The Story of Nubs is a sweet tale that will put a tear in your eye and a smile on your face. We received a review copy, and loved this unforgettable story. It’s a kids book, but the colorful photos and graphics make the story an entertaining read for pawrents too.

Win a Free Copy of “Nubs”

We have a free copy that we want to give away to one lucky Tripawds member. Just comment below and tell us why your Tripawd is your hero. We’ll put all entries into a hat, and Wyatt Ray will pull one out to pick a winner. Contest Deadline is: one week from today, Thursday May 9th at midnight (Pacific Time).

All stories will be featured in our Tripawds News Blog!

The Story of Nubs

Wild packs of dogs roam everywhere in the dangerous deserts of Iraq, living short, brutal lives. But one special dog found refuge with a lonely soldier named Major Brian Dennis.

Nubs didn’t care about the military’s “no pets” rule. He stuck around, and showed this soldier and all who encountered him that love, faithfulness and companionship will always prevail, even during wartime.

When Major Dennis’ troops had to move over 70 miles away and the military gave strict orders to get rid of Nubs, our four legged hero ignored that command. This amazing dog set out in freezing cold weather and dangerous wartime conditions to find his brokenhearted best friend.

Check out Nubs’ adorable free downloadable postcards and coloring sheet.

Get a copy of Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle for a great gift for any dog lover in your life, and remember . . .

Remember, every purchase made through this link helps support the Tripawds community!

GET ONE FREE JAR of EVERPUP WITH EVERY TWO
PURCHASED HERE ON AMAZON
Use Everpup Coupon code 85S3LCI7 at checkout
You must enter a quantity of at least 3 EverPup jars to your cart and enter the corresponding code from below at checkout. Limit: one per customer.
See Amazon.com for full details.

What’s So Special About Everpup?

The Everpup mix of vitamins and minerals was created just for dogs who aren’t fighting cancer, to help keep them healthy. If you’d like to try it, remember EverPup is backed by a Money Back Guarantee.

Formulted by the renowned Dr. Demian Dressler (author of the Dog Cancer Survival Guide), Dressler says that

“EverPup (also) supports your dog’s natural defenses from stress, low-grade inflammation, a weakened immune system and altered intestinal flora. It helps restore normal levels of apoptosis by encouraging old and deranged cells to leave the body naturally. Everpup even helps your dog burn fat by encouraging energy-burning metabolism!”

This tasty green powder is packed with 100% human-grade ingredients such as apoptogens, glucosamine, vital nutrients, probiotic digestive aids, and other superior ingredients like spirulina, curcumin and luteolin. Here’s exactly what you’ll find

• Vitamins and Minerals
• Magnesium Oxide
• Glucosamine from Crab Shell
• Beta Glucans from Oat Bran
• Curcumin from Turmeric
• Silymarin from Milk Thistle
• Gingerols from ginger
• Luteolin from Peanuts
• Probiotics from Lactobacillus sporogenes
• Rutin from the Chinese Scholar Tree
• Inulin from Chicory
• Spirulina Pacifica

Everpup Ultimate Daily Dog Supplement is one of the best ways to ensure that your dog receives exceptional nutrients for healthy, long life.

We tried Everpup on Tripawds Spokesdog Wyatt Ray and give it “Three Paws Up!.” To read more about its health benefits, visit the EverPup website.

Check it out, and return here to try Everpup Ultimate Daily Dog Supplement and save!

GET ONE FREE JAR of EVERPUP WITH EVERY TWO
PURCHASED HERE ON AMAZON
Use Everpup Coupon code 85S3LCI7 at checkout
You must enter a quantity of at least 3 EverPup jars to your cart and enter the corresponding code from below at checkout. Limit: one per customer.
See Amazon.com for full details.

Remember, we are not veterinarians. The information presented here is not meant to be construed as medical advice or guidance, nor should it be substituted for professional veterinary assistance. Always discuss any remedies and treatments you wish to pursue with your veterinarian. Tripawds is a user-supported community; all purchases made here help us continue providing resources and support to our Tripawd families. Thanks for shopping at Tripawds!

“(The Big Barker Bed) is an ‘investment’ but I’ve spent that many times over trying to get a good bed for my dogs and they don’t retain their shape or support AND this bed is made for bigger dogs. . . I actually slept partially on it with her surrounded by squishy pillows and blankets.”

