The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Coconut oil has helped my cat's stomatitis greatly. I was told at the vets that the only ways to help this condition was either repetitive steroid shots for the inflammation or removal all of her teeth. I put a small amount of coconut oil on her paw, she licks it off and inflammation is gone. Also, she likes the taste and her fur has never looked so good.
I use a 1 ml syringe with coconut oil and water mixture. My cat has FIV with stomatitis and dental problems..gums were very red..Was taking him to the vet every month for antibiotics. I first started using the oil to coat his mouth and gums to soothe them before eating as it was so painful and had problems eating and drinking. It was amazing ...he began to eat and drink and is getting better and better.. Eyes are clear and bright...fur getting softer and hes beginning to groom himself again. I also began him on Lysine. I am now hopeful as he plays with me and loves to be petted and groomed. Had to apply coconut oil directly to gums as well and put a little on a q-tip that he loves to lick. This helped with swallowing it seems.
Posted by London (Sandusky, Ohio) on 05/24/2010 ★★★★★
My dog has AWFUL teeth, they are rotted and horribly decayed, she's 10 years old. Finally one morning her whole face was swollen and deformed, and her gums were bleeding and oozing pus. She was so sick, and lethargic we were looking into crematoriums, and making plans to put her down.
She, ofcourse, was unable to eat dry food, so my mother started hand feeding her wet food, and we put about 2 TBSP coconut oil in there mixed in. Within a week, she was dramatically improved and the swelling went completely down. In 2 weeks she was better than ever, (completely healed)and full ofyouthful energy. We continue to feed her wet food now, and she had one other minor flare up, since then, and we gave her coconut oil and in 2 days she was good as new.
I have a 15 year old cat that got her teeth cleaned this past year for the very first time. The dentist noticed she had lesions on her back molars. They wanted to extract them all. That did not sit well with me, so I decided to go all natural.
Within the first day I began to see the lesion disappear with the application of coconut oil. I put coconut oil on her teeth and gums every time after I wipe them with a wet cloth. I put about a finger nail amount and wipe on the gum in the front and behind the tooth both sides. The best is to do it when they are sleepy, and if they won't let you restrain them in a blanket or get help.
I feed her everyday a table spoon of plain organic kefir milk. Everyday I give her lots of grass to chew on. Cat grass neutralizes the acid in the mouth. Also with an eye dropper I drop cat fish oil on her lesions. About a teaspoon worth. The cat fish oil has vitamin e in it, which is good to heal inflammation. Her teeth are healing themselves.
When I first started her molars were black around the gum line and now they are reddish pink. Also when I clean her teeth I push the cloth as close to the gum line as possible almost digging the scraping the tooth. Use a cotton baby cloth. Be sure to wash the cloth every week. This is a long process be patient and you will see results. You have to do it everyday, don't put the coconut oil in the food it won't reach the gums which is what you want. If your cat has plaque on her teeth you need to remove the plaque.
There is a natural remedy you can use without paying lots of money at the vet. It requires hydrogen peroxide and aloe vera juice. I am going to use this on my 22 year old cat. Also if your cat is a picky eater like mine, it is very challenging to change them to a raw diet. The best is to introduce them to an all natural wet brand. Slowing mixing it in their food. I think it would be difficult to start a cat with bones and raw meat especially since they are in pain from their bad teeth.
Jane --- your post made me really mad! What gall! When my German shepherd/husky mix needed stitches, she was twelve years old and they had trouble getting her out of the anaesthesia. It is a great risk. What greed! What insensitivity to an aged animal's need!
And threats for you on top of it!
I have a seventeen yr. old rescue poodle with bad mouth and teeth. I have to presoak his dog biscuits. I have used MMS spray for his mouth and turmeric powder in honey is also good. A dab of celtic sea salt on the tongue helps. Essiac tea, one tsp. of the decoction on the tongue twice a day is very potent, or with a thing to irrigate teeth from the tooth section of the pharmacy. Can't think of the word right now. Also chamomile tea in small amounts of food. Also sage tea applied with irrigation tool.
So there is much. Drinking water with H203 hydrogen perox alone is excellent.
What a brutal procedure and attitude. I am mad. Don't let him intimidate you. Stand up to such example of manipulation for money.
Please do not use PetZ life dental spray on any animal, the ethyl alcohol is poisonous to your pets. there have been dangerous reports of its usage, u can find them online and don't purchase/use any remedy that utilizes alcohol, I have small dogs, so I don't even want to chance it. (ps, I know this is old post, but this is important to share! )
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Hey CJ! You are responding to a post that is over 2 years old, so I will try to help with a reply.
Coconut oil fat is nearly 50% lauric acid, which is a compound with amazing health promoting properties. It contains antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral properties that boost the immune system. Lauric acid is converted by the body into monolaurin and makes coconut oil effective in treating many bacterial and fungal infections.
The kind of coconut oil that best retains its healing properties is virgin. raw, centerfuge extracted, but cold pressed or expeller pressed can be good also.
Coconut oil melts very easily and can be easily added to your cat's wet food.
One thing to consider feeding your cat once his mouth has healed is raw bones. Raw chicken wings, raw chicken necks are the right size for a cat and eating them will provide the natural tooth brush action to keep your cat's teeth and gums clean.
I have read your posts regarding mouth gums and teeth in dogs and have few questions about it.
