Dr. William Pollak D.V.M.   "Recent studies have shown processed foods to be a factor in increasing the 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. "Dogs, cats, and other animals live for years on foods that come out of bags, cans and boxes. But do these foods promote health? If they did, our companion animals would enjoy long, happy lives free of arthritis, hip dysplasia, eye problems, ear problems, fleas and other parasites, gum disease, lick granulomas, thyroid imbalances, skin and coat problems, personality disorders, birth defects, breeding problems, diabetes, cancer and other major and minor illnesses. Before World War II, most North Americans fed their pets raw bones and table scraps. Today, everyone uses convenience foods, and pet food companies are industry giants. Diet isn't the only thing that has changed. So has life expectancy, with the life span of many breeds now less than half what it was two or three decades ago. Skin and coat problems are so common that we accept them as unavoidable, and today's vets routinely treat conditions that used to be unusual or even rare." Learn more: The Poisons in Pet Food

Dr. Kollath, of the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, headed a study done on animals. When young animals were fed cooked and processed foods they initially appeared to be healthy. However, as the animals reached adulthood, they began to age more quickly than normal and also developed chronic degenerative disease symptoms. A control group of animals raised on raw foods aged less quickly and were free of degenerative disease. In nature, we see another example of wild animals eating entirely enzyme-rich raw foods being free of the degenerative diseases that afflict humans.

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

May, 07 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.  He said the final number for pets suffering from kidney failure could be in the tens of thousands. more on the recall    ---  Listen to holistic veterinarian Dr. Jane Bicks D.V.M." Do You Really Know What's In Your Pet's Food?"

A Fresh Look at the Optimum Diet for Animals

"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. 

"Finding the proper diet for our companions means learning to look beyond our own needs, opinions, and agendas to address the natural needs of the animals that we caretake. The business of selling pet food at times seems to be focused more on what appeals to animal guardians than on the dietary needs of pets. The market success of most commercial foods is judged by how convenient it they are, and how good they looks, smell, feel, or even taste to pet owners. The natural reality is this: what is good for our animals may be appalling to us, but if we really wish to provide them with the nutrition they truly need, we must learn to look beyond standards of human acceptance to consider what our pets might eat if we weren't around. 

"Dogs, for instance, wouldn't be eating sirloin-like chunks of meat with a rich gravy , or seafood buffet from a can--- they would be eating berries, grasses, rodents, and the rotting flesh of dead animals. This of course, doesn't appeal to us, so most dogs and cats eat dried kibbles or sterilized canned foods which lack live enzymes and dozens of other important nutrients that were destroyed by cooking." Mary L. Wulff-Tilford author of All You Ever Wanted To Know About Herbs For Pets. More

William Pollak D.V.M. - "In the wild, no one cooks for the coyote or wolf; no one brushes their teeth. Their foods are raw and unprocessed." 

"Processed foods and drugs have seriously depleted the natural vitality and immune systems of many pets. Whereas large amounts of red meat can cause cancer in humans, a lack of RAW red meat in an animal's diet can lead to serious health problems. Animals require the enzymes, amino acids and other nutrients in the raw meat in order to stay healthy. 

"Many skin and coat problems are a direct result of a lack of raw animal fat in the diet - fat which humans often believe is bad for their pet. Animals need at least 30% raw fat, and their systems are not designed to handle cooked meat or cooked fat. Restaurant grease has become a major component of feed-grade animal fat over the last 15 years. Often held in 50-gallon drums for weeks or months in extreme temperatures, this grease is usually kelp outside with no regard for its safety or further use. The rancid grease is then picked up by fat blenders who mix the animal and vegetable fats together, stabilize them with powerful antioxidants to prevent further spoilage, and then sell the blended products to pet food companies. 

Rancid, heavily preserved fats are extremely difficult to digest and can lead to a host of animal health problems, including digestive upsets, diarrhea, gas, and bad breath. In the wild, a panther or jackal does not barbecue, grill or smoke its prey. It definitely does not walk to the local supermarket to buy dry food either. Yet most pet owners recoil at the thought of feeding raw meat to their dog or cat, concerned about bacteria or parasites. Dog and cat digestive systems have evolved over millions of years to consume a raw diet, and they can tolerate foods containing a wide range of naturally occurring bacteria. You've probably seen your dog enjoy eating something you consider disgusting and wondered why he doesn't get sick.
Raw - Ready-To-Eat Safe, Healthy RAW Pet Food

Concerned about salmonella and other bugs? The digestive systems of dogs and cats are short, acidic, and handle bacteria well. This is why they are not susceptible to salmonella, parasites, or e-coli from tainted meat as humans are. Humans have very long digestive tracks which allow food to 'linger' for 24 hours or more, thus allowing more time for parasites to get into their bloodstreams. Zoonosis

Dr. Marty Goldstein DVM, author of The Nature of Animal Healing : The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat talks about making the healthiest food and lifestyle choices for our furry friends. To listen click here

I add Fulvic acids to Shasta's raw food diet. According to research, Fulvic neutralizes toxins and can eliminate food poisoning within minutes. When it encounters free radicals with unpaired positive or negative electrons, and 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 poisons that it interacts with – this includes many radioactive elements. This detoxification process may extend to animals and humans. Dr. Cohen also uses Calcium Montmorillonite Clay as a potent detoxifier.  Shirley

Do you have a question about holistic animal health or need assistance?  or use this contact form or call 206-984-3009 or 323-389-0560
 

William Pollak D.V.M. - "The results of a clinical trial suggest that 74.7% of common diseases in dogs and 63% of common diseases in cats can be eliminated without medical intervention over a period of one year with proper diet modifications and an understanding of the healing process as exhibited through healing episodes. Approaching disease from the perspective of health is the most powerful means of eliminating disease."  (clinical trial)

Read what animal nutrition expert Pat McKay says about cooked/processed/commercial pet food:
Reigning Cats and Dogs : Good Nutrition Healthy Happy Animals 

"Cooked food is dead. Everything in a can or a bag is cooked. All processed foods for people or animals have been cooked, sterilized, or pasteurized, which means all the enzymes that are needed to digest and utilize the food are destroyed. The saying "We are what we eat" is not exactly correct. We are what we utilize. 