Big Barker Dog Beds are made with 7″ of superior quality American-Made foam. Specifically designed to completely support every nook and crevice of a big dog’s body. Your dog will not sink into this bed.

Best Dog Beds for Surgery Recovery

See the Tripawds Gear Blog for more selections of orthopedic dog beds for comfortable rest during recovery and for years to come. These plush yet firm beds are recommended since they will not bunch up, making it easy for recovering dogs to get comfortable without stumbling on unstable bedding.

Thanks for shopping with links in this Tripawds Amazon blog! No matter what you purchase here, from household goods to pet supplies, a portion of sales will go toward keeping the Tripawds Nation online.

My Oncologist had never heard of them, she looked them up when I was in the office to see the ingredients and tried to find published studies but couldn’t. She said she wasn’t opposed to me using them on my dog but to wait after Chemo and he’s already on milk thistle. How much are these to buy online and are they beneficial in other’s experiences?

If you are also unfamiliar with how Apocaps works, here’s some basic information for you:

Apocaps CX Apoptogen Formula for Dogs is a nutritional support supplement for dogs. Created by Dr. Dressler, author of the Dog Cancer Survival Guide, Apocaps helps support your dog’s health needs with the natural supplements of luteolin, apigenin, curcumin and silymarin. Also included are gingerols, beta glucans, and l-glutamine.

How do these ingredients increase life quality? Because they contain “Apoptogens,” which have been shown to support the normal turnover of unhealthy cells to help build new, healthy ones. Apoptosis, or maintaining normal cell turnover, is Dr. Dressler’s primary strategy in keeping dogs healthy when their immune system is compromised. The Apocaps CX Apoptogen Formula for Dogs is the way he delivers this therapy.

Rather than having us try to explain how apoptosis works, here’s a short video that does a better job than we can:

Click here to view the embedded video.

As we said here in this Tripawds Nutrition Blog post, Apocaps contains ingredients that are technically available to everyone. Yes, you can combine your own combination of apoptogens to create a similar supplement, however there’s a big chance that your formulation won’t make it into the bloodstream.

The key to Apocaps is Dr. Dressler’s formula, which is designed around a proprietary, patent-pending process that “tricks” the body into circulating the apoptogens throughout the bloodstream. Another benefit of Apocaps is that you won’t be guessing how much of each ingredient you need to include for an effective formula, which reduces the risk of gastrointestinal upset.

Apocaps are one option in an array of nutritional supplements to help your dog stay healthy after being diagnosed. We realize that while it’s not an inexpensive supplement, there are some great Apocaps sales that happen frequently on Amazon.

More information can be found on the Apocaps website.

All Apocaps CX Apoptogen Formula for Dogs sales made through these links help to support the Tripawds community. Thanks for shopping with Tripawds!

You can learn more about FCEs in the book “My Dog Has Fallen and He Can’t Get Up!“

Charlie’s dedicated pawrents and canine rehab team helped him through a long, difficult FCE recovery. Although  Charlie ended up losing his non-functioning leg six months after the FCE, he regained full mobility in the remaining three limbs thanks to his therapy team at Animal Rehabilitation and Fitness in Vancouver, Washington.

As you can see in this inspawrational video, Charlie is now healthy, strong and loving life as a Tripawd.

Click here to view the embedded video.

What is FCE?

FCE is a rare condition in which a stroke occurs in a dog’s spinal cord. We learned about FCEs in the book “Help, My Dog Has Fallen and Can’t Get Up” by Judy Wolff, in which she tells the recovery story of her dog Tucker who also suffered a FCE.

As Wolff describes it, when a FCE occurs, the dog immediately loses neurological function and the damage can be permanent (although it won’t get worse after the first 24 hours).

Until recently, a dog who suffered a FCE might have seemed like a hopeless case and many pet parents would opt to euthanize. But thanks to advances in veterinary diagnostics and rehabilitation therapy, dogs have more of a chance than ever to recover.

We are so grateful for stories like Tucker and Charlie’s, for their amazing recoveries give hope to pet parents during an incredibly difficult time.

Congratulations and thank you for being a part of the Tripawds community Charlie!

Libby’s Mom Amy recently put the book’s recipes to the test. Check out what she learned.

“I started researching canine nutrition when one of our labs, Libby, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. I learned of Feed Your Best Friend Better through Tripawds.com and the sample recipe looked so yummy and easily made with ingredients I mostly kept on hand.

It makes me feel like I’m doing something on the home front to battle this disease besides just traditional medications.