I have a golden age almost 14, she has bad gums and teeth and the vet wants to operate a surgery on her teeth, pull out more than few of them....I am concerned about doing that and am trying to find alternative ways to help out.
The dog does not show any discomfort signs, eats regularly and acts as normal, but the vet who is new to me, is fixed on surgery...he threatens to call the animal organization to report me. I am concerned regarding her age, she is almost 14 and I have heard there are many infections and complications after the dental surgery.
I read all the posts in your website, and there are several options people experienced good results using them.
Colloidal Silver, DMSO and slippery elm.
First, where can I get ? I google it and there are few that sell them, but how can I know which company is the best, as unfortunately there are some bad products out there when it comes to natural stuff...
Second, can I use them all together, or I have to use them separately and they can not be taken on the same day?
And my last question is if they can not be taken together, which one is the best for helping her gums to get better? (this vet says she has gingivitis, periodontal disease and abscess. I don't know how much is true or not, as I have not been to another vet for second opinion, but this is what she says. I do believe the dog has some of it as her gums are not good but I am not sure the dog suffers from all what she said. I am going for 2nd opinion soon.
In the meantime I would like to try and help the dog as much as can be and though maybe to use those products mentioned on Earth Clinic.
I would like to thank you for your time and help, and am hoping you will be able to help me out with this issue. It would be greatly appreciated and helpful.
Thank you and I am looking forward to hearing back form you.
I have dogs and cats, both. It's only my elder dog who's had issues with that concrete-type plaque you're describing. I got a puffer and some food grade diatomaceous earth - have been puffing it onto her teeth for about 3 weeks now (3x daily - her teeth were REALLY bad) and we're winning! That nasty stuff is just coming right off without having to put my Grrrl through a traumatic vet event. It works, for real, really!
I have over 12 years old cat. She had 5 teeth badly inflamed the only solution was to be all extracted. Getting to see a different opinion on the procedure and my vet suggested it may not be a good idea as she may be too old and may not make it. The cost would be from 500 - 600 Ca dollars. We love this cat and there was no way to put her thru so much pain and suffering. - or even to think we may loose her.
So I started to treat her the way I know. I put 1-2 homeopathic Arnica Montana 200ch into tiny amount of water to dissolve and put into her milk...She loves milk..... I also mix wet food with water and clay dissolved in it.... (she won't eat for weeks or only a bit and this was the first time she started to eat slowly once, I started to add clay/water to the wet food.) After weeks I noticed she had one tooth kinda loose on one side of her mouth.
Than I started to add to Arnica... also homeopathic Silicea 30ch 2-3 tablets....it took another 2 weeks and the loose tooth all came out and her mouth is totally healed. Silicea would EXPEL the loose tooth...this cat was in such a rough shape we all thought she will die...NOOO she is super happy now, bouncing around, , , eating like crazy now...be patient, it takes time and it took about 6 months in total...but we have now super happy, bouncy cat again....
I have a cat who has only 3 fangs left no other teeth and he is in perpetual pain and the gums go from a bit inflamed to very very inflamed so my experience is that teeth have nothing to do with inflamed gums and it is a terrible mistake to take the teeth out to stop gum inflammation - it does not work
Posted by Sherie Suter (Rainier) on 05/15/2020 ★★★★★
I have been using coconut oil with a small amount of oregano oil added in to brush my Pomeranian's teeth for years. And have not had to have her teeth cleaned since I started! She used to have gingivitis but within days of using this it was gone.
I brush her teeth every morning first thing she never has bad breath and her teeth are white and beautiful. And she loves the taste. If I get busy and forget for a few days, the gingivitis starts coming back and she starts getting build up on her teeth. It's very obvious the difference it makes. I melt the coconut oil, add enough oregano so I can barely taste it, then pour it in a jar and let it cool.
*Tip for dogs with tiny mouths
My Pom is only 4 1/2 pounds so finding a small enough brush was a problem. Colgate makes tiny disposable toothbrushes that come in a 4 pack with a dot in the middle. You have to pop that dot out and rinse it off because dogs can't have fluoride, but once you do that, the brush is the perfect size and lasts for months!
Cat has had mouth sores off and on since I can remember. For awhile, enisypril lysine cat chews seemed to work. Then they stopped. I now use 1/2 tsp of real sardine packed in olive oil every other day. Problem solved once again!
I know this is an older post but I just stumbled across it. I am taking care of a dozen rescued cats, and one of them I found with stomatitis....and she'd had it for a very long time....years. We had to have a few teeth pulled but after some scary antibiotic issues, we stopped it all. I found that she just didn't want to eat her food, which caused her to not heal as she should (feeding raw, with multiple nutritionals). I did some research into the stomatitis (teeth and mouth infections) and found that in most cases the whole mouth is like an ulcer....inflamed...and very painful. I began to use slippery elm powder, mixed with hot water and then cooled, and then I would add the nutritionals, and whatever meat I was giving her. The VERY FIRST time I gave it to her (I was having to feed her by a dropper), when she finished I set her on the floor, and then a couple of minutes later I offered her food bowl.....she snapped her head down and smacked away and cleaned her plate!! From that day forward I just simply mix in the slippery elm/water mixture with her meat and nutritionals and she licks the plate clean.
