DERMagic Skin Care for Animals Blog

Top Signs of Yeast in Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:19:00 +0000

What are the key signs of a yeast infection? Any one of these is a very strong indicator, regardless of how it got started. If there are two or more of these symptoms, it’s pretty much a given that the dog is systemically infected with yeast:

Scratching the ears, or head shaking

Lethargy and loss of appetite

Chewing or licking the feet, and dark rusty-red hair between the toes

Cyclic manifestation of symptoms (appearing in the spring and “going away” in the fall)

Hair loss on the tail and upper back

Speckles (like tiny black dots) on the underbelly or rust-coloration around the genitals

A foul funky smell and greasy hair (seborrhea), often accompanied by heavy dandruff

Baldness from having been closely shaved

Any black skin, especially if associated with hair loss.

So, how do I know if it’s a yeast infection or an allergy? Or something else? Well, you don’t know for sure at first. But if the condition responds well to a natural topical antifungal, the hair grows back, the black skin disappears, the itching and licking stop, and the underbelly returns to a normal pinkish white, that should tell you something. All these symptoms respond to antifungals, especially to DERMagic Skin Rescue Lotion or Hot Spot Salve.

It could well have been an allergic reaction to something that started all this, like a bug or flea bite or a bad reaction to grain in food, for example. But what then happens is that the local immune system doesn’t function properly and this allows the yeast to bloom and invade. This is what many veterinarians can miss. They generally do not recognize the early signs of yeast, and allergy testing can give misleading false positives in many cases. So, the pet parent accepts the diagnosis of allergies and spends a fortune on medications for the rest of the dog’s life, which may be considerably shortened by being on these meds long term.

Please check our website for more information on this important, and not-very-well-understood, dog skin problem.

Gunner's Butt Grows New Fur!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:57:00 +0000

Remember Gunner? Gunner had surgery back in 2011, and after the surgical shaving, his hair never came back and his skin became blackened. So Gunner's mom Stacy ordered DERMagic Skin Rescue Lotion and started massaging it into his skin every day starting in November. The photo on the right is what Gunner looked like at the beginning. Notice the crisp outline from shaving!

Gunner - November 2011

The second photo was taken in February. You can see pink skin returning, and Stacy reported that his skin felt warm. The old black skin was cold and dead feeling, which is pretty accurate, really. It takes some time for the lotion to penetrate and kill the yeast that is disrupting the normal cycle of the hair follicles and skin cells down deep. And once it does that, the new skin pushes through the old black layers and shows healthy pink color again. And whiskers start to appear!

Gunner - February 2012

So here's Gunner's beautiful fur-covered butt on its way back to full glorious coat and healthy skin! Just a bit more to go and he'll be just about perfect again.

Gunner today - March 29, 2012

We are very excited about this result, but not surprised. DERMagic products have been helping dogs like Gunner for years, even when the veterinarians have given up.

Folks, NEVER shave your dog like this. If your pet has to have surgery, please ask your vet to shave as little as possible and not so close. It's not necessary and you can see the harm it does.

Gunner, thanks for being such a good sport about publicly displaying your little bottom! And no, your new hair does NOT make your butt look big! :D

Sir Winston the Pomeranian Beats Black Skin Disease

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:09:00 +0000

Folks, sometimes a story is so compelling that we feel obliged to share it. Please read about little Sir Winston's journey back to good health, pink skin and full coat with the help of DERMagic products. Yes, Alopecia X can be reversed... and here's one very heart-warming tale, reproduced here exactly as Sir Winston's pet parents wrote it to us today! A real feel-good moment for us around the office today!

Dear Dr. Adelia,

The attached pictures are of our Sir Winston, age 5.
The first picture is when he was at his worst with Black Skin Disease (September 2011.) Winston had started losing hair around 2 years previously; during that time, he slept more and more during the day. His appetite began to wane; his social skills also waned. Although he still liked to go for walks, he just wasn't as active as a pomeranian normally is. We tried melatonin, as suggested by his vet, and medicine for his thyroid. Neither of those made any difference, and the disease continued to take its relentless toll on his hair and skin. During the harsh, bitter cold winter of 2011, we put sweaters and coats on him to protect him from the cold because he virtually had no hair on his back, stomach,and tail. We had all but given up on anything that would help him.

On September 17, 2011, we received our first bottle of DERMagic Skin Rescue Lotion. We began the regimen immediately...with only a small bit of hope that it would really work. (You guaranteed the results so we thought we had nothing to lose and everything to gain.) We saw the black skin gradually wash away with each bath we gave him.

On October 29, 2011, I recorded in my journal that John and I began to see some of Sir Winston's hair returning. We were cautiously hopeful, and noted that he loved his application times and seemed more lively, energetic, and that his appetite had improved.

Oh, what a miracle!!! The second picture is of Sir Winston at about 2 1/2 to 3 months after beginning the regimen. Healthy, pink skin is visible on his chest, and his hair has begun to come in all over his little body. We saw the results of the DERMagic and our diligence in applying it, bathing him with your shampoo and conditioner, and our never giving up on it. We began to believe. But the best was yet to come!!!

The third picture is of Sir Winston today (March 18, 2011)--six months after our first application of DERMagic. WOW!!! Our family who saw him at Christmas saw him again this weekend. They are absolutely amazed. Some people who saw him around the time of the first picture say, "That isn't the same dog." John and I are truly amazed too. It is, to us, a true miracle. Sir Winston is so much healthier, so much more sociable, so much more alert. (Even his hearing has improved. ) Thank you, thank you, Dr. Adelia, for bringing DERMagic to us. You are a blessing to us.

