Amazon CARES Shelter Dogs Receive Exams and i Love Dogs Supplements

Patrick ("Patricio")

Our last day at our Amazon CARES‘ summer camp-esque quarters started off with the continuation of the previous night’s thunderstorms. After all, we are in the rainforest, right?

Our task for the day was to patrol the adjacent neighborhoods, providing education and non-surgical wellness care to the local dogs and cats. The heavy rain kept us from partaking on this venture, so we focused on the dogs within the Amazon CARES shelter.

Adoptable healthy dogs, as well as dogs dealing with chronic illness (making them less likely to be adopted and therefore permanent shelter residents), live in this refuge from the tough street life they would otherwise face in Iquitos and surrounding communities. This little black dog, Patrick, was named after me. I call him Patricio and look forward to seeing photos of him grow and play with his other canine buddies.

Dr. V (Jessica Vogelsang of Pawcurious) and I worked with Amazon CARES veterinarian Luis to evaluate some of the these dogs and lend a fresh perspective on their treatments. Considering the harsh climatic circumstances, less than ideal nutrition, and exposure to illness and stressors before coming to the Amazon CARES rescue, these animals have made considerable improvements in their overall health through Western medical treatments.

Martita

I introduced i Love Dogs dietary supplements into their treatment protocols and established an appropriate recommendation for each dog. Either a single or combination therapy of i Love Dogs Multivitamin, Reishi with Green Tea, Glucosamine & Chondroitin or Green Tea will provide generalized or specific nutritional support to benefit a variety of canine illnesses.

One lucky dog, named Martita (after the fabulous i Love Dogs General Manager, Martha Smith), looks healthier with each passing day in her new environment under the care of Luis. We are now going to start Martita on i Love Dogs Reishi with Green Tea to boost her immune health to help in her fight against sarcoptic mange.

We had a big night planned, as we were spending the evening in Iquitos instead of our jungle home down river. I was slated to give a lecture on holistic and integrative veterinary medicine at the Alliance Francaise Iquitos, which was arranged by one of our fearless Amazon CARES leaders, Bruno Antoine.

Also speaking at the event was a local biologist, Elsa Rengifo Salgado, who runs a practice in Iquitos providing phytotherapy (herbal medicine) to human patients. Collectively, we will educate anyone interested in the means of treating illness in animals and people naturally as an alternative to the sole use of conventional medication.

PHOTOS: Patrick Mahaney

Dr. Mahaney

Patrick Mahaney, VMD, CVA has a thriving veterinary practice in Los Angeles. His clients respond favorably to his combination of Eastern and Western medicine, including acupuncture. In addition to making house calls, Mahaney makes himself available via social media outlets such as his blog and Twitter. He is dog dad to i Love Dogs canine ambassador Cardiff.