How I Saved My Dog's Life With Homeopathy and Raw Food.

Shasta

When the conventional veterinarian suggested to euthanize my 2 year old German Shepherd dog because "nothing could be done to stop her suffering and to cure her" I turned to holistic treatments. Shasta fully recovered and lived 10 more years in excellent health. This is her story.

When Shasta joined our family at age 2, she was in extremely poor health: severely emaciated and weak with chronic diarrhea; massive wax discharge from her ears which were continually irritated and inflamed and she also had an a ongoing eye and nasal discharge; skin disorder with carbuncles and hotspots. The veterinarian thought she had been a neglected or abused dog but his was not so. The breeder had done her best to take "good care" of her champion dogs; she fed them the 'best commercial dog food' for working dogs, dewormed them with drugs on a regular basis and routinely vaccinated them since puppyhood against a number of common dog diseases.

After a few weeks in her new home, Shasta developed myositis of the jaw bones (inflammation of the muscle of the jaw bone) an auto immune disease which caused severe pain in her jaw and prevented her from eating, barking, and yaning. The conventional veterinarian who examined her gave a bleak prognosis. He warned me that Shasta's immune system was failing and that the myositis symptoms were going to gradually worsen and eventually become fatal. He said there was nothing veterinary medicine could do to help her and suggested that euthanize her (put her to sleep.)

I brought Shasta back home and began researching holistic treatments for her. I was familiar with holistic medicine because it had saved my life. I had been struggling with failing health for decades, despite the best conventional treatments available. Homeopathic medicine and a transition to a healthy diet restored my health and to this day I continue to enjoy optimum health and vitality. (here is my story)

Holistic treatment:

I gave her homeopathic remedies and gradually changed her diet to raw foods. The homeopathic remedies worked very fast. Within a couple of days her pain had decreased considerably. Gradually she continued to improve and within a week she was able to eat comfortably again, all the pain in her jaw completely gone! With her new RAW food diet her diarrhea stopped and she began to gain weight progressively. Her ear, eye, and nasal discharges continued for some months (such discharges are toxins built-ups that the body is attempting to house-clean. These discharges are an important healing process and must not be suppressed by drugs.) As her immune system and health improved over the months, the discharges gradually decreased and eventually stopped altogether. (shasta's sample diet) NOTE: a consultation with a homeopathic veterinarian is recommended to treat myositis and other serious conditions. Click here for the listing. Most veterinarians on that list offer phone consultation

Also, I immediately STOPPED all deworming and vaccination program which are well known to cause toxin to build up and suppress the immune system in the long run (Read about the comments of vets who believe that vaccines are damaging our pets). Shasta had no need to be dewormed as she had no worms to begin with. She was emaciated, not because of worms, but because she was unable to digest the commercial pet food. learn why commercial pet food adversly affect your animal's health)

Flea bites and Hot Spots

The first year that I had Shasta, she was plagued with flea bites and hot spots. But after a couple of years, as her health improved with her raw food diet, her immune system gradually began to protect better her against flea bites. She seems to be much less affected by fleas. I don't know if fleas are now repelled from her or if she simply has a less severe allergic reaction to flea bites which causes most dogs to itch, scratch and bite themselves. She has friends in the neighborhood who are miserably plagued with flea bites. These dogs are on commercial pet food. If fleas begin to bother her occasionally in the hot summer time, I give her homeopathic remedies for a few days which effectively reduce the itching. click to learn what I do to treat Shasta's flea bites, hotspots, and ear inflammation.

Shasta, had a similar looking tail. It was a direct result of adverse reaction to vaccines. The inflammed area of the tail would swell up with fluid. I could tell that was painful and very itchy. Poor Shasta would constantly bite and lick the area. Correctly prescribed homeopathic remedies can often undue the damage caused by vaccines. Homeopathy is noted for its success to antidote or remove the toxic effects of vaccines and to re-establish balance in the organism and restore health. Certain homeopathic remedies taken after vaccination can minimize vaccine damage. A professional homeopathic vet should be consulted for more information. Dr. Falconer DVM also uses Transfer Factor to modulate/boost animal's immune system and protect against vaccination adverse reaction. Some people have found that marine phytoplankton is also effective in improving their animals' overall health.
Dog's tail - (photographs courtesy of Sherri Regalbuto)

Dr. 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. We see a lot of epilepsy, often after a rabies vaccination. Or dogs or cats can become aggressive for several days. Frequently, you'll see urinary tract infections in cats, often within three months after their [annual] vaccination. If you step back, open your mind and heart, you'll start to see patterns of illness post-vaccination." more about vaccinosis

I have trained her for personal protection. She is now over 11 years old and she is a perfect picture of health most of the time, with a gorgeous lustrous coat and terrific vitality. Daily exercise is an important part of her health maintenance. She takes long walks (1 to 2 hours) with me and my son everyday in the beautiful Hollywood Hills or in the park where she gets to play with other dogs. When she occasionally gets sick or injured, I take her to the vet only to get a diagnosis of her condition but never give her drugs of any kind. I treat her with homeopathy and herbs at home and she receives Reiki distance energy healing (a telepathic transference of Divine Healing Energy) from a long time trusted healer (I would NEVER consider leaving my injured or sick animal at the vet clinic because the poor animal would feels "abandoned" just at the time when it needs to feel secure at home among its love ones. The stress of feeling "abandoned" would be an impediment to healing I have no doubt.

