Natural Animal Health - A Practical Educational Overview

Optimum Animal Nutrition

Dr. Ian Billinghurst D.V.M. has spent 18 years as a practicing veterinarian in Australia. "Most of the disease problems we vets see are caused by only one thing - poor nutrition. Most modern dog owners are taught to believe that feeding dogs is such a difficult task. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you can get hold of a regular supply of raw meaty bones, you will have no problems whatsoever."

T.J. Dunn D.V.M.- "There is ample proof that today's pet dogs and cats do not thrive on cheap, packaged, corn-based pet foods. Dogs and cats are primarily meat eaters; to fill them up with grain-based processed dry foods that barely meet minimum daily nutrient requirements has proven to be a mistake."

William Pollak D.V.M. - "Recent studies have shown processed foods to be a factor in increasing numbers of pets suffering from cancer, arthritis, obesity, dental disease and heart disease. Dull or unhealthy coats are a common problem with cats and dogs and poor diet is usually the cause, according to many veterinarians and breeders. more

The number of cases of kidney failure among dogs and cats that ate poisoned pet food could total in the tens of thousands says Dr. Paul Pion, president of the Veterinary Information Network. Irradiated pet food endangering pets health, killing pets

Do You Really Know What's In Your Pet's Food? Listen to holistic veterinarian Dr. Jane Bicks DVM short audio presentation to learn more about how you can improve the health, well-being, and longevity of your cherished pet.

Health Hazard of Routine Vaccination: placing our animals at risk

Dr. Pat Bradley, DVM, Conway, USA - "The most common problems I see that are directly related to vaccines on a day to day basis are ear or skin conditions, such as chronic discharges and itching. I also see behaviour problems such as fearfulness or aggression. Often guardians will report that these begin shortly after vaccination, and are exacerbated with every vaccine. In a more general and frightening context, I see the overall health and longevity of animals deteriorating. The bodies of most animals have a tremendous capacity to detoxify poisons, but they do have a limit. I think we often exceed that limit and over-whelm the body's immune system function with toxins from vaccines, poor quality foods, insecticides, environmental toxins, etc. This is why we've seen such a dramatic increase in allergies, organ failures, and behaviour problems."

Dr. Charles E Loops DVM - "The first thing that must change with routine vaccinations is the myth that vaccines are not harmful. Veterinarians and animal guardians have to come to realise that they are not protecting animals from disease by annual vaccinations, but in fact, are destroying the health and immune systems of these same animals they love and care for Homeopathic veterinarians and other holistic practitioners have maintained for some time that vaccinations do more harm than they provide benefits. Vaccinations represent a major assault on the body's immune system.... Vaccine induced chronic diseases range from life-threatening conditions such as auto-immune crises to conditions destroying the quality of life of an animal as in chronic skin allergies."

Prevaccination Protection Dr. Falconer D.V.M. explains how to protect your animal from vaccines damage. more

The Immune System: Animal's body defense department

Rob Robertson, M.D - "Nearly everything that goes wrong with us and our pets, with the exception of trauma - i.e. broken bones, etc., can be traced directly to an immune system failure". Pollution, drug overload and nutrient-poor diets compromise our immune health. The key to self-healing is a strong defense system, which protects dogs and cats from everything from the flu germs to cancer cells. More than their mainstream counterparts, holistic veterinarians believe that a weak immune system plays a key role in causing disease. Antibiotics fight infection, but they don't affect whatever weakened the immune system in the first place. This is why holistic veterinarians focus less on things that cause diseases and more on those that affect the body's defenses."

Dr. Will Falconer, DVM - "Most of the chronic diseases we commonly see in animals (and humans) have an immune basis, e.g. diabetes, allergies, asthma, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, repeated ear infections, cancer, etc. While they can be cured through the careful use of homeopathy, the road to cure can be a long one -- often years if the animal has had years of disease. Transfer factors can significantly shorten the course, by giving a much needed balancing effect to the immune system. If the immune system is overactive as in allergies, ear infections, asthma, diabetes, or hypothyroidism, Transfer Factor can balance this overactivity so the system is not attacking its own organs, overreacting to things that shouldn’t be perceived as a threat. If, conversely, the immune system is under-active as in mange, parasites, viral infections, or cancer, Transfer Factor Plus can clearly stimulate it to better meet the challenges it needs to be alert to." more

Preventing and Healing Animal Cancer: the holistic approach

Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D. - "Conventional cancer therapy is so toxic and dehumanizing that I fear it far more than I fear death from cancer. We know that conventional therapy doesn't work--if it did, you would not fear cancer any more than you fear pneumonia. It is the utter lack of certainty as to the outcome of conventional treatment that virtually screams for more freedom of choice in the area of cancer therapy. Yet most alternative therapies regardless of potential or proven benefit, are outlawed, which forces patients to submit to the failures that we know don't work, because there's no other choice."

