Melia that is hard to explain.
He loves his 5 year old little girl “owner”, he waits for her to come home from school. He cries for her to play with him. If Melia climbs up the play structure in our backyard, “Moe” goes up too. Melia slides down the slide, “Moe” will jump down and start all over again with her. He is a joy to have in our menagerie, and we love him! Last week, “Moe” was not himself, no extreme personality change, just not his usual self. Having a “senior citizen cat”, we did some labwork. His glucose was through the roof and his kidney values are elevated. Now “Moe” has type 2 diabetes and will be insulin dependent for the rest of his life, not to mention he has renal failure.
Now for the challenge: diabetics need a HIGH protein diet, and renal patients need a LOW protein diet. So our plan is to start him on insulin to regulate his glucose, to support the kidneys by feeding him a low protein diet, to start him on SQ fluids, and homotoxicology remedies to support the kidneys and endocrine system.
WOW, yes, WOW, for the little 5 year old girl that shares an incredible bond with “her” cat, yes, that is our plan for “Moe”.
Some of you probably know Melia, she is usually at the office with us on thursday afternoons, she looks exactly like Hannah, and is really a 16 year old trapped in an almost 6 year old body. She draws pictures for the patients, sits and pets their heads as they wait, and always remembers them on their next visit.

She is aware that “Moe” is sick, she happily signed up last night to hold him while we gave him SQ fluids, he does not protest anything Melia tells him is “ok” so that comes in handy. She placed his supplements on the floor in front of him and he happily ate them for her. She told him to sit while she gave him his homotoxicology oral therapy, and he opened his mouth for her to squirt the solution in.
Now todays challenge is going to be finding the right dose of insulin for him, glucose checks throughout the day, and getting the ingredients to make him his home cooked renal diet.
We are going to start with an Egg White & Rice diet, so after our trip to the store, I will document the recipe for you and let you know how it turns out.

On Paws and Needles
By COURTNEY PERKES

Dr. Robert Woods, left, places acupuncture needles in Lady, a shepherd mix, owned by Betty Dodd, of Sun City, at the North Tustin Veterinary Clinic. Lady, who has cancer, gets acupuncture to help strengthen her immune system and improve her quality of life. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Daisy the 17-year-old cat meows incessantly when she sees the box, protesting another trip to the vet.

So when David Johnson’s wife suggested trying acupuncture for her arthritis, he hoped the treatment would outweigh the trauma.

His human friends swore by the ancient process, but he wondered how much of the results were psychological. With animals, however, there is no placebo effect. Daisy might know where she was going, but she wouldn’t comprehend the reason for a row of needles inserted along her furry spine.

“I was a bit skeptical. I’m also very much open-minded,” said Johnson, a nuclear engineer from Orange. “We took her in.”

Within a couple of treatments, Daisy seemed five years younger, a frisky kitty once again. Her appetite improved. She climbs to the top of her cat tree. Her gait looks normal when she scampers around the house.

“She doesn’t like it, but she puts up with it,” Johnson said. “I’m a believer. I don’t know how it works. You can’t deny the results.”

Veterinarian Robert Woods, who practices in Tustin and Garden Grove, treats Daisy as well as an assortment of dogs, and even birds, rabbits and reptiles. He still performs surgeries and prescribes traditional medications, but he’s a big advocate of the holistic art of animal acupuncture, which originated several thousand years ago in China with the treatment of livestock.

Acupuncture, in both humans and pets, is based on a technique to balance the flow of energy, called qi, through the pathways or meridians of the body. Inserting thin needles into specific points is traditionally believed to rebalance the energy flow. Western researchers don’t know exactly how it works, but the stimulation of nerves and muscles may activate the body’s natural painkillers and increase blood flow.

“It’s challenging, but overall I’m always amazed by how well received it is by the animals,” Woods said. “I don’t understand how they’re able to sit for this. You’d think they would jump off the table or bite or run away.”

Instead, pets like Jazz, a Flat-Coated retriever, would relax and doze after Woods inserted the fine needles, the same as those used in human hands or the face.

Jazz received weekly acupuncture for two years to counteract side effects from chemotherapy. Despite lung cancer and removal of a lobe, she continued agility competitions.

“She was just much happier,” said her owner, Teresa Rodney of Fountain Valley. “You never could have known she was on chemotherapy.”

At $85 a session, the treatment is expensive. But Rodney had lost other dogs to cancer and wanted no regrets with Jazz. Each week Woods asked if there were any particular problems to work on, such as loss of appetite.

“Her main issue was not wanting to eat,” Rodney said. “Within an hour, she would be ravenous.”

Woods said if acupuncture works for an animal, the response can typically be seen within 24 hours. The benefits last three to five days, but Woods said over time the effect builds and treatment can often be stopped altogether or done less frequently.

As in humans, acupuncture has been studied in animals. According to the National Cancer Institute, studies in rats suggest acupuncture may be effective in reducing cancer-related symptoms. A 2008 study of reproduction in horses found better hormone regulation after treatment. Another study, of dogs with parasites, found acupuncture stimulated their immune systems.

Ultimately, Jazz died at 9 from a different kind of cancer.

“I think it increased her overall quality of life and made her have that spark in her eye,” Woods said of the acupuncture sessions.

Kris Gillan feared she would lose her beloved Roxanne, when the Dachshund’s back-end became paralyzed and she could no longer walk. Her vet diagnosed disc disease, common in the breed, and referred her to a spine specialist.

