For itch, use lots of fish oil
12:00 AM CST on Monday, October 30, 2006
Shawn Messonnier
Dear Dr. Shawn: I've heard that fish oil can help with allergies. My Labrador, Brutus, who has been diagnosed with allergies, itches all the time. I've been giving him one fish-oil capsule twice daily, but he still itches. Should I give him more?
Answer: Allergies are very common in Labrador retrievers. Those more severely affected itch a lot, similar to Brutus.
I applaud your desire to try using natural therapies to help him. A combination of natural therapies and low-dose medication (given only on really itchy days) works great for most of my allergic patients. Fish oils, specifically, the EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, are potent anti-inflammatory and anti-itching ingredients. However, they must be given at high doses (much higher than the label dosage) in order to be effective.
The label dose is usually good to maintain a healthy coat and skin, but is way too low to help treat medical problems.
I generally recommend 1,500-2,000 mg per day of EPA+DHA. You'll need to find a potent product so you don't have to give Brutus too many capsules. (Most fish-oil products have less than 500 mg of the omega-3s per pill.)
I would also recommend frequent bathing with a good aloe-vera-and-oatmeal product. Various herbs (Silerex, Total-Inflam, Sino-Allergy, DTX Allergy) and homeopathics (Heel Allergy, Sulfur) may also be needed. Treating allergies involves an individualized approach, and each pet will respond to a different protocol. Good luck!
Send questions to Dr. Shawn Messonnier at Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, 2145 W. Park, Plano, TX 75075 or naturalvet@ juno.com. Visit him at www.pet carenaturally.com.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Speed Trap A state trooper spied a car puttering along at 22 MPH. So he turned on his lights and pulled the driver over. Approaching the car, he noticed that five old guys were inside, and they looked wide-eyed and terribly pale.
The driver pleaded with him, "Officer, I don't understand, I was doing exactly the speed limit! What seems to be the problem?"
"Sir," the officer replies, "You weren't speeding, but driving slower than the speed limit can also be dangerous."
"I beg to differ, Officer, I was doing the speed limit exactly: twenty-two miles an hour!" the old man said.
The trooper, chuckling, explained to him that "22" was the route number, not the speed limit. A bit embarrassed, the man grinned and thanked the officer for pointing out his error.
"But before I let you go, Sir, I have to ask... Is everyone in this car ok? These guys seem awfully shaken."
"Oh, they'll be all right in a minute," the old man said. "We just got off Route 119."
Comedy Central Daily Joke, 1775 Broadway, NY, NY 10019
The driver pleaded with him, "Officer, I don't understand, I was doing exactly the speed limit! What seems to be the problem?"
"Sir," the officer replies, "You weren't speeding, but driving slower than the speed limit can also be dangerous."
"I beg to differ, Officer, I was doing the speed limit exactly: twenty-two miles an hour!" the old man said.
The trooper, chuckling, explained to him that "22" was the route number, not the speed limit. A bit embarrassed, the man grinned and thanked the officer for pointing out his error.
"But before I let you go, Sir, I have to ask... Is everyone in this car ok? These guys seem awfully shaken."
"Oh, they'll be all right in a minute," the old man said. "We just got off Route 119."
Comedy Central Daily Joke, 1775 Broadway, NY, NY 10019
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Itchy dogs======================================================================What can I do about dog's persistent itch?12:00 AM CDT on Monday, October 16, 2006 Shawn Messonnier What can I do about dog's persistent itch?12:00 AM CDT on Monday, October 16, 2006 Shawn Messonnier Dear Dr. Shawn: My dog is scratching a lot on her belly and chest. She also has some raw areas from scratching and chewing. What can I put on the spots or to alleviate the itching? Will bathing help? What should I use?Answer: It sounds like she has some sort of allergic dermatitis. I approach these cases by treating the pet topically and locally, as well as systemically (treating her orally to help her heal so she stops itching.) Bathing is important; the more the better. A shampoo containing ingredients such as aloe vera and colloidal oatmeal is very helpful to control itching and inflammation. Try to bathe her every one to two days to control itching. Aloe vera ointment or lotion is also helpful on the raw areas. Systemically, she will need a good natural diet plus supplements to decrease her itchiness. Supplements can include a health-maintenance formula, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, herbs and homeopathics. If really needed, medications such as prednisone or an antihistamine can be used for a few days without harming her. Most of the pets I see with allergies respond very well to this natural approach, though success doesn't come overnight. Send questions to Dr. Shawn Messonnier at Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, 2145 W. Park, Plano, TX 75075 or naturalvet@ juno.com. Visit him at www.pet carenaturally.com.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
ARTICLE - ************************************************************
EMERGENCY RESOURCES FOR WRITERS
By C. Hope Clark
A week doesn't sprint by me without someone crying out for help."How can I make some quick money writing? I can't pay my (fill in the blank)." My heart goes out to them. I have totell each one that writing isn't swift, nor is it lucrative.Quick money is almost an oxymoron.