The only real defense against cancer is the immune system. Everyone gets cancer every day but if the immune system is where it should be those cancer cells are eliminated and we never know it. Once a person (or an animal) has developed cancer, even though treatments get it into remission, it will recur again unless the body conditions that allowed it to develop in the first place are corrected.

Steven Slagle, DVM -"Transfer factors have turned out to be the most effective and versatile products I have ever used in my 32-year veterinary practice. A cat with leukemia, an oral tumor, and posterior paralysis due to a spinal tumor, was very ill and emaciated. One month after enhanced transfer factors (1 cap daily), there was some regression of the oral tumor, restored appetite with some weight gain, and increased sociability. Five months later, she continues to improve, regaining normal weight, 80% regression of her oral tumor, and regaining use of hind legs and tail. more

Veterinary Success Raising Glutathione Level in Sick Animals

Glutathione is continuously defending our body and our animal's body against attacks from disease, toxins, poisons, viruses, pollutants, radiation and oxidative stress. Without Glutathione our liver would soon become overwhelmed with the accumulation of toxins, resulting in organ failure and death. The level of Glutathione in our cells is predictive of how long we will live.

Dr. Jimmy Gutman, M.D - "Clinical evidence links low glutathione levels to the most common illnesses of our time as well as newly emerging diseases. Glutathione levels diminish as we age and many diseases normally associated with aging have been linked to glutathione deficiency." Testimonials of animal healing with increase level of glutathione

Testimonials of animal healing with increase level of glutathione

M.L. Tyler M.D -"Drugs do not cure, popular opinion notwithstanding. Cure must come from within; or there is no cure"

Dr. Michael Dym DVM - "Over the past 40 years and 17 generations of dogs and, cats we are seeing tremendous increases in chronic ill health in our pets that was rare back in the early 1960's. Most of these illnesses revolve around breakdown in our pets' immune systems, and include chronic skin/ear allergies, digestive upset, thyroid/adrenal/pancreatic disorders, seizures, gum/ teeth problems, degenerative arthritis, kidney/liver failure, and cancer across all ages and breeds. We are also seeing a record number of behavioral and emotional disorders including alarming and unexplained fears/aggression., as well as difficulty focusing/training and paying attention. The two biggest factors in our pets' population health decline over these generations has been the severe overuse of multiple vaccines and nutrient poor and toxin filled commercial pet foods. We have also failed to address the underlying cause of disease by only suppressing symptoms with antibiotics, cortisone and related drugs, so the disease progresses and goes deeper. Homeopathy offers a viable alternative in truly curing pets and making their bodies healthier."

Allergies and Hotspots

Jeffrey Levy, DVM - "Have you ever wondered why some dogs and cats have severe flea problems, while others are hardly bothered by the little pests? Fleas can be viewed as an indicator of an animal's general health. Parasites in general, and fleas in particular, are most attracted to the weak, unhealthy, or very young animal whose immune system is not functioning well. The long-term solution to a flea problem is to reduce your pet's susceptibility to fleas by improving his/her health."

Alfred Plechner, D.V.M - "The most common and most visible symptoms of nutritionally caused deficiencies are allergies of one kind or another. Because many commercial foods are woefully deficient in key nutrients, the long-term effect of these foods makes the dog hypersensitive to its environment. . . . [It's a dinosaur effect. Animals are being programmed for disaster, for extinction. Many of them are biochemical cripples with defective adrenal glands unable to manufacture adequate Cortisol, a hormone vital for health and resistance to disease." Allergies can be, and often are, unrecognized deficiency diseases."

Dee Blanco, D.V.M - "You take healthy animals and often very quickly after you vaccinate, you can see simple things like itching of the skin or excessive licking of the paws, sometimes even with no eruptions." more about vaccinosis

Is Your Pet Deficient In Key Nutrients?