Shasta has recovered from a stroke/paralysis
Even though Shasta is on a healthy diet of raw food, she still gets sick occasionally. I believe that the routine vaccination she received from her previous guardian during the first 2 years of her life have severely affected her constitution and immune system. She is the offspring of generations of vaccinated/poor-diet animals. However, I believe that her raw food diet is enabling her to recover quickly from these illnesses. Since she turned 10 years old (December 2000), Shasta has experienced a series of illnesses: abscess, VKS syndrome/toxoplasmosis, and just recently a stroke/paralysis. I treated her at home with homeopathic and herbal remedies and she fully recovered without drugs or surgery..Read my testimonial of these amazing and miraculous cures...(note: these illnesses have left her with a lower vitality. Since I started giving her Transfer Factor, her energy and vitality has improved remarkably and she is more frisky and playful..)

Juliette de Bairacli Levy says that the two most important aspects ofnatural animal rearing are:fasting and raw diet

"The object in creating optimal health and nutrition is to study each animal 's habitat and food sources, then custom make diets that most closely resemble their own natural (original) diet." Jeff Brisco, Senior Animal Nutritionist, Los Angeles Zoo.

Dr. Donald Ogden DVM writes that commercial pet food (even the best known and most expensive brands) have had their nutrients altered, adulterated, devitalized and destroyed by heat, processing, coloring, preservatives and other chemicals. Feeding your animal such food on a regular basis causes waste-toxins to accumulate in the blood, lymphs and tissue which contributes to a weak immune system and renders our pet susceptible to chronic diseases.

RAW food recipe: SHASTA'S RAW FOOD DIET: This is what I feed Shasta everyday: First of all, I feed her only raw food. I choose to feed her organically grown fresh vegetables whenever possible. Over 400 pesticides are currently licensed for use on America's foods and over 2.5 billion pounds are dumped on crop lands, forests, lawns, and fields annually. There can be anywhere from four to 25 different pesticides used on conventionally grown produce with tolerances set for only individual pesticides, without consideration of the combined effect of multiple pesticides in the conventionally grown foods we consume.

1. In their natural, RAW form, I puree a variety of organically grown vegetables in the food processor:

(Definition of raw: uncooked, unheated, unprocessed, unadulterated - why raw? ). I have fed Shasta all sorts of raw vegetables: carrots, eggplants, tomatoes, avocados, lettuce, cabbage, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.I also feed her the veggie's fiber/pulp that I save when I make vegetable juice and wheatgrass juice for my family. Raw vegetables are a very important source of vitamins and minerals as well as fiber. Merchants at our local weekly farmer's market know that I feed Shasta fresh produce and they often give me slightly damaged or overripe avocados, lettuce and other veggies which they would normally discard.

Update May 2007 - I discovered a new way of feeding my dog veggies. Instead of storing my the pulpe of my green juice in the refrigerator or freezer until I am ready to prepare a batch of raw dog food, I store the pulp in an airtight container at room temperature. A month or two later, the pulpe is completely decomposed or pre-digested by naturally occuring friendly bacterias. This is "yogurt" for my dog, shock-full of nutrients and pro-biotics. It smells like poop, and the dog loves it! Why Do Dogs Eat Poop? Some people warn against feeding dogs broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower (cruciferous plants) because they claim that it can produce gas, which may at some point cause a portion of their belly to invert, requiring euthanasia or surgery. Other people say that broccoli and cauliflower should be lightly blanched (lightly steamed) in order to rid them of the harmful toxins. Shasta and Kuuma have never had gas from their food, let alone an inverted belly. I've also heard that an overuse of cruciferous plants can interfere with thyroid functioning in people and animals. I give Shasta small amount of cruciferous plants. They have never suffered any adverse effects from these vegetables. I feed her mostly grounded or pureed raw carrots and greens (the pulp from mygreen juice)

To flavor the veggies and make them palatable, I thoroughly mix in the following:

• Plenty of raw eggs (I pulverize the eggs with their shells in the blender. The shells are an excellent source of calcium and other minerals.) I wouldn't think to feed Shasta corporate-industrial-farmed-produced eggs where a million beakless chicken are cramped into dark cages and soaked with antibiotics and hormones. I feed her only fresh eggs, produces by free-ranged, antibiotics and hormones free chickens. These eggs are available at health food stores and outdoors farmer's markets. (Some people only give eggs to their dogs once or twice a week. Wild animals do not eat eggs everyday. Maybe they eat eggs only during the egg-laying season. Perhaps it is not wise for me to give eggs to my dog everyday but whipped eggs are very convenient to flavor her veggies and her kelp and make these palatable.)
• Raw meat: Any type of meat: ground beef or pork, beef stew meat, organ meat like heart, beef tripes, etc. I do NOT feed her lean meats. Fat plays an important role in the digestion process and in maintaining an animal's health - as long as it is RAW fat. Raw beef liver is good, but Dr. Chambreau recommends that liver must be organic or do not feed it (or eat it yourself) because it is the detoxifier of the body, therefore loaded with toxins. I tried to give her other organ meats such as kidney and spleen but she didn't like it. It is important not not give your pet only muscle meat. Organ meats are important. I use ground beef ONLY to flavor her vegetables. Dr. Chambreau writes that "ground meat is passable for most animals, occasionally, but Juliette de Bairacli Levy said that "minced meat is lethal to animals" and we find in practice that some animals just do not seem to be healthy until on chunks of raw meat.". Note: unfortunately, I can’t give her freshly killed, wholesome wild game which would be free from synthetic growth hormones, antibiotics and pesticide residue which contaminates our supermarket meat.
• Raw fish. I used to give Shasta a whole raw fish (with bones). She loved it and ate the head, tail, bones and all. She liked especially the mackarel. Unfortunately, I've had to stop giving her fish due to mercury contamination. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued advise on the hazard posed by mercury in fish bought from stores and restaurants, which includes ocean and coastal fish as well as other types of commercial fish. My entire family has stopped eating fish.
• Occasionally I mix grounded raw nuts, raw cottage cheese or raw yogurt to flavor her vegetables.
• Bison paunch manure - In the wild, we know predators first seek the stomach contents and organ meat of a ruminant. Paunch manure (partially digested, fermented grass) is what dumps from the stomach and intestines. It is the food that the animal (deer, bison, buffalo etc) had eaten that day and not yet passed out as manure. It is full of all types of beneficial microbes and enzymes as well as omega 3 from the grass. Is Your Pet Deficient In A Key Nutrient? Farrm dogs, coyotes, foxes, and wolves all feast on it. learn more...
  Frozen paunch manure from 100% grass-fed bison is available from Lindner Bison company (No drugs, hormones, chemicals of any kind are used on the bison or on the grounds that grow the grass and hay that they eat.)
• I do NOT feed cooked grains to Shasta. (why grains are harmful to carnivores)

