More calls in praise of spinach
by Jane Lilley
09 Apr 2008 09:50
More tales of success with liquidised raw spinach have been flooding in. Penny Eidsforth rang from Dorset to say that she will be eternally grateful for its effectiveness with her seven-year-old Golden Retriever.
Polly had had what her owner describes as an appalling skin and ear infection for the past two years with terrible sores under the armpits, down her tummy, up on her chest, ears and head.
She was very depressed in herself, miserable and lethargic with running wet sores and she scratched constantly.
None of her close relatives have ever suffered from anything similar other than her daughter who once had a small bare patch on her throat.
A blood test proved that Polly was allergic to no less than ten different things and a special vaccine was made up for her – after which Penny says she was ten times worse.
Antibiotics, steroids, washes, shampoos and seemingly endless medication did little to help while the veterinary bills spiralled alarmingly.
Penny rang me in desperation and, although I emphasised that this might well not be a miracle cure at least it would not hurt, I suggested she should try giving Polly some liquidised raw spinach with her meals.
Apparently within just a fortnight there was a noticeable improvement. A month later only just one tiny sore could still be seen and the skin is gradually returning to normal. The best thing of all is that Polly is now calm and happy, enjoying life to the full and playing as a proper bitch should.
Another accolade for liquidised raw spinach comes from Elizabeth Fox in Glasgow, whose six-year-old red Chow Chow bitch had been biting, licking and scratching since she was ten months old.
This was becoming gradually worse until she had virtually no hair on either side of her body. Akeisha was very depressed in herself with head hanging, the situation becoming worse with her seasons.
Different diets did nothing to help and veterinary opinion was that her troubles were due to allergic reaction.
Again, antibiotics and a variety of medication including antihistamines did little to help with visits to the vet costing around £60 per month which, over the years, Elizabeth says with good humour, could have amounted to well over the price of a new puppy.
Again, she rang me and when I suggested spinach, she admits that she simply did not believe that it would make any difference.
However, she thought anything was worth a try so went along to Tescos, where she purchased two bags of frozen raw spinach for under £1 each.
She duly defrosted and liquidised one of the frozen lumps per day, giving half to Akeisha on each of her meals – and she reports that the bowls were licked clean every time.
Just three days later she had only bitten herself once. Elizabeth said that it was quite amazing.
Akeisha became so calm and relaxed that she spent a long time sleeping with relief that she no longer needed to scratch or bite, then behaved in a normally happy easy-going manner.
Just as an experiment, Elizabeth says that she gave up the spinach completely after a few weeks just to see what would happen and, within two days, Akeisha was back to biting her legs once more, thus proving that spinach really was the answer.
Margaret Yorke has become yet another spinach fan. She has just rung from North Yorkshire to say that her Roxy, a nearly two-year-old BSD Groenendael, was chewing her feet to the point that one was nearly bald and she was generally rather itchy although not actually scratching.
Two lumps of defrosted liquidised raw spinach on her food stopped all her troubles within a week.
A cry for help comes from Tamara Turner of the Stanwega Sealyhams in Colchester. She says that one of her bitches has had no undercoat for the past two years.
She lost it about six months after having a litter – something that is far from unusual. However, it has never grown back. Tamara says she has tried Royal Jelly, Quistel, Fit & Fertile and Evening Primrose Oil – all to no avail.
The bitch has also been tested for thyroid and Cushings but every test came back clear.
She is currently being fed on Nutro Light, since she is inclined to put on weight, along with a spoonful of Butchers tinned meat as well as regular additions of raw vegetables and fruit, which she much enjoys, including bananas.
Tamara would be so grateful if anyone has any ideas to suggest as she would so like to get her bitch back into the ring again as she simply loves showing.
Do let me know if you can help or advise.
Contact jane at: Pollards, Furzen Lane, Rudgwick, Horsham RH12 3AR or ring (before 7 pm) on 01403-822222.
Jane Lilley