"Live food is essential for health. It is the ultimate source of life. There is no other way to be disease free. No matter who tells you that a certain brand of commercial food or home-cooked food is healthy, it is not. It is dead – no enzymes, no friendly bacteria. Veterinarians, animal nutritionists, pet store owners, store clerks, authors of nutrition books, or anyone else suggesting cooked foods are not familiar with which foods and supplements are necessary for health. If they were, they would not be prescribing, suggesting, and selling cooked foods for carnivores. ALL canines and felines were designed to eat RAW food.

Raw - Ready-To-Eat Safe, Healthy RAW Pet Food

Dr. Alicia McWatters, Ph.D. - "Fresh, raw foods contain the highest level of enzymes, and these enzymes assist in digestion. Cooked foods and dry convenient diets have been denatured and are devoid of enzymes: life-promoting elements. While they may maintain life, they do not promote optimum health or longevity!" Hilarious two-minute video of a dog protecting his bone. It will make your day! 

Concerned about Zoonosis?  Zoonosis is 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. If you have these concerns, learn about the healthy alternatives to feeding raw food, you can feed your pet healthy kibbles with all natural ingredients.

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"The key to health is keeping live foods in the body. Live foods have enzymes; little protein molecules, which are essential for digesting food, for stimulating the brain, for providing cellular energy, for repairing all tissues, organs, and cells, and functions so diverse that it is impossible to name them all.

"Animals and people cannot exist without enzymes. It is a myth that you can take supplements and make up for enzymes. Supplemental enzymes,vitamins, and minerals can be very helpful, but they do not make up for RAW food."

"Pat tells us why our pets need wholesome, raw foods. The book is large type, simple to read and includes a simple raw food diet that can be easily prepared. As a 'health food store for pets' owner, I highly recommend this book to all interested in a more natural, healthier way of life for their companion animals." -- An Amazon.com reviewer on Reigning Cats and Dogs : Good Nutrition Healthy Happy Animals  by Pat McKay

"The best diet is a raw food diet" --  Dr. Charles E Loops D.V.M

Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Pet Diet by Kymythy R. Schultze 

This book will help pet-lovers enable their dogs and cats to enjoy an ideal quality of life though a species-appropriate diet of raw, natural foods.  "My Golden Retriever has suffered from allergies most of her life.  She has been on the diet in this book for six months. After a detox period (explained in this book) which lasted 6-8 weeks, her overall health has improved tremendously. My dog is off all of her previous medication (antibiotics and Prednisone), her skin is clear, her coat is soft and thick, and her attitude is great. I would definitely recommend this book. I would also recommend seeking help from a homeopathic vet when switching to the diet."
Pauli Reading from Charlotte, NC,  United States - Amazon.com book reviewer.

Raw Food Recipes Booklet - For those of you who would like to make your own raw food diet, this booklet will give you some answers and ideas. It provides very specific weekly raw diets for dogs based on their weight. It will provide some insight on how much variety to offer, how much to feed and even discusses supplements!

    * How much variety should I offer?
    * How do I know what my dog needs?
    * How much should I feed?

More books on Feeding Raw Food to Pets
Raw - Ready-To-Eat Safe, Healthy RAW Pet Food
 

How I Saved My Dog's Life with Raw Foods (and with homeopathy) 
A testimonial by Shirley,  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 nutrition and holistic methods of healing to save her life. more

Additional Testimonials: Feeding Raw Pet Food

Don E. Lundholm, D.V.M. - "We are seeing disease conditions in animals that we did not see years ago. Many of these may be traced to nutrition as the source." 

William Pollak D.V.M - "Eating supermarket pet foods is like eating cardboard. Our pets just get by on them and the foods lack any real vitality for the flourishing of health. Life is designed to be lived in vitality; surviving is living a slow death even before departure from the body" 

Dr. Pitcairn D.V.M.- "...When I began to suggest the feeding of raw meat, I found animals becoming more healthy even without other treatment. Indeed, I have frequently had the report that people find their animals become healthy when they make this change and diseases for which they were hoping to have treatment (on a waiting list) have disappeared. Since that time, other veterinarians have told me similar things about the use of raw meat. I do not have numbers but I think the veterinarians recommending raw meat in the U.S. are in the hundreds. My experience, albeit clinical and not based on studies, is that my patients have improved health on a raw diet. Furthermore, I have not seen significant parasite problems. Dogs and cats, being carnivores by nature, are meant to eat raw meat and do not have a problem doing so." Learn veterinary homeopathy (for lay people and vets) at home or on the road with audio tapes from classes and seminars taught by Dr. Richard Pitcairn.

Raw Food and Enzymes
The tiny and enormous difference between raw and cooked foods

Edward Howell MD - "Among the many thousands of species of creatures living on this earth, only humans and some of their domesticated animals try to live without enzymes. And only these transgressors of nature’s law are penalized with defective health. It is not surprising that dogs (and cats) have many human diseases since they are given only canned or packaged, heat-treated, enzyme-free food."
Dr. Edward Howell, author of Enzyme Nutrition

The Case for Eating Raw Food: For Cats, Dogs
"Each of us receives a supply of enzymes at birth. The supply is not limitless; it must supply the organism with life-sustaining enzymes for the duration of its existence. When the enzyme supply is exhausted, it signals the breakdown of the organism (the animal). Enzymes are needed to run all body systems. Metabolic enzymes are used by the heart, lungs, kidneys, immune system, and for brain functions; digestive enzymes convert protein, carbohydrates, and fat into fuel to maintain the organism. Over-taxing the body to supply digestive enzymes can reduce the supply of metabolic enzymes. Eventually, the body becomes enzyme-deficient, making it vulnerable to disease. Not suprisingly, glands and major organs suffer most from enzyme deficiency." 

How can one prevent the body from depleting its own supply of enzymes? 
Nature solved the problem for us by providing those enzymes in RAW FOODS.  Food enzymes begin the process of digestion in the stomach. If there are no food enzymes, the body must produce additional digestive enzymes resulting in fewer metabolic enzymes. If you feed your dog a diet containing at least 70% raw foods, you're providing these vital enzymes. Congratulations! Cooking or processing food above 118 degrees Fahrenheit destroys all food enzymes. If your dog's diet consists mainly of cooked or processed foods, the animals store of metabolic enzymes will be converted into digestive enzymes. The lack of food enzymes puts a heavier burden on the body to generate adequate enzymes to complete digestion. 

