Core vs. Non-Core Vaccines Many of the vaccines vets use on your dog are categorized as core or non-core. The core vaccines include parvovirus, distemper, adenovirus (canine hepatitis) and rabies. These vaccines all protect against viruses, which are easy to protect dogs against. In fact, viral vaccines are so effective that, when given to… Read more »
Starting Your Puppy on a Raw Diet
When you bring home a new puppy that was not raised on raw, it can be a bit trickier to get him started – although really not that difficult. There are just a few guidelines you need to follow to avoid digestive upset as your puppy transitions from kibble to raw food. First, let’s address… Read more »
Ten “Poison Pills” to Keep Away from Pets
Anyone who takes medication prescribed for someone else puts themselves at risk of illness or even death – and this applies to your pets, too! Although there are many medications used in both animals and people, the effects, doses needed, and other things aren’t always the same. About one-quarter of all phone calls to the… Read more »
Human Foods Toxic to Dogs
They are many potential emergencies facing your dog or cat, and although you will likely NEVER have to do anything, you should be PREPARED. My first suggestion is that you are current on ALL the common pet toxins, then are comfortable responding IF you need to. This will be the subject of an upcoming post…. Read more »
What is Holistic Pet Health?
The word ‘holistic’ is a term that gets thrown around a great deal and is sometimes used incorrectly to try to market products. So it’s important to understand what ‘holistic’ really means. What is Holistic Health? In its literal sense, holistic means a ‘whole’ approach to health – taking into consideration all the body’s systems,… Read more »
Dietary Recommendations for Cancer Recovery in Dogs & Cats
Diet can be a powerful tool in the fight against pet cancer. We all fear that awful “C” word. It’s a feeling of helplessness when a beloved pet has the unfortunate diagnosis of cancer. When pet guardians come to me for advice on how they can help their pet recover from cancer, the first thing… Read more »
Why Switch to Raw Food?
Dog and cat guardians who want to try switching to raw food can sometimes feel hesitant to make the leap because of several factors, one of which is the question: why do it in the first place? Why DO people switch their animals to a raw diet after all? There are dozens of different reasons why people switch… Read more »
Drug Free Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm prevention can kill dogs? I never knew that when they first came out with the heartworm drugs back in the 80’s. All I knew from my veterinarian and the display jar of formaldehyde containing a dog heart with spaghetti-like worms spilling out of it and waving at me is that heartworm kills dogs. The… Read more »
Titer Tests: Don’t Vaccinate your Dog Unnecessarily
Enlightened veterinarians and pet parents have become increasingly wary of the health risks, and lack of benefits, associated with repeatedly vaccinating dogs after their initial “puppy shots.” Is titer testing the solution to the over-vaccination problem? Here’s a crash course to help you muddle through the mire of misinformation surrounding this simple blood test, and… Read more »
Eliminate Unnecessary Vaccines while Improving Health
When vaccinating our dogs and cats, most of us rely on our vets, trusting that their advice is up-to-date and not biased by economic or political concerns. Unfortunately, unless vets stay current on veterinary topics and actually assimilate new findings … and decide to forgo significant vaccination income, their advice may lag well behind many years behind… Read more »