Emergency carries different levels of interpretation. An emergency to one person is not meeting the rent. To another it'snot being able to drive to a job. And yet someone else cannotwork due to illness or physical impairment. None of those arequick fixes.
But some emergency resources come available on occasion. A fewof them are grants. All of them are competitive because thenumber of people needing assistance always outnumbers the funds available.
Funds for published writers
To receive aid as a writer, you have to have a history as a writer. This concept is painful to half the people I speak to.They know they can write, but they have not published. Therefore,they do not qualify for "writer" assistance. But if you havebeen around the track a few times as an author, consider theseresources:
CHANGE EMERGENCY FUNDSChange, Inc., P.O. Box 54, Captiva, FL 33924 Phone: (212) 473-3742 Awards of up to $1,000 for medical, living, or other emergencies. Open to artists of all disciplines, with no U.S. geographical restrictions; students are not eligible.
=====
PEN AMERICAN CENTER WRITERS' FUNDhttp://www.pen.org/page.php/prmID/251 The PEN Writers' Fund is an emergency fund for professionally published or produced writers with serious financial difficulties. The fund gives grants or loans of up to $1,000.
=====
AUTHORS LEAGUE FUND - EMERGENCY FUNDS31 East 28th Street, New York, NY 10016 Main Phone: (212)268-1208 / Main Fax: (212)564-5363 Helps career authors and dramatists in the United States and in financial distress due to an urgent situation. The Fund makes interest-free loans to professional writers in need.
=====
CLAYTON MEMORIAL MEDICAL FUNDc/o OSFCI, P.O. Box 5703, Portland, Oregon 97228 http://www.osfci.org/clayton/index.html The fund helps professional science fiction and fantasy writers living in the Northwest states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska deal with the financial burden of illness.
=====
AMERICAN POETS FUND - EMERGENCY FUNDSThe Academy of American Poets584 Broadway, Suite 1208, New York, NY 10012Assists poets of demonstrated ability who are in a state of urgent financial need. Grants cannot be used to promote or otherwise enhance literary talent or reputation.
=====
WRITERS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND 1501 Broadway, Ste. 302, New York, NY 10036 Tel: (212) 997-0947 / FAX: (212) 768-7414 http://www.asja.org/weaf.php Financial relief assistance to established, professional freelance writers of nonfiction books and magazine articles. Must be 60 years of age or older, disabled, or who face crisis.
=====
WRITERS' TRUST WOODCOCK FUND - EMERGENCY FUNDS90 Richmond Street East, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1P1416-504-8222 / F- 416-504-9090http://www.writerstrust.com/ Provides emergency funding for established writers in mid-project who are facing financial crisis. Since its inception, the Woodcock Fund has supported 103 Canadian writers in financial difficulty.
=====
JOHN ANSON KITTREDGE EDUCATIONAL FUND. c/o Key Trust Company of Maine, P.O. Box 1054, Augusta, ME 04332 Travel Application Address, P.O. Box 2883, Cambridge, MA 02138 Grants awarded to artists in very special circumstances. $1,000 - $10,000. Initial contact by letter.
Advice for novice writers
Grants don't happen unless you can acquire financial assistancethrough churches, charitable organizations or The United Way.You are not able to use your writer status to acquire writingfunds if you are not published. It's like asking for funds tobuild a career as an accountant when you used to be a plumber.Experience dictates your qualifications.
If the wolf isn't at your door, and the rain isn't pouringon your head, sit down at the keyboard and start typing yourstories. Read Writer's Market and every other resource thatstrikes your fancy. Join online list groups and read the forums.Subscribe to Writer's Digest or at least read it in the library.Become a sponge. Make writing what you do when you aren'teating, sleeping, working the 9-to-5 or tending to the family.
Then submit like there's no tomorrow. Submit online and to printpublications. Expect 90% rejection and learn why it happened.Submit even more than you did before. Expect 80% rejection andlearn why again.
