So many of you are confused and it’s no wonder. Is your vet doing what’s best for your dog? Maybe not. You are probably not getting much healthy advice from your own doctor, either.
You see, we doctors (D.V.M.’s and M.D.’s) are trained to name the disease and whip out our prescription pads. Disease prevention is simply NOT in the medical school curriculum. Even more alarming is that smug doctors tend to poo-poo what they don’t know—making them useless to anyone wanting help on how to choose the best natural supplements and better diets for nagging health problems.
These in-the-dark doctors won’t tell you which foods are packed with natural disease fighters (extracts of these known compounds are called Nutraceuticals), working in harmony with the body’s own natural chemistry. Worst yet, they tend to frown on the idea that anyone without a medical degree might know a thing or two about health—discouraging health seekers from using food supplements and natural remedies as effective partners in health restoration. Sadly, they can’t teach what they have not learned!
Remember, Nutraceuticals (Part II: Natural weapons against cancer) can be effective alternatives to their synthetic drug counterparts. And don’t forget food and food extracts are cheap compared to the drugs pushed by Big Pharma, and NO negative side effects!
Bottom line: fresh, whole foods provide vital nutrients that are essential for the function of every cell in the body—a simple fact you share with your dog. That’s why knowing which foods will promote health (and what to avoid!) can make all the difference in the world to your dog’s state of health. I wrote How to Feed your Dog if you Flunked Rocket Science to answer every question I have ever been asked as a vet about pet foods and homemade diets.
Now here is something I have never done before: For my readers who will make the sound investment to purchase, How to Feed your Dog if you Flunked Rocket Science this month (May 2008), I am going to offer a free 15 minute phone consultation to answer any remaining questions or concerns you may have on how to feed your dog a truly healthy diet without breaking your bank account! Considering the fee you would pay to schedule a 15 minute appointment with me—that’s a real bargain!
Why am I doing this? To prove that I am serious about what I preach to my private clients. Now, I am reaching out to help educate you, (the devoted dog owner with an internet connection) on how you really can spend less on medical care and have a much healthier dog!
To get a phone date with me, just send an email to drt@30MinVetConsult.com before June 1, 2008 with the subject line: I read your book.
And before we go—may I share with you WHY I write to help you, my fellow dog lovers, sort out the hype and nonsense from scientific fact and honesty? This comment I received from Pamela in Tennessee (posted on my blog) pretty much sums it all up for me:
“Thanks for the wonderful article you entitled: Beneful by Purina—another Pet Food Disaster. I have e-mailed it to everyone that I know that has a dog. I have always told everyone how important it is to learn to read the ingredient list on all pet food, but as always, you put it in words that make it so easy to understand. Nine years ago, after having one of my beloved dogs at the vet almost every week because of terrible allergies, I started looking closer at the ingredients in the food that I was feeding. I thought that I was doing everything right to keep my dogs healthy—I was feeding them Science Diet that I got from my vet, and faithfully taking them in for their yearly vaccinations. I know that you hear this everyday, “my dog just kept getting worse and worse.”
I am so grateful for vets like you, that have been brave enough to go against what every vet school was teaching and what every vaccine company was telling you, to help our babies live a longer, healthier life.”
Pam also e-mailed me with this comment: “I loved your books, especially the vaccination one! I think that I have almost every book and article on natural dog care and over-vaccination that has ever been printed and I also subscribe to Whole Dog Journal and Animal Wellness, but I think that your e-books are the best!!”
Thanks Pamela. I’ll keep it coming!
3 responses so far ↓
1 Nani Aki Linder // May 23, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Dear Dr. Paula,
Once again you show how much you place pet health above personal gain. The truth telling in this article is priceless and speaks volumns of your integrity and promise to do no harm. It is above and beyond and I give honor to you. My lovely girl Maile who is a “poi dog” but mostly golden lab thanks you for educating me.
On a personal note. Maile is doing well with the introduction of AHCC and Omega 3.6.9. oil daily as you recommended in a previous article. She has increased energy, the stiffness in her limbs is almost non-exsistant, she frolics like a pup again and her eyes look so bright. With the addition of a capsule of kelp she appears to be shedding the inches too. We are reordering as we are almost out of the 1st months supply. I cannot thank you enough for your advice and caring of Maile’s problems.
Our pets depend on us to do no harm with over vaccinating, feeding them unhealthy foods, etc. Your e-books and this newsletter have done more for her increased well being than anyone else ever has. That is priceless.
One last thing which I think is important. You were very kind to tell me not to “beat myself up” for falling in line and allowing for her to be over vaccinated for many years and feeding her unhealthy pet food because I didn’t know better. I do now thanks to you. Maile is on a home diet of mostly protein with some fruit and carrots for treats. I promise you no biscuits until she is at her best weight again and then it will be limited and homemade.
Mahalo Paula, there is a special place in God’s heart for you.
Malama Pono, Nani and Maile
2 Carol Zubrin // Jun 24, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Hi Dr. paula! I looked into the anesthesia free teeth cleaning, the same company that you reccomend, and my dogs teeth, I am told, are too full of tarter to do it naturally and that she needs to be put under for a total teeth cleaning. I am worried since she is a smaller dog and she is 14 that I could lose her if she goes under surgery. They also gave me the option of putting her on antibiotics for the rest of her life to prevent future problems…what should I do? I haven’t had the pre-surgery bloodwork done yet. Help!
Carol
3 Dr. Terifaj // Jun 27, 2008 at 10:41 am
Dear Carol,
Since I am unable to examine and evaluate your dog’s dental problem, I can only give you some general advice that I hope is helpful. First off, I will say that I do not agree with the recommendation to administer antibiotics “for the rest of your dog’s life” as an alternative to dental cleaning. That’s a Band-Aid at best!
If proper dental cleaning requires anesthesia, I would proceed unless there are known risks (other medical problems) that could result in complications. You and your vet will need to weigh out the “risks vs. benefits” of doing the procedure. If the benefits are higher than the risks—as they often are—you need go ahead with it. Age alone is not a significant risk factor to avoid anesthesia.
Untreated dental disease is risky too. Vets don’t recommend cleaning teeth just for a better smile
Infection and pain from teeth that need to be extracted can be a serious cause of ill heath in senior dogs—and people too! Next, you need to have confidence in your vet. Ask how your dog will be monitored while under anesthesia. Find out if your vet uses this medical equipment:
• A pulse oximeter is a medical device that indirectly measures the oxygen saturation of a patient’s blood. Important to determine if your dog’s tissues are receiving a good supply of oxygen.
• Heart monitor or EKG unit to measure your dog’s heart rate and watch for any possible arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats).
Be sure your estimate includes an IV catheter to administer intravenous fluids while your dog is under anesthesia. This is standard procedure for any pet undergoing anesthesia—keeps the blood pressure up and maintains proper hydration.
Another option you have is to consult with a veterinary specialist who has been board certified in animal dentistry. This may be considered a luxury for most, but if your stress level is high enough you can be sure your dog will receive state of the art dental care and careful monitoring.
And lastly, remember that dental care is ongoing. You need to do your part to slow down the progression of periodontal disease. Your vet should provide instructions for daily home care and demonstrate how to properly brush your dog’s teeth. A children’s sized toothbrush with soft bristles works well.
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