Sincerely thankful,

Mary and John Houska

PS We only have one regret...and that is that we lost one of our other poms who had Black Skin Disease. She died before we knew about DERMagic. We don't know for sure, of course, but perhaps we could have helped her to have a healthier life if we had just known.

Sulfur, the Healing Mineral

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:37:00 +0000

We often get questions from our customers about the ingredients in our products. Today we're going to talk about one of the most common confusions that surround sulfur-containing compounds. Some are beneficial, some are vital to the proper functioning of cells, some are caustic and toxic and contribute to acid rain, some are antibiotic medicines. Today's blog is just a brief introduction to the vast array of compounds that contain sulfur, so if you still have questions after reading this, please write to us!

What is the difference between Sulfur and Sulfates?

Many treatments for our pet’s skin problems often include harsh chemicals (like sulfates) and steroids, which can make skin conditions worse! DERMagic Skin Care for Animals was created as an alternative to such traditional solutions to alleviate itching and scratching – only using natural and certified organic ingredients.

Sulfur and sulfates are related compounds but are as different as the free nitrogen in the air we breathe is different from the nitrates in nitric acid.

Sulfur, known as the healing mineral, is toxic to the scabies mite, and is both an antibacterial and potent antifungal… a natural disinfectant. Found in DERMagic’s Skin Rescue Lotion, it provides proven relief from itchy skin and is the only topical product on the market that can reverse a systemic yeast infection, with no harmful side effects. Pure elemental sulfur is a bright yellow crystalline solid.

Sulfur is an essential element for all life, and is widely used in biochemical processes. Elemental sulfur is non-toxic to animals, including humans, and can be taken internally as a mild laxative. In metabolic reactions, sulfur compounds serve as both fuels and respiratory (oxygen-replacing) materials for simple organisms. Sulfur in organic form is present in the vitamins biotin and thiamine, the latter being named for the Greek word for sulfur. Sulfur is an important part of many enzymes and in antioxidant molecules like glutathione and thioredoxin. Organically bonded sulfur is a component of all proteins, as the amino acids cysteine and methionine. Disulfide bonds are largely responsible for the mechanical strength and insolubility of the protein keratin, found in outer skin, hair, and feathers, and the element contributes to their pungent odor when burned.

Sulfates, on the other hand, are a type of compound made when elemental sulfur burns in air. The principal sulfur oxides (or sulfates) are obtained by burning sulfur:

S + O₂ → SO₂ (Sulfur + Oxygen = Sulfur dioxide)

2 SO₂ + O₂ → 2 SO₃ (Sulfur dioxide + more oxygen = Sulfur trioxide.)

When these compounds encounter water (in the air, in the lungs), they form sulfurous or sulfuric acid, highly caustic compounds. Sulfates occur as microscopic particles (aerosols) resulting from fossil fuel and biomass combustion. They increase the acidity of the atmosphere and form acid rain.

When cosmeceutical manufacturers claim their products have no sulfates, they are usually referring to something completely different, i.e., Sodium Laurel Sulfate (and closely related sodium laureth sulfate) or SLS. SLS is mainly used in detergents for laundry with many cleaning applications. SLS is a highly effective surfactant (surface active agent) and is used in any task requiring the removal of oily stains and residues. For example, it is found in higher concentrations with industrial products including engine degreasers, floor cleaners, and car wash soaps.

SLS is found in toothpastes, shampoos, shaving foams, and bubble bath formulations in part for its thickening effect and its ability to create a lather. It has been shown to irritate the skin of the face with prolonged and constant exposure (more than an hour) in young adults. SLS may worsen skin problems in individuals with chronic skin hypersensitivity, with some people being affected more than others. In animal studies SLS appears to cause skin and eye irritation.

Most shampoos for pets contain SLS. DERMagic products do not.

What about Sulfa?

This is another common area of confusion. “Sulfa drugs” (known as sulfonamides) are a type of antibacterial medication that contains the “sulfonamide” group (sulfur, oxygen and nitrogen). Sulfa allergies in people are common, and medications containing sulfonamides are prescribed carefully. It is important to make a distinction between sulfa drugs and other sulfur-containing drugs and additives, such as sulfates and sulfites, which are chemically unrelated to the sulfonamide group.

Please contact us if you ever have any questions about any of the ingredients in our products. We love to talk about this! Meanwhile, here's wishing you and yours the best of good health!

Oliver Timmy Teper, the DERMagic Man...

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:02:00 +0000

Introducing Koukla's fave heart throb, Ollie (The Man) Maltese. We are going to let him tell his own story through a series of Facebook notes he sent as he was going through a nasty skin issue. OK, Ollie, you're on, little cutie:

"I had to run back since I was taking the picture myself, only had 10 seconds for the self timer to click. Its hard when you have paws and using mom's digital without her permission. Wood...woof...Nap time now...very pooped!"