In nature, animals know to seek out those foods that satisfy their nutritional needs. For example; free-roaming wolves hunt grazing animals whenever possible. Before eating muscle or bone, the wolves feast on stomach contents, the liver, pancreas, and intestines -- in other words, they are gorging on enzyme-laden tissues. Wolf pups are weaned and maintained on regurgitated food, also heavily laced with digestive enzymes. Unless we provide the same food a wolf enjoys in the wild, adding a digestive enzyme supplement to each meal may be essential for optimum digestion and overall good health. A multiple digestive enzyme should contain pancreatin, lipase, oxbile, pepsin, betain, hydrochloric acid (HCL), bromelain, papain, amylase, and protease. 

Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics helps promote a healthy balance of bacteria and protect the body against harmful invading microorganisms. 
More about nature's enzyme therapy

William Pollak D.V.M. - "Malnutrition and the toxic condition of the animal fed commercial diets can result in the inability to digest and assimilate basic food components of the fresher, more wholesome types of food such as raw food."

If you are transitioning your pet to a raw-food diet, or if raw food is not the way you choose to feed your pet, you may want to consider adding enzymes to your pet's diet. When pet foods are heat processed, as most are, enzyme concentration is significantly reduced. For this reason, adding digestive enzymes to your pet's food will enhance absorption of nutrients.  Enzymes are destroyed during the heat processing of your pet's food, yet are required for proper digestion. Shake'N'Zyme from Dancing Paws ensures optimum digestion, assimilation, and absorption of nutrients. 

Some breeders and trainers prefer to feed their dog twice a day to avoid stressing their digestive system. I have been feeding Shasta strictly raw foods once a day to give her digestive tract 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 up to the dog's owner to decide what is best for their dog.  Some people claim that is is best to feed raw food, first and wait six hours before feeding kibbles to prevent fermentation in the stomach which may cause some dogs to have gas.  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/veggies at the same time without any bad effects. (He does not tolerates 100% raw.) Shirley

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

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Improving Your Animal's Immune System and Overall Health with Nutritional Support

A groundswell of nutrition-conscious veterinarians are beginning to recommend to their clients that they supplement their animals' diets with a daily dose of flaxseed oil and other important nutrients. When the diets of animals were fortified with flax, within three weeks their coats developed a beautiful sheen, and dandruff was greatly diminished. 

Charles W. Brown D.V.M. "My colleagues and I have found this product (Transfer Factor) to be very effective in modulating the immune system. Transfer Factor is a "soup" of immune-modulating factors, and contains a leukocyte-type molecule that can passively transfer immunity from one mammal to another by stimulating cell-mediated immunity and is antigen specific.  Richard Bennett, Ph.D., an Infectious Disease Microbiologist and Immunologist from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, believes this could be the most significant development in animal healthcare in decades. We have a great number of veterinarians and clients who are experiencing very positive results in a broad area of disorders, including periodontal." More

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 support the immune system 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

Do you have a question about holistic animal health or need assistance?  or use this contact form or call 206-984-3009 or 323-389-0560

Most Popular Natural Pet Products...

Rob Robertson, M.D. - "Presque tout ce qui va mal pour nous et nos animaux, à l'exception des traumatismes (fractures , etc..) peuvent être reliés directement à une panne du système immunitaire. La pollution, un excès de médicaments et une alimentation pauvre en éléments nutritifs, sont tous des facteurs qui compromettent notre système immunitaire . La clef pour se maintenir en bonne santé est un système de défense très fort qui protége les chiens et les chats de tout , depuis le germe de la grippe jusqu’au cellules cancéreuses . Les vétérinaires holistiques au contraire de leurs confrères traditionnels croient qu’un système immunitaire faible y est pour beaucoup si une maladie se déclare . Les médicaments ne sont pas la réponse pour améliorer le système immunitaire . Il ne répond pas aux drogues pour guérir . Les antibiotiques combattent l’infection , mais ils n’affectent pas ce qui a affaibli le système immunitaire au tout début . C’est pourquoi les vétérinaires holistiques se concentrent moins sur ce qui a causé la maladie mais plus sur ce qui affecte les défenses du corps." Apprenez plus

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Raw Meaty Bones - Tom Lonsdale, a graduate of the Royal Veterinary College in London, admits he was slow to recognize problems associated with feeding canned and dry pet foods. 'The truth is rarely pure, and never simple' said Oscar Wilde, but this book lets the truth speak for itself as it lifts the lid on the pet food industry/veterinary profession alliance. You owe it to your pet to read this book to find out what happens to dogs and cats if their diet is inadequate.  Some topics covered:

    * Mouth rot and dog breath.
    * Raw vs. cooked food.
    * What's in the can?
    * The right diet.
    * The bite on veterinary dentistry.

Note: Not all pets tolerate 100% raw food - read  Let Food be Thy Medicine" by Catherine O’Driscoll 

More books listed at  Shirley's Wellness Cafe Animal Health Library

Raw - Ready-To-Eat Safe, Healthy RAW Pet Food

The Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking Recent research shows that microwave oven-cooked food suffers severe molecular damage. When eaten, it causes abnormal changes in human blood and immune systems. Not surprisingly, the public has been denied details on these significant health dangers.

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Do Dogs or Cats Require Grains in Their Diet? 

To Feed or Not to Feed...Grains

T.J. Dunn D.V.M. "Modern man has modified a number of characteristics of the canine.  But there's one thing man has not altered... the basic nutrient requirements of the dog.  Dogs need today essentially the same nutrients that their predecessors required eons ago.  That is precisely why there has been so much notice given to the practice of feeding dogs (and cats, too!) raw meat and other unprocessed foods. 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 meets minimum daily nutrient requirements has proven to be a mistake.  And the fact that some pet foods have artificial colors and flavors added simply reveals the trickery needed to coax dogs and cats into consuming such material." 

Russell Swift, D.V.M. "Grains are NOT part of the natural diet of wild dogs and cats. Carnivores cannot maintain long term production of the quantity of amylase enzyme necessary to properly digest and utilize the carbohydrates." read on

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Raw Bones versus Cooked Bones

Wild carnivores have always consumed the raw bones of their prey. Their teeth are adapted for this function, and their short, acidic digestive tract quickly dissolves and digests these bones, which are packed with essential nutrients. Our domesticated companions have teeth and digestive systems that are nearly identical to those of their wild counterparts. While it is possible for dogs or humans, to choke on whatever they are eating or drinking, consuming a fresh, raw diet greatly reduces  the risk of choking in dogs or cats. Cooking bones makes them brittle and prone to splintering, as well as more difficult to digest. 

