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We've been thinking about getting a dog for a while. I found that there are two opinions about pets and compromised health patients. Some People believe that having a dog in the house opens a door to ticks in the house, therefore increases chances of infecting and RE--infecting(!) with Lyme. The other group (Mimi mentioned it here, I believe) of the opinion that dog in the house increases exposure to different intestinal flora, therefore it is good.
Do you have a dog? How does having a pet effects your healing? Thank you!
I got a dog right after I
I got a dog right after I started treatment. He was on a program to prevent ticks and fleas from bugging him and I lived in SC at the time. South carolina which is swampy. He is a dauchshaund and was always making me laugh and smile from his antics and personality. Having him to care for REALLY helped me get my mind off the pain and it helped heal me emotionally cause he was so loving and sweet. I think he may have been a healing factor in my treatment and I never once considered the benefits of the intestinal flora exposure!
Hi blondy, how exciting that
Hi blondy, how exciting that you are considering to get a dog :) I got my mom a little shih tzu about 3 years ago. She is my bundle of joy :) I am smiling as i write this about her already. She gets so excited to see me and starts running around the whole house at least 3-4 times making a big mess with carpets before i can even pet her. I don't know if this sounds too weird, but i even miss her sweet smell when i don't see her for a while. Petting her takes most of my stress, which should be a good thing for us.... Dogs in general make me happy, and I wasn't always like that. I used to be so scared of dogs, cause where i grew up a lot of stray dogs and fear of getting rabbies. Sorry, tmi, but I highly recommend you a dog, they are truely therapautic. My only concern would be since we are in an allergic, inflammatory state, and i'd stick with small dogs with hair, not much shedding.
I actually was looking at
I actually was looking at gettinhg miniature dauchshaund. :)
Hi BLondy!!
Hi BLondy!!
Funny you should ask this. Dr. B did not seem to think we should worry about it as far as health goes. And as other's posted, they help so much with stress. My mood is markedly improved when I am in contact with dogs.
Having said that, we are getting a puppy (He will be 16 weeks when he comes home) in one month! A black lab!! (Geeze! Will not be able to see ticks on him). And we live in deer country in CA although the tick/lyme thing is a little lower in CA than on East Coast. I am afraid of Lymes. Very. I am going to use the natural tick spray and if really worried may have to do the intermal tick treatment for him, although of course I hate that idea. I hate the idea of Lymes even more. Also going to make my own wipes out of the recipe that Dr. Brizman posted. We will bath or wipe down the dog if he goes out where the deer roam. We will do lots of leash walks in safer areas and only take him to tick areas sometimes. Of course will have to do body checks too. I am a little scared but excited to have a dog again. I had one for 15 years previously and only had to remove ticks from him a few times and never from me, thank goodness.
Let us know what you decide!!
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Congratualations Mimi on your
Congratualations Mimi on your new family member.
You should do everything you can to prevent ticks, even if it is oral medication. I will keep talking with people who own dogs about tick issues. Hopefully we'll be getting our dog soon. :)
We have a super cute
We have a super cute labradoodle, and we use a flea and tick med that is a liquid we put on his skin once per month. It is very effective.
So wonderful! I want a min
So wonderful! I want a min dauschund so badly! Theybarevfabulous little dogs. I have always had Jack Russell's. they too are so great. We currently have a 9 year old mutt who is sweet but difficult in his own way. My husband sweetly says no more dogs but who knows. What I wanted to say is that our 9 year old has Lyme. He got it in Italy where I lived several years ago. We saw the ticks there and they were numerous. In his case it effected his joints and brain. I was so freaked out several years ago that I got tested for Lyme myself with every standard and private test available..All negative.
There are a few veyr powerful herbs that are used for Lyme prevention and treatment. Perhaps you could ask dr. B. I wouldn't worry though bcs it is rare to get Lyme from dogs. Once the tick has bitten, I generally gets locked on and does its thing. Its more from hiking where one mst be careful. Especiallyin summer. long socks, essential oils, etc. happy to write more about this. just do not sleep with your doggie as cute and tempting as it might be. I treat a lot of Lyme in my practice and see this vector borne disease at all angles. It is unfortunately something we should all be careful of.
dont worry, it should be safe...blessings on getting a new pup. It is pure love and so therapeutic!
Carey