Vacay Pawt II: Barkday Brambleberry Banana Split

by @winecountrydog Jackie Nippers Corgi

Wot did you doo on your summer vacay? ... Did you nom frozen desserts?

On mywoofself's barkday, Staff (aka Mum) served Brambleberry Banana Split. Organic blackberry ice cream with organic banana slices and sprinkles of probiotics.

Our Ani Meezer loves blackberry ice cream too. Hermewself does not eat ta banana.

Ourwoofselves are not only ones eating ice cream in July -- "National Ice Cream Month." Ta ice cream biz is over $10 billion a year in the States. Mostly industrial farm dairies, not humane dairy farms where cows are treated like special, honored furriends.

Blackberries get high rating as antioxidant and have got other health-confurrin' properties as well. Smart wild furriends such as foxes, coyotes, deer, and birds love nomming ripe wild berry fruits in season. Humans like picking berries from wild bramble bushes or buying 'em at markets wot sell local organic berries. If your Staffs like to pick berries, tell 'em to avoid bushes by roadsides. Tis not good to eat berries wot have been sprayed with agrochemicals or berries wot have absorbed pollutants from motor vehicles on roadways.

A bowl of homemade real blackberry ice cream is a wonderfur treat. Dependin' on howl much dairy food you are allowed to nom, you could enjoy ta blackberries in ice cream, frozen yogurt, or sherbet. Or if no dairy at all, have ta sorbet or fresh berry ice treat made in blender.

Sometimes our Staff serves frozen dessert wot is homemade. Sometimes not. Staff likes wild blackberries on pre-made organic vanilla ice cream. On myself's barkday, Staff got organic blackberry ice cream. Howly berry! No icky synthetic stabilizers or preservatives!

Ta furry idea of ourwoofselves and Meezer eating dairy or sugar does upset some pet owners and vets. Not to worry, pawleeze. Our bodies doo fine with bit of organic dairy foods. Our weights are normal. Our digestive systems are strong 'cuz our daily homemade diet is fresh whole foods. Ourselves doo not have problems with ta allergies or ta insulin or lipid metabolism or hyperlipidemia.

Ourwoofselves (not Meezer) doo eat fruits a few times a month -- more often in summertime -- with no ill effects from ta fruit sugars. Ourwoofselves and Meezer get food treats wot have refined cane sugar only a few times a year. You doo know occasional bowl of organic real ice cream with sugar is better 'n most pet snacks. There is nothing healthful 'bout "treats" like pet jerky or many of ta other packaged snacks. Furriends, you be better off eatin' tablespoon of organic ice cream! Our woofly ancestors 'ave been eating ice cream since ta first British ice cream recipe twere published by Mrs. Mary Eales in 1718.

Tis fine for healthy, normal-weight dog or cat to have high-calorie, high-dairy-fat treat like organic ice cream once in ta while. Howlever, ourselves not suggesting ice cream for furriends who are overweight or insulin-troubled or who have got skin problems, candidiasis, or ta chronic unidentified digestive problem.

Doo ask your Staffs to give you only homemade or organic brands wot contain no synthetic or artificial ingredients. Make double-doggone sure is ice cream sweetened with organic cane sugar, fruit, or honey. And ask Staffs to add some good probiotics such as ta Pet Dophilus.

Ta caveats:
~ Doo not serve ice cream to pets with history of dairy intolerance. Non-dairy sorbet and fruit ices would be good alternatives. ...
~ Doo not confuse berry types: Raspberries, red and black, or even blueberries or strawberries would be OK substitutes. But elderberries are toxic to cats. ...
~ Doo not ever feed xylitol-sweetened frozen desserts to pets! Xylitol, an artificial sweetener common in many foods, is extremely toxic to dogs and cats.

Tis helpful for Staffs to talk to vets whose pet feeding experience includes diets that go "beyond can and kibble." Also, Staffs can learn a lot 'bout wot foods agree or doo not agree by observation: Watch a dog's or cat's behavior for a period of time after he eats diffurrent foods. Reactions to foods should not cause lethargy, hyperactiveness, urgency to doo the doo or to pee, and certainly not diarrhea.

- - - - - - - - - -
Comments from Mum:
Buying pre-made ice cream? Ice cream is a subject that involves much discussion about food politics and food technology. The ice cream learning curve, in terms of how it's made and the range of ingredients that can be used, is rather steep -- an icy, slippery slope, if you will.

When you've got to choose a commercial ice cream, stick with brands containing only the following ingredients:

• Organic milk and cream;
• Cage-free egg yolks as primary emulsifiers;
• Organic cane sugar, honey, or real fruit sweeteners;
• "Natural flavors" from extracts or essential oils of fruits, vegetables, or other plants; 
• "Naturally-derived" emulsifiers and stabilizers (citric acid, guar gum, gum from carob or locust beans, tapioca starch, pectin, soy lecithin, xanthan gum).

Some of the ice cream stabilizing and emulsifying ingredients are added in very small amounts. Does this make them all safe for people or pets? Maybe not. After reading about the emulsifier carrageenan in research cited by Dr. Weil, I decided to avoid ice creams and other foods that contain it.

Generally, the imported gums and other extracts are neither organic nor fair trade. When they're used in a certified USDA “Organic” food product, they cannot make up more than 5% of the total ingredients, and also they must appear as "Allowed" on the USDA-approved “National List" -- as substances that can't be sourced organically but are "needed" in food processing.

I like making most of our frozen desserts from scratch. But I'd like to find a commercial ice cream with 100% organic, fair trade stabilizing ingredients. If you know of one, please let us know the brand!

You gotta love your vet, part two

by winecountrydog Tilin Corgi, with Mum

After last month's piece "You gotta LOVE your veterinarian," mywoofself and Mum got comments and questions.

'Ere are three topics wot Mum (aka winecountrydogma) talks about:

1. SIT, STAY! BE YOUR PET'S ADVOCATE. -- People ask me if I would "just drop off a pet at the vet and come back later." My answer is "It depends on the circumstances. I rarely leave a pet. I stay. And I usually watch."

Of course it makes a difference to have an established relationship with a good vet -- "love your vet"! I know and trust my primary vet, and my dogs love her, plus she's an excellent cat doctor, and her staff are conscientious. When one of my pets has to stay there, it's usually fine with me.

In general, aside from times when an ill pet should not be moved, I would not leave a pet at a clinic unless

• an IV drip is needed and I can't easily do it at home;
• the animal is in surgery, or in pre- or post-op;
• some type of mandatory quarantine is required;
• the animal is recovering from anesthesia or resting after a procedure;
• skilled nursing care or consistent prolonged observation in a hospital setting is required.

