Here in Canada it is Thanksgiving Weekend. I know that my friends south of the border celebrate in November but our holiday is in October. This is a great time to be thankful for the animals and people in our lives who make life worth living. Here are a couple of other ways we can make this world a better place. Plant more trees. Plant trees that are native to your area and try to preserve the native shrubs and… Continue reading →

In 1996 I was dragged kicking and screaming into the world of holistic medicine by Animal Chiropractic. I had been practicing 12 years and I knew everything (not!) and I thought animal chiropractic was bunk. My patients’ experience with a wonderful animal chiropractor, and the results that he got peeked my curiosity about how animal chiropractic worked. I skeptically signed up for a class in animal chiropractic in Hillsdale, Illinois–a tiny town that housed the then “Options for Animals” founded… Continue reading →

Some itchy dogs ( and cats) have allergies to the food they eat. Food allergies and food intolerances are among the most difficult problems to diagnose as there is no concrete test that will pinpoint the offending food. Frequently trial and error with exclusion diets and adding foods one at a time is needed to find the right diet. Food intolerances are different from food allergies. Food intolerances do not elicit an allergic response but instead are more likely to… Continue reading →

Another cause of itching dogs is environmental allergies also know as atopy or allergic inhalant dermatitis. When I went to veterinary school in the stone age, we were taught that itchy ,scratchy allergic dogs inhaled pollens and other antigens and then these allergies came out as scratching of the ears, face, feet, and general body. It is now know that dogs absorb most of the offending substances through their feet–which makes sense as many of them continuously lick their feet!… Continue reading →

Dog owners are commonly frustrated by the itchy scratchy dog. The number one reason most owners seek veterinary attention is skin problems and most of theses kin problems are dogs which are continuously scratching. Fleas are by far the greatest cause of itchy dogs. If you have a dog that is scratching you need to check for fleas. A flea comb can be your best tool for diagnosis of a flea problem. You should comb your dog thoroughly and shake… Continue reading →

We have been discussing cancer and other devastating diseases so I wanted to post some up lifting things to think about and things that we all can do to make our world a better place for animals and their people. When we think of all the animal lives we touch daily it seems overwhelming. But, we can all do something even if it is small to make the world a better place. These small actions can be cumulative. I have… Continue reading →

Following is the cancer diet I use for most cats. It is similiar to the diet for constipated cats. 1 whole organic egg 1/2 cup of quinoa 2 pounds of ground rabbit, turkey or chicken OR 2 lbs of Mackerel or white fish 4 oz of chicken livers 2 tablespoons of bonemeal or 5000 mg of calcium 2000 mg of Taurine or substitute a chewable Taurine tablet daily 2 tsp of Psyllium husk powder 400IU of Vitamin E 10000 IU… Continue reading →

In the last post I wrote about the importance of diet and cancer treatment. I wanted to include a basic diet that could be used if your dog has cancer . In Chinese medicine, cancer is considered a form of stagnant, toxic heat. The principles involve using foods to clear heat and relieve stagnation. Here is the basic diet: Cancer Diet for Dogs—Home made Recipes

Cancer is something that has touched all of us in our own lives, the lives of our families and friends or our beloved pets. Cancer is a devastating diagnosis particularly when it comes to our furry friends. Conventional treatments of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can be harsh,expensive and radical. They need to be this way. Cancer is not a gentle disease and neither are the treatments for it. There is no one treatment, holistic or otherwise that will cure all… Continue reading →