I know it was the slippery elm....it was the only thing I changed. She had been on colloidal silver, probiotics, olive leaf, etc. etc. and a handful of nutritionals for a long time. Small improvements tho....the slippery elm put us over the top. I'm about to add bladderwrack for it's fucoidan content as well as healing iodine.
Slippery elm is very healing.....it makes a soothing and protective coating for the mouth (actually the entire digestive tract), soothes inflammation and helps healing to begin.
This is over two months now and after nearly a year working on her health, I NOW see vast improvement! She is so fantastic. Take away the pain, soothe the tissues, and healing can begin. Do some research....it's incredible reading.....
I am also using it for another of the rescued cats with mega colon. I refuse to use the laxatives the vet wants and do not want her on meds. Slippery elm normalizes bowel movements. I mix the same slippery elm into her food, along with soaked chia seeds. Beautiful.....no problems anymore. Am transitioning this one to a raw diet also, and hope to reduce her weight and bring her back to good health!
The slippery elm is fantastic stuff! It has a light maple flavor, and I thought for sure they wouldn't touch it but they seem to love it. I have another that I give it to in his cream.....loves it.
Posted by Meredith (Hamilton, New Zealand) on 07/27/2010 ★★★★★
I've also had what I consider to be amazing results with using colloidal silver in my dogs drinking water. Our 10 year old French Bulldog has awful teeth, having had several rotten ones removed over the years. I was told by the vet due to Frenchies having very crooked teeth and big jowels to hide germs and food scraps that they would always need attention. Her mouth has always smelled AWFUL. I recently bought some colloidal silver and decided to try it out and saw results within a couple of days. Now her breath is not smelly at all. I've also noticed her general well being has improved- she's more active and bubbly. I use 1 tablespoon colloidal silver to a bowl of water refreshing both water and silver daily. I've been doing this for 4 days now and will stop after 7 to see how things go. The amount of colloidal silver may be on the high side for her body weight but she had a significant problem so I'm treating it as an acute infection.
I agree with Belil of using Colloidal Silver as antibiotic. My 13 years old who had CHF and stop eating last year due to sore mouth. I research online and found from this website on effective antibiotics - Colloidal Silver. I gave my dog a spray ( I have a human grade on) at night and in the morning he ate his food no problem. I kept spraying on his mouth for good two day 2X a day and absolutely work. It was effective and safe...good luck everyone!!
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Cats can suffer from a condition called stomatitis, and in some cases removal of all the teeth is the treatment of choice. Please confirm with your vet the diagnosis to be sure what you are dealing with. Next google "homeopathic treatment for stomatitis in cats" and "home remedies for stomatitis in cats" and also "natural remedies for stomatitis in cats". Please let us know what you do and keep us posted!
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
I agree with Om that your post is very troubling; my 'take away' is a bit different. I have never heard of a vet threatening to report someone for cruelty/neglect - so *for sure* take her in for a second opinion ASAP.
As to the original diagnosis of gingivitis, periodontal disease and abscess - your first vet, and certainly the second opinion vet - should be able to show you these disease conditions in your dog's mouth, or at least point to symptoms present as to why the diagnosis of abcess was made [the other two conditions are obvious to the uneducated eye]. All three disease conditions with the bacteria and toxins associated with them, add stress to your dog's heart and kidneys. Failure to treat the mouth very easily and quickly can lead to cardiac complications and renal failure.
My only advice is to get the second opinion - possibly from a wholistic vet - to legally satisfy the first vet that you are not neglecting your dog, and to find a diagnosis you have faith in so you can begin the appropriate treatment of your choice ASAP.
Posted by Dog_Conscious (New York Area) on 04/06/2014
My experience with slippery elm and my dog. My dog has had very bad acid reflux for years and unfortunately no vet, holistic or traditional has been able to help (they only say take Pepcid - a very bad solution). After a dental procedure in July 2013, we were given antirobe to give to our dog. It's a very potent anti-bacterial drug that is strong enough to penetrate bone. The acid reflux became so severe that our dog would faint and have a seizure from it. Again, no vet, holistic or traditional knew what to do. So, as I always do, I researched and found slippery elm. It was a "miracle" for a month. Then, he started to show signs that again no vet, holistic or traditional (we went to 5 different vets for help) knew what was going on. From Sept. 2013 thru Dec. 2013 there were symptoms which included: extreme hind side pain, wouldn't eat unless it smelled right, excessive thirst (he's got kidney disease so we thought he could be in renal failure), dry eye, etc. We tested for numerous things. I questioned everything (as I usually do). He got sub-cutaneous fluids and homeopathic remedies. It was miserable for him and for us. He would only eat liver. We got a vet nutritionist to help. Finally, after he lost a pound in a matter of weeks and then gained several pounds in two weeks, it dawned on me. It's the slippery elm that stopped the absorption of his hypothyroid medication that caused this. Yes, as I said, the severe reflux improved to just minor episodes for a month but the reflux came back anyway and in addition, he now didn't have enough thyroid medication in his system. I followed the directions of what I found online for the slippery elm (which wasn't adequate - 1 hour before the medication) because as I asked every vet no one had an answer for me except one after the fact (as that one vet mentioned, "The slippery elm should always be given at least 2 hrs before or two hours after any other medication.") Of course, no vet wanted to believe my conclusion until all the symptoms finally went away during the weeks following the end of the slippery elm usage. It took about 12 - 16 weeks following the end of the slippery elm usage for the symptoms to be completely gone and his thyroid to be back to normal. We now have found other alternative health solutions for the acid reflux (still all the vets wanted him to take Pepcid) that appear to be working.