Regarding nursing care/overnight care services, caveat emptor. I will not (ever again!) leave a sick animal for so-called nursing care at a vet clinic I'm not completely familiar with.

You know it would be unusual, and unwise, for a parent just to drop off a human child at a medical clinic or hospital and then simply leave. Similarly, it's not the best practice to drop your pet off at the pet doc. The safest practice is to stay with the pet during the exam or minor procedure. In your absence, have a trustworthy stand-in advocate (with a signed permission form from you) stay there for your pet.

A pet owner/pet-patient advocate should always be there if the vet is new to the pet, or if the illness is serious, "challenging," or "mysterious." This includes possible pet poisoning cases. It's important to be there not only to answer the vet's questions and to get to know the vet, but also to observe the vet's approach and make sure you're comfortable with it. 

Should a pet owner/guardian stay to watch everything? It's a good idea to watch physical exams and minor procedures, including blood draws, shots, and ultrasound exams. Watching what our vets do teaches us things that make us better carers and medical advocates for our pets. And when we take our pets for yearly or semi-annual wellness exams, we get an opportunity to learn even more about their health needs.

Should you stay to watch surgery? Maybe. I'm the kind of person who likes to watch everything. Some vets don't mind if (calm) clients watch surgeries. I've watched a spay surgery and other procedures. However, I'd think twice about watching a major or traumatic surgery on any of my loved ones, animal or human, because it can take a big emotional toll, sapping energy better reserved for post-op patient care.

Whenever I stay in the exam room with my dog or cat, I'm there to be helpful, not to get in the way of the vet and staff. I'm there to answer questions the vet has about my pet as best as I can. I'm there to calm my pet, and to guide vet and staff past pet idiosyncracies -- for example, to distract my nervous pet; to let staff know that my pet can't stand on a metal exam table; or to muzzle my sweet but nippy dog when he's had enough. Moreover, I'm there as my pet's advocate -- to be a good observer, question asker, and decision-maker.

Sometimes I'll help hold my pet during an exam or minor procedure. At other times this offer is refused. (It can be a clinic liability if a client is injured on the premises.) One time I had to help hold one of my rescued cats on his first vet visit. Poor guy. He was such a sweet Maine Coon, but he surprised everyone by being exceptionally strong as well as "freaked out." It took myself and three vet staff members to get him into a restraint bag and keep him positioned for a blood draw.

I always leave the exam room when x-rays are being taken or when the room is too crowded for optimal execution of an urgent procedure.

I do not leave if I "get the feeling" that I need to be there. It's my client prerogative to stay with my pet during an exam or minor procedure, and a good vet recognizes why a good client feels this way. I usually sense when my trusted vets need me to step back, and they know that they can tell me when they need me to step back without worrying about hurting my feelings. 

Again, I'm not there to get in the vet's way. I'm there to be the best healthcare decision-maker I can be for my beloved dog or cat.

If you've never thought about staying and watching, or about getting more involved in understanding your pet's healthcare needs, I hope you'll give this some thought. Every pet needs his/her guardian to be a good medical advocate. 

As veterinarian Nancy Kay explains in Speaking for Spot, her book about helping your dog live a "happy, healthy, longer life" . . .

"Gone are the days when you simply followed your vet's orders and asked few, if any, questions. The vet is now a member of your dog's health-care team, and you get to be the team captain! Your job description has evolved from receiving and following doctor's orders to processing and making decisions. . . . What are the chances that you'll never be called upon to act for your dog in a medical situation? Probably the same as winning the lottery."

As you can see by Tilin Corgi's expression (in above pic), it's important for us pet carers to acknowledge that "sooner or later," as Dr Kay says, almost every one of us will have to make difficult medical decisions. We might as well sit-stay, watch, and learn whenever we can.

2. AVOID VETS WHO UNDERCHARGE. -- It's great to find a vet whose fees are reasonable, meaning that the fees are within the range of the area's "going rate." But what about when a vet's fees are below the going rate? One of my veterinarians pointed out to me that "vets who undercharge are just as suspect as those that overcharge (maybe more so). Think about it -- would you trust your life to the cheapest surgeon in town? I wouldn't!"

Well, I wouldn't either! So it's good advice to avoid vets who undercharge.

I made the mistake a few years back of going to a "cheap" vet clinic for x-rays. What a nightmare. Blurry x-rays and misdiagnosis. I've recently learned that this "affordable" clinic, located in Santa Rosa, CA, is still in existence and has become notorious for its bad care.

What's a good way, then, to judge reasonable vet fees? Call around and ask different clinics what they charge for various services to get an idea of the going rate. Some clinics won't quote fees over the phone, so it's worthwhile to go around and talk with them in person.

If you live in NYC or other major urban area where the cost of doing business is high, you'll find that vet fees are typically high too. Maybe it's worth a drive to a suburban clinic for routine exams? Just a thought.

3. KEEP LOOKING TILL YOU FIND DR. WONDERFUL. -- "Where can I find a good vet?" As we said in the previous post, "everyone deserves a Doctor Wonderful."

If only it were possible to tell whether vets are good vets from finding out what they charge. If you're looking at fees for major surgery or extensive treatment, consider not only the fees for services but also the experience, educational credentials, and successful track record of the vet. This applies regardless of whether the vet uses allopathic (conventional) or non-conventional ("natural" or "traditional") modalities.

To find the vets in your area who are said to be the best at what they do, go beyond Yelp and other online ratings. Call area animal rescue organizations, breeders, groomers, and "upscale" pet supply stores to see which vets are their favorites.

If you're looking for a veterinary specialist, you'll find that searching online turns up board-certified vets (for example, in the U.S., internists listed on ACVIM, and ophthalmologists on ACVO) and vets with other types of practices, such as "holistic" vets listed on AHVMA. But also ask your regional veterinary teaching hospital and local vets for specialist recommendations and referrals.

Be sure to ask vets in your area whom they refer out to for special cases -- for example, for orthopedic surgery, oncology, Class IV laser therapy, herbal medicine, or acupuncture. Also ask local vets whom they'd recommend for allied healthcare services -- such as ortho rehab, swim therapy, or behavioral modification. In any case, try to get more than one name, even if some of the practitioners are a distance away.