Surgery would cost nearly $5,000 and Roxanne was declining rapidly. Desperate, Gillan e-mailed Woods about acupuncture after finding him in an online search.

“He didn’t promise me anything,” Gillan said. “Within a couple weeks, she was walking but walking like a drunken sailor. Within three months, she was walking perfectly.”

That was more than a year ago. These days, Roxanne, 5, trots happily along on walks.

Gillan, who lives in Fountain Valley, takes her back for the occasional tune-up session. She estimates she spent about $800 on acupuncture.

“It was a last-ditch effort,” she said. “She was a goner before I went to Dr. Woods. I call her the miracle dog.”

Woods said not only have his animal patients made dramatic improvements, but those results have prompted some of their owners to try acupuncture.

“I’ve had people stop smoking, treat chronic conditions and end up having children through acupuncture for fertility,” Woods said.

Contact the writer: 714-796-3686 or cperkes@ocregister.com

Dr. Robert Woods of the North Tustin Veterinary Clinic, uses acupuncture on Corky, a 13-year-old toy poodle, who has intervertebral disc disease and hip dysplasia. His owner, Sherry Loos of Long Beach, holds him on a recent Tuesday morning at the clinic. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Emily Barry, left, of Costa Mesa, with her dog, Maggie, looks amused as Frank, a three-legged German shepherd, stands at the counter, while Susan Groux, center, of Newport Beach, looks on at the North Tustin Veterinary Clinic. Both dogs received acupuncture at the clinic. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Thank you to all my clients for trying something out of the box and bringing your pets to benefit from acupuncture. Thank you to David Johnson, Teresa Rodney, and Kris Gillam for allowing Courtney to interview you. Also, thanks to my smiling patients on photo day: Emily Barry with “Maggie”, Susan Groux with “Frank”, Sherry Loos with “Corky”, and Betty Dodd with “Lady”. A special thanks to Courtney Perkes and “Chewy” for being interested enough to write an article.

I recently completed the credentialed course for stem cell therapy through Vet-Stem. I am excited to use this regenerative therapy for those animals that have the right indications, especially dogs with elbow and hip dysplasia. The nice thing about stem cell therapy is that the cells are collected from the same animal for which their use is intended. This is important because there are basically no side effects or fears of rejection.

Stem cells are precursor cells that have the potential to
develop into bone, cartilage, ligament, or organ tissue.

These cells when used therapeutically can be used for
osteoarthritis pain management. Studies have shown
that stem cell therapy improved arthritis associated with
elbow and hip dysplasia.

Additional diseases show promise for treatment using
stem cell therapy such as: auto-immune diseases, liver
disease, heart disease, kidney disease, and
neurological disorders.

To obtain your dogs stem cells, a surgical procedure is
performed that collects 1-2 tablespoons of fat. This fat
is then processed by Vet-Stem and returned within 48
hours for interarticular or intravenous injection.
Additional samples are frozen for future use.

I am very proud to be working with Dr. Dodds, DVM!
Hemopet

Veterinary Practice News January 2010 Volume 22/Number1

Hope everyone got to see the snow boarding bull dog on the rose parade float!

http://www.necn.com/Boston/Nation/2009/12/08/-Bulldog-to-snowboard-at-Rose/1260269693.html

Happy New Years!

Hopefully everyone is having a great first day of 2010.

As my start to the new year, I am starting my detox from all the past year. I am doing a very simple detox, that really doesn’t affect my daily routine. In the morning I fill my “Klean Kantine” with water, then add a few drops from each tincture in my Heel Detox Kit. The kit contains Lymphomyosot which helps eliminate environmental toxins, Berberis-Homaccord which stimulates the kidneys, and Nux Vomica-Homaccord which regulates your gastrointestinal system. Then I sip the water throughout the day. Not too hard right? I can still eat normally and go about my daily life without feeling like my system in out of whack.

I really do believe in Heel products, I use them in my homotoxicology remedies for my patients, myself, my kids, and even safe enough to use when my twins were fresh out of the NICU. Homotoxicology is appealing because it does not interfere with any other medications, has very few side effects, and is easy to administer.

Typically the detox should be done for 30-90 days, so I will have enough supplied in my kit to last 2 people for 90 days inexpensively.

In a fast paced life, it is important to know your limits, and for me, this is the easiest way for me to get back on track without letting myself down. Simple, Short, and Sweet.

Wishing everyone a healthy new year!

This morning, as I walked outside to grab my newspaper, wrapped around the front page was the Health & Wellness section, with a sizeable article on pediatric acupuncture. Typically, when I see patients, it is because the owners themselves practice homeopathy, or chinese philosophy for their family. Pets are family too, so they figure, if this can work for me, it can work for my pet.
This must be a very rewarding job for the acupuncturist to work with children and to see improvement. I know, in my position, animals never cease to amaze me. The acupuncturist featured is Heather Rice, and she must have amazing patience with kids. I know, sometimes acupuncture on a cat can be a test of patience for me, so imagine on a toddler!

Acupuncture pointed at kids
O.C. practitioners are using treatment to help whole families.
By LANDON HALL
The Orange County Register

The two brothers had been watching “Max and Ruby,” but cartoon bunnies — even when their cuteness is magnified by — can only do so much.

Contact the writer: Contact the writer: 714-796-2221, or hall@ocregister.com