Hi Friends! It's been a SUPER BUSY month and you'll see why in the video. Please give me a few hours of grace to email you your grocery guide!!!! I'll have it completed by noon EST tomorrow (Thursday, June 27th). xoxo, Cassandra
Thank you for all your hard work and helping all of us strangers out! I greatly appreciate your love and care and teaching! I truly hope that you have all the lovely things your heart desires and will keep you and your sweet family in my prayers!
I was a military wife on 9/11 and life was never the same again. Our kids were 2 & almost 5. They don't remember the before times. He's a 100% permanently disabled vet.
I am so sorry to hear your husband is disabled. May God supply abundantly the resources you need. And comfort you in difficult times. My daughter has severe medical conditions. The medical journey is hard. Again I am sorry. I have so much gratitude for those who serve our country in the military and their families who support them. Thank you. Blessings and peace on you and your family
Hello Lisa. As a military wife, I don't have to know you, to "know you" and the incredible sacrifice both you and your service member (along with your children) have made and continue to make. Firstly, I can't imagine how watching this brought back a range of emotion, but please know that my heart was in sharing that too many folks are either forgetting or never even realizing in the first place this moment in American history. As a public school educator, I have first hand experience that too many of our young folks, heck even young teachers are so disconnected from this and other historical moments and so I often like to share moments and places that I fear are becoming overlooked. You are truly a woman of incredible strength and courage, and I pray that you have and will continue to know that God sees and cares for you, even on the hardest of days. I do not take it lightly that you shared this comment for me and others. Love and prayers to you and your family.
As a fellow 100% injured vets S/O I just wanted to send a huge hug and tell you we all appreciate your families struggle and you're not alone. The cost of the Afghanistan war (O.E.F.) will never end for our family.
How special to be able to travel first with your mom, soaking up the history she was able to share with you. Then to travel with your immediate family to New York. You have a beautiful relationship with your family that spills over into how you interact and even look at each other. It’s simply precious. Good to see you sweet Cassandra, blessing on you as you continue to expand the apothecary to include Thor!
I know well the situation you were in with your dog. A year and a half ago, my male dog got into some peanuts and came down with a deadly kidney stone. My vet wouldn’t operate on it, he said I had to go to the animal hospital. The vets there said they would operate or put him down for me. They charged $4000.00 for the operation, which was bad enough, but then she gave me the most ridiculous advice on how to care for him. My husband and oldest son were prone to getting kidney stones which are caused by oxalates found in plants, like spinach and well peanuts. She told me the disease was genetic, that his stomach acid was too high, and to put him on a vegan diet. So, I challenged the vet to produce a single legit study that could conclude that it would work, and no studies were produced. I did the opposite of her advice and put him on a carnivore elimination diet, to see what he could eat and not eat. So, I am happy to report a year and a half later, the dog made a full recovery, and he just doesn’t eat food with oxalates in it.
Hello friend! As I was reading your story, my heart went out to you, your pup and family. The combination of grief, shock from the price tag and being presented with the idea of putting your dog down is intense. I see that you quickly went into action and, through second opinion from books/research/your own family history came up with a plan that indeed worked. That's the frustrating part about all of this---it's not that I don't appreciate what vets have to offer, or that I wouldn't pay for more severe treatments, but too many folks have household dogs/cats that inevitably encounter common scenarios and how have we gotten to a point where "solutions" are hundreds and thousands of dollars for the average consumer? I am so encouraged by your story and I appreciate you for sharing this so that others may be encouraged too!
Oh Cass, I have so much to say after watching this month's Pantry Chat and updates! First, yes it is such a gift to just share time with loved ones! Make memories and cherish the time spent, for certain! One of my fondest memories with my Dad, before he became too ill to travel, was us meeting with one of my sons at MEPS for his swearing in ceremony. My Dad was a Marine who served 3 voluntary tours in Vietnam, and I am a Desert Storm USAF Veteran, so getting to witness our next generation taking his oath of service, as well as the conversations on the round-trip drive is an experience I will always treasure. Secondly, the vet visit - YES to all the things! We have three cats in our household, and previous to this year, we had their yearly visits spaced out to mitigate the financial blow of exams, vaccinations, and tests. However, we had what can only be called "the perfect storm" of annual exam for one, high concern of a skin issue for another, and then DAYS later the third one had a behavioral concern that could have been a sign of dangerous urinary tract issue. So, over less than 2 weeks, we dropped about 2/3 of a mortgage payment on exams, tests, vaccinations, and medications for our 3 cats. We love our vet practice, as there are three marvelous vets on staff there and some really wonderful vet techs, so I'm not bashing them AT ALL. But I nearly fainted when they gave me the total each time. And in about 2 weeks, two of the three will be returning for follow-up visits to ensure everything is getting remedied. Costs are so high - it's not the veterinarian trying to gouge people or anything - their expenses have risen, too. And just a note - we aren't ones who run to the doctor at the first sign of a sniffle and are not ones to run to the vet at the first symptom of our cats seeming a little off their game or something - so having a home pet apothocary is a necessary thing if we want to keep expenses down. I wanted to interject that my memory is not what is used to be, but you said "aspirin" but showed "acetaminophen" - and they are not interchangable for pets. I know acetaminophen is fatal for cats, and generally not recommended for dogs except under careful monitoring by a veterinarian because of liver toxicity. I believe low-dose aspirin might be safer, BUT I'm just relying on my memory at the moment... Anyways - I adore your chats and am so happy you have had so much wonderful stuff happening since we last saw you. Many hugs from NW GA!