Finally, as someone who researches health topics and makes my pets' food, I add this thought: When seeking good vet care, consider that many health conditions are prevented or helped by dietary change, either as the primary or adjunct treatment. In other words, there are few health conditions that are not improved with the right diet. "Food is medicine." . . . Sometimes, of course, it can be useful temporarily to use medical foods, and in cases such as prolonged anorexia, necessary to use parenteral nutrition; otherwise, the best diet is a fresh (organic) whole food diet. Unfortunately, not many vets are recommending foods other than commercial canned and kibble brands. So I'm always looking to add to my list of "Doctors Wonderful" those vets whose practice includes a focus on fresh whole food pet diets.

Let's all keep growing our lists of "Doctors Wonderful" and spreading the word about good vet care!

You gotta LOVE your veterinarian

by winecountrydog Tilin Corgi, with Mum

Furriends, doo you LOVE your vet? Doo you give your vet big paw hugs every Valentine's Day?

Ourwoofselves always get excited to see our primary vet. She is somebuddy special who

• gives us fresh food noms when we have an appointment;
• handles us gently whilst examinin' us all over with grrreat focus;
• supports our homemade diet lifestyle with lots of info;
• talks to Mum about wellness strategies, 'specially fresh foods and smart supplements;
• looks for alternatives to symptom-management pharma drugs;
• knows many "gentle interventions" (like acupuncture, Class IV laser, diet change);
• is open to "second opinion" consultations and will offer referrals;
• encourages pet wellness exams for disease prevention and early detection.

Are you feelin' da love for your vet yet? . . . If not, furhaps you and your human carer/owner should be lookin' to meet other vets.


Woof to da wise from myself (left) and Jackie Nippers: Doo not stop lookin' till you find "Dr. Wonderful."

In her book Speaking for Spot, which helps human carers be good advocates for dog health, veterinary internist specialist Dr. Nancy Kay talks about "finding Dr. Wonderful":

"Dog people tend to believe -- at least initially -- that all veterinarians are wonderful! . . . Interestingly, people seem to be far less skeptical of their veterinarian's capabilities and intentions than they are of their own physician's. Speaking as a vet, I wish we all deserved such extraordinary benefit of the doubt, but this just isn't the case. . . ."

And 'ere is wot Mum (aka winecountrydogma) sez:

"I'm surprised by the number of people who say 'I don't like our vet' or 'We try not to go to him unless we absolutely have to.' I'm even more surprised when they tell me they keep going back. I'd rather not patronize vets who don't inspire confidence, who can't communicate clearly or keep a clean clinic, or who charge unreasonable fees.

Over the years, I've been a 'patient advocate' -- someone who helps make medical decisions for friends and family -- on behalf of both human and animal patients, often in life-threatening or end-of-life situations. Early on I learned how much a patient's care quality, and often the outcome of the case, depends on not only the skills and insights of the medical practitioner but also on the quality of communication between the practitioner and the patient or advocate.

"We shouldn't have blind trust or be passive healthcare consumers. Trust has to be earned, right? It's built on consistent, clear communication, and solidified by good outcomes. As vet clients, we've got to talk to vets. We've got to be accurate about providing pet health info and to be up-front if we're unable to follow through with certain treatments because of financial or other constraints. We should be voicing our concerns, asking questions, and asking for resources to learn more about health conditions. And then, in return, I believe we have a right to expect vets to listen and respond thoroughly.

"Unfortunately, I learned about several bad vets the hard way. (For example, there was the PennHIP-certified vet in Santa Rosa who misdiagnosed my dog's signs of vertebral disc disease as a knee problem. The next vet who examined the dog saw no knee problem.) So I'm telling you from experience, it's important not to bestow trust by default. Please don't go along with a new-to-you vet's diagnosis or treatment plan of a serious pet illness, or allow that vet to do a serious procedure or initiate a harsh drug prescription, without getting a second opinion.

"It's worth it to find a vet you'll adore -- not because the vet is a charmer, but because of the vet's skill, experience, talent, open-mindedness, and genuine curiosity and caring. Everyone deserves a Dr. Wonderful. When you find a vet who seems wonderful, build that relationship by taking your dog or cat in for a semi-annual or yearly wellness exam. And if Dr. Wonderful doesn't practice nearby, make the drive! You can still go to a vet closer to home for very minor or routine issues.

"On the flip side, I've seen some pet owners who expect too much from pet doctors. How can any general practice veterinarian cover all the bases? She or he simply can't. So let's not set up a veterinarian to 'play God' and then demonize the entire veterinary profession when the vet fails to be omniscient.

"I'm very grateful for good veterinarians. They work hard at what they do, they put up with a lot from 'difficult' clients, and they witness a fair amount of horror while doing it. Have you ever thought about the horror that vets see? It's one thing to see ill pets, it's another to see animals morbidly obese, injured, emaciated, or even tortured due to neglect, ignorance, or abuse. Somehow the good vets continue on, conscientiously helping. I give my heartfelt thanks to them.

"I'm always interested in hearing about good vets in my region -- including places I travel to -- and I also like finding out about vets doing integrative medicine and research around the world. A regional list should include 'second opinion' vets and good vet ER clinics. I'm forever asking around about well-liked vets at pet supply stores, dog parks, groomers, and rescue orgs. 

I'll continue to grow my list of "Doctors Wonderful." On it are a gifted orthopedic surgeon and some general practice vets who provide integrative care, including wellness through fresh food diets and education about preventive healthcare strategies."

Paw-note: If you have got Dr. Kay's book Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy Healthy Longer Life, you doo know why ourwoofselves call it essential fur today's dog owner. . . . Ourselves still sad that Dr. Kay left our area, but furriends in the Carolinas of Southeastern U.S. must be arfully happy to have her services.

Egg-citing new year

by winecountrydog Tilin Corgi and Jackie Nippers

Looking furward to new year of walkies and fresh foods from farmers' markets and food co-ops!

Ourselves love neffurr-ending variety of fresh whole local and regional foods. Tis healthful diet. Furrmly based on certain principles. One principle for a meat eater is to have calcium source. If not, da meat, high in phosphorus -- includin' da steaks and other muscle and organ meats we dogs and cats luv to nom -- will leach calcium from bones and teeth of our pawsonal systems.

Our fave vet sez, "All meats are higher in phosphorus than calcium, but organ meats are proportionately higher in phosphorus than muscle meats. Unless raw bones are part of a meat meal, you need to adjust the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio by adding a calcium source."

Da lack of calcium and other minerals is one reason that pawpular "cooked chicken and rice" is not good doggie diet. Lacking bone minerals. Pawleeze take calcium supplement at least. 

