Promoting Ideas & Products for the Natural Health of Pets & Their People

I have noticed pet parents really want to know which foods are best to feed their dogs and cats and WHY. There has been a growing mistrust of the conventional pet food industry as well as an increasing desire for explanations of recommendations in order to build confidence in those who recommend and manufacture pet foods and treats. Pet parents are a highly educated, inquisitive bunch! They are thirsty for the knowledge and skills to procure the best lifestyle and nutrition w

Ingredients are more important than the min’s and max’s of protein, fats and fiber. Did you realize that carbohydrates are not listed in the guaranteed analysis? Did you know that undigestible shoe leather (i.e. animal hide) is high protein? Did you know that the more moisture in the food the lower the protein content will appear? Can you calculate how digestible the food is based on the label information? Remember, it’s not that you are what you eat, but rather what you

In circles of pet enthusiasts who feed species-appropriate, meat-based diets, it is surprising to hear of pet guardians who still feed dry kibble and seem oblivious to the detriment of this type of pet nutrition! Kibble must contain starch in order to be made. Grain-free does NOT mean starch-free. Starch is inflammatory. Excessive starch is stored as triglycerides. This is fat. Too many carbohydrates is a major cause of obesity. Much more so than the amount of exercise. We kn

I was just made aware of yet another dry kibble diet that is being recalled due to potential Salmonella. However, what is interesting, is that one of the most dangerous and common reasons why pets become seriously ill from a dry, kibble diet is the presence of aflatoxins, or simply speaking mold. A major fallacy is that you should store kibble pet food in a separate plastic or rubber bin or even in the freezer to better preserve it. The expense that pet food manufacturers inc

Whether it’s a casual meeting or a routine social gathering, you and your dog need to be prepared for canine contact. Just like taking your child to the park or school, your pet could be exposed to disease or emotional trauma. What can you do to promote fun and avoid adversity? Beginning socialization as a puppy is ideal, but many pets are rescued and adopted as traumatized adults, fraught with phobias. When these animals come together at the dog park, day care, boarding faci

I remember when, as a younger veterinarian, the reps who promoted prescription diets would say, “Be sure to tell your clients that the diet is not guaranteed to prevent recurrence of the condition. However, be sure the pet doesn’t eat anything else.” While one pet after another did have a recurrence, I began to question why a prescription diet was necessary, or for that matter, even a good idea! Now, it’s been well over a decade and I’ve run a successful holistic practice wit

My cancer patients who have done the best have had dedicated guardians who focus on them with love, a species-appropriate diet and blended dark leafy greens potent in antioxidants. This is a tribute to Blue, a chocolate Labrador retriever with a pet mom who truly believed her dog did not have an expiration date stamped on his paw! Blue was presented to me for a consultation and treatment plan after his mom was told his post-surgical diagnosis was terminal cancer. Blue’s spl

I’d like pet parents and veterinary colleagues to know that it is okay to evolve. Fluffy is the for real name of a little white cat who changed my life. Little did I know then that he was only the beginning of a huge evolution for me which I feel today is still only at the beginning! Like learning a new language, which begins as foreign, my journey into natural pet care began exciting, interesting and scary. I’d like to say I am now fluent in the field, but I learn something