The book is filled with useful information on “people food” to share with your dog as well as a list of what not to share and why.

The author breaks down the nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, etc) into easy to read and understand paragraphs. The recipes are well organized and the layout makes them a snap to follow. You can make meals, treats and even dessert.

Pumpkin Ice Cream Treats Recipe

Especially helpful are the daily portion sizes per weight of the dog, given at the bottom of each recipe. Once in awhile he’ll tell you additional ingredients to add to make it palatable for the humans in the house as well!

My dogs love the Pumpkin Ice Cream. There are illustrated weight charts to determine if your dog is overweight underweight or ideal. The book is also sprinkled with beautiful pictures of dogs.

I was most interested in the section designed for ailing dogs. There were recipes for conditions such as arthritis, allergies, cancer and many more.

I made the Cancer Fighting Split Pea Soup (see recipe below) and the only complaint I have is the need to clean up all the drool she made while waiting for her bowl!

Good Girl Gizzards Recipe

I would like to see more recipes in the cancer fighting section however, I won’t always be battling this disease so this is a guide I can use for years to come.”

Three paws up to Amy for submitting this pawesome guest blog post! If you would like to submit a guest blog post for any of the Tripawds blogs, please contact us today!

Cancer-Fighting Split Pea Soup Recipe

Recipe by Rick Woodford, Feed Your Best Friend Better: Easy, Nutritious Meals and Treats for Dogs

Cancer-Fighting Split-Pea Soup Recipe

“The vegetables, garlic and rosemary provide antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that will bolster your dog’s immune system, and they smell pretty good cooking.”

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken gizzards
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 4 cups butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes or grated
• 1 1/4 cups split green peas
• 1 cup chopped brocoli
• 1/4 cup chopped chicken livers
• 5 cups water
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Chop the whole gizzards into 1-inch chunks, or process for 15 seconds in a food processor to grind the meat. Add the gizzards to the pot of a 6-quart slow cooker.

Add all of the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker and give it a couple of quick stirs.

Libby Loves Home Cooking

Cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours, until the split peas have softened.

Turn off the cooker and allow the soup to cool prior to mixing in any supplements.

Yield: 13 cups, about 400 calories per cup.

Daily Portion Recommendations

Divide into two meals, or serve one-half the daily portion per day with one-half the  normal amount of dry food.

• 10-pound dog: 2/3 to 1 cup
• 20-pound dog: 1.25 to 1.5 cups
• 40-pound dog: 2 to 2.5 cups
• 60-pound dog: 2 2/3 to 3 1/3 cups
• 80-pound dog: 3 1/3 to 4.25 cups

‹Dr.Waldman› a great supplement for all joint pain that is over-the-counter is Nature Made SAM-e – approximately, 200mg per 20lb dog, 30 minutes before eating in the morning… it’s 3rd party tested so it’s not lying to you, if given with snacks it won’t work, GREAT for pain…

… Human product, often in 400 mg, this is by far safest, best pain product, plus, if your significant other is cranky, give it to them too, it’s a mood elevator!

As for dosage, Dr. Wiltzius said in this forum discussion:

Ultimately, we felt that the K9 Immunity formula gave Jerry an excellent quality of life, even while his body was fighting osteosarcoma metastasis.

For seven more months the cancer didn’t spread, even after lung mets were discovered.

While K9 Immunity wasn’t the miracle cure we dreamed about, it did prove to us that mushroom therapy can make a difference when fighting dog and cat cancer.

How Do Mushrooms Fight Cancer?

According to Dressler and co-author Sue Ettinger, DVM Dip. (ACVIM) Oncology, authors of the Dog Cancer Survival Guide:

“There are many studies that look at medicinal mushrooms and cancer. There is some evidence for direct anti-cancer actions in the body when they are given by mouth, but even stronger evidence that they boost the immune response and increase life quality for cancer patients.”

Dressler and Ettinger add:

“Mushrooms contain natural compounds, called polysaccharides (simple sugars which are strung together), and the most important polysaccharides for cancer patients are called beta-glucans . . . Beta-glucans can bind to the outside of natural killer (NK) cells and other immune system cells, responsible for destroying cancers, and help “turn them on” and increase their activity. “

How Beta-Glucans Work in the Body

Mushrooms can be administered to both dogs and cats who are fighting cancer, although most oncologists prefer to wait until chemotherapy treatments are complete before beginning mushroom therapy.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that beta-glucans may:

• boost overall white blood cell activity in the body
• slow down replication of cancer cells
• kickstart apoptosis
• act as an antio-angiogeneic

Mushrooms with the most effective amounts of beta-glucans include:

• Cordyceps sinesis
• Maitake (Grifola frondosa)
• Shitake

For more information about mushroom precautions, please consult the Dog Cancer Survival Guide and visit Dr. Dressler’s blog, Dog Cancer Vet.

