5 Steps to a Healthy Pet

I would like to start 2016 by keeping it simple. Over the years I’ve written about research and my own experience that informs my views on pet health care. I’ve been working in the veterinary field for over 30 years with more than 20 years of holistic/integrative practice. I would like to sum it up […]

Carrageenan: A Nasty Pet Food Toxin

Carrageenan is an ingredient of canned pet diets used to thicken, stabilize, and emulsify the food. It is used in many canned pet foods basically to improve the appearance and texture. There is absolutely no nutritional value to this ingredient. Carrageenan is actually a group of compounds extracted from various species of red seaweed. As […]

Why Run for a Cure?

A few weeks ago I was in an area where runners were assembling to “Run for the Cure” of some problem. It suddenly hit me how messed up our priorities are. Of course we all want to help those who are sick. It is great that researchers are working on cures for cancer and other […]

Probiotics Can Help Pets Lose Weight

A recent study found that children who were given antibiotics were more likely to be overweight. The more antibiotics the kids got, the fatter they got. If this is true for people then it is most likely true for pets as well. But what’s the connection between taking antibiotics and weight gain? I can answer […]

Blueberries Combat Stress/Anxiety Better than Drugs

A recent study found that blueberries worked better than Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) to calm the brains of rats that were put through a process to simulate Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This research is important for dog caregivers because SSRIs are sometimes used for separation anxiety, storm phobia and other behavior problems. When you […]

My Spay/Neuter Recommendations

As a veterinarian, the recommendation to spay/neuter pets has always been very simple – do it and the sooner the better. Spaying and neutering involves the surgical removal of a pet’s ovaries and uterus (spay) or testicles (neuter). We have all been taught that this procedure helps thwart many health, behavioral, and population problems. However, […]

Conventional Cancer Research is in the Dark

Conventional research is often screwed up and here’s an example. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medicine Association evaluated factors related the survival of dogs with bone cancer. The study very carefully analyzed how the combination of surgery, various chemotherapies and radiation therapy related to how long the dogs lived. […]

Are You Promoting Cancer in Your Pet?

Cancer is a terrible disease that is all too common in our beloved four-legged friends. Studies show that 1/3 of all dogs will die of cancer and half of all dogs that make it to 10 years of age will get cancer. For some specific breeds the odds are even worse. A staggering 3/4 of […]

Does Your Pet’s Food Cause Cancer?

Pet caregivers rely on government oversight to protect their four-legged family members from pet foods that contain potentially harmful ingredients. We assume pet foods are nutritious, and more importantly, safe. Unfortunately, neither of these assumptions is true. I have already written about nutritional issues with processed pet foods. Here we will explore a safety issue […]

Cancer Corner – What is Cancer?

Cancer takes the lives of half of all pets over the age of ten. This terrible disease attacks the body from within. It causes pain and suffering as it gradually drags the animal relentlessly towards death. In order to deal with cancer, we must first understand it. Cancer is the result of a good cell […]