Dr. Billinghurst, an Australian vet, recommends raw bones as the foundation of a balanced diet. His book "Give Your Dog a Bone" describes the rapidly deteriorating health of Australian dogs and cats after the nation adopted commercial pet foods in mid-1960s. The canine mouth has sharp pointed teeth and strong jaws designed to tear flesh and crush bones. The stomach acid of the canine has strong acids to digest bones and flesh. Raw bones have been a part of canines' diets for as long as they have been tracking, attacking, and killing their prey. 

Many holistic veterinarians say that raw bones are NOT harmful to carnivores. Only cooked bones can splinter and pose a threat.  I have seen documentaries of tiny white foxes catching doves and swallowing the birds whole, with feathers, claws, beak, and all. Their stomach juices are very acidic and and loaded with natural enzymes that dissolve and digest bone material. Chewing on raw bones helps to strengthen the jaw bones, massage the gums while stimulating the salivary and digestive glands, help reduce plaques and calculus accumulation on the tooth surfaces, clean teeth, and reduce occurrence of gingivitis. Bones are a good source of calcium and other important minerals. 

"The common practice of feeding meat without bones (or bone meal) is nutritionally disastrous for dogs and cats. There are far too many people giving eggs and meat to their pets without providing a balance to all the phosphorus they contain. Meat contains no calcium, and lots of phosphorus; bones contain lots of calcium. Eggs contain lots of phosphorus; the shells contain calcium. That is nature's balance. If we feed meat without bones or eggs without shells, or aren't sure of the correct ratios of those things to feed, we must use something to replace them. It is a common and tragic mistake to give a diet far too high in phosphorus to cats and dogs." Christie Keith from Natural Diet.... What is it?
 

Give your Dog a Bone and See Your Vet bills Fall! 
by Ian Billinghurst B.V.Sc(Hons), B.Sc.Agr.,Dip.Ed.

Give Your Dog a Bone  is about feeding dogs using the Bones and Raw Food (BARF) diet.  Dr. Ian Billinghurst 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." 
Click here to read an excerpt from Dr. Ian Billinghurst's book

BARF FAQ (BARF = Bones and Raw Food)  Ready-To-Eat Healthy Raw Pet Food
If you don't have the time or the inclination to prepare homemade RAW meals for your animal, you can purchase ready-to-eat frozen or freeze dried RAW meals. 

Do you have a question about holistic animal health or need assistance?  or use this contact form or call 206-984-3009 or 323-389-0560
 

Hilarious two-minute video of a dog protecting his bone. It will make your day! 

Raw Bones and Canine Dental Hygiene
Can RAW bones help reduce plaques, calculus accumulation on the tooth surfaces, clean teeth, and reduce the occurrence of gingivitis? 

If you choose not to feed your dog raw bones,  here's an alternative: All Natural and Healthy Edible Dog Bones  They look just like real bones and are made from a wholesome blend of rice, flour, vegetable fiber, and chicken liver.  Plus, their rounded ends and crunchy texture work together to help promote healthy teeth and gums. They are a healthy and safe way to satisfy a canine's desire to chew. 

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Sample recipe of what I feed my dog 
by Shirley, author of this website 

At 11 years of age, Shasta is remains in good health. She did suffer from illnesses (including a stroke), which I treated with homeopathy and herbal extracts. I also help boost her immune system with Transfer Factor.  She eats raw eggs, raw organically grown veggies, kelp, flaxseeds,  raw whole fish, raw bones, all sorts of raw meats including organ meats, and I make sure that all meats I purchase for her at the market are NON-IRRADIATED.  I fast her on water every other day for optimum health. Learn more... 

Our pets are prone to suffer from mineral and trace-mineral deficiency. For optimum health, I supplement my animal's diet (and my diet too) with the following: fulvic minerals and/or marine phytoplankton (consisting of an immense arsenal and array of naturally occurring 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 occurring vitamins), kelp (marine plants), the right kind of salt (notcommon table salt), and clay (to promote healing and to detoxify), and with flaxoil  (also knows as linseed oil -- a rich source of omega 3 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 animals' immune system with Transfer Factor. I never cook or warm up food in a microwave oven. Please read about the Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking.
 

Raw Feeding Calculator and Video As a general rule, a normal active dog require about 2% of its body weight per day. A highly active dog may require about 3% of its body weight per day. No two dogs are identical in their metabolic rates, age, or activity levels Puppies can use up to 10% of their growing body weight. Use this online calculator to calculate the amount of food needed by body weight.

Ready-To-Eat Healthy Pet Food   If you don't have the time or the inclination to prepare homemade RAW meals for your animal, you can purchase ready-to-eat frozen or freeze dried RAW meals 

Books on Feeding Raw Food to Pets
 

Concerned about Zoonosis?  Zoonosis is 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, learn about the healthy alternatives to feeding raw food, you can feed your pet healthy kibbles with all natural ingredients.

Alert! Tainted pet food deaths up sharply - At least 100 dogs in the United States have been killed in recent weeks by toxic pet food, contaminated with aflatoxins, despite a recall of the products. Some 19 brands of Diamond, Country Value, and Professional dog foods have been recalled. But many pet owners are not aware of the recall, researchers at Cornell University said Friday. Dogs have refused to eat the food and, in some cases, their owners have enticed them with gravy and other lures without knowing they were killing the animals. "Entire kennels have been wiped out, and because of the holiday these past few weeks, the dispersal of recall information was disrupted," says Sharon Center, a professor of veterinary medicine who specializes in liver function and disease at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell. The dog food is tainted with deadly aflatoxins that waste the liver away.  Learn about quality, safe and nutritious pet food, guaranteed to be free of aflatoxins. learn more

Healthy Alternatives to Feeding Raw Food
Natural dog and cat foods with only natural, wholesome ingredients and nutrient-dense with vitamins, minerals, fats, and fatty acids which are essential for the optimal health of your dog or cat. No harmful chemicals are used in these pet foods! They are made from the highest-quality ingredients with all-natural preservatives and do not contain meat or grain by-products, color additives, or chemical preservatives.  Learn more about these natural pet foods.