I'm not saying to not use slippery elm. I've heard of it being helpful for very sick animals outside of this forum, too. Just please be careful if your dog/cat is on any medication (although we try very hard to use alternative health solutions, he eats home cooked organic food, thyroid medication is a necessity for our dog). I also do wonder if the slippery elm does not allow for the complete absorption of nutrients when given with food. If it causes lack of absorption of medication, that leads me to believe it could cause lack of absorption of nutrients, too.
Another thought, when a vet says that tests or study's were done on humans so the result might correct not be for dogs/cats, trust your instinct. Who's to say it might not be for them, too. BTW: every single symptom I researched that was about humans applied to my dog and led us to be able to help him. Also, he was never in renal failure (YAY! ), his excessive thirst was due to dry mouth which IS (no vet wanted to believe which caused the wrong homeopathic remedy and was just a waste of time and money) a symptom for hypothyroidism (in humans AND dogs). In addition, I found a study from the NIH that stated that humans who have hypothyroidism can have their sense of taste and smell thrown off because of it. And finally, we couldn't understand why our dog would only eat liver for weeks (which made us a bit nervous). Turns out liver is very good for the thyroid.
Bottom line: listen to your animal and then, yourself! Good luck to everyone.
Hi Jane, Theresa and all ---- it was a few years ago when a lady posted on EC about being forced via a vet and a local animal organization to purchase the meds which she found did not help for her mangy dog what seemed to be a court order.
So it does happen and it is clear in my mind still.
Years ago I had a bajenji mix from the Carribean that was on death row. Water on the lungs and emaciated. A person on the street accosted me for cruelty, got in touch with the SPCA and I had an inspector at my door. He knew me and asserted that the dog was properly looked after. The vet that I had seen before that said the animal was in too low health to have success with removal of fluid from the chest cavity.
So he had a better option than being abandoned for convenience and when he died, he had received ample love from us.
Yes, it does happen. And, as I, doing rescue, only adopted needy, unwanted and sick animals, have faced that situation several times.
Hi Petrina --- how I enjoy the names of your cats.
When I did some research on EC, people mentioned that their pets teeth were white and healthy from DE (diatomaceous earth) in their food. On earthworkshealth there is supposed more info. on DE. That was from a post on EC. Maybe this will be of help.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Here is an oral spray that may be helpful for you: PetzLife Oral Care Spray - Spray it on teeth once or twice daily; It's safe for cats www.petzlife.com.
A "puffer" is also called a "powder duster" which is the plastic applicator which is sometimes packaged with the Diatomaceous Earth (DE) product. You fill the Duster with the DE and use the duster to more accurately apply the DE. If you do a Google search for Diatomaceous Earth, you'll see pictures of the bag containing the duster. The duster is yellow.
Olive oil has removed plaque off my dogs teeth. I have not taken my dog to the vet for teeth cleaning in 6 years and her teeth look great.
Just rub olive on their teeth and let it sit a few minutes and then use a tooth brush and a little tooth paste or wrap gauze around your finger and brush pets teeth. Be careful of the gauze my dog likes to lick it and you don't want them to swallow the gauze!
So sorry to hear about your little one. At the moment I am treating a tooth abcess and I am using colloidal silver with DMSO for the pain with very good results.
Give him a tsp. of colloidal silver with two drops of DMSO using a water pick, frequently. Swelling will go down and pain disappear. The DMSO will take the silver deep down to kill pathogens. In between you could also take warm chamomile tea and irrigate the gums with a water pick. That would soothe the nerves, too. It is alright to have it go down the gullet. Stay clear of antibiotics.
Jane, your news about how effective coconut oil was for your cat sounds so wonderful - I'm so worried about having to pay $500 each year ($300 just for anaesthetic) to have my cat's teeth scraped - can you tell me what product of coconut oil you used? Or maybe what's its properties are, as listed on the pack? Perhaps I can match them. Thanks for your advice.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Thank you so much for sharing the journey of healing for your boy. It really pays to stick with it, and to go with your gut. I appreciate your sharing what you learned about slippery elm; it is important to understand that even when 'natural', remedies and therapies need to be studied and fully understood to avoid or negate negative side effects.
Very impressed with how you did not give up on your boy and found the answers you needed!
Posted by Kathryn4 (Lanham, Maryland, Usa) on 11/28/2012 ★★★★★
I have discovered a remedy for my cats herpes like sore she gets now and then on her mouth. First of all I swtiched to a better cat food, and secondly use Lysine cat treats that you get over the internet. Every day give some and they work like a charm to keep those sores away!
Posted by Katrinika (Morehead City, Nc Usa) on 12/10/2010 ★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
Collapsed trachea emergency solved -- Update on Gidget... If I hadn't been very ill with a antibiotic drug reaction, my Gidgi-poo would have been put down. I figured out what was wrong, and she's almost completely well. One night, not being able to sleep with the Keflex rash and too weak the two days before to bring her in to be put down, I lay listening to her heaving for breath - at least once she passed out. She had been so much worse that day that even at the highest dose the vet's medicine was no help at all... I thought, "what was different about today?" and it hit me... I thought that since she was dying anyway her weight didn't matter, and little by little over the course of the week I had given her all the treats/chews I had... Then I ran across a few Dentley's dental enzyme dog chews and gave her one. That evening and night she struggled, heaving and strangling for breath. The CET enzymatic dog toothpaste works so much better than the regular.. I thought these dog chews would be good for their teeth.
