September-October201.. - Dogs Naturally Magazine

y: Dr. Robin FalkovIt was with great horror, that I watchedthe news on April 20, 2010, and theweeks following this disaster. The responsibilitywas heavy on my shouldersto find a way to help the people and animalsin the Gulf Coast area. I knew thedamage that was taking place to theirown physical well being, not just the environment,wildlife, sea life and plants.This damage creates long term problemswith risk for cancer and other deadlydisease.As a Homeopathic Physician, I knew thata remedy was possible, but only if it includedthe contaminated waters. Could Irely on someone else to care enough tomake sure they collected the water properly?Well, the only way to know forsure is to do the job yourself.Leaving New Mexico on June 1, 2010, Idrove through Texas and Louisiana toGulfport, Mississippi. There I interviewedpeople on the beach and collectedmy water samples. It was tragic tosee children and their parents playing inthe water. At this time, reports werealready in about tar balls washing up onthe beaches of Pensacola, FL, furthereast than Gulfport.At every restaurant, gas station and hotel,I asked the people I met what theythought of this continuing disaster.Some were afraid to talk with me,but the many who did, shared their outrageand frustration.The horrors seen from the massive oilcontamination of the beaches and watersshowed dead bodies of birds andsea life, on these waters, beaches andcoastlines in the early news reports. Theblack oil was everywhere. It was in thewater, on the beaches and covering thepoor, helpless creatures. The lack ofaction on the part of our own governmentimparted a surreal quality. How inthe world could nothing be done?Reports of illness had been coming in, ofvolunteers trying to clean birds of thedeadly oil. Many could not continue becauseof headaches, nausea and gastrointestinalupset. Even reporters on thescene experienced the very same symptoms.Yet why was British Petroleumrefusing to allow the cleanup workers towear respirators and protectivesuits? The ugly answer seemed all tooclear. If proper protective gear wasworn, then the extreme dangers facingthe population along the Gulf Coast hadto be officially acknowledged.Oil has many components, including benzene,toluene, and hydrogen sulfide toname the most dangerous. After longterm or concentrated exposure, symptomsfor us, our pets and other mammalsmay range from: Headaches that last an unusual lengthof time Burning of the skin, eyes, nose, throatand lungs Runny eyes and coughing up of mucus Excessive coughing that can progressto bronchial and lung infection anddamage Confusion, difficulty thinking and withcoordination Bleeding from the nose and rectum, aswell as internally.Pay attention to changes in eliminationThere can be loss of hair and thickeningof the skin, as well as rashes, peeling anditching.We must be good detectives and thoroughobservers for our pets. That meanswatching closely to see if their appetite isaffected, if they are sleeping more, notsocializing and have tender areas to thetouch. Note this information and checkgently. Your happy and playful kitty ordog may become withdrawn and have nointerest in eating.Please be sure to keep a diary to chart allthe symptoms for yourselves and yourpets. Write what makes it better andwhat makes it worse. Just as you mightsee your child smile more brightly andskip and play, when feeling better, thesame will take place with our dogs andcats. Where they had been quiet and offon their own, as symptoms improve,Dogs...Naturally! September/October 2010