Oliver Timmy Teper
I visit the vet tomorrow morning. My allergies are acting up :(
January 6 at 6:31pm · · Comment

- Adelia Ritchie Tell me about this allergy stuff!
  January 6 at 6:34pm ·
- Oliver Timmy Teper
  My skin was doing great since I started using Dermagic (you remember)
  All of a sudden I started getting these patches of dry skin (round & pink) I had it around my forehead, right ear, and my hind legs. By the time anyone notices it's already dry. But, the one in the ear area is not inside my ear but on the tip of my ear. My sores/patches are flaky. I'm not itching, so Mom is taking me tomorrow. What do you think Dr. Ritchie? My hair still looks good :) and Mom bought more shampoo :)
  
  January 6 at 7:00pm ·
- Adelia Ritchie Let me send you some Skin Rescue Lotion. You don't want this to get worse and shampoo won't fix it. ♥
  January 6 at 7:29pm ·
- Oliver Timmy Teper Adelia, mom just read about the Rescue Lotion. Yup, everytime I have a rash my vet diagnoses this as "seborrheic dermatitis".
  January 6 at 7:46pm ·
- - Adelia Ritchie Seborrheic dermatitis is a name that describes symptoms, but says nothing about the cause, which could be anything but is most often a yeast, a form of fungus. Let's hope this is a yeasty thing, because that will be banished in a flash with DERMagic. ♥ ♥ ♥ you sweet thing!
    January 12 at 3:57pm ·
  - Oliver Timmy Teper Thank you sooo much ! I'll cross my paws and hope its a yeasty thing.
    Woof...woof....♥
  arf...arf...Adelia, I just received your package. Mommy is going to bathe me tonight....I ♥ you my sweetheart....Check my status in a day or two....I'm so yappy !!! Woof ♥ Ollie
  
  "Last week I was breaking out on the forehead and belly. I used the [DERMagic Skin Rescue] Shampoo Bar once and the forehead mess went away :D and I am not itchy or red. The dark speckles in my under belly - gone. Right now Mom is applying the rescue lotion on only one hot spot...that's all. Puppy licks to Adelia ♥"
  
  Busy morning Adelia. My groomer said I look 100% better :) Its only been a week. Irene said I have alot of SASS !! Woof...woof...Ollie T
  
  Hey Gorgeous :P I'm feeling magical and oh sooo yappy. Tell Koukla that her mommy will be surprised soon...not telling...but I'm just yelping...
  Woof...amazing transformation. Mom had a huge smile all weekend :D
  Dad could not believe the difference...arf...arf...arf...I'm a yappy Maltese.
  
  DERMagic Experience is magical. Check out my pics. The first one am checking out the products and the second one I kind of posed :D Woof Woof..This Maltese is a yappy little man !!
  
  Yawn :O Woke up this morning...looking rejuvenated :) No itching, no flakiness ! On the road to being a handsome Maltese again !! Arf...arf...my skin is pink again and my hair is white and gorgeous :D
  
  **NEWS FLASH** I am the little man...looking good after the DERMagic dipping. What an experience. I gave Mom a bad time..yelping and kicking in the tub. Arf...arf...all those little dark speckles disappeared and the places I had hot spots are close to vanishing. Now to apply the rescue lotion. I must give a big doggie Thank you and Hug to Adelia ♥
  
  Getting ready to be DERMagic Dipped....may the magic begin. I'll update my status once I'm out of the tub. I have yappy feeling about this ;)
  
  GET DERMAGIC....I'M LIVING PROOF THAT IT WORKS......DR. ADELIA RITCHIE ROCKS !!!!! WOOF WOOF.....ARF...ARF...I'M SO YAPPY.......!!!!!!
  
  Just returned from the vet. I weigh 4lbs 13 ozs...all due to my daily stretches and laps around the living room :) Okay, Dr. Quan completely agreed with Dr. Ritchie and that I should start using the rescue lotion. Dr.Q said my hair looked good and that the little patches were not that bad but need to nip it now. I go back in 2 wks to see how I am doing.....A big THANK YOU to Adelia....she totally ROCKS !!!!
  
  Adellia, returned from the groomer. I am looking good. Mom used some Hot Spot Salve that she had when she bought the shampoo. I was yellow polka dots last night....but looked better after my grooming. Irene the groomer even said there was improvement. If only I could talk ...my first words would be "DERMAGIC" it works and I'm living proof :) ♥ ,♥ Oliver
- You can follow Ollie's adventures on Facebook! And follow DERMagic for news, tips and special deals!

Green Clean Your Dogs!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:16:00 +0000

Has the term "Greenwash" become a bad word? 

Here's one definition: Greenwashing is a term used to describe companies that carelessly jump on the eco-friendly bandwagon in an attempt to cash in quick. They may convert some traditionally carbon heavy services to electronic format or offer one or two green products while masquerading as an authority on environmental education.

Ouch! Well, we all know they're not talking about us!  

Here at DERMagic, we maintain a sense of humor about trends and fads, and this is one we think is really fun, especially because we use it in the complete opposite connotation.  We have another meaning for Greenwash (although no one in the company will allow me to use that word. So we'll call it "Green Clean"!): 

· "The heck with shipping heavy liquids all over the planet!"
· Give the heave-ho to plastic bottles of shampoo!
· Kick the SLS and other preservatives, texturizers and chemicals out of your dog's bath!
· Embrace Certified Organic Shampoo Bars!
· Hug those recycled cardboard boxes!
· Love the natural essential oil scents!
Lather like crazy on both long and short haired dogs!
Rinse squeaky clean in a flash, saving the Earth's precious water!
· Chase away fleas and other pests the organic, non-toxic way!
Green Clean your dog and we'll plant a tree for every 10 bars we sell!

Now let's get out there and erase that carbon pawprint. Whether you call it “Green Clean” or “Green Wash”, do the earth a favor and shampoo bar your pets!

Oh, and by the way, our newest shampoo bar, the Skin Rescue Bar (also known as “The DERMinator”), has recently been awarded the Pet Product News Retailers’ NUMBER ONE Grooming Product for the entire year.

Yes, we're proud. Have an amazing "clean" weekend, folks!

Dr Adelia E. Ritchie

President

DERMagic Skin Care for Animals, Inc.