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Transitioning to a New Diet William Pollak D.V.M.
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. 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.  Feline transitioning to a raw diet

Malnutrition and the toxic condition of the animal fed commercial diets can result in the inability to digest and assimilate basic food components of the fresher, more wholesome type we are describing here. 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. more on healing crisis

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THE HEALTHY PATH -- FOR EVERY ANIMAL  Dr. Christina Chambreau offers guidelines for nutrition, quality of ingredients in your pet food, supplements, and general healthcare guidelines. 

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Diarrhea Usually Not Disease -- Just Cleaning House
Diarrhea can be a normal part of transitioning to a healthier diet. Changing the food to the natural raw meat diet can sometimes cause diarrhea as the energy content is too rich for the current digestive ability of the animal. With slow transitioning on to the new diet, the pet’s digestive system can acclimate to the higher flow of nourishment.  learn more...

To ease the diarrhea, I mix a little therapeutic clay and paunch manure into my dog's  food. It works wonders!  Shirley 

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 radiation is irresistibly attracted to clay and becomes subject to immediate elimination."

Do you have a question about holistic animal health or need assistance?  or use this contact form or call 206-984-3009 or 323-389-0560

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Fasting for Health in Holistic Veterinary Medicine
A powerful healing practice

William Pollak, D.V.M,. on fasting: "Many experts on canine nutrition recommend occasional fasting, such as one day without solid food per week or month, to simulate the natural conditions in which these animals evolved. Fasting gives the digestive organs an opportunity to rest and helps the body repair itself. In the wild, predators alternate between gorging themselves and going for one or several days without food, so a once-a-week or once-a-month fast is both beneficial and easy for most dogs to adjust to."

Bill Winter D.V.M 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 a raw diet." More on fasting your animal for health

If for some reason your dog or cat is unable to tolerate all or part of the raw food diet, you can join the Alternative2rawfeeding forum to discuss the alternative methods of feeding your companions. 

F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. - "Every function inside the body is regulated by and depends on water. Water must be available to carry vital elements, oxygen, hormones, and chemical messengers to all parts of the body. Without sufficient water to wet all parts equally, some more remote parts of the body will not receive the vital elements that water supplies. Water is also needed to carry toxic waste away from the cells. In fact, there are at least 50 reasons why the body needs sufficient water on a regular, everyday basis. Without sufficient water to constantly wet all parts, your body's drought-management system kicks into action. The histamine-directed chemical messenger systems are activated to arrange a new, lower quota of water for the drought-stricken areas. When histamine and its subordinate "drought managers" come across pain-sensing nerves, they cause pain. This is what I discovered in my research that I mentioned earlier." More on hydrotherapy  (water therapy) 

Microwater machines generate alkaline living, energized water. This healing water is regarded by a growing number of health care professionals as the best water to drink. In fact the Microwater ionizer water filter is listed as a medical device in Japan and is used in the treatment of several degenerative diseases. Ionized water has several health promoting qualities.  Acid/alkaline balance is important in keeping the body strong, healthy, and free of stress. Drinking alkaline water is the simplest and most effective way to remove (flush out) acidic wastes from our body. Removing acid waste has also been attributed to reversing the aging process. (Read more on this from the book Reverse Aging by Sang Whang.) Dr. Hidemitsu Hayashi, M.D. wrote an important article on the healing power of water. (Dr.Hayashi is the director of the Water Institute of Japan.) The alkaline water ionizer machine do more than simply purify tap water. It transform tap water into a living, energized, alkaline water. For more information visit the IonMicrowater website  or contact Shirley: 206-984-3009 or 323-389-0560 - 

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Sodium-Deficient Diet

Wild Health: How Animals Keep Themselves Well and What We Can Learn From Them
For millennia, humans have observed animals in the wild eating plants and minerals and applying naturally occurring topical antitoxins from the same sources to combat infectious wounds, parasites, and internal disorders. Herds of elephants risk injury and death in a perilous journey to hidden salt caves where they supplement their sodium-deficient diet. 

 Learn more about real salt for human and animal health

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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. 

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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.   Make your voice heard! Click here to send the FDA a message ---  US Food Industry Begins Widespread Food Irradiation  ---  "Nuked Food" - The Dangers of Irradiated Food

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Rearing Healthy Pups and Kittens

Pet owners often complaint that their new puppies are sick with diarrhea, vomiting, running eyes, and ear infections. A lot of money is spent on veterinary care and medication, often with poor results. Learn how to wean your pup or kitten to a natural raw food diet. Learn about alternate method of vaccination. You will see all symptoms of ill health clear up in a few weeks and your animal will thrive. 

Breeders who have changed their animal's diets and used alternative methods of health care and vaccination have observed dramatic health improvement in the young and adult alike, including larger litters and less complication of prenancies and birth such as premature birth, smaller litters, C-sections, tiny or weak puppies; sick pups, and puppy mortality. 

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Feline Natural Diet

Dr. Pottenger discovered quite by accident that cats degenerated unless they were fed raw food. In his 10-year study of 900 cats, he found the optimal diet for his cats was 2/3 raw meat and 1/3 raw milk plus a little cod liver oil. If either the meat or the milk was cooked, the cats degenerated. And if both were cooked, the degeneration was much worse, and the cats could no longer reproduce by the third generation.

Some of the problems Pottenger found in the cats fed cooked food were: heart problems; nearsightedness and farsightedness; underactivity and inflammation of the thyroid; infections of the kidney, liver, testes, ovaries and bladder; arthritis and inflammation of the joints; inflammation of the nervous system with paralysis and meningitis. And in the third generation, some of the cats' bones became as soft as rubber. Lung problems, and bronchitis and pneumonia were also frequent. Moreover, the females became irritable and even dangerous, and the males became passive and lacked sex interest. more

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Natural Diet for Pet Birds
Bird owners are beginning to question the value of commercial diets, realizing that they are a far cry from resembling anything our birds are accustomed to eating in the wild.

Nutrition in Small Mammals
by Susan A. Brown, D.V.M 

A variety of small mammals such as hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, rats, rabbits, chinchillas, and ferrets are commonly kept as household pets for adults and children alike. These pets have been bred in captivity for years and are ideal for a variety of pet owners because of their small space requirements, quiet nature, ease of handling, and relatively simple husbandry requirements. Diet is an important part of the care of these pets, and each species should have its own specific nutritional needs met. A rabbit is not a rodent is not a ferret, and so on.

SMALL MAMMAL HEALTH SERIES
In Veterinary Partner.com's Small Mammal Health Series, renowned exotic animal veterinarian Dr. Susan Brown covers general husbandry and proper diets -- as well as specific common (and not so common) medical disorders in rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, etc. 