I do NOT feed Shasta with irradiated meat (irradiated = processed by gamma ray radiation). I make sure that all meats I purchase for her at the market is NON-IRRADIATED. If I'm not sure about the meat I'm about to purchase, I ask the manager in the meat department about it.

Oils, Minerals and Vitamin Supplements

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. I add the following supplements to Shasta's diet to maintain her optimum health. (some of the ingredients are recommended in Juliette de Bairacli Levy's bookThe Complete Herbal Handbook for the Dog and Cat )

To her meals, I add:

• About 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of dry kelp meal (marine plants) mixed in her meal. Marine phytoplankton also provide important trace minerals and vital nutrients.
• Caldera Greens Living Mineral-Rich Whole Food - An organic 100% pure juice powder concentrate from fresh young, certified organic barley, alfalfa, wheat, and oat grass grown on volcanic soil. This fresh juiced grass formulation provides one of the most balanced nutrient profiles of all greens products available on the market. (Make sure to select the Plain/Natural Flavored Caldera Greens Powder)
• About 1/2 cup of soaked chia seeds, a rich source of essential omega-3 oil, antioxidants and natural vitamins.
• About 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of fulvic acid minerals ( Fulvic neutralizes toxins and can eliminate food poisoning within minutes. Fulvic are naturally occuring absorbable plant derived minerals )
• About a teaspoon of ancient mineral magnesium oil to my dog's food or drinking water. (a quart bowl)
• About 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of dry clay powder mixed in her meal (and I add a teaspoon of pascalite in her energized, alkaline microwater. (I never use fluoridated, chlorinated toxic tap water).
• About a tablespoon of flax oil, a rich source of omega 3 oils. (The manufacturer of flaxseed oil, Barleans, recommends one to two tablespoons of flaxoil per 100 lb of body weight. Flaxoil is a wonderful safe vital nutrient, but the seeds contains antinutritional factors A Word of Caution about Eating Flax Seed) I also add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil (extra virgin, cold pressed), and a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil and/or grapeseed oil. (Veterinarians recommend that dogs raised on commercial diet get some raw food or enzymes
• Bee pollen granules (rich in naturally occuring vitamins and minerals) to her food. These contain natural source of B complex, vitamins and minerals. It is very good for any animals, but especially for the sick, young or old pets.
• Dr. Miller's Holy Tea also helps improve digestion and assists the body in eliminating waste, compacted fecal matter from the colon, foreign matter and toxins in a simple, yet effective, easy-to-use but low cost method. (more information on healing tea)
• Marine phytoplankton (Dr. Jerry Tennant, M.D. says that marine phytoplankton contains almost everything one needs to sustain life and to restore health by providing the raw materials to make new cells that function normally. Marine phytoplankton has been called "the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet". Containing a wide range of trace elements, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, enzymes and cellular materials, marine phytoplankton promotes and maintains optimum health by boosting and supporting all systems within the body. Its antioxidants and unique polysaccharides can halt the genetic mutations that can lead to cancer. Both high levels of saccharides and adaptogens increase energy and stamina by improving our ability to consume and use oxygen. Adaptogens also improve cardiovascular health by strengthening the heart and circulation.)

Occasionally I may also add a couple of tablespoons of raw carob powder and unsulfured blackstrap molasse.
(rich source of vitamins and minerals).

Shasta weights approximately between 70 and 80 pounds. Until she was 8 years old I used to feed her everyday about 1 to 2 pounds of the above food mixture. In addition she also gets about 1/2 to 1 pound of meaty beef or pork bones which she devours completely in a few minutes. Shasta's stools are always firm, shapely and the odor is never offensive. When she was eating kibble or canned food her stools were soft, runny or watery and extremely malodorous. Shasta's water drinking

Chia seeds have done wonders for my dog's health (and for my own health too!). I mix a good amount of chia seeds with raw eggs or raw meat and keep it refrigerated for 48 hours before feeding it to my dog to increase its nutritional content. When Chia seeds, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids are included in your dog's diet, your can expect to see your dog's overall health to improve with the energy of a puppy and its coat to become shiny and healthy. Soaking raw chia seeds in water, broth, or juice for 24 to 48 hours greatly increase its nutritional content. Omega-3 oils are essential nutrients, deficient in most dogs' diets. Omega-3 fatty acids are fundamental molecules in the structure and activity of the membranes of all cells throughout your dog's body. They also have highly- specialized functions in neurological tissues, especially the brain and retina and play an important role in cell membranes and the formation of new tissue, therefore important for development and growth. You will love the ease of using Chia seeds and dogs love the nutty taste! I also enjoy eating chia seeds soaked in natural raw fruit juice or mixed with a fruit salad. -- learn more about the healing power of chia seeds and where to buy

Shasta eats RAW bones everyday.
Only cooked bones are dangerous. Raw bones are safe to eat and are an important source of calcium and other minerals. In the wild animal do not debone their prey (birds, rats, squirrels, etc) before eating them, or do they?