Believe it or not, while you are fanatically submitting, your writing is improving. That 80% now becomes 75%, then 60%. Soonyou've learned how to write better and target your work to themarkets that suit your voice and style. It's almost anunconscious occurrence. You get smarter, plain and simple.Checks surprise you in the mail. Contracts happen more often.Emails arrive in your box from editors that know you asking you to craft another column. You become a writer.
Emergencies happen. Everyone has a crisis at some time in hislife or he hasn't lived. Sometimes grants are available, but moreoften they aren't. But you are a writer which means you know howto research and deal in deadlines. No one can take away yourmeans and ability to write.
Instead of wringing your hands about your plight, considerputting them to better use on the computer. Pound out yourworries and shoot the results to editors. A few of them justmight respond in a matter of days. You'll never know unless you submit like a fanatic, giving editors the option of paying you.
EMERGENCY RESOURCES FOR WRITERS
By C. Hope Clark
A week doesn't sprint by me without someone crying out for help."How can I make some quick money writing? I can't pay my (fill in the blank)." My heart goes out to them. I have totell each one that writing isn't swift, nor is it lucrative.Quick money is almost an oxymoron.
Emergency carries different levels of interpretation. An emergency to one person is not meeting the rent. To another it'snot being able to drive to a job. And yet someone else cannotwork due to illness or physical impairment. None of those arequick fixes.
But some emergency resources come available on occasion. A fewof them are grants. All of them are competitive because thenumber of people needing assistance always outnumbers the funds available.
Funds for published writers
To receive aid as a writer, you have to have a history as a writer. This concept is painful to half the people I speak to.They know they can write, but they have not published. Therefore,they do not qualify for "writer" assistance. But if you havebeen around the track a few times as an author, consider theseresources:
CHANGE EMERGENCY FUNDSChange, Inc., P.O. Box 54, Captiva, FL 33924 Phone: (212) 473-3742 Awards of up to $1,000 for medical, living, or other emergencies. Open to artists of all disciplines, with no U.S. geographical restrictions; students are not eligible.
=====
PEN AMERICAN CENTER WRITERS' FUNDhttp://www.pen.org/page.php/prmID/251 The PEN Writers' Fund is an emergency fund for professionally published or produced writers with serious financial difficulties. The fund gives grants or loans of up to $1,000.
=====
AUTHORS LEAGUE FUND - EMERGENCY FUNDS31 East 28th Street, New York, NY 10016 Main Phone: (212)268-1208 / Main Fax: (212)564-5363 Helps career authors and dramatists in the United States and in financial distress due to an urgent situation. The Fund makes interest-free loans to professional writers in need.
=====
CLAYTON MEMORIAL MEDICAL FUNDc/o OSFCI, P.O. Box 5703, Portland, Oregon 97228 http://www.osfci.org/clayton/index.html The fund helps professional science fiction and fantasy writers living in the Northwest states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska deal with the financial burden of illness.
=====
AMERICAN POETS FUND - EMERGENCY FUNDSThe Academy of American Poets584 Broadway, Suite 1208, New York, NY 10012Assists poets of demonstrated ability who are in a state of urgent financial need. Grants cannot be used to promote or otherwise enhance literary talent or reputation.
=====
WRITERS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND 1501 Broadway, Ste. 302, New York, NY 10036 Tel: (212) 997-0947 / FAX: (212) 768-7414 http://www.asja.org/weaf.php Financial relief assistance to established, professional freelance writers of nonfiction books and magazine articles. Must be 60 years of age or older, disabled, or who face crisis.
=====
WRITERS' TRUST WOODCOCK FUND - EMERGENCY FUNDS90 Richmond Street East, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1P1416-504-8222 / F- 416-504-9090http://www.writerstrust.com/ Provides emergency funding for established writers in mid-project who are facing financial crisis. Since its inception, the Woodcock Fund has supported 103 Canadian writers in financial difficulty.
=====
JOHN ANSON KITTREDGE EDUCATIONAL FUND. c/o Key Trust Company of Maine, P.O. Box 1054, Augusta, ME 04332 Travel Application Address, P.O. Box 2883, Cambridge, MA 02138 Grants awarded to artists in very special circumstances. $1,000 - $10,000. Initial contact by letter.
Advice for novice writers
Grants don't happen unless you can acquire financial assistancethrough churches, charitable organizations or The United Way.You are not able to use your writer status to acquire writingfunds if you are not published. It's like asking for funds tobuild a career as an accountant when you used to be a plumber.Experience dictates your qualifications.