Nutrition and Care for Ferret, Reptiles and Rodents

• Ferret Natural Health Care and Optimum Diet
• GuineaPigs, Rats, Hamsters, Rabbits
• Reptiles (Snakes, Lizards, Turtles)

Testimonials
Read the heart warming testimonials about animals who fully recovered from cancer and other illnesses with holistic/nutritional therapies. This is a collection of emails I received over the years and for which I received the permission to publish on my site. With almost each testimonial you will find an email address to facilitate correspondence, feedback, and support. Shirley

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Natural Animal Health Library
Books and video on Natural Health Care for Animals -- Obedience Dog Training (and behavior problem-solving), and Solving Cat Behavior Problems. 

Need help/support?

• Sample Recipes of Homemade Rawfood Diet for Animals 
• Get inspiration from breeders and pet owners who share their ideas, experiences, and recipes about RAW homemade meals. 
• This is a group of like-minded souls who have come together for the well being of their pets. They are a support group for people who have chosen to feed their cats and dogs a Species-Specific Raw Diet and to care for them as much as possible in a holistic way. Many of them have fed a raw diet for many years, some only more recently. How did they get here? Some came here through recommendations by friends, but many of us were struggling alone after reading books by Pitcairn, Volhard, and Billinghurst. They were looking for that "bit extra" and for others who shared our beliefs and could give us support. They have found that support with Raw Recruits.
• There is also an email list you can join. Find support, help, feedback, motivation, etc. about all issues related to the BARF diet (BARF = Bones and Raw Food - it refers to a type of diet fed to dogs and cats, which totally excludes all commercial dog foods. Also check out the (BARF = Bones and Raw Food) 
• NATURAL REARING BREEDERS DIRECTORY Dedicated to dog and cat breeders using holistic health care for their animals

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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." 

Supporting Your Animal's Immune System Naturally

Charles W. Brown, DVM - "My colleagues and I have found this product to be very effective in modulating the immune system. Transfer factor is a "soup" of immune-modulating factors, which contains a leukocyte-type molecule that can passively transfer immunity from one mammal to another by stimulating cell-mediated immunity and is antigen specific. 

Scientifically Studied: 4Life Transfer Factor Plus Tri-Factor Formula was developed by 4Life researchers and scientists in an effort to maximize immune system support. Results of an independent study conducted at the Russian Academy of Medical Science conclusively showed that 4Life Transfer Factor Plus Tri-Factor Formula propelled Natural Killer (NK) cell activity to a remarkable 437 percent above normal immune system response. No matter what the immune system needs, 4Life Transfer Factor Plus Tri-Factor Formula delivers powerful support to help you achieve a strong and healthy immune system that knows exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to get it done quickly. It combines the intelligence of 4Life Transfer Factor E-XF, the intuition of NanoFactor, and the power of 4Life’s proprietary Cordyvant blend to regulate, boost, and balance your immune system. Scientific studies report that this Plus Formula can boost immune cell responsiveness 437 percent above normal immune system response.

Shirley's testimonial - April 20002
When my 11 year old dog, Shasta, suffered a series of illnesses and a stroke which left her  paralyzed in the hind legs, I treated her with homeopathy and herbal extracts and she recovered within a few hours. However, her vitality was very low. I din't think she was going to make it through the Spring. After a couple of weeks on the Transfer Factor Plus (human formula) and homeopathy and herbal extract and rest her energy level and vitaliy improved remarkably. She appears to be back the way she was 2 years ago: frisky and playful. Shirley more on my dogs' recovery with homeopathy).

Veterinarians recommend the human formula, Transfer Factor Plus instead of the pet formula for their sick animals. I find it is easier to give the content of a small capsule of high potency of TF Plus, to very sick dog or cat, especially if they have difficulty eating. The Canine and Feline Complete formulas contain yeast and some dogs have a sensitivity to yeast which may give them the run. Since Shasta is is sensitive to yeast I give her the Transfer Factor Plus (human formula) which I think is a more potent immune booster. I started by giving her one capsule of TF plus (I shoved a capsule in her mouth or mixed it in her food) for 3 consecutive days. As she did well on one capsule, I increased the dosage to 2 capusles a day (one morning and one evening). A few weeks later, as she was doing much better, I decreased the dosage to one capsule a day as a maintenance dosage. Shirley 
Customary disclaimer:  Please check with your veterinarian prior to giving your pet dietary supplements that are intended for human consumption. 

More information about Transfer Factor: articles by doctors and veterinarians
Information where to purchase Transfer Factor

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

Our pets are prone to suffer from minerals and trace mineral deficiency. For optimum health, I supplement my animal's diet (and my diet too) with the following: fulvic minerals , 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 therapeutic clay  (to promote healing and to detoxify) and with omega 3 oils. Shasta does not drink tap water. I give her only energized, alkaline microwater which is free from toxic chlorine and fluoride.  I support my animals' immune system with Transfer Factor. I never cook or warm up food in a microwave oven. Please read about the Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking.   Shirley

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?  or use this contact form or call 206-984-3009 or 323-389-0560

Most Popular Natural Pet Products...

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Routine Vaccination: Is it Really Safe and Effective?

"...Lack of scientific evidence to support the current practice of annual vaccination, and increasing documentation showing that over-vaccinating has been associated with harmful side effects. Of particular note in this regard has been the association of autoimmune hemolytic anemia with vaccination in dogs and vaccine-associated sarcomas in cats -- both of which are often fatal.*  With boosters (except for rabies vaccine), the annual re-vaccination recommendation on the vaccine label is just that -- a recommendation without the backing of long-term duration of immunity studies, and is not a legal requirement." More

* Testimonial of a dog's full recovery from Auto Immune Haemolytic Anaemia

Dr. Richard Pitcairn D.V.M., Ph.D.  "In this article we begin to address the subject of vaccinosis, the general name for chronic disease caused by vaccines. For some readers the very idea that vaccines are anything but wonderful and life-saving may come as a surprise, and it's not a very pleasant one. After all, the general population pictures vaccines as one of modern medicine's best and brightest moments, saving literally millions from the scourge of diseases like poliomyelitis and smallpox." 