I went through something similar in the last year. Last fall I drove from New Hampshire to New York and back to rescue a German short haired pointer mix puppy. I had been looking for a female for over two years and was so excited! I am of an age where she will be my last dog so i wanted the "right" fit. I am also a very, very experienced dog/animal owner and learned a lot of home treatments growing up in the country, but have gotten away from them due to time and physical constraints. My dogs and cats always lived to be at least 18 and we rarely went to the vet beyond the annual check up and usual shots. I have to say, I was astonished at the vet bills this time! The trip to get Sophie, plus the adoption fees and required vaccinations, was almost $2k..then as she grew, she became intermittently lame and got recurring rashes. Pursuing that was almost $2k with no real resolution. Then after about 4 months with her, I woke up in the morning to find her having a massive seizure. She couldn't even walk for over 24 hours. That was another $2k, with no answer. Then she tore out a nail and broke a toe. That was almost $1500. I haven't even had her for a year and the only thing the vet resolved was the broken toe. I left those visits frustrated and shocked. I can afford those bills, but barely, and regardless, I don't think anyone should be expected to pay that because as you say, most people would not be able to afford or justify that kind of expense for a pet. At this rate, animal ownership will dwindle to nothing and it's a shame. Prior to this new puppy, I had two certified German shepherd protection dogs. They passed within a few months of each other. In the two years since, something - not just the prices- radically changed at my vet. I had no idea vet clinics were going corporate. That sure explains a lot! (Thanks for the insight!). I made the switch to home remedies too after my last visit. Fortunately I have been a practicing home herbalist for over 20 years so it's an easy segue, but the resources you found sound great and I plan to pick them up, so thank you for that too! As an easy starting place for beginners: an alchohol based garlic tincture makes an amazing wound healing wash. I have seen it heal a serious skill saw wound overnight; comfrey as an herbal mash or salve will draw out stings and bites and if used promptly can almost entirely prevent reactions. I have a medical condition that can send me into anaphylaxis if i am stung, but it was diagnosed very late (so no eppi pen). Twice i have been stung by wasps while gardening and twice a fresh comfrey mash prevented almost any reaction..even when I was bitten while pregnant. The salve is also wonderful for the skin (it's also incredibly easy to grow). Aloe is a great all purpose remedy that can be grown as a houseplant; but the most miraculous and least talked about treatment for topical infections and wounds is an alcohol tincture of hops. I make it by the gallon because it's become so highly sought after by my friends. It saved a friend's finger from being amputated after antibiotics failed to cure a staph infection, and yes, it cured another friend's dog's chronic , bleeding abscesses after nearly a year of failed vet treatments. There are university studies that prove hops is 98% effective against staph. I have two friends who both lost their only brothers to staph. My husband was in the hospital for 6 weeks with a staph infection and nearly died and I acquired it after an emergency surgery during the pandemic. After 3 weeks of ineffective antibiotic treatments at home, and a persistent 103 degree temp, the docs wanted to hospitalize me. But I told them to give me 1 more week, during which time I stopped the meds and switched to my hops solution. The fever resolved in a day and the infection was gone (without recurring), in four. I am neither a dr. Or a professional herbal clinician, so do your own research, but in my experience, this stuff works and these are the treatments i would not be without. I so appreciate Cassandra for her thorough and systematic approach to acquiring new skills and sharing her journey of continuous learning with us and I hope this (long) post is helpful to all us kindred spirits!
My service dog got to where her back down by the tail smelled horrible and she was scratching herself raw. The vet prescribed antibiotics and an anti fungal tablet. It worked and cleared it up but came back a month later. I did my own research and started rubbing the areas with coconut oil. It worked way better than the drugs.