So I went online and researched collapsed trachea in dogs. It is a common weakness in toy and miniature dogs, some more so than others. Its cause is unknown, but the action is that the rings of the trachea somehow soften.. The rings are made of cartilage... Dental enzyme, plaque, calcium... Cartilage, calcium...!!! She always had a weakness for the symptoms of trachea trouble, hoarse coughing when she got excited, probably because she was under-nourished as a puppy, but these were her first attacks. She had had her first attack of trachea collapse in July and I took her to the vet, gave her the medicine and she got better. Well, I now realize that first attack coincided with the first time she had been on another brand of dental enzyme chew, Sentry HC Petrodex (Seargent), for a couple of months, I ran out while she was getting the meds.
It wasn't the vet meds that made her better, it was running out of the enzyme chews. When I got more in, after a couple of months again she went down - this time the vet meds did no good. With the addition of the Dentley's occasionally during the day and my recent increased use of the enzyme toothpaste.. I almost killed her. While I suspect that there will be residual damage from the spell of collapse before I discovered my mistake, two days without enzyme chews and she is almost back to normal. Warn everybody.
Most dog and cat food companies, no matter how elite they pretend to be, put toxic chemicals in their brand pet foods to preserve and color it which are toxic and harmful to your pet's over all health and well being.
I've been promoting, using and practicing holistics on humans for 35 years. For about three years (since 2019) our dog began scratching and scratching and her teeth turned a dark yellowed grey. She scratched so much that her fur thinned and became staggly by the end of August. It seemed as though no flea meds worked no matter what I tried nor did sprinkling the yard with diatomaceous earth to kill off fleas and flea eggs in the grass. (I'm certain diatamcious earth did kill th fleas but it didn't stop her from scratching.)
We tried a spectrum of affordable flea repellents -from affordable herbal brands to $80 toxic brands. Nothing worked. She just kept scratching and the fur on her back appeared to be stained pink - like blood stains from scratching so much. Bathing seemed to help or a day or two but hen made it all worse and one pet center suggested we were bathing her too often, drying out her skin. She later developed a tumor the size of a golfball on her chest which had to be surgically removed. I've always hated the expensive flea meds placed down the spine of animals and believe the tumor grew from that. Those flea repellents are horribly toxic not only for for your pet but also you pet your pet so that toxic med is also getting on you, especially children who love to pet and hug their pets- super bad. Different pet shop people and even one vet also believed it to be fleas. I also had switched her dog food diet out to very expensive brand foods and she continued to scratch and chew. One day I took her with me to a business meeting that happened to be held at a vet clinic. There, one of the assistants took one look at her and told me that the pinkish discoloration on her fur was not dried blood, rather it was stained from her saliva saying that she had allergies. I knew from years past that food dyes were a huge culprit that caused allergies and hyperactivity in children.
All of the sudden the pieces of the big puzzle came together in my head; "If her saliva was carrying a stain then that had to be caused from chemical additives in the dog food and no matter which brand I was using, they were all causing her to itch, scratch and chew. Most all the dog foods are using these chemicals even expensive brands. In the past I had looked into making dog food for her out by boiling 2 cups of rice, 1 lb to 2 lbs of beef or chicken raw or slightly cooked and 2 hard boiled eggs with olive oil and broth.
That makes a week's worth of food for 14 lb dog. That is far less expensive than a $50 to $80 lb bag of dry food and far healthier with no additives. Immediately I began making her food. She stopped scratching within 4 days. Just to make sure that the $50 bag of dog food was actually the cause of her allergies, I gave her two servings and she began scratchiness furiously. It took 3 days for her to body to detox and for scratching to stop. Now, two months later after only eating home made dog food, she isn't scratching, her fur is barely stained and her teeth and breath are so much better. Going to add coconut oil to see if that helps her teeth even more.
Posted by Barb R (Norwood, ON Canada) on 12/07/2019
Just had one of our 9 kitties at the vets for a loose tooth. $400 later, and me refusing to allow 3 different aneathetics, 1 should due, she came home with a further diagnosis of needing more extractions. We have had 2 cats and a dog have major dental work done. I don't know about elsewhere, but vets in Canada are getting ridiculously expensive. We already follow earthclinic and have used coconut oil massaged with clean cloth into teeth and gums. So we now need to find something more aggressive for this cat, Millie, to avoid surgery and pain. My husband has been through root canal extractions and metal filling removal as prescribed in the great doc Root Cause. Dr Thomas Levy in his book, The Toxic Tooth says you can cure human dental conditions with a Water pik type device with hydrogine peroxide added to water. I am off to buy one for all of the animals. 7 cats and 2 dogs, and I'll let you know how it works. Will likely be a 2 person exercise.
The homeopathic remedies are called Quent drops and Not drops. I also spray colloidal silver on my cat's food to combat infection. The directions for all these medicines say to give them apart from food, but that's not always possible with my kitty. He's getting better about taking them, but some days we skip the remedies. And he's still doing great! He's like a new cat. I hope you find the help you need for your pet.