Dr. Mc D.V.M -  "...we must stop advocating yearly vaccines because of the harm we are doing to the animals we vaccinate. He covered the homeopathic concept of "vaccinosis." Vaccinosis is a disease entity that may be introduced through vaccinating animals or people. Once vaccinosis develops, there is a disturbance in the body's vital forces that leads to symptoms of chronic disease that can be very difficult (and often impossible) to cure. Dr. McCluggage also stated that there are no good reasons to recommend annual vaccinations for our companion animals. " 

Donna Starita Mehan D.V.M "Routine" vaccination has adverse side effects, either short- or long-term. With vaccines that are repeated year after year, the frequency and severity of these side effects in our pets has increased dramatically. Most of the problems involve the immune system. After all, the immune system is what vaccines are designed to stimulate. But they do so in a very unnatural way that can overwhelm and confuse the immune system and can result in increased susceptibility to acute infections (such as ear infections in dogs, bladder infections in cats), chronic tapeworm problems, or in more degenerative cases, cancer." 

Read about the comments of other vets who believe that vaccines are damaging our pets. Read the above quotes in their entirety. Please get informed!

Correctly Prescribed Homeopathic Remedies Can Often Undo the Damage Caused by Vaccines.
Homeopathy is noted for its success to relieve 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.

Animals aren't the only ones at risk! What every parent should know before their chidden are vaccinated!

Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? 
Why are a growing number of parents and healthcare professionals around the world questioning vaccination? The controversy stems from the thousands of deaths and permanent disabilities attributed to vaccination annually, as well as the many published medical studies, government statistics, congressional testimonies, and other credible sources that directly contradict commonly held assumptions about vaccine safety and effectiveness. 

More pictures of vaccine damage available to view at the CDC website

One Congressman is calling for criminal penalties for any government agency that knew about the dangers of thimerosal in vaccines and did nothing to protect American children. 
Congressman Dan Burton (R-Indiana) during Congressional hearing: "You mean to tell me that since 1929, we've been using Thimerosal, and the only  test that you know of is from 1929, and every one of those people had mennigitis, and they all died?" For nearly an hour, Burton repeatedly asked FDA and CDC officials what they knew and when they knew it. (Thimerosal contains a related mercury compound called ethyl mercury. Mercury is a toxic metal that can cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions.)

"Bart Classen, a Maryland physician, published data showing that diabetes rates rose significantly in New Zealand following a massive Hepatitis-B vaccine campaign in young children, and that diabetes rates also went up sharply in Finland after three new childhood vaccines were introduced." Nicholas Regush ABCNEWS.com

In fall 1997, two influential professional magazines featured articles asking the question: Has the decrease of infectious diseases in childhood through the mass use of vaccines been replaced with an increase in chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma? The Economist, a prestigious international magazine read by world leaders in government, business, and public policy, and Science News, a magazine read by both healthcare professionals and the general public, explored the reported links between vaccines and chronic diseases in their November 22, 1997 issues. Learn more about the vaccine and diabetes connection -- the asthma and vaccine connection -- the SIDS and autism and vaccine connection -- the "Shaken Baby Syndrome": the vaccination link.
 

This child died as a result of vaccines

Please get informed! Enter the vaccine information site

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"Most of what I've learned about the holistic care and treatment of my dog I've learned from Shirley's Wellness Cafe. This vast and detailed resource is the result of a journey of natural healing that webmaster Shirley used on herself and her family to completely turn their lives around. Those lessons are applied here with full force for the benefit of our canine companions. Raw food diets, detailed feature articles on a wide variety of wellness topics, health reports, and studies are all represented here in a slightly cluttered, yet home-style approach that blends a first-person knowledge and passion for the subject with a caring and nurturing writing style. Thank you, Shirley. The 'net's a better place because of sites like yours."Gene Sower, Editor and Guide of dogs.about.com

Site map
 

Home: ShirleysWellnessCafe.com (aka: MyWellnessHouse.com) is a free educational site site dedicated to help promote holistic health for you, your family, and your animals. 
 
 

Do you have a question about holistic animal health or need assistance?  or use this contact form or call 206-984-3009 or 323-389-0560
 
 
 

Most Popular Natural Pet Products...
 
 

Natural Animal Health  Overview of Natural,  Holistic Veterinary Medicine
 
 
 
 

 Deadly, Contagious Dog Flu Virus - Dr. Cynda Crawford, an immunologist at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine who is studying the virus, said that it spread most easily where dogs are housed together but that it can also be passed on the street, in dog runs, or even by a human transferring it from one dog to another. Kennel workers have carried the virus home with them. Read what Dr. Falconer D.V.M.  recommends to protect your pet  from the  Canine Flu disease
 
 
 

Dangerous Side Effects or Flu Vaccine, H1N1, and Tamiflu Drug  NFL cheerleader suffers brain damage after getting flu shot (watch the video). Medical doctors warning about dangerous side effects of flu vaccine and flu drug. more...
 
 
 
 
 
 

Pet deaths prompt recall of pet food   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. More accounts of stricken pets had been coming in since the numbers were tallied over the weekend. He said the final number for pets suffering from kidney failure could be in the tens of thousands. more on the recall

• Shop for Safe, All Natural Human Ingredients Healthy Pet Food
• Natural Treatment of Pet Kidney Disease
• Dr. Jones DVM - "The Truth Behind The Pet Food Recall"
• Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Pet Food Companies

• Make your voice heard! Click here to send the FDA a message 
• US Food Industry Begins Widespread Food Irradiation
• "Nuked Food" - The Dangers of Irradiated Food

Dogs love Dr. Miller's Detox Tea too!
Folks give Holy Tea to their dogs because it helps improve their digestion thus eliminate bad breath and body odors. The tea helps eliminate toxins from the liver and assists in cleansing waste and compacted fecal matter from the colon. more
 
 
 
 
 
 

100% all natural and organic flea and tick control products
New safe and effective  biotechnology product is now available for full prevention and eradication of flea, tick, lice, mite, mange, bedbug, etc. more...

Warning:  Spot-On Pesticides such as Frontline, Zodiac, Defend, Bio Spot, Adams and Advantage trigger adverse reactions in dogs and cats,  shorten life spans, cause terminal illness, and premature death. more...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Dr. 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 transfer factors 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
 
 
 
 
 

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 and licking of the air. 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." learn more
 
 
 

Veterinary Secrets Revealed!
E-book
Veterinary Secrets Revealed is the bible for solving your pet health problems with natural, at home remedies. Dr. Jones shows you more ways to treat your pet at home than I knew existed.