One of pawrimary sources of calcium in our diet is eggshell. Ourselves can digest whole pieces of shell from fresh local cage-free eggs. Some of you get ground eggshell with meals? We doo know many staff use instructions in good book by veterinarian Dr Pitcairn, saying to wash, dry, and grind eggshell.

Our staff (aka Mum) sez, "I don't want to add the task of grinding eggshells to my kitchen routine. I make my companions' meals every day, and I'd lose my mind if I didn't keep pet food preparation fast and simple. But I would turn to grinding eggshells if one of my animals lost the ability to digest fresh shell pieces."

Furtunately ourwoofselves and our Meezer kitty doo have super strong digestion. We love nomming eggshell pieces. Meezer will leap onto kitchen counter and nick eggshells if Mum not looking. BOL

Our furriend Palette Corgi gets to eat whole egg! Howl egg-citing! Wot a wonderfur game herself gets to play, bitin' on shell and lickin' out da insides and rollin' da egg around on plastic mat. 

Palette sez "Here is me eating whole egg. See? I love egg and I eat egg shell too! Nom,nom,nom..."

Palette Corgi is one of few furriends we know who doo eat amazing variety of fresh foods.

In olden day, before mid-20th century 'splosion of processed pet food industry, dogs and cats did eat almost all parts of prey animals, cooked or raw, and also nommed scraps of humans' foods. Palette Corgi is lucky to have staff (herself's name is Yassy) who does know about diffurrent foods. Palette noms some foods that most modern dogs neffurr even get to sniff: fur example, chicken feet and tripe. Nommy!

Our staff is not so thrilled about tripe. BOL

Tripe or no tripe, Mum is longtime health researcher who did learn how to promote good health and strong digestion. You might notice Mum is always watching us ... seeing not only wot goes in but also wot comes out other end. BOL

Impawtant: Doo not assume that you can digest whole eggshell or big shell pieces. If your digestive system is used to handling only processed foods (kibbled or canned), you will likely need to build up digestive vigor first, before nomming da big shell pieces. 

Enjoy your new year. Hope your life is filled with walkies and fresh foods from your local and regional humane farmers.

Paw-note: Dr Pitcairn's book, Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, is 'stremely useful for dog and cat owners. Howlever Mum, who is furry knowledgeable about complementary and "natural" medicine, does not follow Dr Pitcairn into homeopathy. ... To each her own modalities eh.

Calcium caveat from winecountrydogma for dog and cat owners:
A fresh whole food diet for dogs or cats includes several ways to provide calcium and other minerals with meals. However, there are risks involved with excessive calcium supplementation, particularly for puppies and young dogs, and especially for growing large-breed and giant-breed dogs and pregnant bitches, and also for dogs or cats with certain health conditions. Regardless of the type of diet you feed, homemade or commercial, please don't simply add a daily calcium supplement without first determining a safe level of calcium intake for that dog or cat. Ask your veterinarian to help you calculate the amount of calcium you can give, and how to provide it in a good calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.

Laser therapy

by winecountrydog

Doesn't this look like a macabre Howloween pawty starring yours truly? Howl! It wasn't. . . .


I was receiving Class IV laser therapy, also known as "photobiomodulation," at my veterinarian's office. It was painless, and it made my back feel better. I could move around much better afterward.


This is special therapy. Class IV laser uses infrared laser light to penetrate into tissues that need increased circulation and metabolic activity. It seems true that laser therapy can reduce healing time, swelling, and pain, and even give someone increased range of motion.

We're seeing arfully more interest in and appawreciation of laser therapy these days. A good article appawears in Veterinary Practice News.

If you'd like to let us know what your experience has been with this therapy, we'd be happy to hear from you.

The litter box rebellion

by winecountrydog

It's a delicate subject, this, especially if you're a cat.

I knew that my buddy Ani Siamese had been avoiding doing her duty in the appointed large rectangle with walls that cats call a litter box. I knew it when I saw Ani veer off her usual course and disappear around the corner.

I confronted Ani in my corgi way. "Pawdon me, dear one," said I. "Is there something the matter? Aren't you supposed to be headed toward the rectangle?"

Ani darted off without answering.

Later, I caught up with her in the kitchen. I looked up and, as pawlitely as pawsible, woofed the question: "Are you waging a rather strong rebellion, my dear?"


Ani continued to look at me with barely open eyes.

She finally summoned her cat wits and replied, "Never, ever, quoth the Siamese!"

Then she yawned.


I decided to look elsewhere fur answers. Fortunately fur all of us, a mewsletter arrived from one of our favorite veterinarians, Dr. Jona Jordan. It contained an article on kitty litter issues!

The solutions were actually easy. We figured out that dog-ma had to change the kind of litter stuff she poured into Ani's special box. We also reassured Ani that Jack Corgi and I wouldn't mess with her box.

We came to see that her rebellion made purrfect sense. She's a Siamese, if you paw-leeze.

Paw-note: Remember to talk to your veterinarian about a pawsible health problem if your dear pussin doesn't return to the litter box after changing litter brands and other things, like the placement of box.

"Nothing's better than beer."

by pawlitico

Here we go again. The argument about dogs drinkin' beer.

If you know my buddy Tilin "winecountrydog" Corgi, you know that he occasionally needs some kind of sedative and relaxant. Tilin has episodes of arful back muscle spasms. Other times he gets the hypers 'cuz of a nervous disorder.

The hypers make Tilin get more and more wound up. Now, we'd love to see Tilin run around like a puppy if it weren't scary. He could re-injure his back. Or he could go into a seizure. Howl, you'd never know how serious this is by lookin' at Tilin, but his history includes life-threatening spinal problems and idiopathic epilepsy.

We're fortunate to know a veterinarian with uncommonly good sense. She told Tilin to drink 1/4 cup of quality beer to help sedate him. Such a marvelous solution! How much easier this is on Tilin's system than heavy-duty sedatives! And so effective that dog-ma can usually avoid giving him meds like narcotics.

Tilin says, "Fur some of my episodes, nothing's better than beer for calming me without knockin' me out."

Now, for dog health safety, you dogs shouldn't drink to drunkenness. And you shouldn't depend on this remedy for any length of time. We're talking here about a brief, conservative consumption regimen. A serving of just 1/4 cup of beer or ale is fine. (We corgis weigh between 25 and 35 pounds.) It's best to open the bottle ahead of time and let the beer go kinda flat, but the carbonation in 1/4 cup doesn't bother Tilin or lead to bloat. And the sugary malts and stuff don't bother Tilin 'cuz he's not diabetic.