Posted by Lynne Hunt (Toronto, Ontario) on 12/08/2015
I was told I had to get my 14 year old Mini Poodle in fir a teeth cleaning........she almost died, they gave her way too much knock out drug she looked like a Heroin Addict when I picked her up. Didn't eat for 10 days......Vet"s response oh she is just sensitive to the drugs.......ya think.. NEXT
This is your Pet and don't let anybody bully you into doing anything that you are not comfortable doing...intuition is a wonderful thing......
Posted by Natasha (New Philadelphia, Ohio) on 01/03/2016
How often did you give your cat the coconut oil? My cat has stomatitis and my very said the same bout my poor kitty and I just want to help her the best way and make sure she gets all better
Posted by Carolyn (Carrollton, Tx) on 07/13/2014 ★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
Good luck with that on a regular basis. I was giving our greyhound raw beef bones and he got a sliver caught in his intestines. Finally passed it with a cooked turnip and potato.
Hi, I'm aromatherapist, my kitty has the same gum problem. DO NOT USE CLOVE OIL on cats or dogs. Its Highly toxic. All u can put straight on its gums is Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil, and its nice also to mix it with his food. And Coloidal Silver water to get rid of the infection. Use only High quality organic raw products-Cold pressed oils are raw.
Do you use slippery elm powder, or with water. I make slippery elm with water and turn it into a type of loose paste. I use it for intestinal problems for me and my cats.
what is your slippery elm recipe for teeth. My kitty has bad teeth. I tried to get them taken care of, but the vet said he wouldnt remove the bad teeth in the back, unless I paid 1000. up front. I asked for a payment plan, and he said no. then told me that the cat would get lymphoma and die anyway with such bad teeth.
Really...here in houston tx, I had yet to find a vet with a heart of love for animals. so, now he has been diagnosed with lymphoma, and is very ill. I am wondering how to kill this back teeth problem, and have used many things.
today, I tried am looking to find more information on Apple Cider Vinegar with the mother for his back teeth. they now have an infection which is coming out of his nose. so I clean it up alot and give him goldenseal and salt water solution for his nose.
that works well. but the infection is still there. I wonder about acv, because it is quite effective in many ways. I wanted to try garlic, but it seems to be toxic to cats. so...i have gotten a pain killer from a vet, and it lasts 1 day...but I need to heal the gum area, and get those teeth out.
can anyone tell me of a better, or truly working answer? I am very holistic, but this one is frustrating me. cats seem to be allergic to so many herbs and tinctures.
I have a 4yr old pit w/the same lump on her head, just behind her ear. I tied it off w/a string to cut off the blood flow. When it died or popped open I poured hydrogen peroxide on it, let it bubble. Then poured baking soda on it. Never took off the string. After it was gone and healed, the string fell off. Her black fur turned brown in that area but soon turned black again, never to return, she's almost 6 now. Thats what I did. good luck.
Posted by Sandy (North East, Tx, USA) on 06/24/2012
Thank You So Much! Iris thankfully went from a huge opening that was probly about 3 inches, you could even see her swallowing inside her throat, to a little tiny scabbed up hole. Since this can happen again to her I am printing out the note so I have it. I cant believe I cleaned her wound up to 6 times a day with hydrogen peroxide (just like I would me), switched her food to no grain or gave her homemade food, Iris loves Organic Coconut Oil! Now she has bacteria in her ear. I would rather deal with that though. Thanks!
We have 3 big dogs - a chocolate Lab, a chocolate Newfoundland, and a Great Pyrenees/Bernese Mountain. We just had their regular vet visit and he was is awe over our dogs teeth. All of them are between 4-5 yrs. Old and their teeth are gleaming white, with no tartar at all. He asked what we did. We feed them half their food (high end kibble with no corn) am and then other half at noon. But at night we always give them a raw marrow bone to chew. We have a butcher that cuts them at 3" and we freeze them and give it to them frozen so it lasts longer. It also keeps them occupied at least a 1/2 hour, another bonus!
After reading so much on this site, however, I am going to start moving them and our 2 cats to an all raw diet.
Hope this helps someone with high vet dental bills!
Posted by Rainman (Central, Vt, Usa) on 06/04/2010
I don't care how old your dog is... do not ever (I mean EVER) give your dog rawhide. They are absolutely without a doubt poison. Not too mention a choking hazard. Do a good search.. you will find testimonials about dogs with pancreatitis and a slew of other issues from eating these chemical and bacteria charged chew toys. Just don't do it. I would say nylabones are safer... but, ask a few vets how many dogs he has seen with gum disease and injuries from obssesively chawing on these synthetic bones.
Melijda... look up raw meaty bones for teething. Not only is this good for teething... it is very healthy and NATURAL! RAW food is what god (mother nature) intended for our beloved pets... we should do as much as possible to see that they get what they need.
Posted by Kittymom (Northern, Nm) on 03/20/2010 ★★★★★
To Whom It May Wellfully Concern, all kinds of animals and humans, too. To all you kitty lovers out there whose kitties/doggies are quite impossible to brush their teeth, try putting some drops of colloidal silver in their daily drinking water. As it is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral, it keeps the mouth germs down to a minimum. A kitty who had 3 teeth out 2yrs ago, had an exam recently and her mouth was in good shape due to this little tip! also, cured in a couple of day, an oozing cold in her eye. you can use it safely in eyes, ears, nose or directly in mouth as a holistic viral/bacterial natural medicine. it is great! and almost tasteless. As a human being i use it myself often to keep germs from making havoc by squirting a few drops down my throat and in my nose every time i'm out and about in crowds/hospitals, etc.-where germs are rampant, also whenever i get a hint of soar throat. i squirt a few drops and voila they're dead and i'm all well!