I give Shasta 1/2 to 1 pound of RAW beef or pork bones everyday, which she devours completely. I do NOT give her the hard marrow bones which can't be cracked or eaten. She gets the ribs, and other small and soft meaty bones which she can completely swallow after a good 10 minute chewing work-out.
For Shasta, raw pig feet are even better than soup bones because they have tough, thick skins and tendons, which makes wonderful chewies. It takes Shasta about 45 minutes to completely eat a whole small pig foot and she absolutely adores them (pig feet cut in half lengthwise may be easier to eat for some dogs). Meaty bones strengthen her jaw bones, massage her gums while stimulating her salivary and digestive glands, help reduce plaques and calculus accumulation on the tooth surfaces, clean teeth and reduce occurrence of gingivitis (dental hygiene) and provides her with a good source of calcium and other important minerals. (Some people are reluctant to give raw pork to their animals because of fear of certain worms. Shasta has been eating raw pork for years without problems. Perhaps it is advisable to check with a holistic vet before giving raw pork to your animal. I would appreciate if you could keep me informed of information that you would learn about this matter.

She also eats raw chicken legs, thigh, necks and backs which are inexpensive. And yes, she eats the chicken bones too. (I once saw an animal documentary demonstrating little foxes hunting doves. They would swallow their catches whole, feather, beak, claws, bones, and all!)
Shasta has been on this diet ever since for the past 8 years. At 10 years of age, she is in vibrant health with the energy level of a dog 1/2 her age. She NEVER has to see a vet because she is never sick. She eats the same food with no variation. She loves her food. (Some dogs love raw fruits too, but I do not like to mix fruits with the veggies.) To protect the carpet or the floor I lay her food or bones on a 4'x 6' tarp paper (or heavy plastic sheet). She eats her meals at once, licking the sheet completely clean.

Make the BARF (Bones and Raw Foods) Switch easy on you and your dog with this ebook guideline and instructions. The dangers associated with a commercial dog food diet is overwhelming – from immediate effects like a dull coat and foul smelling dog’s breath, to longer term effects like increasing the risk for canine cancers and a shorter life span. And that’s the sad truth that the commercial pet food companies don’t want you to know. The amount of processing and additives that go into the preparation of the commercial dog food contain chemicals that are not optimal for your dog and may even make them sickly and die early. Meet Your Dog's Nutritional Needs The Natural Way with the B.A.R.F Diet Ebook

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

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Zoonosis:

An infectious or parasitic disease, which is naturally passed from vertebrate animals to humans, and vice versa, e.g. tuberculosis, rabies or brucellosis. "Dogs and especially cats can shed Salmonella organisms in both their feces and saliva, meaning that transmission can occur via licking."more. - A pet dog or cat licking your hand is a very common occurrence. Sometimes a pet may lick the face of a child, helping germs spread more easily. Animal saliva contains many pathogenic agents. more

If you have these concerns, one of the best alternative that I have found to date to feeding raw meat to pets is Life's Abundance, a healthy cooked pet food.

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Learn about Life's Abundance and the Daily Nutritional Systems

Do You Really Know What's In Your Pet's Food? Listen to Dr. Jane Bicks holistic veterinarian 12 minute FREE audio presentation to learn more about how you can improve the health, well-being and longevity of your cherished pet.

Once a day Feeding

Some German Shepherd breeders and trainers prefer to feed their dog twice a day to avoid stressing their digestive system. I have been feeding Shasta only once a day to give her digestive track a chance to rest which keeps her healthier and never overweight. No two dogs are alike or have the same feeding requirement. It is entirely to the dog's owner to decide what is best for their dog.

I have been feeding Shasta strickly raw food once a day to give her digestive track a chance to rest which kept her healthy and never overweight. No two dogs are alike or have the same feeding requirement. It is entirely to the dog's owner to decide what is best for their dog. Some people claim that is is best to fee raw food, first and wait 6 hours before feeding kibbles to prevent fermentation in the stomach which may cause some dogs to have gas. They claim that it takes 18 hours for a dog to digest kibbles and only 6 hours to digest raw food. My friend, Pat Hartman, who is a German Shepherd expert recommends to never feed dry kibbles to German Shepherd dogs but to soak the kibbles first. Personally, I have not found this to be true. My new dog, Kuuma, eats dry kibbles (healthy kibbles) and raw meat at the same time without any bad effects.

Raw food does not cause pets to become overweight, especially if you feed them just once every 24 hours. Grains and starchy food are responsible for causing animals to become overweight because they are NOT part of the natural diet carnivores and they are undigestible to them. (more about grains in pet's diet) In nature, carnivore rarely eat 2 or 3 meals a day. They don't manage to catch their prey at every hunt and may end up fasting for a day or two until the next successful hunt. When they catch a large pray they pig out, devouring a lot of meat and then rest for a day or two.

Fasting

As Shasta became older, I began to fast her on water once a week or once every other week to help maintain her health. By age 6 or 7, as her metabolism slowed down, I began fasting her every other day but I have increased the size of her portions of food. By age 8, she would eat only once every other day. She seems to appreciate fasting and never ask or look for food during fasting days. If I had a sick animal, the first thing I do is stop feeding it for a few days. That is the first step toward helping the healing process. William Pollak D.V.M. says that occasional fasting by cats and dogs is a normal, natural phenomenon, especially when natural raw, fresh foods are fed.