Amen, Mary! This is what I'm talking about. Like you, I tried the antibiotic/antifungal routine twice and I said to myself, for what should be a lower level health concern, there's got to be an affordable alternative. The OTC benadryl, coconut oil, a bit of comfrey salve and a twice daily nettles routine has restored Thor's coat (the hair is of course still growing in but you can feel his coat and its smooth, bite/bump free). If you and I hadn't explored something different, we'd both be out of hundreds if not thousands of dollars. It literally pays to do a bit of research on your own/ask around/get a second, third or fourth opinion.
I get it. I paid over $700 in a 3 week span for treatment, and meds for my 9 year old bulldog fur baby for her to pass away from a heart attack as I rushed her to the vet. She was otherwise healthy. She had a checkup in those 3 weeks. She came down with skin issues as well so I took her back to the vet. I think the meds they prescribed is what took her from me. It’s been 6 month. I also had a homemade wellness bag for my girl. My Vera Bradley dig bag was a gift. I knew what you purchased was a VB bag.😉 Do what you need to do because the fees the Vet charges are outrageous! Another wonderful pantry chat. Thank you for sharing.😊🐶🫶🏽
That bnb is gorgeous! You know how much I adore your family and seeing your dad with Thor was heartwarming. It is wonderful to share those memories with your mom and I’m so glad you were able to do that.
I tell you, every time I watch your channel you have the most awesome recipes and the food looks so delicious and you have very valuable information now I have to admit I have never grown vegetables or herbs but i really want to start 👍🏽🙂
Trista! Always good to see you friend! It's been a busy month of activity with family and friends so I didn't have as much editing time, but thank you so much for thinking of me!!
Thank you for sharing those precious moments with your family, This video reminded me of the importance of spending time with family and documenting their stories.
The World Trade Center Memorial is breathtaking and humbling! I was there at night! Stunning!! My daughter lives in New York and Times Square is one of her favorite places! And so glad you have taken the path to wellness for Thor! And that he's doing well!!🙂
I truly enjoy all your videos and tips. I probably enjoy all your moments with your family the most. You are truly a loving and kind daughter to your parents and they are indeed lucky to have you in their lives. You’re a ray of sunshine!
Hi friend! Thank you for such kind words about my folks! Any time I get to see them is just precious. We packed a lot into their week long stay and dad will be up next month!
Oh I’ve got to make that blueberry bbq sauce! Glad you’re back 💜 Yeah I remember watching The Lion King as a late birthday present when it first came out! It was one of my favorites!
Aww, thank you. I am SO NOT the best at lighting or sound, so I figured why not try something different. My kitchen/second floor doesn't get much natural light so its always been tricky for me. I'll stick with this for a while!
We learned that 1/2 a benadryl for my kittie's seasonal allergies works . He was having trouble with constipation, his poops or lack of were costing in the $300 range. Well , while I was chatting with another vet she mentioned that she gives her cat 1/2 a teaspoon metamucil with his wet food every morning! Problem solved.
Exactly! It unbelievable that you can’t get a simple, honest answer like that from (some) vets these days. Instead you want to charge me insane amounts for basically the same thing or something worse. I know exactly the relief knowing you had a workaround brought. Our furbabies are so precious to us!
@@BecomingaFarmGirl I've had the same vet for the various pups I've had for the last 25 years. Honestly she had become like a friend. I'd run into her at the local farmers market, Costco etc etc. She and her husband were fresh out of veterinary school and with the help of her parents were able to open their own small practice in the town I live. I was one of her 1st clients. In the beginning she use to be very conscience about over medicating my dogs and always gave honest information about the OTC medications I myself could purchase oppose to a script she could write for the same stuff but at 2 to 3 times the cost. She wasn't a big fan of script dog foods and preferred to encourage wholesome fresh prepared foods (think The Farmers Dog or Ollie's) Flash forward to now...she and her husband purchased a very expensive plot of land and had a state of the art "veterinary center/boarding/grooming BUSINESS" constructed from the ground up. After a couple years they purchased a second location in a near by city, and a year later bought out another vets business in yet another city. I knew things were gonna change after the 1st new building but never expected the complete change of philosophies in her care of animals. Now when you walk into her place you're always gonna wait for a very long time. Lining the walls are endless high end prescription diet dog foods and countless other products. What did it for me was when "they" started what they call a mandatory annual $100 "wellness check". The only reason I was excluded was because I balked at the bs charge. She knows I take better care of my dogs than I at times do myself. Sadly its not just the big corporations with their hand in the cookie jar. It's even some small town vets who put profits over beloved family pets. Needless to say I'm currently looking for a new vet with the values she use to have. They've become a thing of the past!