Posted by Barb R (Norwood, ON Canada) on 12/07/2019
Barb again. Forgot to mention we've been feeding raw recipes to all of our animals since 2003. For cats, great website called Catnutrition.org. For dogs, searching BARF recipes will show a lot of info.
We had our ten year old cat's teeth cleaned a few months ago. The vet told us that if her teeth needed to be removed, she would still be able to eat, even dry cat food. She tested our cat's blood first to see if her kidneys and liver could withstand the anesthesia, and the blood work came back OK. Our cat's teeth were fine after she cleaned them, and none had to be removed.
I am wondering if your cat's liver and kidneys were OK for the teeth cleaning? I hope you were able to feed her some soft, canned food or fresh meat or fish, cut up very finely, if he might eat? I would have reservations about subjecting him to surgery and anesthesia again, so soon. I would also question why the teeth need to be removed if they were OK at the time of surgery? I have used a small amount of colloidal silver topically on my cat, and think you could rub a little bit on his sore gums perhaps? A little bit of coconut oil could also work. I hope he fells better and starts eating again soon.
Posted by Denise W. (Vermont) on 06/26/2021 25 posts
My heart broke to hear about your poor cat. It must have been such a shock for her/him to have so many teeth taken out at once. She probably doesn't know what the heck happened. What are the vets thinking? Honestly, some of them sound like sadists. I can't deal with the regular medical "profession". They seem to be so out of touch. Your cat wouldn't want to eat right now I can imagine. Animals fast when they are sick. Fasting is incredibly restorative. One thing I can vouch for is colloidal silver. It is amazing. It is tasteless. My dog is very fussy and I am going through teeth problems with him presently. Sometimes I put some colloidal silver in a syringe and squeeze it into the side of his mouth and other times I put about a teaspoon full in his water. I always see improvement in him the next day. I feel for you, as my dog is having some problems with teeth too.
My Coal will never let me near his mouth let alone his gums...any other suggestions...please ....with FIV, steroids and antibiotics are not a long term solution.
I need this, how much oil my kitty is suffering and she's 4yrs only with FIV and she can't eat her extra gravy lovers feast now . she can drink water but she cries out . I need help and can't afford teeth extraction
Please don't extract your kitty's teeth! I have a 5-year-old cat with stomatitis. I changed his diet, and it helped some. But he had a flare-up a couple of months ago with a visibly swollen lips and a sore in the corner of his mouth. I had looked into homeopathic treatment in the past but didn't actively pursue it. I was desperate enough for my kitty this time to take it seriously. If you search online for holistic treatment for stomatitis, you should be able to find the remedies that your cat needs. They're pricey but worth it. My cat is energetic and playful again after treatment! The corner mouth sore was gone in days after starting treatment, and it had been there for weeks. Please try this for your cat.
I'm impressed. My cats won't let me do all of that. I can't even get close to their mouths. One of my cats had all his teeth pulled except front top and bottom little ones and top fangs. But his mouth gets red and sore still.
Thank you so much for your replies. I appreciate it. The vet did call, and the spc got in touch with me and accused with cruelty. I am looking for a second opinion, but I am concerned where to find such an open mind vet that will truly want the dog to be healthy, and not just the money behind it...I am traumatized because of that vet...
This vet also suggested that if I won't do the surgery I should put her to sleep, and she gave me 3 days to decide...
Since you mentioned you had them in your door few times, would you be able to tell me how it goes with them? What should I do?
If I get second opinion and it is better that the previous one, will they accept it? How did you fight them? what can I do?
I am so sad and it never happened to me , never in my life a vet accused me or threatened me . I wish all dog owner would treat their dogs as I do. And, yes, mine are also rescued from the streets, but I picked her up from the street almost 14 years ago and she is part of our family.
Also,
What is MMS spray ?
Where can I get all the things that you mentioned?
The h203, in the water, where can I buy it and which company should I go with? I assume there are few of them out there, how would I know which one to buy? how many drops should I put in the water?
Thank you so much!!!
Please help me in any way you can, I feel so helpless. Thank you.
Posted by Denise W. (Vermont) on 06/26/2021 25 posts
You ought to put threaten your doctor that you will put an advertisement up about her if she doesn't get her nose out. This is appalling and letting these petty bullies get away with it will only make them worse. Or just put the ad up and let her deal with the consequences.
Hello Jane --- for medications ask Theresa which I see you have done. Let's see what comes of that first.
Where do you live?
I would even call organizations out of town and ask. They know much. Explain your case.
Try to contact a rescue organization in your area and see if they are amenable in supporting you. I know a clinic in East Vancouver where you might find sympathy for your case. (Apex) Try to call Angels Rescue in Merritt for additional help; 'cause I don't know where you live. where do you live?
Keep calm. See to your dog. Theresa is so knowledgeable. First, you must be protected.
My first post was posted by the moderator of the website and she probably thought I was from USA, I did not post it by myself. Now that I posted it by myself I fixed it...sorry for the confusion.