Is your dog losing hair? Skin turning black?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Fri, 27 May 2011 01:58:00 +0000

We want to show you a real dog with a real problem that so many dogs experience. Meet Gus, son of Angela. Gus had been diagnosed with a thyroid problem and was losing his hair, and his skin was turning black. This picture below shows how widespread this disease had become.

Many dogs with this problem are diagnosed with "bilateral Alopecia" or Alopecia X. You can read more about this on our website, but basically this is a medical term that describes the obvious symptom of hair loss. It says nothing about what is causing it. When you take your dog to the vet and say "he's losing his hair", the vet might respond by telling you "It's Alopecia", which is exactly what you just said to him but in a different language.

There are so many possible contributors to this problem, but what ultimately happens is that, regardless of why the dog's immune system was diminished, something nasty gets under the skin and causes this specific problem, and very often it's simply the common yeast (a type of fungus) that lives on all dogs. If it gets under the skin, this is what can happen... and there is only one way to get rid of it and get the hair back.

Here's Angela's story: Ok DERMagic....we are loving your products!!!! Gus is doing so much better!!! He has a thyroid problem and was losing his hair! His skin was turning black too! :( He also has allergies...his paws would get really red and he would bite them until they would bleed....until....we used the Hot Spot Salve product...it is instant relief for him! This picture is what his skin looked like when we started the product...I must say...he also enjoys us applying the Skin Rescue lotion...hehe... :)

Then, we heard from Angela and Gus a couple months later in late April: Here is a pic that I took today of Gus!!!! His skin is not black and his hair is growing back!!!! We are so happy!!!! Thank you DERMagic!!!!! We will keep you posted! :)

Angela wrote a wonderful article in FIDO Friendly's blog about Gus's skin problems and all the treatments they tried. I suspect many of you have similar stories to tell. I personally nearly lost a dog to black skin because the vets gave up and wanted to euthanize her. No way was THAT going to happen! And that's why we are here today, because no one seemed to know what to do to reverse black skin disease.

So back to Gus today: DERMagic .....look at my baby!!! His hair has completely grown back!!! We are so excited!!! :)

Well, Angela and Gus, we are so excited too! Gus is a very handsome fellow and doesn't he look proud now with his hair restored!

We are going to include a link to this story in our newsletter, which goes out to lots of veterinarians... with the sincere hope that no one will ever have to lose their dog again, or even have to live with the agony of the itching and pain their pet is suffering with this horrible disease. There is an answer... and it's topical, contains no steroids, antibiotics or antihistamines, and is completely safe and natural.

Today, like most other days in this business, my heart is happy because we were able to help Gus and so many others like him. This is the only reason why I come to work in the morning. Thank you, Gus and Angela, for making my day!

Puppy love and licks to all! - Adelia

We're not too proud to brag...

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:50:00 +0000

We have a lot to brag about! For one thing, we have experienced incredible growth over the past three years in spite of a very serious global recession -- one that has put a lot of companies our size right out of business. And more, as we enter our sixth year, it's fun to take a look at how we're doing... and the best place to look is at what our customers and their fur kids have to say about DERMagic products. Here are just a very few raves selected from hundreds that arrive in our mailbox every month:

Those shampoo bars are the best things I've ever used. Thanks again, Nathan from Australia

I just wanted to leave positive feedback on DERMagic shampoo. After my dog went to a professional groomer for the first time, her belly started turning black within the week. So I knew something was up, but didn't know what. Some time went by and it spread, so I went online and found your product. Under her fur is pink again! I know that I would've had problems if I hadn't used the shampoo. She really likes getting a bath with DERMagic, and she smells good! Thanks! Sara

I had such faith in your product after using it on our Pom for horrible black spots on his tummy and groin area, that I went ahead and used it on our cat. I figured the all natural ingredients couldn't hurt her. The scraped spot on her muzzle that wouldn't heal turned out PURRRRRFECTLY!!! Her right muzzle was BARE, and a month later filled in with fur!

One of my friends spent over $3000 last year with her dog's allergies. DERMAGIC cleared it up -- and she is spreading the word! - Lin in Virginia Beach

I took Yogi to a vet in Eagle Point, OR, today. This vet only sees him when we have his teeth cleaned as they are nearly an hour away from us. They are a wonderful teaching animal hospital and very, very reasonable. Anyway, they had a notation on Yogi's chart that he was "bald" and thought I'd brought in the wrong dog!! It was amazing, the vet who examined him was so impressed, she immediately asked for information. I had my cover letter, pictures and your pamphlet all ready for them!! Debbie in Oregon

Your lotion is the BEST! My Akita had Black Skin Disease, and now all her hair is back, no bare spots and even her tail is full! Thank you for making this product! - Austin, Manhattan Beach, CA

Best thing since sliced bread! I would recommend it to everyone!!! Thanks for helping my lil furbabies and their flea dermatitis!!! You are the best!!! Tiny Timmy Joanne L McGonagle The Tiniest Tiger

My golden hasn't scratched at his hot spot since I used your WONDERFUL products today. Thanks loads. Debbie M.R.

Thank you all for all your comments. Hearing words like this every day is what makes it worth coming to work in the morning! Keep 'em coming!

Warmest regards,

Adelia

Yogi's Miracle Recovery from Black Skin Disease

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Dear Dr. Adelia and DERMagic:

I have written to you before about the remarkable success of your products on our Yogi Bear. I wanted to further update you with both story and picture.

Yogi was diagnosed with the "Black Skin" condition in 2005. He was 10 years old at that time. As the condition worsened, so did Yogi's health - but we were told the condition was cosmetic and his other problems were age-related. My husband and I both now feel that your products saved Yogi's life.