If the wolf isn't at your door, and the rain isn't pouringon your head, sit down at the keyboard and start typing yourstories. Read Writer's Market and every other resource thatstrikes your fancy. Join online list groups and read the forums.Subscribe to Writer's Digest or at least read it in the library.Become a sponge. Make writing what you do when you aren'teating, sleeping, working the 9-to-5 or tending to the family.
Then submit like there's no tomorrow. Submit online and to printpublications. Expect 90% rejection and learn why it happened.Submit even more than you did before. Expect 80% rejection andlearn why again.
Believe it or not, while you are fanatically submitting, your writing is improving. That 80% now becomes 75%, then 60%. Soonyou've learned how to write better and target your work to themarkets that suit your voice and style. It's almost anunconscious occurrence. You get smarter, plain and simple.Checks surprise you in the mail. Contracts happen more often.Emails arrive in your box from editors that know you asking you to craft another column. You become a writer.
Emergencies happen. Everyone has a crisis at some time in hislife or he hasn't lived. Sometimes grants are available, but moreoften they aren't. But you are a writer which means you know howto research and deal in deadlines. No one can take away yourmeans and ability to write.
Instead of wringing your hands about your plight, considerputting them to better use on the computer. Pound out yourworries and shoot the results to editors. A few of them justmight respond in a matter of days. You'll never know unless you submit like a fanatic, giving editors the option of paying you.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Saffron======================================================================Eat for life: Quiche goes on a diet 10:33 AM CDT on Tuesday, October 10, 2006By JILL WENDHOLT SILVA Eat for life: Quiche goes on a diet 10:33 AM CDT on Tuesday, October 10, 2006By JILL WENDHOLT SILVA Phyllo dough replaces the traditional pie crust to reduce the fat in this quiche recipe. " width="175" alt="TAMMY LJUNGBLAD/Kansas City Star" onclick="return clickedImage(this);" onmouseover=" this.style.cursor='hand'" height="135"> TAMMY LJUNGBLAD/Kansas City Star Phyllo dough replaces the traditional pie crust to reduce the fat in this quiche recipe. Like skirt lengths, quiche has had its ups and downs. The classic French tart was riding high in the '60s when Julia Child cheered it onto American menus, but by the health-conscious '80s, quiche had been declared a dieter's nightmare. Quiche Lorraine -- a sublime blend of cream, eggs, bacon and cheese -- contains 40 grams of fat per slice, nearly half of that saturated fat. If you eat an average 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, you've just eaten your recommended saturated fat intake for the day. The typical pie crust made with vegetable shortening has 949 calories and 62 grams of fat, according to The Nutrition Bible by Jean Anderson. This recipe for Vegetable Quiche uses phyllo dough, a traditional Greek pastry, to produce a lighter, flakier crust. Another pitfall is a filling made from cream and whole eggs. Instead, use nonfat milk and pasteurized egg substitute made with egg whites only, which, unlike the yolks, contains no fat or cholesterol. Skip the bacon and pump up the vegetables. Then try a combination of reduced-fat cheddar cheese and parmesan, a cheese naturally low in fat. Even if you're not a big fan of reduced-fat cheeses, they work well in casseroles and egg dishes, where they are used as a sidekick, not a star. Shopping tip: Look for phyllo (also fillo or filo) in your grocer's freezer case. Pasteurized egg substitute is available in the dairy case or freezer case. Storage tip: Thaw phyllo in the refrigerator. (For this recipe, remove one 8-ounce package; freeze the other for future use.) An unopened package can be refrigerated up to a month; once opened, use within two to three days. Cartons of egg substitute can be refrigerated up to 12 weeks from the date stamped on the container.VEGETABLE QUICHE 1 teaspoon olive oil ½ cup chopped onion 1 cup sliced mushrooms 2 tablespoons water 2 cups chopped broccoli 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves ½ teaspoon dry mustard ¼ teaspoon salt Freshly ground pepper, to taste 1 cup nonfat milk 1 (4-ounce) carton egg substitute 1 egg white ½ cup shredded, reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese 4 sheets phyllo dough 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 medium, firm, ripe tomato, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons shredded parmesan cheese Preheat oven to 375 F. Heat oil in small saucepan. Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, 2 minutes. Stir in mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add water and heat to boiling. Add broccoli, cover and allow to steam 3 minutes or until broccoli is crisp-tender. Drain well and set aside. Stir together flour, basil, mustard, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Whisk in milk, egg substitute and egg white. Stir in vegetable mixture and shredded cheddar; set aside. Spray a 9-inch pie plate with nonstick cooking spray. Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough in pan, fitting to cover bottom of plate smoothly and folding corners down evenly with top edge of pan. Brush entire sheet very lightly with melted butter. Place a second sheet of phyllo in pan, crisscrossing over the first sheet and folding corners down evenly with edge of pan. Brush entire sheet very lightly with butter. Repeat with remaining 2 sheets of phyllo, adjusting the position of the sheets so they completely cover the pan, folding corners down evenly with pan and brushing lightly with butter. Spoon filling into phyllo crust. Overlap tomato slices in a decorative circle on top of filling. Very lightly brush the tomatoes and edges of the quiche with any remaining butter. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until almost set and lightly golden. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and bake 5 to 8 minutes longer, or until set. Allow to stand 10 minutes before serving. Makes six servings. PER SERVING: Calories 228 (39% fat)Fat 10 g (4 g sat) Cholesterol 15 mg Sodium 436 mg Fiber 2 g Carbohydrates 25 g Protein 10 g SOURCE: Kansas City Star Phyllo dough replaces the traditional pie crust to reduce the fat in this quiche recipe. ">TAMMY LJUNGBLAD/Kansas City StarPhyllo dough replaces the traditional pie crust to reduce the fat in this quiche recipe. // Image1 end -->
Diagnose before you poke
12:00 AM CDT on Monday, October 9, 2006
Shawn Messonnier
Dear Dr. Shawn: My dog Jake is 5 years old and in the last six months has been favoring his back legs. It's difficult for him to get up from lying down and it takes him awhile to get going. He has had X-rays, and arthritis and hip dysplasia have been ruled out. His doctor said it could be a nerve disorder. I've heard that acupuncture could work. What do you think?
Answer: It is possible that Jake does have arthritis or at least joint pain, even though his X-rays did not reveal these problems. Why does your doctor suspect a nerve problem? Just because X-rays don't show joint problems doesn't mean that a nerve injury is present. Does Jake have any nerve deficits? For example, does he have any spots of pain on his body? Does he drag his legs? Does he walk normally once he gets going? These are some of the things to consider before suspecting nerve damage.
Acupuncture can help. However, you need a diagnosis before someone simply starts sticking needles into his body. (You also need to know where to stick the needles, and from your description, this would be hard to determine.) You might request a visit to a specialist for more testing such as an MRI. Once a diagnosis is reached, many alternative therapies, including acupuncture, can be helpful. I use acupuncture occasionally, but always with other therapies, such as herbs and homeopathics. These treatments can be tried first, and then acupuncture can be added as needed.
Join me for a free talk on using natural therapies to prevent and treat disease, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at Waggin' Tails, 1151 W. Parker Road, Suite 207, Plano. Call 972-867-8800 to reserve your seats.
Send questions to Dr. Shawn Messonnier at Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, 2145 W. Park, Plano, TX 75075 or naturalvet@ juno.com. Visit him at www.pet carenaturally.com.
12:00 AM CDT on Monday, October 9, 2006
Shawn Messonnier
Dear Dr. Shawn: My dog Jake is 5 years old and in the last six months has been favoring his back legs. It's difficult for him to get up from lying down and it takes him awhile to get going. He has had X-rays, and arthritis and hip dysplasia have been ruled out. His doctor said it could be a nerve disorder. I've heard that acupuncture could work. What do you think?
Answer: It is possible that Jake does have arthritis or at least joint pain, even though his X-rays did not reveal these problems. Why does your doctor suspect a nerve problem? Just because X-rays don't show joint problems doesn't mean that a nerve injury is present. Does Jake have any nerve deficits? For example, does he have any spots of pain on his body? Does he drag his legs? Does he walk normally once he gets going? These are some of the things to consider before suspecting nerve damage.
Acupuncture can help. However, you need a diagnosis before someone simply starts sticking needles into his body. (You also need to know where to stick the needles, and from your description, this would be hard to determine.) You might request a visit to a specialist for more testing such as an MRI. Once a diagnosis is reached, many alternative therapies, including acupuncture, can be helpful. I use acupuncture occasionally, but always with other therapies, such as herbs and homeopathics. These treatments can be tried first, and then acupuncture can be added as needed.
Join me for a free talk on using natural therapies to prevent and treat disease, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at Waggin' Tails, 1151 W. Parker Road, Suite 207, Plano. Call 972-867-8800 to reserve your seats.
Send questions to Dr. Shawn Messonnier at Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, 2145 W. Park, Plano, TX 75075 or naturalvet@ juno.com. Visit him at www.pet carenaturally.com.
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