According to Dr Donald R. Collins D.V.M dogs will eat anything they can get their paws on if they are lacking in the nutrition to supply them with adequate energy. Dr. Collins states in his writing, "If there are insufficient amounts of nutrients in the food to furnish all of the calories a dog needs, then the dog will not gain weight and will remain hungry all of the time. It will eat almost anything, including dead animals, feces, carrion or garbage to fill the hollow feeling within its belly." To help ensure a wholesome diet with the appropriate nutrients avoid diets that are made of inferior ingredients or is made using high heat for processing and choose a diet for your friend that is comprised of human quality whole food ingredients.

William Pollak D.V.M. - "Severe nutritional deficiencies and toxic states have been known to mimic almost every known disease in veterinary medicine. In chronic conditions, some developing over several generations, improvement in health can take months or years."

Our soil, plants, and especially commercial foods are woefully deficient in key nutrients. Scientists theorize that mineral deficiency subjects us, and our animals, to more diseases, aging, sickness and destruction of our physical well-being than any other factor in personal health. more

Toxic Flea and Thick Shampoos, Powders, Sprays and Dips Are Poisoning Our Pets

Each year, Americans purchase and apply to their pets a vast array of toxic chemicals intended to kill fleas and ticks. These include collars, sprays, dusts and more. Other pet owners take theirpets to veterinarians to be dipped in chemicals. Many consumers probably assume that the products they and their vets use have been subjected to rigorous testing, and must, by virtue of their very ubiquity, be safe. After all, how could the government let deadly poisons be sold on grocery store shelves without applying stringent standards? Spot-On Pesticides such as Frontline, Zodiac, Defend, Bio Spot, Adams and Advantagetrigger adverse reactions in dogs and cats, shorten life spans, cause terminal illness, and premature death.

The active ingredients in these solutions include chemicals such as imidacloprid, fipronil, permethrin, methoprene, and pyriproxyfen, all of which have caused serious health problems in animals in laboratories. Even some of the inert ingredients can be hazardous to your animal companion’s health. Other forms of flea control—powders, collars, and sprays—are no less dangerous to you or your companion animals. Labelsmay warn not to get these substances on your skin, to wash your hands after applying it, and to keep it away from children, yet these chemicals are absorbed by your animal’s skin. Immediate effects of pesticide overdose include vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, seizures, and respiratory problems. more...

Learn about Safe and Effective Flea, Tick, Mite, Mange, Lice, and other Pest Prenvention and Eradication
Children Also at Risk of Acute Poisoning From Toxic Flea and Tick Products Products

Veterinary Malpractice

"Of the tens of thousands of veterinarians practicing in the United States, many are incompetent, careless or both. Others fail to deliver adequatecare because their singular focus on profits makes them unwilling to pay for qualified employees, equipment, supplies, etc. I have even known of one vet who diluted her euthanasia drugs and another who re-used single-use surgery supplies. Unnecessary deaths and suffering have become commonplace."Diane Parrish - Law Offices of Diane Parrish - Veterinary malpractice; injuries to animals

List of Competent Holistic Veterinarians Holistic veterinary is attempting to make your pet as healthy as he or she can be and gradually build up their body to the best that it can be.

Natural Veterinary Libraray

Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?

Cindy Engles, Ph.D - "Eating feces (coprophagy) is one way animals such as gorillas, elephants, rabbits, and hares add to their supply of essential bacteria through adult life. It is therefore an important aspect of their health care."

According to Dr. Donald R. Collins DVM, dogs will eat anything they can get their paws on if they are lacking in the nutrition to supply them with adequate energy. Dr. Collins states in his writing, "If there are insufficient amounts of nutrients in the food to furnish all of the calories a dog needs, then the dog will not gain weight and will remain hungry all of the time. It will eat almost anything, including dead animals, feces, carrion or garbage to fill the hollow feeling within its belly." To help ensure a wholesome diet with the appropriate nutrients avoid diets that are made of inferior ingredients or is made using high heat for processing and choose a diet for your friend that is comprised of human quality whole food ingredients. more

Animal Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)

Russell Swift, DVM on kidney disease - "Fortunately, since I have turned to a holistic approach to wellness, I have seen many dogs and cats outlive their death sentence by years. I believe there are three major reasons for kidneys to degenerate and eventually fail: 1) poor quality nutrition, 2) toxicity and 3) chronic disease. I have discussed in many previous articles the failings of processed foods. Inadequate and improper protein sources and low moisture content (of dry foods) are the two major kidney stressors I believe occur in commercial foods. The kidneys also take a hard hit from many toxins to which the body is exposed. Many conventional medications, notably nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories and certain antibiotics, are very damaging to the kidneys. Ultimately, there is not much known about the long-term effects of many food additives and preservatives; fluoride in the drinking water; and all the pesticides and herbicides used in, on and around our companion animals (and ourselves!). Item number three on the list above is a term used by homeopaths to describe a chronic disturbance in the body's function that results in symptoms. more