Tilin gets his dog mug refilled up to every few hours. After a few days of this regimen, he goes back on the wagon. It's not difficult for him; he's a happy, busy dog who easily returns to his normal routines once he feels calm again.

This time, dog-ma gave Tilin doses of Union Jack India pale ale (IPA) for the hypers. Dog-ma let me taste Union Jack. After all, my birth name is Jack.

This IPA is doggedly aggressive but smooth. Comes from micro-brewery Firestone Walker in Paso Robles, California. Here's what the brew dogs say:

Citrus, pineapple, and a full chewy malt profile finish clean on your palate. . . . A beer true to its origins; deeply hopped and bolstered for a long voyage. . . . At the 2008 European Beer Star Award competition in Germany [in November '08] . . . Union Jack IPA took top honors in the extremely competitive India Pale Ale category with a gold medal.

The Firestone Union was inspired by the old Burton Union system, once a staple of British beermaking. The Burton Union was developed around 1840 as English tastes shifted from London porters to pale ales crafted in Burton-Upon-Trent. The Burton beers were bright and clear with a firm, satisfying bite: a taste unique in its time-and still unique today. We are the only brewery in the United States to currently employ the union brewing method. . . . Our patented Firestone Union uniquely incorporates 60-gallon oak barrels into the brewing process.

I'm glad dog-ma's buddy Joey at the store picked this India pale ale as one his faves. We want to suppawt small regional businesses like this microbrewery, which crafts great ale and delivers it fresh.

When Tilin Corgi woke up this morning, he was back to normal! No longer all hyped up. Dog-ma's ale therapy worked in a day.

So I have to pawlitely disagree with Louise Murray, DVM, Director of Medicine, ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, who has been quoted as saying that humans should never give beer to dogs. What humans should do is to check with their dogs' veterinarians! May you find a veterinarian like ours, who offers a different pawspective on practical remedies fur what ails you.

We dogs are individuals, and we need healthcare and homecare to be carefully tail-ored to us as individuals. Woof.

Calendar of the year '09: Corgis on Wheels

by pawlitico

While humans are bizzy choosing their top picks fur 2008, I'm doggone far into faves fur 2009. After all, I'm a herder. I always want to git goin' on what's next.I'm asking you to paw-leeze pawse and check out my calendar choice fur 2009: the Wheelcorgis Wall Calendar.


You can see this calendar at the wheelcorgis store on CafePress.com. It has the most amazing dog photos you've ever seen in your goshdog lives!

And this super-cool calendar contains an educational page on degenerative myelopathy (DM), a condition that some Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, German Shepherds, and 40-plus other dog breeds develop.

The Wheelcorgis group and the CorgiAid Cart Program provide wonderful help and advice fur corgis who need DM testing and carting.

We learned a lot about corgi carts after Tilin Corgi's back trauma. First we had to worry that Tilin might not make it at all. It wasn't DM, but other acute problems. Then, luckily for Tilin, his lifesaving surgery enabled him to function again and eventually to get around on his own.

We're always reassured to know that corgi cart humans would help if one of us lost our mobility. Paw-leeze pass on the word about these talented wheel corgis and their dedicated humans!

Paw-note: CorgiAid supports the rescue and rehab of abandoned corgis and corgi mixes across the U.S.

Corgi Winner in Dogster Coolest Dog & Cat Show

by pawlitico

Tilin Corgi and I want you to know that we love all dog breeds. This having been said, we admit that we find certain Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis arfully cute.

Take Lola the Pembroke, fur example. She has the 2008 winning "sleeper" photo in the Dogster & Catster 4th Annual World’s Coolest Dog & Cat Show.



Photos don't get any cuter than this one of Lola asleep in her dog bowl. I guess Lola gets tired from doin' a lot of exercise with her human.

A lot of dogs don't get as much exercise as Lola. But they still eat an arful lot of food — pawbably lots of commercial kibble and other stuff that makes 'em obese.

I've grown up to be a dog who speaks my mind. I mean, when I have somethin' to howl about, I find it hard to hold back. So I'm gonna growl now:

Wassup with all the obese dogs!? I've seen so many of them lately: overweight dogs gobblin' down junky treats at howliday parties, super-obese dogs who can't jump up onto Santa's lap to get their photos taken, and so many obese Corgis and Basset Hounds — two breeds who are prone to back problems and injuries. We should never ever be allowed to carry extra weight.

C'mon, humans, do you love us dogs, or what!? If you love dogs, pawleeze quit overfeeding 'em!

Tilin Corgi and I stay slim. We learned to paw attention to proper weight 'cuz Tilin was prone to back problems. You know that Tilin's being trim and strong saved his life! . . . Need I howl more?

Paw-note: See all the super-cute photos of Lola CGC, including her runnin' around agilely, on her Dogster.com page. I hope I wasn't too howly and growly about the subject of overweight dogs. . . .

Ask California Governor not to tax veterinary care!

by pawlitico

Read it and howl: The State of California wants to impose a 9% sales tax on veterinary care!

Remember when my buddy Tilin "winecountrydog" Corgi had major emergency veterinary surgery and looked like he did in this photo?


Do you think we corgis had lotsa cash to pay for all that wonderful surgery and after-care? . . . Imagine what adding an extra 9% to our vet bills would've done to us!

We're not the only ones who can't afford a tax on vet care.

I want to bark to Governor Schwarzenegger on behalf of humane "food animal" farmers and California consumers: A 9% increase in the cost of farm animal vet care will not only cause food prices to rise but also cause some farmers to go under.

The cost of biz for farmers has gone up, as feed costs and other prices have soared. The implementation of State Proposition 2 to set standards for confining farm animals will also increase the cost of doing business for "food animal" farmers, albeit it for the right reason. Howl, we're trying to suppawt humane farmers who raise free-range "food animals" and produce cage-free eggs, and here the State comes along with an idea that'll hurt these good guys.

All farm animals require veterinary care — and deserve good healthcare — just as we dogs do, but farmers can't afford higher medical costs.

This is the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Action Alert:

Governor Schwarzenegger recently announced his plans to add a sales tax on veterinary services as part of his budget plan to stimulate the California economy. This was part of a larger combination of program cuts and revenue increases to solve the multi-billion dollar budget shortfall. It is particularly disturbing that veterinary services were included with "appliance and furniture repair, vehicle repair and golf." All of the other healing arts professions were excluded from the sales tax proposal.