Occasional fasting by cats and dogs is a normal, natural phenomenon, especially when natural raw, fresh foods are fed. As long as your pet appears strong with good energy and clear responsiveness, self imposed fasting oftentimes ends by itself with a renewed gusto for life. The system requires periodic rest and purification and so it is taken naturally. Occasional fasting is natural in the cat and dog; it is the behavior of rest and purification. Cleaning the bowl of all the commercial food every day, day in and day out is unnatural and is the harbinger of most chronic disease seen in our pet population. When nutritional depletions have been satiated on the natural raw food diet, overeating does not take place. Overeating is a behavior encouraged by feeding commercial food, overeating does not occur in the natural setting. Overeating deprives the system of rest and purification, for in a nutritionally deficient state the body continues to crave; making the mind confused. The mind then can only satiate itself through the dullness of further overeating. This is not living; it is survival mode.
Learn more: Fasting for health in veterinary medicine and Fasting your Cat for Health Fasting is especially good for older animals. It helps detoxify, maintain optimum weight and excellent energy and vitality

Learn more about the health benefit of fasting your animal: Too Frequent Feedings Can Weaken the Balance of Life by Dr. William Pollak D.V.M.

William Winter DVM on fasting: "To this day I do not believe that I have ever discovered a healing technique quite as powerful. I have recommended fasting for 10,000 to 20,000 animals and have seen true miracles over these years of practice. Juliette de Bairacli Levy says that the two most important aspects of natural animal rearing are: fasting and raw diet." William Winter DVM

Quality Water For Animal's Optimum Health
Shasta does not drink tap water. I give her only ......... water which is free from toxic chlorine and fluoride. Our pets cannot achieve the maximum benefit from any health program without drinking the right kind of water, free from toxic chemicals

Learn how our animals' health can be severely affected by hidden toxins in tap water).

Domesticated animals need the right kind of salt

I add one teaspoon of edible clay and a little bit of real salt (abolutely no common table salt) in my animal's food and drinking water. Farmers place salt-blocks on their pasture so that their livestock and all other animals can lick the salt to their heart's content.

An abundance of the ingredients in unrefined, unheated real salt are as synonymous with life today as they were a billion years ago before single cells appeared here. Lack of them is synonymous with birth defects, organ failure, decay, diseases, premature aging and death at a young age.

Alert: don't supplement your animal's diet with sodium chloride (common table salt); all of the other beneficial elements have been removed. Animals need unrefined, unprocessed real salt which is available at this website. Major producing companies dry their salt in huge kilns with temperatures reaching 1200 degrees F, changing he salt's chemical structure, which in turn adversely affects the human body. Avoid the common refined table salt. Domesticated animals need the right kind of salt

The best way to provide salt to your pets is to provide two separate water bowls. One bowl with real-unrefined-unheated-natural-sea-salt and one bowl without salt, so that the animals can consume as much salt as they require. They will drink from the bowl that contains salted water, however once they have had enough salt, they will drink from the bowl that has plain water. Learn more about real salt for human and animal health

SAMPLES of RAW FOOD DIET RECIPES
List of breeders, kennels and trainers who use rawfood diet. (great ideas and recipes)

Introduce raw food gradually

People tell me "I can't give my dog raw food, it gives him diarrhea" That is because they didn't start to introduce raw food gradually. Improving your animal's diet with raw food may trigger a detoxification process with symptoms such as diarrhea that may last for a few days or even a few weeks. That is why its important to start introducing raw food gradually as to not shock their system, therefore avoiding the diarrhea. Keep feeding your animal commercial processed food as you have been doing and gradually decrease the amount, while increasing the raw food. As I mentioned earlier, when Shasta came to our home at age two, she had a chronic extremely malodorous diarrhea brought on by the toxins from the commercial food she had been raised on and which she was unable to digest. Within weeks of being on raw food the diarrhea stopped. Since she's been on the raw food diet her her stools have remained firm and practically odorless.The Transition to home-made food by Dr. William Pollak D.V.M. Note: To ease the diarrhea, I mix a little therapeutic clay into her food. Dr. Cohen - "In addition to the role it plays as a potent detoxifier, Calcium Montmorillonite Clay has also been used extensively in the treatment of pain, open wounds, colitis, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, stomach ulcers, intestinal problems, acne, anemia, and a variety of other health issues. Clay not only cures minor problems, such as diarrhea and constipation through local application; it acts on all the organs—on the whole organism. Everything unhealthy, that emits negative radiations is irresistibly attracted to clay and becomes subject to immediate elimination." Salmonella
Some folks also worry about salmonella in raw meat. Jesse Dallas, from the Vigilante Guardian writes that dogs and cats don't get salmonella poisoning because their digestive system is so acidic (or at least it should be) that it kills everything. This is why a dog can bury a bone and dig it up two weeks later and eat the rotting meat. Shasta has never been sick from eating raw meat. For more information: Will Eating Raw Meat Give My Pet Parasites? by Dr. William Pollak D.V.M.

I add Fulvic acids to Shasta's raw food diet. Fulvic neutralizes toxins and can eliminate food poisoning within minutes. When it encounters free radicals with unpaired positive or negative electrons, it supplies an equal and opposite charge to neutralize the free radical. fulvic acid acts as a refiner and transporter of organic materials and cell nutrients. According to A. Szalay, fulvic acid has the ability to dramatically detoxify herbicides, pesticides, and other poisonsthat it interacts with – this includes many radioactive elements. This detoxification process may extend to animals and humans. (With my new dog, Kuuma, I also add marine phytoplankton)

When I first introduced raw meats to Shasta, I didn't know what she liked or disliked. I'd present her with small pieces of raw beef or chicken liver, beef tripes, kidney, smelts, chicken, pork, etc. She loved the liver and the beef and chicken but wanted nothing to do with the kidneys or the smelts.