Dr. Adelia told me that Yogi's energy would improve as well as his appetite, which they both did. But to us, the amazing thing was little quirks to his personality also returned. Even though he is nearly 16 years old now, Yogi is sleeping less, more interested in people and his surroundings and just a happier little guy in general. We also have seen a change in his bladder. When we began using the Skin Rescue Lotion, Yogi needed to urinate three times to empty his bladder as his stream was slow, much like a man with an enlarged prostate. In the last month, we have noticed that he is no longer needing to "3 pee", he will go one time and back kick and strut like he did a good job. He always used to do this. We don't feel there is any other explanation other than his improved health from using DERMagic.

The first picture was taken in mid-June, 2010, three weeks into using DERMagic. You can actually see the pink, healthy skin emerging. The second picture is Yogi today. Other than his tail, he looks like a pretty normal Pomeranian. He is nearly blind and hard of hearing but otherwise a very happy little dog! Thank you again, we are forever grateful.

Tom & Debbie Gilman

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 08:06:00 +0000

Keeping America Green… One Pet at a Time…

What does it mean to be a “green company”? What is a “green company” anyway? I’m really wondering, because to some folks, especially looking back to the greenwashed Nature's Pathway at Superzoo last September, apparently just wearing green shirts in the trade show booth was enough to qualify.

At DERMagic, we have a different idea about what “green” means, or rather, what it should mean. But, as Kermit says, “It ain’t easy being green.”

Below are some of the green things we actually do now. Every effort we make, and that anybody makes, really matters.

... Recycling and reusing materials, like cartons and cases, used and reused styrofoam peanuts, natural cornstarch packing peanuts, printing on both sides of the paper, etc. Everything gets a second and third chance around here. Not only is this a very practical Green practice, it helps keep costs down and the savings are passed on to our customers.

...Creating packaging for all our products that is recycled, recyclable, reusable or from renewable sources. Our organic shampoo bars are an excellent example, packaged in simple recycled cardboard boxes.

... Seeking manufacturers who adopt an Earth-friendly philosophy in their practices, procedures and products. One example, Oregon Soap Company, our shampoo bar manufacturer, plants a native tree for every ten shampoo bars that we sell. (Hint: Help us reforest the Oregon wilderness! Buy more shampoo bars!)

... Using vendors and service providers who are conscious of their carbon footprints and are doing something about it. We use UPS for most of our shipping, and for a very small additional investment (pennies, in fact), we completely offset the carbon footprint of all our packages sent out via UPS.

... Using natural and organic ingredients in our products... rather than synthetic and "artificial." Example: our Cell Restoration Crème contains only five ingredients, all organic. And nothing else -- no preservatives, emulsifiers, texturizers, stabilizers, or any of that stuff.

... Manufacturing all our products exclusively in the USA. This is a "green" practice because the carbon footprint from shipping pallets of inventory from a manufacturer across the ocean is excessive and unnecessary. Further, we do this to help protect jobs here in the US. And further, we are more able to monitor the quality of products supplied by our vendors and manufacturers when they are close by.

Well, maybe it ain’t easy being green, but it’s what we do and what we all must do much more of.

Best to all!

- Adelia

Holistic Veterinarians

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 21:12:00 +0000

Greetings, Everyone! We have recently returned from the annual conference of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) in Covington, Kentucky, where we introduced our natural and organic skin care products to practicing veterinarians.

We have known for a long time that veterinarians and their furry clients need effective topical products that can eliminate the itching and infection from the outside in, while nutrition and immune system strength are built up from the inside out. Dog skin problems can be very tough to diagnose, and it can be even more challenging to restore healthy skin and coat.

In the case of dog skin allergies, this is especially true. Often, the allergy symptoms have been raging for so long that difficult-to-treat secondary infections have set in. Also, too often veterinarians prescribe steroids like Prednisone to treat the symptoms. These may offer temporary relief, but it is well-known that steroids only make the situation worse in the long run and will take a serious toll on your furkid's internal organs.

There is a wonderful paper published on the AHVMA site entitled "Natural Treatment for Dogs with Allergies," by Dr Lea Stogdale, DVM. Clicking on this link will automatically download this very helpful paper to your desktop. The only thing we would add to these recommendations would be the use of our Hot Spot Salve or our Skin Rescue Lotion for stubborn spots and rashes, to kill the infection fast.

Maintaining good nutrition and a healthy environment will go a long way toward preventing any dog skin problems, but when they inevitably appear in spite of all the love and care, now there's a fast and affordable alternative to traditional medications.

Check our website for locations of veterinarians who use and prescribe DERMagic products for dog skin problems. Our products are also available online or at pet supply stores, grooming salons and spas nationwide and in Canada.

Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Soap? Shampoo? Liquid soap?
Shampoo bars?

Which is best? How to choose?
It’s all so confusing. We just want to get our pets clean, right? And we want to do it without irritating or drying out their skin, and we want a healthy, shiny coat. And we don’t want to spend a fortune, and we want to protect the environment while we’re doing it too. Oh, and we want it all to be made in the USA, and to be organic or all-natural and packaged in something “green.”

But that is the customer’s viewpoint. What then are the major concerns of the manufacturers? They need for production costs to be as low as possible (off-shore manufacturing, inexpensive ingredients and packaging), they want high dilution ratios, competitive price points, multiple “flavors” in order to occupy maximum shelf space in retail stores, and high profit margins. In other words, most shampoos on the market are not the highest quality. They're not about what we want or need, but about what they want to sell us.

So let’s go a little deeper. What’s in shampoo and what’s in a soap? What’s the difference?