This thor story sounds very similar to my dog just all the sudden allergies! Grains any grains. I lost her last year, had her for 14 years. To watch her go out the way she did hurts til this day. Lots of money, lots of tears. Great video!
Oh friend, I am so sorry to hear this. Our furbabies are family and I had been so torn about seeing his skin condition and the frustration over the piling vet costs for something I had initially figured would be routine enough to address. I hope to get 14 years with my beloved Thor. While I'd like to think we manage our money well, I'd be willing to go to the poor house for Thor and the thing is, cooperations know this. While I understand pet owners must be aware that there are associated costs---the sticking point for me was that allergies shouldn't be this pricey. I hope to be on a path that will gibe him comfort as we enter into his elder years. Thank you for sharing about your pup.
Omg!!! Blueberry BBQ sauce! I literally just made some not that long ago!!! I can't eat nightshades (tomatoes, 🥔, eggplant, peppers....all the good stuff!) So fruit BBQ sauces for the WIN for me!!! I also tried (I know your mouth will water for this) mango ginger 🫚 BBQ sauce and a Mixed Berry BBQ sauce. I want to do blackberry next and I think a cranberry one would be decadent! I used alot of ingredients for my BBQ sauce....i went a lil crazy but its worth it!!! Mmmm.....Thanks for sharing your wisdom! Loving it! 🙌 blessings!
Oh yeah! Now this is going to be a GREAT lasagna! Ooo, my mouth is already watering! You know, you make cooking look fun again. I have to say, I sure miss my strawberry crepes with whip cream. Thanks for this reminder.
Hi, Cassandra! Happy, happy summer break! You made it and so did I! Making those summer produce meals is a treat as there is more time to do so- at least for me. :) I'm working my way through your video and love the historic B&B where you and your mom stayed! While I missed you, I went back and watched last year's June and July pantry talks and have done better "scooping" meat and produce deals. Got Honey Crisp apples today for 77 cents a pound. Will make those into apple pie filling as last school year we enjoyed a pie every now and again. Apple was a favorite. Also working on scoring on meat deals. I can those up too and am focusing on meals in a jar. I'm loving these relaxing days, soaking it up. My goals are simple this summer: stock up, can it up, and clear out what we don't need. Enjoy!
Thank you for sharing this. My children were not yet born or even thought of then 9/11 happened. It was the same year I was married and was still asleep when my mother in law called us from where she was viiting my husband's sister in NY city. He was a NY police LT, he was blessed to survive and retired shortly thereafter and moved out of the city to NC
I really enjoyed seeing the time with your family. I've been to Chestertown a few times (mostly just a friend's house for outdoorsy fun), and it is such a cute little town. Your dad with Thor is just adorable. I didn't spend a lot of time at the Twin Towers memorial the last time I was in NYC (it's been a decade) because it was February and freezing cold, but I do remember it being very sobering. I was in college when it happened. The blueberry BBQ looks delicious! I'm so glad you got to spend some time with Monica. And I hope you get things figured out with Thor's allergies.
What a great video. I love that you celebrate time with your family!! I live in Norway and my immediate family lives in the USA (Houston, TX). So I def wished we were closer in distance but we keep in contact via emails and live chats. My hubby and I visited my family last March and it was great. Oh pet care. Sooo expensive so matter where you live One thing to think about is that a lot has changed in the last 100 yrs. People are reacting to allergies in a way that wasn't even an issue then. Which is the same for animals. There has been a lot of overbreeding of dogs too! Which has added problems. Tex, my 3 1/2 yr old Dalmatian, is having a lot of issues with allergies. We know he is allergic to chicken and ragweed. We have elimated issues to food and found that a lot of the his allergic reactions is outside environment. He scratches and chews on himself to the point of getting sores. Next month he will have additional testing to hopefully find out what he is allergic to. He might then be to get an allergy shot that will help him. (don't even ask how much we have spent at the vet and specialist so far this year!) Tips that have worked for my dogs over the years: if the dog is queazy, giving som Pepcid before meals helps. Dogs can eat coconut oil as well, I add some to all meals because it helps with their coat and skin. Pumpkin: great for both constipation and diarrhea!! Either use canned pumpkin or buy a whole one, cut in in half remove the seeds (which you can use for other things) and cook in the over at about 350F for a while (when you test it with a knife it should go in easily it is done). I normally puree it once it is cool. Then freeze it in ziplock bags then lay it out flat for easy storage. Both carrots and sweet potatoes are also good for fiber (needs to be cooked). Raw food isn't bad. Need to make sure that they get a good balace of proteins, carbs, fats, minerals and vitamines. OK I need to stop here. I get a bit enthusiastic about pet care LOL
I want to be like you and have an apothecary, as well! I’m trying to eliminate all processed food and get us eating healthier! Love the meals at the beginning! I’m definitely making those! Love your trip with your mom! So beautiful! What a fun family trip for you and your family! How exciting to go to New York and to a Broadway show! We love the Lion King, it was my oldest daughter’s favorite when it came out! I want to visit the Twin Towers memorial one day. I remember that day and everything I saw. I will never forget.