I like to prepare her food in large batches of about 30 to 50 pounds or more which keeps well in the freezer for 4 to 6 weeks. (I would much prefer NOT to freeze her food, because freezing can destroys up to 72% of nutrients. Unfortunately, I don't have the time or inclination to prepare her food every other day)

I use about 15 to 20 pounds of veggies, 3 to 5 pounds of soaked chia seeds, 2 to 3 dozens of raw eggs, several cups of dry kelp powder, pascalite clay (to promote healing and to detoxify), liquid fulvic minerals consist of an immense arsenal and array of naturally occuring powerful phytochemicals, biochemicals, supercharged antioxidants, free-radical scavengers, super oxide dismutases, nutrients, enzymes, hormones, amino acids, antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals), a few tablespoons of bee pollen (rich in naturally occuring vitamins) and about 10 to 20 pounds of a combination of raw ground beef (which mixes well into the veggies), beef liver (remember that Dr. Chambreau recommends that liver must be organic), organ meat like tripe, and/or chicken pieces or other meats. I also add about a cup flax oil, a couple of tablespoons of olive oil (extra virgin, cold pressed), and a cup or two of coconut oil and/or grapeseed oil. (With my new dog, Kuuma, I also add marine phytoplankton)

TIP: Never thaw your pet's food in the macrowave oven. It causes molecular damage to foods which in turn causes abnormal changes in the blood and immune systems. Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking Remember, the dog in the wild eats everything when it kills its prey, including the intestinal contents which is rich with partially digested grass, leaves, seeds, nuts etc. In a rabbit the intestinal contents amount to about 40 percent of the body weight. The dog in the wild also eats the bones, a source of calcium for its body.

Note: unfortunately, I can’t give my dog freshly killed wholesome wild game which would be free from synthetic growth hormones, antibiotics and pesticide residue which contaminates our supermarket meat.

Do you have a question about holistic animal health or need assistance? Contact Shirley
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Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?(Coproghagy)

According to Donald R. Collins DVM author of The Collins Guide to Dog Nutrition, 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."

"Your dog is a scavenger. You only have to leave your dog alone with an open garbage can to find that out. Dogs will eat and derive food value from practically anything. To a wild dog, soil eating is an important source of minerals. Bark from trees is an important source of fiber. Dogs receive valuable nutrients from material that we humans find totally repugnant. Things like vomit, feces, and decaying flesh.

This habit of eating feces (called "Coproghagy") is common with many dogs that eat commercial dog food. Why? To try to stay healthy! Feces are a highly valuable food, consisting of the dead and living bodies of millions of bacteria. They are an excellent source of essential fatty acids, fat soluble vitamins (particularly vitamin K and the whole range of B vitamins), many different minerals because of the soil in it, and a host of other nutritional factors including anti-oxidants, enzymes and fiber.

The feces they eat is of far greater benefit to them than the product peddled by the dog food companies! If you don’t want your dog to eat feces (and most of us don’t) then you must provide in the diet all those nutrients which are currently missing from your dog’s diet, and which feces supplies. This requires a team of ingredients like yogurt, eggs, polyunsaturated oils, an enzyme supplement, crushed raw vegetables as a source of fiber, etc." Shalako Schipperkes "

Cindy Engles, Ph.D., writes in Wild Health: How Animals Keep Themselves Well and What We Can Learn From Them "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."

Learn about health enhancing digestive nutrients, and supplements for your pets

SICK OF DRUGGING YOUR PET?

Dr Charles E Loops DVM - "After 10 years of traditional veterinary practice I became tired of having no treatment for chronic disease, incurable conditions, and a plethora of allergic maladies which seem to plague all veterinary practices. I was frustrated with giving animals cortisone because I had no other solutions, or using antibiotics for infections which I knew were of viral origin. There is so much that can be done for an animal, bird, or reptile that is ailing by utilizing homeopathic medicine."

For years dog health supplies have included toxic materials to artificially maintain dog health as a temporary measure. The time has come to change to a more natural approach toward animal health. Natural remedies have been shown to achieve more immediate, more complete and longer lasting health, vitality, quality and longevity of animal lives. Learn about herbal remedies and other safe alternatives to drugs, chemo, radiation and surgery

Michael Dym, VMD - "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 analogy of these compared with escalating immune/behavioral diseases in children is quite disturbing. 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 sup pressing 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."

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." (NOTE: a growing number of holistic veterinarians use Transfer Factor before and after vaccination to minimize the side effects and help the animal recover)

Dr. 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. We see a lot of epilepsy, often after a rabies vaccination. Or dogs or cats can become aggressive for several days. Frequently, you'll see urinary tract infections in cats, often within three months after their [annual] vaccination. If you step back, open your mind and heart, you'll start to see patterns of illness post-vaccination." more about vaccinosis

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

Sam Jones, DVM - "Two cats, both about 8 years old, had severe diabetes. It was impossible to get the insulin requirements adjusted. They had lost weight to a point that they were skin and bones. Both cats had no quality of life left. After one week of being on transfer factors; we were able to get their insulin requirements adjusted. It is now 6 months and they have regained their weight and have a great quality of life and health."