It all started about 5000 years ago when someone in Babylon made a soap-like substance from animal fat (or tallow) and kept it in a clay cylinder. It was surely an accidental discovery, one for which the entire world should be extremely grateful. Imagine being stuck in an elevator with a bunch of strangers who had never known soap.

Well, humans are an inventive bunch, evidenced by the proliferation of soaps over the millennia: Castille soap (made with olive oil), floating soap (whipped full of air bubbles), glycerin soap, French-milled, scented, soap-on-a-rope, and so on. And then, more than 4000 years later, William Shepphard patented liquid soap in 1865.

Liquid soap was introduced to the public consumer in 1980 by the Minnetonka Corporation. For years they had a lock on this market by buying up the entire supply of the plastic pumps needed for the liquid soap dispensers. A few years later the Colgate Palmolive company bought the liquid soap business from Minnetonka and a new industry was born.

Liquid hand soap, liquid dishwasher detergents, liquid shampoos, liquid cleaners of all kinds, and the market exploded, including products for shampooing and conditioning our dogs, cats and horses. There’s a soap for everything... and if you don’t believe me, just visit www.soap.com.

What’s in liquid soap? Here’s a typical example from a major manufacturer: Water, Ammonium C12-15 Pareth Sulfate, Magnesium Isododecylbenzenesulfonate, Lauramidopropylamine Oxide, SD Alcohol 3-A, Sodium Xylenesulfonate, Sodium Chloride, Fragrance, Pentasodium Pentetate, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium Bisulfite, D&C Orange No. 4 (active ingredients: Triclosan 0.12%). Doesn’t reading this make you want to smear it all over yourself? Scary.

So, what’s the difference between liquid soap and liquid shampoo? You be the judge. Here is an ingredients panel for a popular shampoo manufactured by this same major company: Water, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamide MEA, Glycol Distearate, Dimethicone, Fragrance, Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Ammonium Xylenesulfonate, Disodium EDTA, PEG-7M, Citric Acid, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

Well, what about the ingredients in good, old-fashioned bar soap? Here’s one of the top-rated soaps: Saponified Coconut and Palm oils, Sage Extract, Rosemary Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lemongrass Oil. Bearing in mind that most commercial bar soaps contain many ingredients that no one would consider “natural,” good-quality soaps are simple, containing just a few ingredients, most of which are instantly recognizable.

In my next blog, I’ll continue this discussion, delving a little deeper into terms like detergents, surfactants, and saponification, plus a little organic chemistry! Bottom line? If you’re going to put stuff on or in your pet, you should feel obligated to understand what those things are and what they do. We’ll make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision about the care of your furkids.
Until then, keep it clean, folks!

Dr Adelia Ritchie
www.dermagic.com

Swanson Health Products Chooses DERMagic Skin Care for Animals

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:14:00 +0000

Guaranteed lowest prices on over 7,000 natural health and wellness products
Friendly & helpful customer service (available by phone, email or LIVE chat online)
Family owned and operated since 1969
On-site purity and potency testing to ensure quality and safety

We are very proud that Swanson Health Products has chosen our line of natural skin care products for pets for their online store. Founded in 1969, Swanson Health Products is the realization of one man’s dream of bringing wellness to the world. Today, the company carries on that dream, reaching millions of health-conscious people in the United States and around the world. And we consider it the highest of honors to be a part of that dream.

The company has a fascinating history, beginning with Leland Swanson, born in North Dakota to Swedish immigrant August Swanson and his bride Selma Nelson. And as Swanson Health Products moves closer to its 45th anniversary, Lee Swanson speaks to the company’s success. “It’s like my dad said back at the beginning, ‘the satisfaction and goodwill of our valued customers is our most important asset’.”

The folks at Swanson Health Products are very choosy about the products they carry... so check them out! And not just for pet products! They also have an amazing Health Library with articles written by doctors and natural health practitioners, informative videos and Swanson Health Talk Radio with Dr. DeSilva. Take good care of yourselves!

Very best wishes,

Adelia

DERMagic Products in MudBay Stores!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:53:00 +0000

Mud Bay has been around Washington State since 1988, when the first store was established in Olympia. And now, they're opening 3 new stores (Mercer Island, Gig Harbor, and Redmond) to bring the total to 20 locations!

And for us, the big news is that Mud Bay is now carrying the DERMagic product line. And this fits right in with the Mud Bay difference: Instead of carrying supplies for every pet, Mud Bay focused on the healthiest foods and highest quality supplies. Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, Mud Bay focused on using natural food and accurate information to contribute to the health of dogs and cats and the happiness of the people who care for them.

Mud Bay has a very interesting history, well worth reading. And while you're on their site, check out Cooper's Story, about how DERMagic stopped Cooper's itch, written by a dog lover who also happens to work at Mud Bay...

So check it out! And check us out too... We're proud to be a part of the Mud Bay retail system -- healthy foods, happy stores, knowledgeable staff.

The Earth in Crisis

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 01:19:00 +0000

Peak Soil

The Silent Global Crisis, BY STEPHEN LEAHY

Folks, here at DERMagic we worry a lot about ingredients. We look at what they are and where they come from, their quality and purity, the sustainability of their source. And we look at whether or not these ingredients are organic or from organic farms.

For just one example, we use natural beeswax in some of our formulations, and we are deeply concerned about what is happening to our pollinating honeybees in the last decade. Our lives literally depend on the health of these tiny creatures. If they disappear, the absence of beeswax will be the smallest of our problems. There is no replacement for beeswax, and certainly not for honeybees.

But looking even deeper, beyond the creatures, beneath the vegetation, what is the nature of the soil that our plant materials come from? How are these materials processed to preserve and protect the natural goodness in them? And where and under what conditions will these plants be grown next year or in ten years?