So many of these ingredient combinations I never would have thought of. Raised by my Grand-Mother, she made shake-n-bake way too often and veggie options were corn or green beans out of a can. Not many other options.
I really enjoyed this video, thanks for sharing your family fun with us. Crumpies sounds amazing! You are so right about expensive vet bills - we love our fur babies, but sometimes, there just isn't any room in the budget for dr's visits - be it for us or the fur babies. A few years ago my income took a temporary nosedive right at the holidays (of course), and Murphy's Law being what it is, my cat got attacked by a stray that had climbed our 6-ft privacy fence. He only got a couple claw marks, but one of them got infected and abscessed. Thank the Lord for YT-ers who share valuable how-to info here!! I went to Walmart, bought a $4 scalpel (craft section) and some Bactine to numb/disinfect the area. One little poke, out came the yucky stuff. More bactine. The vet would have been a mnimum of $350 right at Christmas. My cat healed great, and seemed to take my doctoring in stride, bless his heart, giving me big lovies right after the 'procedure'. Thank you for all that you share here, I've learned so much!! ♥
Such a wonderful time you had with your mom and family so happy for you and those recipes you shared look so good my mouth watered looking at those strawberries and peaches yum !!
I just started looking into herbs for my household, but for some reason I NEVER thought of herbs for my cat. She is experiencing a similar situation to Thor!! Vet couldn't figure out why, so she either has to get a shot or cortizone cream which does not help long term. I'm going to see what is safe to grow for her that might ease her skin issue now. She looves eating what I grow anyway, might as well make it cat friendly. 😂 Glad you have a lovely family trip and Thor is on the mend, too!
First I want to thank you for always sharing with us. I love your videos and amazing you are. Our dog is a westie who sees to get some kind of itch or hot spot and my mom a uses epsom salt in his bath. She said read on chamomile and mint she seeps in boiling water then cooled to make a nice spray. She says read up for him first. Works great on our dog.
You are such a sweetie🥰,,, I so enjoyed this video: the recipes looked mouthwatering, your family is awesome, the pet information...(I feel you; I have a cat that is therapeutic for me☺) I'll be keeping you and family in my prayers❤🙏... you are such an inspiration to me!
I thought I was already subscribed to your channel, going to keep an eye open to make sure I don’t get unsubscribed just in case. FYI love your content and your energy even more so. Lots of love and respect from Wales 🏴
Some of my groceries come from the yard (wild). Field plantain greens are an amazing addition to any soup, violet greens are another amazing addition (they taste a bit like green/string beans). Just a couple weeks ago i was bummed out i didn't have greens for my chili, so i went into the yard with some scissors. 😂
Hey ma'am, that BBQ chicken got me rethinking being a vegetarian 😋. I just took my 2 dogs and 2 cats to their annual check up $1600+. I was like okaay😮... credit card payment plan. I one dog has high blood pressure and a heart murmur, other dogs has allergies that have developed since we moved to Memphis, TN. She gets Cytopint shots they "help" but not. I keep her hair short spring-fall to keep tabs on her skin. I will have to look into Alegra. We tried Apoquel and stopped bc of the health issues it can cause. Aleast the cats are fine. I just can't 😩. Lion King is an amazing play. You had so many great moments in this chat. I will look into the tests. Thanks
Girl, you are to funny! The vet is no joke, which is why we already tried to put money into a checking account that is just for Thor and put 100 a month into it because his annual visits are nearly that much. It's not a joke and feeling like you need to open up a line of credit for your pets is just insanity. It sounds as if you are also on your health care journey with your fur babies. Vet care is absolutely a needed resource, but its not our only option and can compliment their recommendations without sending you to the poor house! . :)
So glad you are helping Thor. I listen to Clark Howard and he spoke about Vet costs and why they are increasing and yes it is ridiculous. It's almost like for our Health and our animals we have to go back to basics
I had a dog who was allergic to ticks and fleas and had seasonal allergies. He was also allergic to fleas and tick medication. I would give him fish oil and rub coconut oil all over him and then put baby onesies or t shirts to protect his skin from fleas and ticks as well as everyday allergies.
