Don’t poison pooch with gin-soaked raisins

Q. I have an elderly dog suffering from painful arthritis in knee and hip. Can I use the gin-soaked golden raisins with her safely?

She’s been X-rayed, so I know it’s arthritis. I’m already giving her a nutraceutical that has liquid glucosamine and chondroitin.

A. Do NOT give your dog raisins, gin-soaked or otherwise! Although humans may benefit from this remedy, veterinarians have found that raisins and grapes are dangerous for dogs and may cause kidney problems.

Glucosamine and chondroitin first became popular in treating dogs with arthritis, so it makes sense to continue that supplement. Your vet might be able to prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug such as meloxicam or a pain reliever like tramadol to ease your dog’s discomfort. An extract of green-lipped mussels also might be worth a try (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Feb. 15, 2007).

Q. I have a 17-year-old son. For years, I have suspected that he has a mild form of ADD. He tells me he seems to be bombarded with information, like hundreds of highways leading to his brain at one time.

Where can I get information on natural remedies and self-help?

A. Diagnosing attention-deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD) is not simple. There’s no blood test or questionnaire that will definitively determine a person has this condition.

Although there are medications that can help focus attention, they don’t work for everyone, and they do have some side effects. Ritalin, for example, can cause nausea, insomnia, weight loss, anxiety, heart palpitations, headaches and increases in blood pressure.

We have interviewed Edward Hallowell, M.D., one of the world’s leading experts on ADD and author of “Delivered From Distraction: Getting the Most Out of Life With Attention Deficit Disorder.” He suggests dietary supplements such as fish oil, grape seed extract and pine bark extract (Pycnogenol). There is more about Dr. Hallowell’s approaches to ADD in our one-hour radio interview. Anyone who would like a CD of it may send $16 to: Graedon Enterprises, Dept. CD-663, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. You also can find show No. 663 at www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. I’ve heard Listerine mentioned for jock itch. I didn’t have jock itch, but I had a persistent case of athlete’s foot. I put Listerine on my feet for three consecutive days, and the symptoms were all but gone.

I have since used Listerine on my feet once a week and have had no recurrence of athlete’s foot. Maybe it is just the alcohol content in the product, but it works!

A. Listerine seems to be helpful against a range of common fungal skin infections, including dandruff,well as jock itch and athlete’s foot. We suspect that the antifungal activity of the herbal oils in Listerine (menthol, eucalyptol, thymol and methyl salicylate) may be responsible. The alcohol also may discourage fungal growth.

XIn their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of The Vindicator or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is “Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy” (Rodale Books).

2008 King Features Syndicate Inc.