We are gravely concerned about what is happening globally to the soil that allows us to exist. Yes, for now, we think about maintaining the high quality of our products through natural and organic ingredients, and through buying only from suppliers who share our ideals. But looking ahead, we are concerned, not just about our company and our products, but about the future of our existence.

I ask you to click on the link below and read about what is happening around our planet. We are not asking for anything... no donations, no sign-up, no email address. Just read this excellent, carefully researched paper and let this awareness sink in. I still believe it's not too late.

http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/eij/article/peak_soil/

DERMagic Skin Care for Animals Now Offered in Eastern Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:48:00 +0000

Mon Ami Pet Wellness Distribution is the exclusive distributor in the Maritimes for DERMagic: A Breakthrough in the Treatment of Animal Dermatitis – Relief from Dog Skin Problems

DERMagic Skin Care for Animals, Inc., is proud to partner with Mon Ami Pet Wellness Distribution to offer our products across eastern Canada. Severe dog itching, skin allergies, mange, black skin disease and hair loss, hot spots, dandruff or seborrhea, cuts and sores and other secondary dog skin problems resulting from flea or mite allergies and even trauma -- these conditions are miserable for your pet, and for you. Until now, it has been difficult to treat these common problems without steroids, antibiotics or strong chemicals.

Visit dermagic.com for more information on our award-winning products and on how to recognize and treat skin problems in your dogs and cats. Contact monamiinfo@eastlink.ca to offer these fine products to your customers in Canada or visit Mon Ami Pet Wellness Online Store to order in eastern Canada.

Whitnie - the formerly hairless Pomeranian...

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:37:00 +0000

PUFF WHITTY - DERMagic Poster Child

Many of you know that there's nothing worse than having to watch your little furkid suffer day after day with some kind of skin problem, no matter what it is. I've been there with my own dogs, one of which I nearly lost to a mystery skin disease that left her hairless with open sores. That was little Shenanigan the Yorkie, the first life saved by DERMagic.

But that was then... Today, no one and no animal should have to suffer like this, and that's why we work so hard to get the word out about DERMagic Skin Rescue Lotion. It really works to end the problem, permanently, without steroids, antibiotics, or antihistamines.

When we say it, that's one thing. But when pet parents who have been through this ordeal, with very expensive vet bills and steroids and no results over very long periods of time, when these folks send us their before and after photos, and we can share them with you, this is what tells the story.

We have posted a slide show that shows Whitnie the Canadian Pomeranian (also known as "Puff Whitty"), who lives with Cherie D. in Saskatchewan. Whitnie was in pretty bad shape when they finally found DERMagic at Metro Pet Market in Regina, SK.

Here's what Cherie wrote to the folks at Metro Pet: "Here are some before and after pictures of Whitnie's amazing transformation. Big thank you for helping us along throughout the past 6 months. Whitnie is gonna love you guys forever."

Please watch the slide show and forgive us all for not being brilliant cinematographers... but the message is clear: DERMagic works. And we guarantee it.

The Best Singles Ad Ever Printed

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:57:00 +0000

Reported to have been listed in the Atlanta Journal:

SINGLE BLACK FEMALE seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I'm a very good girl who LOVES to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. I'll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me... Call (404) 875-xxxx and ask for Annie, I'll be waiting.....

More than 150 men found themselves talking to the Atlanta Humane Society, according to our source. Call your local animal rescue organization today, and find the companion you've been longing for.

What's in a Name?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 03:01:00 +0000

Why do we spell DERMagic with the funny capitalization?

"DERMagic" is how we spell our name, with the first four letters capitalized. We actually kicked this around in focus groups for a long time before we trademarked our logo and officially incorporated under this name. What we needed to convey in our name was that this product line was for skin (derma), and that it wipes out skin problems like magic.

It isn’t spelled "Der Magic." There’s actually a German company out there who does a “magic” show, we think for kids. Pretty cool, and makes much sense for this spelling. But this is a different company and no connection to us.

And our focus groups considered a simple spelling of Dermagic, with no peculiar capitalization. Not bad, we thought, but then people were pronouncing it “DermaJEEK” or “Derma Magic” and other strange things.

So, in the end, we have DERMagic, and we love it. And our pets love it, and they couldn’t care less how we spell it! So just ask for it at your local pet supply shop or at your groomer. They will know what you mean no matter how you pronounce it! End your pet’s skin issues today, the natural way, like magic!

DERMagic works! Guaranteed.

Just a-Walkin' the Dog....

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:39:00 +0000

Ahhhh.... summer... Lovely, warm, sunny morning... birds chirping, dew on the grass, my beloved Shih Tzus stopping to sniff every tree or shrub along the way... Such sweet little mutts they are.

Protective too, the little Changelings. Joggers and bikers who use the sidewalks for exercise, instead of for walking like the rest of us, get exactly what they should expect when they sneak up behind us at full trot. (Get it? SideWALKS... not SideRUNS or SideBICYCLES.)

We nearly sent a runner to the hospital this morning. These days, with high-tech running shoes in stealth mode, it's impossible to hear a runner coming up behind you. The dogs don't even hear them. But suddenly, Skoshi stops in mid-pee, now at full-on attack on the aggressor who materialized at my side... out of nowhere and running at full trot.

With two leashes and spread out across the walkway, we managed to capture an ankle and send the jogger flying, luckily into the grass and not the pavement.

Please explain to me why he was angry at US? He could have seriously injured my dogs!

