Dog Heart Murmur: Holistic Vs. Conventional Treatment

Hi Sunny,
If Jerimiah has no symptoms of congestive heart disease such as coughing, blue-tinged tongue or exercise intolerance, after almost 1 1/2 years from diagnosis, then your treatments are doing something right!

Regarding dosage for the supplements you are giving him:

1. CoEnzyme Q10 or Ubiquinone, the oil form in gel capsules are more effective than the dry form, according to Don Hamilton, DVM, in his book, ‘Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs’. The dose for dogs is 1 mg/lb daily in the oil form, and up to twice this amount in the dry form.

2. Vitamin E, 5-10 IU/lb one time daily

3. Hawthorn (dried concentrated extract) 1-3 mg/lb three times daily
Hawthorn tincture 3-5 drops per 10 lbs bodyweight, 2-3 times daily
Of the dried fruit (or berries) 30mg/lb two times daily. I am unable to calculate for ’rounded’ teaspoons, to convert to mg. You may have to consult with a pharmacist for that!

You might also check into this supplement by Standard Process that also contains Hawthorn, (Crataegus spp)called Canine Cardiac Support

https://www.standardprocess.com/Products/Veterinary-Formulas/Canine-Cardiac-Support#.VNhWgVo-CqA

Regarding his teeth, perhaps he will chew on a raw turkey neck or chicken breast two to three times per week to help his teeth? Or even some of the man-made tartar control treats after each meal, would be helpful. Ones that are ‘endorsed’ by the Veterinary Oral Hygiene Council, (VOHC) should be good.

Also, I would NOT advise that he be vaccinated. If he is due for a Rabies vaccine, you should seek the help of a holistic veterinarian to write an exemption form.
Another resource for vets knowledgeable in homeopathy is AVH.org.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

So I can give him 30mg twice daily of the whole berry? Yes he gets the oil ubiquinol. I will look into standard process and the chews. About the vaccinations, he is due pretty soon for his parvo/distemper and his rabies was due in 2013. He had a cancerous tumor removed from his leg in 2012 and just last summer his spleen ruptured due to a non cancerous tumor so it was removed. Decided to never vaccinate him again after the cancer but had been considering it so he could go to doggy daycare. Thank you so much for all of your advise! This has been a big help.

Hi Sunny,
The dose for Hawthorn ‘fruit’ or berries is 30mg/lb two times daily. If Jerimiah weighs 70 lbs his dose is 30X70 or 2,100 mg or 2.1 gm of berries TWO times daily.

I do not know how much the dried berries weigh, so I do not know how many grams to tell you is in a teaspoon. A pharmacist may be able to help.

You wrote,
RE: “….vaccinations, he is due pretty soon for his parvo/distemper”

Don’t worry about giving him any more.

You wrote,

“…and his rabies was due in 2013. He had a cancerous tumor removed from his leg in 2012 and just last summer his spleen ruptured due to a non cancerous tumor so it was removed. Decided to never vaccinate him again after the cancer”

Good for you!

You wrote,
“…but had been considering it (vacc) so he could go to doggy daycare.”
Just have a veterinarian write him an exemption for the daycare to say that he has been examined and has no contagious or infectious disease. Due to his past medical history of cancer and with congestive heart disease he should NOT receive any more vaccinations.

A holistic veterinarian might be more agreeable to this than a ‘conventional’ vet!

Another resource for vets knowledgeable in homeopathy is AVH.org.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Hi Sunny,

You wrote,
‘…he won’t ever be vaccinated again.’

Great!

You wrote,
Ordering some standardized hawthorn berry capsules now so he gets enough to be therapeutic.

Sounds good to me!!

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.