Some of the best prices on immune boosting mushrooms can be found at Amazon. K9 Immunity is the only one we have personally tried in Jerry’s cancer therapy, so we can’t speak for any of the others. If you have personal experience with these other brands, we would love to hear your thoughts below in the Comments section.

K9 Immunity by Aloha Medicinals

Health Concerns Power Mushrooms

Fungi Perfecti MUSH Medicinal Mushroom Blend for Dogs and Cats

Natural Pet Rx Petsiac

Source Naturals Immune Defense

Hipet Canine 3 in 1 Formula – All Natural Mushroom Extract Multi-functional Beta Glucan Supplement for Dogs

Natural Pet Rx Power-Shrooms

GreenDog Naturals Immuno Build

Hipet Feline 3 in 1 Formula – All Natural Mushroom Multi-functional Beta Glucan Supplement for Cats

Vetri-Science Laboratories Maitake-DMG Liquid for Pets

Learn More About Medicinal Mushrooms

Healing Mushrooms, by Georges M. Halpern

Written by Dr. Georges M. Halpern, a top medical scientist, this easy-to-use guide provides a fresh look at the history and uses of eight major healing mushrooms: maitake, reishi, shiitake, Cordyceps sinensis, Agaricus blazei, Phellinus linteus, Trametes versicolor, and Hericium erinaceus. The book begins by describing how ancient cultures of the East and West utilized mushrooms to combat the ravages of disease. It then looks at how modern science has refocused its attention on the healing properties of mushrooms and, along the way, discovered some wonderful new properties of these gifts of the earth. The chapters that follow examine the folklore, the health benefits, and even the culinary uses of each of the mushrooms under discussion.

Included are detailed instructions on how to buy, store, and use these products, as well as a helpful, up-to-date resource section offering important consumer information.

Medicinal Mushrooms (Herbs and Health Series), by Christopher Hobbs.

This modern handbook for exploring and understanding the rich traditions of healing fungi in Eastern and Western cultures is the most complete work on the cultural, health-promoting and medicinal uses of mushrooms ever published!. Author Christopher Hobbs thoroughly documnents and details the nutritional and health benefits of over 100 species of edible fungi.

“Mushroom toxicity, uses in traditional medicine, and appearances in the human diet are supported by clinical studies and explorations of cultural influences in this technical coverage. Over 100 species of edible fungi are documented in the most complete work on medicinal mushrooms published to date.”– Midwest Book Review

The Health Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms, by Mark Stengler

Among their many benefits, medicinal mushrooms have been shown to restore the competency of the immune system and to improve the outcome for people with a variety of serious illnesses, including cancer, hepatitis, and other conditions where effective nontoxiic treatment options are limited.

The Health Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms” describes the most common supplemental medicinal mushrooms-including maitake, reishi, shiitake, and cordyceps-and their best clinical uses

Please note that we are not veterinarians. The information presented here is not meant to be construed as medical advice or guidance, nor should it be substituted for professional veterinary assistance. Always discuss any remedies and treatments you wish to pursue with your veterinarian.

Thanks for shopping at Amazon.
By shopping from these links, you’re helping to keep Tripawds.com online!

UPDATE: We just learned about a new mushroom therapy study that shows promising results for dogs with hemangiosarcoma; Science Daily 9/10/12: Mushroom-Derived Compound Lengthens Survival in Dogs With Cancer, Study Suggests

If you’ve ever wondered where to begin learning about home feeding proper meals for your dog, this book is a great place to start.

“Feed Your Best Friend Better” is a comprehensive dog food cookbook that illustrates how easy it is to give your dog the gift of better health, with simple ingredients that you can find in your nearest grocery store.

Written by Rick Woodford, dog dad to a cancer hero named Jackson and owner of a home-cooking dog food delivery service, this book features 85 recipes for home-cooked canine cuisine as well as treats and supplements that enhance your dog’s nutrition.