Worms, Parasites, and your pet: natural prevention and treatments

Dr. Karen Becker DVM - "Many parasites colonize the absorptive surface of your dog or cat’s small intestine, causing problems with nutrient absorption. Parasites also use the nutrition intended for your pet. Some parasitic infections cause an inflammatory response in the intestine which can result in increased permeability and susceptibility to other diseases. Routine deworming of your pet (most monthly flea preventives also contain a dewormer) can cause disruption of the normal bacterial environment. Parasites are always attracted to the weakest of the species.

The likelihood your pet will develop a parasitic infection is directly related to how healthy he or she is. When an animal is weak (from excessive drug use, poor diet or genetic factors), parasites are more likely to gain a foothold. If you’re deworming your pet on a regular basis (for example, monthly), there’s a good chance the dewormer is not even effectively treating the parasites your pet has."

Heartworm "This parasite is a source of great anxiety among dog caretakers. Thanks in large part to the scare tactics of many veterinarians in promoting preventive drugs, many people believe that contracting heartworms is the equivalent of a death sentence for their dogs. This is not true." Dr. Jeffrey Levy. DVM

Pets have many of the same parasites that we get, including Ascaris (common roundworm), hookworm, Trichinella, Strongyloides, heartworm and a variety of tapeworms. Every pet living in your home should be deparasitized (cleared of parasites) and maintained on a parasite program. Monthly trips to your vet are not sufficient.

You may not need to get rid of your pet to keep yourself free of parasites. But if you are quite ill it is best to board it with a friend until you are better. more

Learn more:Pets Worms and Parasites: natural prevention and treatments

Rearing Healthy Pups and Kittens

Breeders are seeing more incidence of complications with pregnancies and premature birth in their kennels; frequent C-section required; smaller litters; tiny, weaker or sick whelps and high rate of mortality. Learn how some breeders are improving the health of their animals resulting in larger and healthier litters. Pet owners often complaint that their new puppy is sick with diarrhea, vomiting, running eyes and ear infections. A lot of money is spent on veterinary care and medication, often with poor result. more

Holistic animal health library Books and E-books on Natural Health Care for Animals including homeopathy, herbs and home remedies for animals, healthy diet and raw food diet, animal massage and much more.

Shop for Natural non-toxic animal products

Do you have a question about holistic animal health or need assistance? Contact Shirley

Homeopathy for Animals

A growing number of veterinarians are turning to homeopathic veterinary medicine as a safe and effective alternative to conventional veterinary practice. Homeopathic remedies use minute amounts of substances to act as a trigger to the body and stimulate its natural immune system. We are attempting to make your pet as healthy as he or she can be and gradually build up their body to the best that it can be. Homeopathy is one of the fastest-growing Alternative veterinary medicines available today.

Marcie Fallek, D.V.M.- "Some conditions that can be treated with homeopathy and holistic care: cancer, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, feline leukemia, feline aids, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, chronic sinusitis, cystitis, ear infections, asthma, skin allergies, behavioral disorders, upper respiratory infections. stomatitis, seizures/epilepsy, arthritis, autoimmune diseases such as lupus, pemphigus, paralysis, intervertebral disc disease, wobblers syndrome, eosinophilic myositis, mange." more

All Natural Human Ingredients Healthy Pet Food

The pet nutrition industry is a multi-billion dollar industry full of hype and false claims. Consumers are being duped into believing that they are feeding their pets healthy foods, when in actuality they are feeding nothing more than inferior meat meals, cheap grains, fillers, by-products, pesticides, preservatives and toxins. "

The food your animal eats should provide all of the nutritional components which are necessary for all organs and systems of a healthy body to perform in harmonious unison. A properly functioning body does an amazing job at preventing disease and healing itself, and to do this it requires the energies and nutrients of a well-balanced diet. In terms of finding the proper diet for our companions, this means learning to look beyond our own needs, opinions, and agendas to address the natural needs of the animals that we caretake." Mary L. Wulff-Tilford more

Are Antibiotics Making Humans and Animals Sick?