A special session of the Legislature must be convened to approve the Governor’s plan. The proposal would need to be approved by the Legislature with a two-thirds majority of both the Assembly and the Senate.
The CVMA is strongly opposed to this proposal.

Our legislative team has been working hard to get sales tax on veterinary services removed from the Governor’s proposal. We know you are concerned for the welfare of your patients, the difficult choices your clients may need to make if the cost of veterinary care increases, more animals being abandoned to shelters, increased euthanasia, and the overall strain placed on small businesses.

It is imperative that the voice of the veterinary profession is heard with respect to this important issue. We urge you to write personal letters to the Governor, your state representatives and their leadership expressing your concerns. We also encourage you to get your clients involved and ask them to write letters as well. It is easy to do. View the CVMA Fact Sheet and contact information. Visit the Legislative Action Center for contact information for your state representatives.

Your letter should be mailed directly to the Governor with copies forwarded to key members of the Legislature, including your local representatives. The letter should be on your practice letterhead, and if possible we would appreciate it if you would fax the CVMA a copy of your letter as well at (916) 646-9156.
If you have any questions, please call the CVMA office at 1(800) 655-2862.

Thank you for your assistance,
William Grant II, DVM
CVMA President

Paw-leeze, veterinarians and everybuddy everywhere, growl to the Governor and State pawliticans to stop this doggone crazy tax proposal — even if you don't live in California!

Tell the State to spread out a sales tax increase across the board, or add it to some high-demand consumer items like electronics and booze. Human medical care isn't taxed. Veterinary care should NOT be taxed either!

The CVMA is asking its membership of more than 6,000 veterinarians to write letters to the Governor about the hardship this proposed vet sales tax would create. Read more at CVMA.net and at Veterinary Newsmagazine's DVM360.com.

I'm hoping you pets and people out there will write your own letters. Woof!

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814
916.558.3160 Fax
---
The Honorable Karen Bass
Speaker of the Assembly
State Capitol, Room 319 Sacramento, CA 95814
916.319.2147 Fax
---
The Honorable Don Perata, Senate President pro Tempore State Capitol, Room 205 Sacramento, CA 95814 916.327.1997 Fax
---
The Honorable Darrell Steinberg
Senate President pro Tempore
State Capitol, Room 4035 Sacramento, CA 95815
916.323.2263 Fax
---
The Honorable Mike Villines
Assembly Republican Leader
State Capitol, Room 3104 Sacramento, CA 95814
916.319.2129 Fax
---
The Honorable Dave Cogdill
Senate Republican Leader
State Capitol, Room 3048 Sacramento, CA 95814
916.327.3523 Fax

When you write to the Governor and legislative leaders, ask them to remove the proposed sales tax on veterinary services in the 2008-09 Special Session proposal.

They say it's my birthday

by winecountrydog

They say it's my birthday!. . . I checked my doghaus calendar, and, sure enuff, the date November 15th was circled as my 11th birthday. Nobuddy knows exactly which day I was born on, 'cuz as a puppy, I was a GGPWC rescue. But dog-ma brought me home when I was six or seven weeks old, so she knows how many years I have.

We started pawtying on the 13th.


I wanted to celebrate the occasion inside Russian River Brewing Co. with friends Katie da KRSH DJ and Justin of 1/4 Mile Combo. You recall that I enjoy the occasional 1/4-cuppa ale for my back spasms?


But, oh howl, dogs aren't allowed in Calif. eatin' places. So I ended up not havin' ale for what was ailing me.

Instead, I got to got to Dr. Jordan's clinic. I had a lovely laser therapy session. Woof! K-class laser therapy is fur healing, and I'll be paw-writing about it soon.

At Dr Jordan's, I made a new furriend — a sweet little rescue guy named Mo. He was with his nice human, Ali.


At home, I've been enjoying meals even more delicious than usual. I've received some gifts, too. My favorite gift is the yummy, healthy organic dog treats that Ani made for me.


'Tis still shocking that I'm as old as they say. I play like a puppy. Kind of.


Oh my paws, I'm so tired from pawtying.

It's pumpkin time!

by pawlitico

You probably think that pumpkin time means we're celebrating the "pumpkin month" of October.


Yes, we love pumpkins. But what I mean by "pumpkin time" is our diet: My buddy Tilin Corgi and I started eating cooked pumpkin this past week 'cuz we've had a bit of . . . well, a touch of gastroenteritis — a nice big human term for the poopies.

I feel sheepish to admit that I swallowed some apricot pits. I know I warned everybuddy else not to do this in my piece "Confessions of a plum eater." But I lost track of what I was swallowing, and, oh howl, those pits carved their names all the way down my insides.

So one of our favorite veterinarians, Jona Jordan DVM, told us to eat 1/4 cup of cooked pumpkin and fast for 12 hours. Then we continued having pumpkin with our regular meals.

Before we could say "Corgis look great in Halloween costumes," our problem was solved. Now we're having pumpkin at practically every meal. Pumpkin is nutritious and has lots of fiber. Fiber helps push bad stuff out of the digestive tract and also makes a better stool.

Pumpkin is a funny word. According to "Pumpkins and More" at University of Illinois Extension, references to pumpkins go way back. The word pumpkin comes from the Greek word for "large melon," which is "pepon." The French turned it into "pompon." Then the English changed it to "pumpion." American colonists changed "pumpion" into "pumpkin." Woof? I dunno why.

If you're in our area, I hope you'll get to visit Petaluma Pumpkin Patch. There are gazillions of big and little pumpkins. There's also a giant four-acre corn maze, which is redesigned every year by Farmer Jim and then cut down right after Halloween to turn the stalks into silage for cattle.

My personal best today!

by winecountrydog

I had my PERSONAL BEST DAY today since major life-saving spinal surgery!

A lot of humans had a personal worst day, sorry to hear. That was 'cuz of the record single-day drop of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Today I did two things dog-ma and I thought we'd never see me do again in my doglife:

• Stand up on my hind legs and do my wave dance with my front paws.
• On my own, carefully jump out of the backseat of dog-ma's car.

Dog-ma was in awe and got a wee teary. She started to tell me not to stand on my hind legs, then thought better of it. After all, doing the wave has been impawtant to me since puppyhood. Humans love to watch and wave back.

I'm almost eleven years old, and the wave is still truly one of doglife's great pleasures. But dog-ma won't be allowing me to do it much, I can tell you that.