Cassandra, blueberry keffir is also yummy! Just add 25- 30% blueberries (or other fruit) to your milk product, I also add 1 teaspooon of Stevia/ sweetner to your liking per cup. 😊
@BecomingaFarmGirl also fresh mango with and some fresh zested ginger 1-1.5 teaspoons per 1.5 cup of kefir + honey, or sweetener of your choice will give you your own homemade lassi (you can sprinkle some roasted/crushed pistachios on top too, if you''re feeling Indian...i LOVE Indian food)....how to spend pennies, instead of $5-8 :)) btw, I also live in the DMV area and am in active service, I'm an expert in my weapons, if you need help, or a shooting buddy, let me know...most importantly - your content is SO on point!!
This message is for those out there that need this. Cassandra, I think you know all of this now as you are so good with your research when push comes to shove. These vet bills are insane! Budget Friendly solution to keeping your pets in your home - No need to give them away or euthanize them (I have to seriously question the practices of any vet that would consciously euthanize a healthy pet just because someone can’t afford to feed them?!) Here it is: Feed your dog table scraps, everyone eats and the cat and dog will eat what you eat…meat, veggies and fruit. Just go back to what our great grandparents/grandparents did on the farm. There were NO dog food companies back then. And I don’t care what anyone says about their animals need for their daily food intake, but your pets want, no NEED, variety just like we do. Could you imagine eating oatmeal for every meal? I can’t. So why would you put your pet through that too? So, feed them “safe for them - do the research” table scraps. Or better yet, shop for ingredients and find homemade dog food recipes and make it yourself. But for all intents and purposes: Stop feeding your pets the commercial bagged food and you will end up with a healthier pet and a less pricier food. Veterinary Secrets RU-vidr announced on one of his videos that they/cooperations are putting euthanized dogs in the dog food!! So, at this point how can you not afford to make them food if you love your animal just as much as I do. A cheap solution for those that have a big box membership, like Sam’s, you can get a whole roasted chicken for $4.98. Pick up a couple of those, pluck off the meat (never feed the bones as it splinters and will possibly cause a vet visit or make your pet very ill or worse). And freeze the chicken meat and pull it out and thaw it and add veggies that they like to it. Rice works too. Again the RU-vidr Veterinary Secrets has recipes on his sight on how to create meals for your dogs, he probably has them for cats too.
I wish my dog could have table scraps, I was doing that and giving her very basic organic ingredients that dogs are allowed to eat. Her stomach is so sensitive! It ended up costing me almost $900 bucks to take her in to get the help needed. I can’t afford to do the testing to see what foods make her sick, so I have to pay for a vet recommend dog food that I purchase through them and it has been amazing. It’s crazy how things are these days and very frustrating!
@@ashleyedvalson6048 Will chicken and rice be tolerated by your pup? That is usually the go to that a vet will say to give your pet if they have diarrhea or sensitive stomach. When giving my dog food, I give him just a little bit of the new food to see if he can tolerate it. Sometimes he may get a bout of diarrhea, that’s not different than a person that has a sensitive stomach, a little bit here and a little bit there just to test the waters. If the pup gets a bloody stool, just back off the food and it will resolve on its own. Once you find out a food works like maybe a small bit of rice and chicken with the kibble, then expand on it. I hate to see you have to spend so much money on a vet prescribed food that is expensive and could in the end shorten your dogs life. Something to try and/or think about…
My daughter’s pup decided to go on an adventure in the city and ended up getting stuck in a drainage ditch for at least an overnight. When animal services found him, they were kind enough to return him directly to us without going through all the red tape of the city shelter. I took him to the vet for a bath and to brush out his undercoat. They found a slight ear infection, so they gave him a steroid and some ear drops. They clipped his nails for us also. I almost died when they told me the bill was $430. Four Hundred Thirty Dollars for a BATH and some eardrops??? That is insane! It’s criminal what they charge at the vet. People always say they became a vet for the love of animals; but they won’t take care of any animal if you don’t have the money to pay their exorbitant fees. It’s unacceptable! Also, you are wise to print stuff out. There is a very real threat of the grid going down and being down for a good while. We will NEED to have stuff in print. Not to mention the sheer amount of information that is now being suppressed. If you have it printed out, the censors can’t hide it from you.
What a wonderful video! Your monthly usual shopping and cookig is outstanding! Then the family visit and trip was so so heartwarming💞 We love love love Dr. Jones♥️💜💗 He has shown us how to treat our pups safely and economically with great SUCCESS 😍 Thanks so much for your consistent entertaining, informative and inspiring content👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼❣️ Love you💞 God Bless you and your loved ones🙏🏼
I would love to see the Vet bag items you have for Thor. My Daisy will be 4 in July and this is the second season she is showing signs of seasonal allergies. The Vet gave her the Opoquel. And that prescription alone was $80.