Richard J. Holliday, DVM - "Antibiotics disrupt the normal population of beneficial microbes in the gastrointestinal tract of all animals, these beneficial bacteria are the first fine of defense against most diseases, without them the animal is more susceptible to other infections. Antibiotics depress the immune system by decreasing the number of circulating white blood cells. This lowers the animal's ability to fight infections.

Some antibiotics, such as chloramphenicol, can cause irreversible damage to the bone marrow. Many bacteria develop resistance to the effects of antibiotics, This resistance can be passed to other bacteria, The concern is that if humans are exposed to resistant bacteria from animals then the use of antibiotics may be Ineffective in treating any resulting disease. This is the major controversy regarding the use of antibiotics on a regular basis in food producing animals." more

Basic Healing Principles

The body has an innate capacity to heal itself. Self-healing can only occur once the cause of the illness has been eliminated. Elimination of the symptom is NOT the same as elimination of the disease. Physicians and surgeons palliate symptoms instead of removing causes. Instead of suppressing individual symptoms, holistic and naturopathic medicine addresses the whole person, finds out why the body is vulnerable to sickness, and seek to correct the underlying cause of disease. By rebuilding immunity, health is naturally restored and disease disappears. If health and immunity are thereafter conscientiously maintained,the individual is no longer vulnerable to disease. more

What Exactly is a Healing Crisis? As your pet moves toward better health with natural healing programs and better nutrition, healing begins to occur. As part of the healing process the body will begin to discard toxic residues which have built up in your body over the years.

Do you have a question about holistic animal health or need assistance? Contact Shirley

Irradiated pet food endangering pets health, killing pets

The Australian government in late May ordered an immediate stop to sterilizing cat food via irradiation after reviewing scientific studies pointing to food irradiation as the culprit behind illnesses characterized by ataxia or paralysis of the limbs, especially the hind limbs. Symptoms in the Australian cats first appeared three to six months after they were exposed to the dry food, Child said. Some had eaten the food for as few as three weeks; others for more than six months. The problem affected 90 cats in Australia, of which 30 died, mostly by euthanasia after they became paraplegic or tetraplegic, according to Dr. Georgina Child, a neurologist at the Small Animal Specialist Hospital and University of Sydney Teaching Hospital. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also allows animal feed, including pet food and treats, to be irradiated up to 50 kGy.

From the Mailbag - Testimonials

Testimonials of amazing animal health improvements and cures of cancer and other chronic disease with natural, alternative health care and optimum nutrition

• Dog Leukemia cured with flaxoil
• Feline Leukemia and Dogs, Distemper, cured with Transfer Factor
• Allergies and thyroid illness: natural diet and flaxoil (linseed oil) to the rescue
• Feline fibrosarcoma remission
• Dog with Hemangiopericytoma
• Feline Chronic Renal Failure
• Animal Tumors, Heartworm
• Success with homeopathic medicine for our dairy cows
• more

Overweight Pet: Weight Management for Dogs and Cats

Obesity is a significant health problem in many pets, and can contribute to major disease. There are many easily identifiable causes of weight gain in pets. What do farmers feed hogs and cattle to fatten them up for market? Carbohydrates!!! Grains and Corn. That is what most pet food consists of. Carbs just make you hungry because they all turn to sugar in our systems.

Recent studies have shown processed foods (canned or kibbles) to be a factor in increasing numbers of pets suffering from cancer, arthritis, obesity, dental disease and heart disease,comments Dr Wysong. more

Home Made Raw food Diet for Animals - Sample Recipes

Your dog’s behavior, happiness, health, longevity and overall well-being are inextricably intertwined with what you feed him. Dogs, just like everyone else, have specific nutritional needs. And, not to complicate matters, the needs of individual dogs vary. This page lists websites that share raw pet food .recipes

How I Saved My Dog's Life with homeopathy and raw foods A testimonial from Shirely, author of this website. In 1990, the veterinarian suggested to euthanize my 2 year old German Shepherd dog because "nothing could be done to stop her suffering and to cure her". Years later she remains the perfect picture of health and vitality. Learn how I used holistic methods of healing to save her life.

Dog was born with no front legs walks like a human - video

Truly amazing gentle and loving hippos - video

Love with lots of kisses video

Gallery of Factory Farming Photos and Videos Witness first-hand what farm animals endure.

Great Escapes - dogs are so smart!
Startled Mama Panda

Do you have a question about holistic animal health or need assistance? Contact Shirley
Call 323-522-4521 or 323-989-3372