Natural Pet Care
How Often Should I Bathe My Pet?
Pet owners often ask how often they should bathe their pets. Unfortunately, many people still believe the old wives' tale that says you shouldn't bathe your pet more than once or twice a month. According to some, more frequent bathing might harm your pet's skin or coat. However, this old wives' tale is nothing more than an urban legend and is not based upon any medical fact. ...
Read more...
7 Things Your Pet Wants and Needs
As a practicing veterinarian, I know that all pet owners try to do their best for their pets. However, if your pet could talk, what would he say he really needs to stay in great health? Having worked with pet owners for many years to devise a health plan for each pet, there are several essential components that must be addressed to maximize health and minimize disease. Here are 7 things your pet ...
Read more...
Combining Alternative Medical Therapies
The underlying philosophy of all alternative medical therapies is the holistic approach, in which the patient is treated as a whole being rather than as a collection of organs and parts. The patient is treated as an individual rather than as a diagnosis, and the treatment is determined by the way that he or she is responding to illness. Once treatment has begun, the patient’s response must be acc...
Read more...
Simple Holistic Pet Care—Part 6 of 6
My simple holistic approach to pet care is easy and inexpensive for most owners and has proven very successful in my practice. This basic program is designed to help minimize or delay the onset of serious problems such as: • cancer• bowel disease• thyroid disease• diabetes• disorders of the kidneys and liver• autoimmune disorders Part 1 is to feed your pet a healthy diet. Part 2 is to minimize ...
Read more...
Simple Holistic Pet Care—Part 5 of 6
The 5th part of my Simple Holistic Pet Care system is additional therapies such as homeopathics, herbs, etc.Depending on your pet's condition, some additional natural remedies may be helpful or even needed. For normal, healthy pets, no additional supplements are usually needed.Part 1 of my Simple Holistic Pet Care plan is ensuring your pet has a healthy diet.Part 2 is to min...
Read more...
Simple Holistic Pet Care—Part 4 of 6
In Part 1, I discussed the importance of making sure your pet has a healthy diet. Part 2 was about minimizing vaccines, and Part 3 discussed the importance of using natural remedies for fleas and ticks.Basic Vitamin/Mineral SupplementThe BEST product I have found is the PetCentrx brand called Vim & Vigor Formula made by Pet Togethers. It is my FAVORITE supplement for dogs and cats...
Read more...
Simple Holistic Pet Care—Part 3 of 6
In Part 1, I discussed the importance of making sure your pet has a healthy diet. Part 2 was about minimizing vaccines.Minimize Toxins Against ParasitesOral monthly heartworm preventive medication is important as we have not found any proven natural preventives. But most pets do NOT need annual chemical flea and tick control (Frontline, Advantage, Advantix, Revolution, Program, etc.)...
Read more...
Simple Holistic Pet Care—Part 2 of 6
In Part 1, I discussed the importance of making sure your pet has a healthy diet.Minimize VaccinesAt my clinic, we recommend an annual blood antibody test called a titer test to determine if and when your pet might need vaccinations.• If the titer is low, your pet might need a vaccine.• If the titer is normal, no vaccine is needed.Rabies vaccination is a different case....
Read more...
Simple Holistic Pet Care—Part 1 of 6
In my practice, I integrate conventional therapies (when appropriate) with complementary therapies. These alternative treatments may include acupuncture, magnetic therapy, homeopathy, homotoxicology, nutritional therapy, and Chinese or Western herbal therapy. Our approach is to minimize conventional medications and say "NO" to drugs when appropriate.While each pet is different, t...
Read more...
ABCs of Pet Health Care
Anesthesia can be safe for all pets—both young and old—IF the correct anesthesia is chosen for the pet’s needs.Believe in your gut feelings. You know your pet best. If you think there is something wrong and your doctor won’t listen to you, get another opinion.Communication is extremely important. If you and your veterinarian can’t communicate effectively, your pet’s health is in jeopa...
Read more...
Anxiety in Pets
One of the more common behavior problems for which I am consulted involves anxiety-related issues in dogs and cats. The problems range from simply being anxious when going to the doctor’s office or grooming shop, to thunderstorm phobias, all the way to severe separation anxiety. While behavior modification is very important in dealing with any type of anxiety and phobia (and should not be replaced...
Read more...
5 Pet Care Myths
Change your thinking about these pet care myths and watch your pet enjoy better health!Myth #1: Feeding a pet a homemade diet, especially a raw diet, will kill your pet.This is true IF you feed bad food, an improperly balanced diet, or raw food that is contaminated with deadly bacteria. However, if you feed a properly balanced diet, add supplements to the diet, and properly handle all...
Read more...
FIV: Yes, Cats Do Get AIDS!
Whenever I discuss FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) with cat owners, they all express surprise: "You mean my cat can get AIDS!?" Yes, cats do get "AIDS" but it is their own type of AIDS. This article will present the latest information on this deadly viral infection in cats. Like HIV, FIV is classified as a lentivirus. It stays in the cat’s body for many years before clinica...
Read more...A Holistic Look at Death
Several years ago, I made the decision to become a holistic veterinarian. Prior to this decision, I was simply a conventional veterinarian. Part of conventional practice includes the difficult task of occasionally euthanizing pets. Euthanasia, which means peaceful death, is an important part of veterinary practice. It allows us to end the suffering of pets and often prevents a painful, prolonged, ...
Read more...
Physical Therapy for Arthritic Dogs
Dear Dr. Shawn: I was wondering if you thought massage might be helpful for my dog, a nine-year-old golden retriever. He has arthritis and seems really sore after a hard day’s play. I don’t want to hurt him but massage always helps me after a tough workout. Physical therapy, including hands-on therapies like massage, acupressure, and TTouch, can be very helpful for all pets. Massage involves using...
Read more...
Flaky Skin in Cats
Dear Dr. Shawn: I am hoping you can offer some help regarding my ragdoll cat, Seal. She is five years old and quite skittish. Along with her "nervousness," she pulls out clumps of hair while she's grooming. This is a regular occurrence and she has done this all her life. She also has some flaky skin. I haven't been able to get a satisfactory solution from my regular veterinaria...
Read more...
Cognitive Problems in Older Dogs and Cats
Dear Dr. Shawn: I was wondering if pets get Alzheimer’s disease like people? I know this is a common problem in older people and I’m worried about my older dog becoming senile as she gets older. While pets don’t actually develop Alzheimer’s disease, both dogs and cats develop a condition called cognitive disorder. While the condition appears new, it is not and has been recognized by veterinarians ...
Read more...