Hey Cassandra 👋🏻 my strawberry and blackberry production have slowed down but I got gallons of berries from them and they will produce more in the fall. My blueberries, peaches,raspberries and cherries are next and then it will be time for figs and pears and then more blackberries and strawberries. I’m excited because this is the first year everything is mature enough to get us through the year on home preserved fruit!
I have been following you for over a year now and love what you do. Your butter bell video hooked me. I signed up for your monthly grocery chats but have never read an email after confirming my address. Your current link isn’t working either.
I don't write on here very often but I feel you with the vets, I feed a good dog food that vets don't approve of. I bring my dogs in for their shots and they say how healthy they are what do you feed them, I tell them and they start how it is the worse food. I reply but you just told me they are the healthiest dogs LOL. I still feed that food. I take in dogs to find homes sometimes. Spaying and neutering are so important for their health not just to control population. Use to be under $50 to spay and neuter but now with the push here the cheapest vet in a 100 mile drive well he charges $450 for male dogs and $550 for female dogs. Really less than a 1/2 hour surgery. Sad that it has became all about the money and how fast can we rack up the bill with tests that are not needed and how short of a time do we bring them back to run those same tests again. Hugs to you, you might want to try looking into the raw diet for your baby. It's the same foods people eat. If I stop feeding my dog food then I will go to raw. Upfront expense would be a really good grinder to grind meat and in some cases chicken bones too. Blessings always praying for you and your family and thanks for sharing with us
Fruity BBQ sauces are some of my favorite things to make. I make versions with either apple, apple butter, pear, blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, peach or mango. I've also done a really nice pumpkin butter variety and the Victorian variety with the rhubarb is another favorite of mine. They're amazing, super easy to make, even easier to customize and they go with so many different meats. I haven't done too much experimenting with using them on veggies, but I'm sure the sauces are versatile with veggies too.
I'm so glad you agree! Especially because, as you mentioned, you can easily switch up the taste depending up on the fruit you add. Wait, you said a pumpkin variety and a Victorian variety? Oh now that sounds fun!
When my ex-husband left me after 7 years, I went 2 years without anyone but my Boston terrier. Absolutely no family, no friends, I was so abused by him I had lost myself. While I found myself, my dog was my only friend/ lifeline. I will never not have a dog, but finances are so tight.
Our dog also suffers greatly from allergies. We eliminated grass in the backyard just to wipe out all weeds that sprout in spring. One of those was responsible for the horrible allergic reaction. Of your lucky you can narrow down the allergen root cause and mitigate.
Hello! Thank you friend! We've been doing a similar protocol. I know walk Thor on a wooded trail with gravel/dirt which limits his grass exposure, he was on OTC benadryl for 3 weeks along with dried nettles and I am happy to report that his coat has cleared up and is back to being smooth. While I know that one day he may develop a more serious health concern, if there's a low(er) level concern (like seasonal allergies) I know that there are likely steps we can take at home that are both doable and affordable. I can't negotiate on his annual blood work and shots (which are close to 1K each year) which is why a lower ticket option is what I desperately wanted to find. I'm glad to hear so many others (like you) already figured out work arounds. Our fur babies truly are family!
Hi Karen! You are now the third person that has recommended this! I can't tell you how much I appreciate the care you are showing to me and Thor in sharing this!!!
Love your channel and almost never comment on RU-vid videos at all but I noticed that when you said aspirin you actually put acetaminophen into your bag. Acetaminophen is generic Tylenol (not aspirin) and is NOT safe for pups. Please make sure you don’t give Thor acetaminophen. Much love!
Hi friend! You are correct and I THANK YOU for commenting. Thor has been on Benadryl, nettles (the herb), magnesium, fish oil, and willow bark tincture. His coat is on the mend!
Ok, I love your content! But... this one was a hodgepodge of things and long. I loved learning more about you and how you cared for your pup. I can relate. But... to support you, I left the video going and jumped in the shower.
Hi friend! I totally get it and goodness, you went above and beyond but please know I know you have competing demands on your time. I try to keep my ramblings to a minimum and only occasionally "spin out" precisely because I know that's not everyone's cup of tea!
Since the allergy is on his skin, check all the detergents/products that come into contact with his skin, bedding etc. Even some products that have worked great in the past, will reformulate their products to cut costs. They may add known skin allergens. Hope you find a cost effective remedy.
Just harvested beets and I just cleaned, bagged and placed in the freezer. Just received notice that someone is selling the variety of cherries at half price You can go and pick them yourself and save money. And if you wait you may find that they will have another variety half off maybe in a few weeks You never know but check around in your area for farmers who have things like that and or even volunteer to work for them for a couple hours a day a week or something and see if they'll give you a break on getting your fruit
Look at all the blessings you'll be able to stock! I am so glad you shared your grocery strategy for saving money because, with a little creativity its absolutely possible!