I tend not to paw-write about landmarks in my recovery. Dog-ma and I have been trying to get our minds off pawsonal trauma and drama. I mean, we're exhausted from worrying about me. Every time I have a setback in controlling my muscles, or have a day where I'm doggone tired or off my food, dog-ma gets that "911 look" in her eyes. Then I think, "Uh oh, I'd better get better before dog-ma goes over the worryin' edge again."

Dog-ma has dutifully protected me throughout my journey to mobility. She has lifted me at least 500 times. I don't jump up into a car or bed; I get lifted. Dog-ma sez that her biceps are the only things better off than before.

Except fur my rear leg muscles: They're better, just as my vet surgeon (Russ Gurevitch DVM) predicted they would be. My hindquarter muscles are really rebuilding. At the same time, the rest of me has gotten skinny. All my nourishment is going into helping atrophied muscles and nerves. Dog-ma sez I look like Popeye in the behind region.

While I'm on the subject of muscles and personal best, I have to say that dogs show great muscle strength in the sport of weight pulling. We corgis admire them.

The International Weight Pull Association (IWPA) promotes the sport of dog pulling through organized events.

The purpose of IWPA is to promote the working heritage of all dogs. The IWPA also promotes a program to keep your dog in good physical condition with a constructive outlet for canine competition.

Dog Pulling is akin to a tractor pull. Dogs compete to see who can pull the most weight 16 feet. They pull a wheeled cart on an earthen surface, or a sled on snow. The handler has no contact with the dog during the pull, so it is up to the dog's willingness to pull. Safety of the dog is of paramount concern. Since IWPA's organization in 1984, no dogs have been hurt in competition.

Our fellow herders, the Australian Cattle Dogs, are really good pullers. Finn was the first Australian Cattle Dog to attain a Weight Pulling Championship in the history of the UKC.


Other canine breeds do great weight pulling, too. Check out pullers like the Mastiffs, including Bullmastiffs, and also Old English Mastiffs at Devine Farm.

And paw-leeze read good articles about this dog sport. I like the article at Pet Tech Transport. I always like the articles and photos at WorkingDogs.com: See the article "Australian Cattle Dogs Excel at Weight Pulling" by ACD lover and author Teressa Keenan.

NOLA to "do this again"?

by winecountrydog

Today is the first day I've felt like my old dog-self since my many long weeks of recovery from back surgery. It doesn't matter that I can't jump anymore or stand on my hind legs to dance like I used to. I'm able to walk and prance around with a ball in my mouth, and to go up and down stairs without hesitation. I'm out of pain, and I feel doggone blessed.

But as I sit here paw-writing about my recovery, I have a heavy heart about the animals and humans in New Orleans and other Gulf Coast areas watching Hurricane Gustav approach.

Dog-ma has always told me it takes three years to heal from big losses. That's why I wanted to celebrate this week's 3rd anniversary of Katrina. I figured everybuddy would finally be healed.

But it wasn't to be. As of this afternoon, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has ordered a mandatory evacuation of the city. That changes the informal advice to flee from the approaching storm to an official order to get out.

Imagine all the distraught humans and animals in the path of Gustav -- now being called the storm of the century. It'll likely make landfall between East Texas and western Mississippi two days from now.

About one million people and countless pets along the Gulf Coast took to the highways today to escape Gustav.

One of those pets is a brown and white spotted hound dog named Lee Roy. He waited on a corner with his disabled human, Elizabeth Tell, said WRAL News. Fur three hours they waited fur a special needs bus to take them to the station. Lee Roy panted inside his kennel carrier as his upset human got more upset waiting.

A couple of St. Bernard Parish dogs and their four rabbit friends wanted to leave. They squeezed into their family truck alongside family belongings. Their humans, Gary and Deanna Sass, were reported by AP News to be hurriedly packing to get out before it's too late.

We all know that not everybuddy's gonna evacuate -- fur a variety of reasons. As one tired NOLA human summed it up: "I can't do this again."


Paw prayers out to everybuddy.

Pawnote: Woof thanks to all journalist-humans who continue to report news on site in the threatened Gulf region. Pawleeze, everybuddy, read the personal pet evacuation info at Louisiana SPCA (LA-SPCA).

Photo credit: LA-SPCA in New Orleans

New Orleans pets brace for Gustav on Katrina anniversary

by winecountrydog

For the second day in a row, I feel compelled to re-paw a verbatim press release about New Orleans pets and the efforts of the Louisiana SPCA to rescue and shelter those in need.

This isn't just another day in busy life of animal rescue: Today is the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Today was supposed to be a day of quiet remembrance and a dedication ceremony for the Katrina Pet Memorial. Instead, it's a day when nervous eyes in the U.S. Gulf are watching the approach of Hurricane Gustav.

Gustav seems headed to New Orleans. AP News reports the chance of New Orleans getting winds of 39 mph (63 kph) or more within next five days as 50 to 60 percent. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has declared a state of emergency to lay the groundwork for federal assistance. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said he would order a mandatory city evacuation within 72 hours if/when forecasters predict a Category-3 strike — or possibly even Category-2.

PAWLEEZE READ THE INFO POSTED BY LA SPCA:

Pet Owners Should Be Prepared to Activate Their Personal Pet Evacuation Plans
NEW ORLEANS, LA (8/28/08) – The Louisiana SPCA continues with the shelter evacuation of all its animals today through Friday. The transport will take place in advance of any mandatory evacuations so that shelter personnel will be able to return to the city and be able to assist as needed. The shelter remains closed to the public until further notice [after storm].

Although the exact path of Gustav is still unknown, LA/SPCA is urging pet owners to be prepared to activate their personal evacuation plans and evacuate with their pets should a mandatory evacuation be called. "This is not a time to panic," said LA/SPCA’s Ana Zorrilla, "but a time for pet owners to do a final review of their personal evacuation plans, and be ready to evacuate if needed."

Zorrilla said that should an evacuation be called, state officials will release information on multiple pet shelters that will be established throughout the state. The pet shelters will be adjacent to human shelters and the pet owners will be required to be with and care for their pets. The list will also be made available at Red Cross Welcome Centers along all contra flow evacuation routes. When pet shelter information is released by state officials, the locations will also be made available on our website.

Zorrilla said the state will not be setting up any pet shelters in Orleans Parish. "If there are people who do not have any means of transportation or have special needs, people should bring their pets to pick-up points designated by the city, but we stress very strongly that this should be a last resort," said Zorrilla. "We don’t want the public to rely on this as their best plan of action, but rather as their very last option."