Our pets are prone to suffer from minerals and trace mineral deficiency. For optimum health, I supplement Shasta's diet (and my diet too) with the following: fulvic minerals or marine phytoplankton (consist of an immense arsenal and array of naturally occuring powerful phytochemicals, biochemicals, supercharged antioxidants, free-radical scavengers, super oxide dismutases, nutrients, enzymes, hormones, amino acids, antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals), bee pollen (rich in naturally occuring vitamins), kelp (marine plants), the right kind of salt (not common table salt); magnesium oil,(a miracle mineral in its healing effect on a wide range of diseases as well as in its ability to rejuvenate the aging body). and clay (to promote healing and to detoxify) and with flaxoil (also knows as linseed oil - rich source of omega3 fatty acids). Shasta does not drink tap water. I give her only filtered water which is free from toxic chlorine and fluoride. I support my immune system and that of my animals with Transfer Factor and by raising our Glutathione level. . I never cook or warm up food in a microwave oven. Please read about the Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking

I have witnessed the amazing healing power of homeopathy, herbal extracts, Transfer Factor, Glutathione/Immunocal, and marine phytoplankton in traumatic emergency situations and in acute and chronic disease with my own health, that of my family and my dogs: Nadja, Shasta and Kuuma. Some of the healings were nothing short of miraculous, including my own healing. When Nadja ate rat poison and was vomiting large amount of green fluid, the vet said she didn't have a chance to survive. I saved her life with the homeopathic remedy Arsenicum 10 M. If I need guidance, I will get a phone consultation with a holistic veterinarian. I had been chronically sick for years, addicted to prescription and over the counter drugs. Unfortunately, instead of generating a cure, the medications (steroids, antibiotics, antihistamine, etc.) merely temporarily suppressed my symptoms, weakened my immune system, and in the long run made me sicker. I completely turned my health around with the incredible healing power of homeopathy, raw food diet, herbs, and nutritional products such as flaxoil, chia seeds or oil, clay, seaweed or plankton, saccharides/glyconutrients, and Transfer Factor. I'm not a doctor or a nurse, but when a member of my family get sick or injured (including my animals) I immediately use homeopathic medicine, herbs and nutritional supplements with excellent results. Shirley

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." "To raise glutathione levels is to reduce premature oxidation, to quench destructive free radicals and help detoxify the poisons inside each cell when it needs to. Only Immunocal is clinically proven to do that in a safe, effective and convenient way." Dr. Allan Somersall M.D - Learn more...

Just like humans, domesticated animals like dogs and cats are affected by the health hazards of modern living. Pollution, poor nutrition, stress and unhealthy lifestyles can lead to a variety of illnesses and conditions that are very similar to those experienced by humans. These days, emotional and psychological problems like depression, anxiety, ADHD and behavioral problems are just as prevalent in pets as they are in their owners. Similarly, physical ailments such as diabetes, arthritis, chronic fatigue, digestive disorders, cystitis, kidney and liver disease, skin disorders, obesity, thyroid dysfunction and other problems are becoming more and more common in domesticated animals. Many, if not most of these conditions can be prevented by helping your pets to live a healthier lifestyle. For pets already suffering from existing conditions, a combination of lifestyle changes and natural medicine can work wonders!

Dr. Jerry Tennant, M.D. says that marine phytoplankton contains almost everything one needs to sustain life and to restore health by providing the raw materials to make new cells that function normally. Learn how phytoplankton saved a dog's Life

CHLORINATED and FLUORIDATED WATER.... A BIG NO-NO !!! There is a perception among many people that bottled water is somehow more healthy or pure than water from their tap. This is simply an illusion of marketing. A four-year study by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), released in 1999, found that one-fifth of the sampled bottled waters contained known neurotoxins and carcinogens such as styrene, toluene and xylene. Another NRDC study found that, out of 103 brands of bottled water, one-third contained traces of arsenic and E. coli. This means that out of a sample of 1,000 bottles sold in the U.S., at least 300 would have some level of chemical contamination. It is well known that the average city water today contains over 500 chemicals that do not belong in it. Part of this is due to the fact that most delivery systems in the U.S. include cement, asbestos pipes, cast iron, PVC (porous to certain solvents, herbicides and pesticides) and that lead, cadmium and other toxic metals leach out of valves and couplings of pipes between a water treatment plant and a faucet in the home. Why Purified and Distilled Bottled Water are Bad For You and Your Animals

Safe, toxin-free, Ionized, Energized, Drinking Water helps to naturally flush toxins and acidic waste from the body and is a powerful antioxidant. Ionized Water makes more oxygen available to our cells than distilled, reverse osmosis, filtered only, bottled or tap water and is the best possible drinking water. "Disease and early death is more likely to be seen with the long term drinking of purified water. Avoid it except in special circumstances." Zoltan P. Rona M.D

Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Veterinary Medicine

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

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Meet my new boy

In 2002 I adopted a splendid 18 month old GSD from the German Shepherd rescue of Los Angeles. I named him Kuuma, an African male name that means "love". This magnificent healthy boy is very cudly and affectionate, fearless, sensitive and smart as can be. He actually looks like he could be Shasta's pup. (the lady with Kuuma in the last picture in not me)

The only health problem Kuuma had was a hotspot on his left thigh, right were he was vaccinated. Clearly this is a reaction to the toxins injected under his skin in that area. As soon as he came home I gave him a dose of homeopathic remedy LYSSIN 200c (homeopathic remedy) to antidote the bad effects of rabbie vaccine. (available from Dr. Loops' office) and I immediately began to transition him to raw food diet. I also rubbed a mixture of golden seal extract with flaxoil and evening primrose oil on his hotspot several times a day to promote healing.