Friend, I AM JUST NOW LEARNING THIS!!! I know that I labored on this point more than I usually ramble on about things, but the more I am learning, the more I feel manipulated about how what I think I'm going (per recommendation from the vet) is actually harming him. You are so right about this one.
In addition to Dr Jones, there are 2 FB pages that are moderated by holistic vets Saving Pets One Pet @ A Time (The Original) and OFFICIAL Dr. Judy Morgan’s Naturally Healthy Pets Group.
Hey there! Your link isn't working for me to get the list...It was late when I started watching, and had to pause to grab some zzz's. I'm at the military wife segment. 20 years on that path, so, I get it. I have made a couple of visits, just me and the kids. Otherwise, you could wait for months to do anything. Just know, I understand that one- 20 years USAF. Give your parents a hug for me! Oh- where was I on 9/11? I was on lunch break at the hospital; yes, nurses DO get breaks once a month, whether they need it or not. 🤣- it's the bathroom breaks that are coveted! 😆 But, it was a different kind of day. Because we were at a military hospital, we went from taking a quick break to-finish your shift, go home, pack a bag and wait to see if you are called to duty. 2 coworkers, were called. So, yeah, I remember that one. It was 24 hours LATER that we officially retired from the AF- so we do remember what we were doing on that day.
Hi friend! Thank you! He is on the mend. For pain, I give him willow bark tincture and his twice daily nettles have calmed down his skin inflammation considerably! :)
I have lots of dried beans, lentils, prunes, raisins, peanut butter, oats, rice, and canned fish and canned vegetables gifted to me and I am not sure what to make with the majority of abundance of this gift. I make jam bars with the oats and fruit or my jams and jellies, I do can beans too so they are easy to use but I would love to utilize these ingredients more. Do you have any ideas on good ways to eat them?
Its rough when your fur baby isn't well. Sounds like your vet has put Thor on a troubleshooting pathway starting with the cheapest tests and meds first before moving on to more specific testing. Which is actually really responsible of them. I looked at Thor at 21.07 and thought he had Cushings Disease (tumors on adrenal glands) by the round barrel body. Then when you said he had things that looked like bite marks and missing fur, I was like Oh no that's another sign of Cushings. I hope it is just allergies or bacterial, but that barrel body has me worried. My boy had the same symptoms. Broke out in sores one year and then the same time the following year it happened again. I was on a mad hunt for what was causing it and I thought my boy was just a bit chunky looking. I went to the vet and had the antibiotics, cortisone cream, antifungals, skin scrapes. After a month I took him back to the doctor and he was tested for Cushings. He was positive for Cushings. It was really expensive like $900 or so. I think it was more. He was put on medication and he had to be retested I think about 6 weeks after, then at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months (with the above cost each time excluding medication cost) to make sure the medication was the correct dosage. He rarely gets those bite things but most importantly all that weight which was fluid build up around his organs has gone. My boy is old, but he is my family. They say buying a dog is the cheapest part about owning a dog and they are not wrong. He also has arthritis and on pain killers and anxiety. Roughly spend about $450 per month on all his meds. Coming from a long line of country folk and farmers, what they did in generations past when an animal got sick was to see if they had the resources (time, money, know how etc) and if they didn't then the animal was destroyed in a short time frame. Modern day we are required to give all sick and injured animals vet care by law in a timely manner to prevent suffering. Homesteading is not cheap if you have animals. I also wouldn't believe a RU-vid vet over your vet that you have a long standing relationship with. You cannot be sure of his credentials and if he was struck off the register. Also he doesn't know your dog or you. Stick with your vet until you get real answers. Like going to a people doctor you don't always get an answer at one appointment. My thoughts are with you and Thor during this frustrating time and sending positive vibes that you both will get this sorted.
Hi friend! I appreciate your balanced perspective. Admittedly, its hard for me to not be emotional about the ordeal but you raise very good and valid points. It will be a hit to the purse to continue to care for Thor, and your right, homesteading and animal husbandry isn't cheap which is why I know that we can responsibly handle a small homestead and we aren't rushing that move at all. My real sticking point is IF these are seasonal allergies, which is what the conversations at our two previous vet appointments have led me to believe, I'd like to know how to address it without expensive meds, especially if an herbal alternative or OTC works. The fact that you also went down a similar path, and I know will be inevitable one day for me lets me know that you are sharing with genuine concern and I thank you for that. I also hope that I came across not yet with fully formed ideas, but rather to share that I am on a journey to understand options for at home pet/livestock care for what are minor issues, only.