“Absolutely loved this book! Read it cover to cover in just one day. The author has done an incredible job researching proper nutrition for dogs and breaks down the serving sizes according to the size of your dog.

The recipes are very easy to follow and many of them can be made with items that are probably already in your refrigerator and cupboards. There is a ton of great information as well as the touching story behind the author’s motivation. We have made 5 recipes so far for our 2 labs and everything has been a hit. We also shared some with my mother and sister’s picky eaters and we got the “is that all?” look from them after they licked their bowls clean. We switched our guys to a holistic diet about 2 years ago, and this is the perfect compliment to their new regime. They are so excited for mealtimes now and we feel great knowing that they are getting something that is not only delicious but also nutritious.” — Amazon Reviewer

The Last Walk should be required reading for anyone who loves and cares for animals. That’s because at some point, every one of our animals will reach a point where we as their guardian must face enormous, heart-wrenching questions about their end-of-life care. As their voice and their advocate, we owe them the gift of a painless death, not a moment too soon or too late. This book will help you get there with the confidence you need to face your grief without regrets.

In the Last Walk, Pierce shares her year long, dedicated journey through the last months of her elderly dog, Odysseus (Ody), from his increasing spills and stumbles to surprising hints of dementia. As Pierce chronicles the effects of age on Ody’s life she knows the euthanasia decision is approaching, but questions not just her instincts about the right time to do it but about the ethics behind the decision itself.

Pierce is no stranger to in-depth analysis of the nature of animals; this Northern Colorado-based philosopher and bioethicist has authored critically-acclaimed studies of animal behavior, including “Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals” in which she and renowned ethologist Mark Beckoff explored how animals comprehend human-like behaviors such empathy, forgiveness, trust and fairness.

As laypeople, we hope that if anyone will have clear answers about knowing when and how to say goodbye to our best friends, Pierce will. But as The Last Walk shows, even a respected scientist struggles with the same bewildering scenarios as we do, for her oldest and most cherished dog.

Throughout the book Pierce fluctuates between heartfelt entries in “The Ody Journal” that she kept during his last year, and matter-of-fact chapters that gently explore recent evidence about elder animals’ behavior and health.

As we learn about the newest findings in areas like pain management for animals, Pierce wrestles with her own logical analysis of Ody’s decline as she attempts to give him the ever-elusive “good death” at the ideal time that she knows he deserves.

“Chris says that if Ody keeps falling like this, over and over, that by Wednesday we will need to make a decision to put him down. He is suffering, Chris says. I can’t reply; I feel myself pushing the thought away. Just two days ago I gave Ody a score of 42 on the Pawspice scale—7 points above euthanasia. He couldn’t decline that quickly. I think, instead, that I will take Ody to the canine rehab place and they will have a good solution to his problem. Maybe some magic bullet. I know, too, that I won’t call the rehab clinic in the morning. It seems cruel to Ody to prolong this, to pretend that his problems are fixable. I follow him around all afternoon, picking him up, until finally he settles onto his waterbed and falls asleep.

At dinner, he gobbles up a bowl of fresh hamburger and rice. This makes me feel better. Food is a barometer of desire to live, isn’t it? Tomorrow will be a better day.”

Much as we walk the same journey with our pets–from the day we notice flecks of gray on their muzzle to the moment we are confronted with making the euthanasia decision, Pierce and Ody take us gently but rationally through all of the emotional and difficult issues we will encounter along the way, such as:

• How animals experience death and dying
• What determines “quality of life” for an aging animal?
• Physical and mental changes to expect when your animal is aging
• Knowing when your animal is in pain
• How to assess your animal’s happiness level
• The emotional and physical challenges of caregiving
• and finally, the ethics, practicalities and realities of euthanasia and death

The book takes an emotional toll on the reader, but for anyone caring for an animal, its practical nature makes it required reading. Like death itself, Ody’s decline has a mixed blessing—as you grieve for the profound loss you know Pierce is about to experience, in return you receive a bittersweet gift from this valliant old Vizsla – the gift of being able to take a closer, rational look at what impending death means to you and your beloved companion.

Don’t wait until your pet is close to the end of his or her life to pick up a copy of The Last Walk. Read this book now, while both your heart and your pet are strong enough to tackle life and death’s biggest challenges.

Listen to Jessica Pierce on the Diane Rhem Show:

Jessica Pierce: “The Last Walk: Reflections On Our Pets At The End Of Their Lives”