The Folly of Reductionism

Reductionism is a common belief among scientists and researchers in Western medicine. The idea is that anything can best be understood by looking at its parts. When you comprehend how each part works then you can appreciate the thing of which they are a part. This is the way I was trained in veterinary school. […]

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 […]

Vaccines – One Size Fits All?

I recently attended a veterinary vaccine program and was able to have many of my questions answered. For example, I have always wondered why 1 cc of vaccine was considered suitable for every dog, no matter what the size – from a ½ pound Chihuahua puppy to a 150 pound Great Dane. How is it […]

The Five Supplements Every Pet Needs

Nutritional supplements can be very beneficial to our pets because most pet foods are deficient in certain nutritional factors. Conventional pet foods are especially devoid of nutrients because the high-heat processing destroys most of the vitamins, enzymes, and phytochemicals foods naturally contain. The synthetic vitamin/mineral mix that pet food manufacturers add back is a poor […]

Are You Aware of this Dog Food Debacle?

The importance of a diet’s macronutrient balance cannot be over stated. Studies show that the percentages of protein, fat, and carbohydrate in an animal’s diet affects their grow rate and size, level of obesity, longevity, and disease resistance. In fact, research shows that predators select food on the basis of the macronutrient balance that enhances […]

Avoid These Dangerous “Natural” Supplements

On a daily basis, clients come to me with bottles of supplements (sometimes bags full of them), and ask me if I think they are any good. In almost every case my answer is, “I don’t know.” Sure, I can look at the label and see what it says is in there. But there is […]

You Will Not Believe What’s in Cat Food

One important way of looking at the quality and appropriateness of a particular diet is to analyze the percentages of macronutrients. The term “macronutrient” refers to the main components of any diet and includes protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Looking at the macronutrient content of a pet food is invaluable but does not tell the whole […]

I’m Dropping the “F” Bomb

This cat is FAT! Is your pet FAT? That’s right; I said the “F” word. So, is your pet fat? Are you sure she’s not? Most pets are overweight and most pet caregivers are happily unaware of their pet’s body condition or what their pet’s ideal weight should be. In fact, in my experience, most […]

Is Your Pet a Victim of Google Garbage?

The internet is a treasure trove of information. I know that when I’m confronted with a term or idea that I’m not familiar with, I often start by “Googling” it. Some of the materials you find with such a search are real gems but much of it is worthless. As with any treasure hunt, a […]

The Nutritionist Said What?

I am not a big fan of veterinary nutritionists and I have not been shy about my feelings. Here are a few of my reasons for criticizing board certified veterinary nutritionists. In my personal conversations with most veterinary nutritionists I have found that they do not share my passion for how proper nutrition can lead […]