Residents can search for pet-friendly hotels by going to PetsWelcome.com or TripswithPets.com. Zorrilla suggests that residents consider boarding facilities outside of the disaster area. "Although some may be full due to this being a Labor Day Weekend, we encourage pet owners to also look at boarding facilities that are not in disaster zones as another option."

Boarding facilities and hotels will require proof of vaccinations, which should be included in every person’s pet evacuation kit. The complete pet evacuation checklist, below, is also available in a detailed brochure. The brochure is available in three languages – English, Spanish and Vietnamese.


LA/SPCA PET EVACUATION CHECKLIST:
Place the following items in a waterproof container so you’re ready to go if you need to evacuate.

Dogs and Cats

• Your veterinarian’s contact name and phone number
  
• Copies of pet vaccination records
  
• Medications
  
• Leash
  
• Extra collar
  
• Food and water bowls
  
• Bottled water
  
• Toys
  
• Treats
  
• Paper towels
  
• Plastic baggies for picking up pet waste
  
• Muzzle, if necessary
  
• First aid kit
  
• Current photo of your pet
  
• 5-day supply of pet food and can with opener if you need one
  
• Kitty litter
  
• Small travel kitty litter box

Snakes

• Several pillowcases for transporting
  
• Water bowl
  
• Heating pad

Small mammals (in small carriers)

• Bedding material
  
• Food
  
• Food bowl and water bottle

Birds (in carrier with perch inside)

• Food
  
• Water mister

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Photo credit: LA SPCA

Confessions of a plum eater

By pawlitico

I've been finding fallen plums when I'm out in the yard. They're juicy Santa Rosa plums — one of the loveliest Nature-assisted Luther Burbank inventions.


At first I didn't much care about the plums, except they're fun to squeeze, like a ball. But plums are such juicy, fresh treats. And the pits are fun to spit out all over the yard. . . . I'm addicted.

Yesterday, dog-ma looked at me in a strange way. She got up close and felt my tummy. "Good grief, Jack," she exclaimed. "You've gained weight around your middle!"

Today, when dog-ma greeted me, she said, "I've been thinking about how you could've gained weight. You know, fruit has a LOT of fructose sugar — a ton of carbs, really. I bet you've been sneaking several plums a day, haven't you?"

I slunk down sheepishly. Yes, of course I have. Whenever nobuddy's looking, I eat as many juicy plums as I can. I'm not a vegan or fruitarian. I'm an omnivore. (By the way, as an omnivore, I don't eat any animal who didn't have a free life and a humane ending, 'cuz I'm a Humane California Dog.) It's just I can't resist plums.

Anybuddy who sez plums are bad fur a dog's health will have to explain to me why I'm feeling great. Plums have nutritional value fur dogs — such as vitamins and antioxidants.

But anybuddy who sez that eating lotsa plums and other fruits is bad fur the waistline, I'll have to agree with.

Before all you dogs start some kind of plum good diet fad, hear me on this one BIG CAVEAT: Plum pits can cause serious or life-threatening obstruction of the doggie digestive tract. There are a lot of inner doggie places to lose a pit.
Humans, if your dogs aren't the type who will spit out all the pits, you're asking for trouble to allow them to eat plums, peaches, and other stone fruits.

You've heard that the pits of many stone fruit contain the poison cyanide? This is true. But it would take quite a few pits to poison a mid-sized dog; there's so little of cyanide in each one.

If les fideaux insist on les fruits, pawleeze take les pits out before serving.

If some fideau happens to swallow a pit, watch her or him closely for signs of nausea or discomfort. Examine poo for pit. . . . No pit in poo? Call your vet!

The moral of the story: A pitted fruit in time saves nine — nine lives, nine hundred bucks, nine hundred trips to the ER, etc. You get the idea.

Dogtown redoo, or ale and tail again

By winecountrydog

I'm a Welsh Corgi who drinks beer so that I can relax and sleep without taking much heavy-duty doggie medication. (Lagunitas Dogtown Pale Ale and Mendocino Red Tail Ale are two of my favs.)

Humans around the U.S. are going nutz over my being a beer-drinking dog after I paw-wrote about it. Some humans are howlin' more about my drinking than about the underwhelming news from the McCain – Obama campaigns.

I want you to understand that I drink beer for my tail — that being the end where my painful spasms radiate and make my back legs shaky and weak.

First, allow me to quote a certain veterinary professional, whose name I'll be yappy to provide you via email:

The folks who get irate about dogs getting beer, etc., are mad because of the numbnuts that use alcohol to intoxicate their pets for amusement — just to see them staggering around and falling down the stairs. I get pretty mad about that too. Sipping just enough to relax you so you can sleep better is a whole different story — like the difference between someone who enjoys a glass of wine at dinner vs. someone who drinks himself into an early death from liver disease.

This veterinarian also points out that "most medications, and even many vitamins and minerals, are poisons if taken incorrectly." Smart dogs will consult their vets before taking any kind of med or supplement — including beer.

Tell your vet which beer product you're looking to drink. You don't want, for exmple, a stout that's made with real chocolate, toxic to canines. Such is the case with Breakfast Stout from Founders Brewing Co. It's a lovely drink fur humans. But, like many stouts, it's brewed with chocolates and not good fur dogs.

A word to the wise dog should be sufficient here.

A pro-hops southern Oregon herbalist and animal lover reminds us that hops are a nerve tonic for many animals as well as humans. We're experimenting with recipes that use hops to provide nervine benefit.

We see that hops are helpful to horses, too, as Horsetalk NZ writer Robert McDowell explains. Here's a snippet from his "Nerve Tonics" piece.

There is a class of herbs called 'nervines' — herbs that have specific actions on the nervous system. Many of the nervines contain high levels of magnesium phosphate — a mineral that has been found to be very important to the health and well-being of nerves. Different nervines nourish different aspects of the nervous system; the job of the herbalist is to identify the nervine(s) that will suit a particular sort of nervous system.

There are around a dozen nervines that apply to humans, but there are four main nervines — Valerian, Vervain, Chamomile, and Hops — that apply to horses.

I wonder whether hops are in the diet of famous Welsh horse twins Bill and Ben — the world's oldest equine twins.


You can read about Bill and Ben in the Horsetalk NZ July 2008 piece "Celebrity twins chalk up a quarter century." You can also visit the celebrity duo at Veteran Horse Centre at St Dogmaels, Cardigan, West Wales.

Remember now, if you have serious spasms, take a bit of beer before walkies.

My previous "ale for tail" article is Dogtown days of summer.