During my current research for helping my dog I found the website you mentioned , thank you for referring me as well, and I scheduled an appo with holistic vet .
In the meantime I am trying to get as much as info as I can to start give the dog all those great natural remedies you all refer to and have wonderful results , hoping that her condition will be even better than now.
I checked on line about the colloidal silver, DMSO, slippery elm , but I am confused as for which company to purchase them of, which concentration of the product, and to find a product I can trust it to be safe and good quality.
Would you please be able to assist me with these products?
Hello, Jane --- Meso silver seems to be a good brand. The sovereign brand is just a name but there are many brands. I just finished reading EC's section on colloidal silver - very interesting and educating. Also look online where they sell silver generators. Those sell silver water too and they seem to be well known. Just stay away from too high prices as that is not necessary.
Silver, sprayed on the skin seems to stop the itching and does address the mite issue, too. I like to rotate these remedies such as enzyme cleaner in sprays you find online. Keep in mind that big corporations that deal with janitorial items do not permit a small business that sells an enzyme cleaner, to claim their product kills mites. However, enzyme cleaners work in my experience.
I am about to purchase a silver generator since I am used to make my own and of course, it's only expense is pennies.
Slippery elm has to be done on the stove too, which you can add any liquid. Let it simmer until well emulsified. Low heat. It is a great remedy for digestive problems and to add to medications like a food. When just warm, you can even add honey.
Since mites tend to be behind the eyelids and eyes, a mixture of cold pressed castor oil and VCO smoothed into the eye sockets will suffocate them. It is quite beneficial, too. The same goes for the ears.
Posted by Forthesake Ofanimals (Pennsylvania, US) on 02/03/2015
I agree with others that commented regarding the vet reporting you. I think I would first switch vets and get second opinion then I'd report this a-hole vet to BBB, your states consumer protection bureau and lastly look into these suggestions http://www.vetabusenetwork.com/filecomplaint.htm
Posted by Phyllis (Tuscumbia, Alabama) on 02/03/2015
Hello Jane, I am so outraged by your vet's actions that I can hardly give you good advise right now but I will try.
First, if it were me I would report that money grubbing do badder to whatever veternarian medical board you have available. Reporting an owner who obviously is trying to help their pet just because they don't want to put an aged companion at risk of death through surgery is the most cruel misuse of office I have ever encountered in my life! I worked as an animal control officer five years and I assure you if you had been reported to me I would be on your side. And I would have tried to help you find a viable solution to the problem.
That being said, I agree with the colloidal silver, you can just put it in her water so that every time she drinks she is getting the benefit of the antibiotic action. Also I would start getting raw organic apple cider vinegar in her system. You can mix it with purified water and give it to her in a syringe. I also agree with irrigation, but using the ACV with a bit of water to take the potential sting out. It would also be beneficial to rub her gums with aloe gel afterwards, as well as being healing it will be soothing.
As to finding good products; Bragg's is the best ACV and you can get it online. Nature's Sunshine Products and Nature's Plus are top of the line.
Posted by Doug (Southern California) on 03/29/2016
Okay I am in my 60s and have been owned by quite a few dogs (currently 3) The worst problem I have seen with disgusting neglected teeth in dogs is that destroys their kidneys. I lost two very loved terriers to this problem. The each went at 15 years old and each spent the final months on what I call doggy dialysis, which involves flushing toxins via IV bags feeding fluids under their skin every day. It was not great quality of life for them either. BOTH of them DID keep having oral surgeries over their lives to try to keep up with the problem but we did not do enough maybe in finding some other answer.
IF a dog really is still healthy enough to have SUPER rotting teeth pulled then I would be miffed if an owner (that could afford it) refused to give their pet a chance.
Having said that, we also DID lose a beloved dog to surgery (not oral) It was a "routine" spaying done at low cost by vet trying to do good I think. But our little gal went into shock the same night after we brought her home...it has been suggested it could be from lack of pain medication? THAT makes me mad if so because NO ONE even asked us about it!? We would GLADLY have paid considerably for pain meds if we knew?? We just ASSUMED then that the vet did the best he could for a dog...WHY would they not say "HEY do you wish pain meds for you dog?"
Every dog I have lost has been so hard to take. The teeth thing? Is not cut and dried, the teeth can easily get Life threatening as can surgery ...not an issue solved by ignorant emotions and assumptions...of course there are crooked vets. and of course there are stingy pet owners too that would rather not look at the facts. And online? Who really KNOWS what the truth is. Shame on anyone not being honest about what they know or don't know though... I think anyway...
Posted by Denise Ward (Westboro Ma) on 04/29/2017 25 posts
I am so sorry to hear what that vet did you to. And to add to the trauma of having your dog sick, just what you need, the vet to accuse you of cruelty. I would write a review about that vet and put it on the internet. That is our only hope these days as some professionals don't seem to have much in the way of ethics or common sense. Exposing him for what he did will have the desired effect I hope.
Posted by Petrina (Castleton, Virginia) on 10/01/2014
I have two 16 year old twin boy cats, Atma and Brahma. They have eaten raw food for years. Now they had a solid capping of plaque on their back teeth. the vet was able to pick it off, except for one side of one cat. It is like cement. He can go and be sedated at the animal hospital and have it cleaned off. The hospital is about 90 minutes of yowling in the crate, away. Any natural suggestions to soften and or disolve it enough to pick it off at home? Thank you, Petrina
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