People... please pass this on to all your running and biking friends... and tell them to use the jogging trails, use the bike lanes, and stay off the sidewalks. We have nowhere else to walk our animals in the city and suburbs. And you should know by now that it's not smart to surprise a dog, under any situation. When you see dogs ahead, GO AROUND THEM!!! Cut them some slack, runners! And bikers, stay the heck off the sidewalks!

Be a Hair-o

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:25:00 +0000

Pet Hair Needed in Oil Disaster Cleanup... reads the headline in this July issue of The Whole Dog Journal. Pet Hair Donated for Oil Spill... reads a similar header in July's Pet Age. There are many more articles, and much on the internet, but these two just happen to be open before me as I sit here eyeing the masses of hair sprouting from my two Shih Tzu furkids.

The idea is simple: densely packed hair, and even feathers, can act as an efficient filter to extract oil from contaminated water. Any hair will do: pet hair from dog groomers and human hair from hairdressers has been bundled into boxes across the USA and shipped to central warehouses.

Matter of Trust, a San Francisco based non-profit organization has been coordinating volunteers to stuff the hair into nylon stockings to create oil-busting mini-booms. There’s been a huge response: warehouses in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida are storing thousands of tons of hair while efforts are being made to work out how best to use it. This photo shows a mountain of packed mini-booms currently stored in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida.

Unfortunately, some engineers are saying that using the material is not feasible. The stuffed stockings can sink, resulting in even more garbage that will need to be cleaned up in the aftermath of the crisis. Commercially made booms containing manufactured oil-grabbing materials are said to more effective and easier to use than hair stuffed nylons. BP and the USA Coast Guard have now asked organizations collecting the hair to stop doing so.

Regardless of this negativity, Matter of Trust continues to maintain databases of donors and warehouses of these mini-booms. And, these are being deployed in the Gulf right now.

To get in on the action, go the the Matter of Trust website and register, and they will keep you up to date on the most current shipping addresses for donations and what's needed most right now. Hair, fur, and feathers not needed in the Gulf Coast right now will be stockpiled for future (Goddess forbid) spills around the globe.

PS - It is beyond my comprehension that it is probable, even likely, that this can or will happen again, and that we seem to be planning on it. This is another story, another rant, another loud screaming to come from Mother Nature. But think about it. Please think about it, really hard.

The Pet Postcard Project

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:21:00 +0000

What is The Pet Postcard Project?

THE PET POSTCARD PROJECT is the brainchild of writer Nikki Moustaki.

One bowl (or one pound or more) of pet food for every qualifying postcard received goes to animal shelters! To date, this project has raised nearly $18,000 and 90,000 pounds of food for shelter animals!

Pet Postcards" for this project are homemade postcards featuring your own pets that you make and then snail mail into The Pet Postcard Project. Each card you send earns food for shelter dogs (sometimes 1 pound per card, sometimes more!). So far, this project has earned 90,000 lbs (that's 360,000 meals!) of food and $18,000 for shelter animals, and has received thousands of cards -- funny, weird, sad, cute, profound, and above all, all filled with LOVE for a beloved pet.

Check out these winning entries for the May project! This video is guaranteed to make you smile. One of the winners for June will receive the DERMagic Groom & Go Travel Kit! We are proud to be one of many sponsors for this outstanding campaign. Please pay a visit to The Pet Postcard Project and send in your postcards today!

Cheers! Adelia

Dog Stamps to the Rescue!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:56:00 +0000

Stamps to the Rescue!
"Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet"

The awesome and talented Ellen Degeneres is spearheading the new USPS commemorative stamps, Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet. Stamps to the Rescue, and Halo^®, a pet food company of which she is part owner, will donate a million meals to animal shelters around the country to promote the release. That's a bunch! So please support this initiative and use the stamps to send a message about pet adoption.

So order yours now, while you're thinking about it! http://www.stampstotherescue.com/

Hugs and puppy love... Adelia

A Heartfelt Testimonial from Paul Meshke and his Westie

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Sun, 16 May 2010 16:37:00 +0000

Dear Dr. Adelia,

I have a 6-year-old Westie who about two years ago began developing lesions on his nose. I'm not sure if they hurt him, or itched, but he would rub his nose on the carpet, or scratch until it would bleed. The vet prescribed antibiotics, which made them go away for about a month, then they would reappear.

After a couple of visits the vet said she had no idea what they were and suggested a biopsy, which I decided I would do only as a last resort. It was also suggested that he see a "Westie allergy specialist." Several different products were recommended, none of which had any affect on the problem.
Before having the biopsy done I thought I would give your product, Hot Spot Salve, a try. I purchased a jar, used it as directed for three days, the lesions disappeared, and after two months have not returned. The dog does not rub his nose, the sores are gone, and the hair has grown back where it had been rubbed off.
I am not sure what is in your product that worked, but it sure did. I will recommend this product to all the Westie owners I come in contact with.

Paul Meshke:

Does your dog have tear stains?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Adelia Ritchie) — Sat, 15 May 2010 15:15:00 +0000

Greetings, Folks!

A quick note from the dog park yesterday. I met a couple who has four snowy white Maltese with NO tear stains on their faces. I wondered if they used a prevention product like Angel Eyes, or if they used a stain remover.

Well, no! It's so much simpler than that. These people accidentally discovered that pure well water or bottled water fed to their dogs instead of normal tap water is all it takes to prevent those ugly rust-colored facial stains. Apparently something in our public drinking water (like fluoride, possibly) is causing this.

Please try a change of water! According to this couple it only takes a few days to notice the difference. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we didn't have to give our pets internal potions to counteract something that their drinking water is causing?

Let us hear from you on this!

Best wishes for healthy pets... Dr Adelia