Within 2 weeks that hotspot was healed. On June 8 I gave him a single doze of the homeopathic remedy THUJA 200c to anditote the bad effects of the other vaccines. A new hotspot/eczema spot had developped in his right thigh and just above his tail. It was a strong healing-crisis on the skin level with inflammation, heat, redness, oozing, bleeding and eventually scaling. Vaccine toxins were coming out of his body through his skin and I didn't use suppressive medicine to suppress that discharge. I robbed a litte of the oil/goldenseal mixture on the area to soothe the inflammation. Within 2 - 3 weeks that hotspot was healed and hair growing back in that area. Thuja, Lyssin and other homeopathic remedies are available on the internet)

The very first day I introduced a little bit of raw meat to Kuuma (a little chicken leg and a small beef soup bone) which he ate in a heartbeat. A few hours later I gave him a regular portion of kibble food. I do not mix kibble with raw because it only take 6 hours to digest raw meat and it takes 18 hours to digest kibbles. The two don't mix and will cause fermentation.

Each day I increased his portion of raw meat gradually to make sure that it didn't give him diarrhea. Dr. William Pollack, DVM, says diarrhea can be a normal part of transitioning to a healthier diet. Upon switching to a more nutritious diet, physical and behavioral improvements can be dramatic or gradual depending on the state of the animal’s health. With slow transitioning on to the new diet, the pet’s digestive system can acclimate to the higher flow of nourishment. The body will sometimes expel these accumulated poisons during periods of diarrhea, hair loss, scaling of skin. These periods are known as Healing Episodes/Healing Crisis. Though these situations are not necessary , they are not uncommon. The body will cleanse itself of these toxic agents before it can assimilate more healthful nutrients to regain a higher state of balanced health.

Within a week, Kuuma was eating 50% raw. Unlike Shasta who ate her veggies with gusto, Kuuma is a very finicky eater and I've been having a very hard time getting him to eat my concoction of raw vegetables mixed with kelp seaweed, Chia seeds, flaxoil, eggs, and fulvic minerals. He only cares for his raw chicken, raw pig feet, raw soup bones, etc.

The solution was to fast him for 48 hours on water only to work out an appetite. (fasting is very healing too). I freeze his veggies (mixed with raw eggs, chia seeds flaxoil and ground raw meat). He's now eating these frozen raw veggie "buritos" as if they were bones. I don't like feeding frozen food to my dog...it is not natural, but many dogs loves eating frozen food as it gives him a good chewing workout.

He weights about 90 lbs and a dog of his size would normally needs about 2 lbs of meat a day. (see raw food calculator). But Kuuma does not tolerate more than 4 to 5 ounce of raw meat a day. It gives him the run. I had no choice at this point but to supplement his raw meat and raw bone diet with healthy kibble pet food.. I give him everyday 1/2 to 1 cup of soaked Chia seeds, I soak the chia overnight in beaten raw eggs, raw kefir, and raw meat juice if available. If Chia seeds are not available I use grounded flaxmeal or a tablespoon of flaxoil. He gets a rotation of raw chicken leg quarter, chicken gizzards and turkey tails one day and beef heart/tripes and pork neckbones the next day. He also enjoys eating nori sheets (the seaweed sushi wrap) with a little fish oil or kefir or butter spread on it. I feed him once every 24 hours. His stools are perfect now and non-smelling and he is doing absolutely wonderful. Some people like to also supplement their animal's raw diet with Transfer Factor, a nutritional immune booster.
I have begun the obedience training and Kuuma is a wonder to work with. I find Leerburg's videos invaluable tools in learning the art of obedience training. I also want to thank my friend, Pat Hartman, a professional trainer in Pensylvania, for the time she spent on the phone with me to help me and guide me in the training process.

Kuuma sustained a severe bite wound to his leg. I never took him to the vet. He healed in two weeks with natural remedies. Learn how

March 2011 - Kuuma is about 9 years old now and in perfect health. But a few months ago, when my husband died Kuuma began to experience urinary problem and would need to go out more often to urinate much larger amount than usual. I believe that Kuuma experienced stress and grief at the passing of my husband which in turn caused his kidneys to weaken. I gave him Transfer Factor and Immunocal to help support his immune system and within a month his urination was back to normal.

December 2011 - Kuuma is almost 10 years old and has been perfectly healthy till now. Suddenly he began to show symptoms of weakness and stiffness in his right hind leg. I ruled out hip displaysia. I thought perhaps it was a pinched nerve or a sprain. Since I'm a homeopath and a holistic healer, I do not believe in allopathic medication which nearly killed me years ago, especially the sleazy steroids and the antibiotics, and I do not take my animals to the veterinarian. I treat them on my own at home with natural remedies that have no side effects and I use good healthy nutrition as prevention. To treat his hind leg, I gave Kuuma Transfer Factor and Immunocal which is important to help support his immune system. I also treated him with homeopathic remedies. Within 10 days he had fully recovered. I started him on 3 homeopathic remedies for 5 days in the 30C potency, just one pellet of each twice a day: Bryonia, Rhus tox and Ruta. Then for the next 4 days I only gave him rhus tox and ruta. On the 10th day I gave him a single pellet of Causticum in the 1M potency. Not only did he recover from his hind leg symptoms, his overall vitality and energy level seems much highter too. He acts like a 6 y old again.

Why I won't use the Elizabethan collar on my animals. The Elizabethan collar is a type of plastic collar that is effective in preventing pets from licking or biting themselves. The only time I will use such collar is to prevent my animal from tearing up surgical sutures, until healing is complete. I will never use such collar to prevent my dog or cat from licking skin eruptions, hot spots, or inflammed and infected area on their bodies. The built in germicide found in the saliva of a dog or a cat amazingly heals wounds in record time. Any injuries are carefully licked and coated with antiseptic saliva from the tongue. This aids in preventing infection entering into a wound. Learn more

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