"These are all practical remedies that really work. No pet owner should be without this e-book." Dr. Jeff Serfas, Forestburg Animal Hospital
 

Natural Methods For Equine Health  Horses, just like any other animal benefit from natural veterinary care and prevention.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hilarious 30 seconds videos. They will make your day! 
Dog protecting his bone
Dog being massaged by cat
Cat will not share meal with dog
Great Escapes - dogs are so smart! 
Dog born with no front legs walks like a human...you have to see it to believe it!
 
 

United Kingdom Raw Meaty Bones
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons: Letters have been written to the RCVS, outlining our concerns over the continued promotion and sale of processed pet food by the majority of veterinary surgeons. We have expressed our concern about the influence of pet food manufacturers within the veterinary colleges. We have pointed out the huge inadequacies of manufactured pet food, and the harm it does to our pet carnivores. We have told them of the huge health improvements that we have seen in our own pets, since changing them to a raw meaty bone diet, and explained that this is seen around the world by other dog, cat and ferret owners when they change their pets to a natural diet. More
 
 
 

Gallery of Factory Farming Photos and Videos Witness first-hand what farm animals endure. (scroll down that page to view ALL videos)

Please sign the petition to help Enact the Protected Animal Law 
 

More at Shirley's Wellness Cafe:
Holistic Animal Health
Natural Health for Children
Natural Health for Women
Natural Health for Men
Steroids' Side Effects - Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Natural Remedies 
Eyesight Conditions - Natural Solutions
Arthritis Conditions - Natural Treatment
Diabetes Alternative Medicine 
Health Issues: Consumer Alert!
Alternative Cancer Therapies
Gulf War Syndrome Causes and Illnesses
Chia Seeds: The Wonder Food with Healing Power
Antibiotic Resitance Crisis - The Prebiotics and Probiotic Revolution
The New Healing Science of Glyconutrients 
What is Homeopathy?
Urine therapy: medically proven natural cure
Thyroid Disorder and the fluoride connection
Toxic Environment - Toxic Cosmetics
Detoxification for Optimum Health: Chemicals and toxins are the primary cause of disease and obesity
Glutathione's role in health, aging and cancer
Tonic Herbs for Longevity, Rejuvenation, Immunity
Raw Food and Juice Therapy
Therapeutic Fasting
Healing with Herbs and Other Natural Remedies
Water: the great healer
The acid-alkaline balance's impact on health
Clay Therapy - Our Earth, Our Cure
Bee Pollen: healing from the hives
Magnesium Medical Miracles
Marine plants to enhance health
Profound Life-Giving Properties of Marine Phytoplankton 
Guide to natural treatments for Fibromyalgia
Immune system: The body's defense department
Sunlight to restore health
Cayenne Pepper: the great healer
The acid-alkaline balance's impact on health
Allicin, The Heart of Garlic - Mother Nature's Defender
Wheatgrass juice: Nectar of health and rejuvenation
Healing Earth: Fulvic Acid and Shilajit
Stem Cell Physiology -  Supporting Bone Marrow Adult Stem Cell Release Naturally
A healing crisis: what is it?
Transfer Factor for people and animals
Overcoming stress naturally
Overcoming The Sugar Blues and Getting Off Prozac
Healing shingles/herpes zoster naturally and rapidly
Flaxseed Oil The Wonder Healer
Cholesterol Myth - Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill!
Salt Deficiency: The cause of many serious diseases
Radiant, healthy skin: The natural way
Words Of Wisdom Follow Your Dreams!.
Dangers of Modern Medicine: Iatrogenic Diseases 
Healing asthma: a drugless approach
Alzheimer's Disease: There is Hope! 
Healing eczema: A drugless approach
Healing psoriasis: A drugless approach
Parasites Infections: Symptoms and Natural Treatment (humans and  pets)
Basic Healing Principles
AIDS/HIV/AZT: The truth behind the propaganda
The bitter truth about nutrasweet
Canola oil: how toxic is it?
Bovine Growth Hormones in your milk
Beware of Genetically Engeneered Foods
Radiation Emergencies: Protecting The Thyroid Gland
Weight Loss: Natural and healthy solutions
West Nile Virus - What the media won't tell you
Most Popular Natural Health Products Safe and Effective Remedies  for People and Pets
About the author of this website

Vaccines:
Doctors and parents expose how vaccines are crippling our children. 
Dr. David Ayoub, M.D. lectures on Vaccines, Mercury, Autism and other disease

Vaccines: deception and tragedy
Vaccines and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Shaken Baby Syndrome or Vaccine-Induced Encephalitis?
Misdiagnosed Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Criminal Consequence of Vaccine Injury
AUTISM: is there a vaccine connection?
Criminal Consequence of Vaccine Injury
Anthrax Vaccine Facts and Gulf War Syndrome
Government Enforced Vaccinations: Vaccination Tracking Registry
How To Legally Avoid Unwanted Immunizations Of All Kinds
Tamiflu, Flu Vaccine: Shocking Discovery 
Animals: Chronic dis-ease caused by vaccines
Nosodes: Alternative to conventional vaccines
Library: Vaccine Controversy books

Holistic Children's Health :
Holistic Pediatrics (general)
Nutrition for Babies and Children
Attachment Parenting
Ear infections: alternative to tubes and antibiotics
Pshychiatry - betraying and drugging children for profit
Childhood vaccinations: Are they really safe and effective?
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: astonishing facts
Autism: is there a vaccine connection?
The Circumcision Decision: What I wish I had known...
Understanding your baby's needs
Natural Birth and Home Birth
Ritalin Free Kids: Helping Children, Not Drugging Them
Homeopathy for Children and Infants
Forced Drugging of Children Parents  facing jail over compulsory drug orders.
No Longer Blind: The story of Shirley's baby born blind and brain-injured

Holistic Animal health :
Do You Really Know What's In Your Pet's Food? by Dr. Jane Bicks DVM
Why RAW food?
Food Unfit For Pets
All Natural Healthy Pet Food 
Animal Nutritional Therapy
Natural Animal  Health
Homeopathy for animals
Renal Failure - Urinary Tract condition
Animals Messengers of Love and Wisdom
Pet Allergies: Non toxic natural solutions
Rearing healthy pups and kittens
Saving Shasta's life: a holistic approach
Sample RAW pet food recipes
Toxic environment and your pet's illness
Alternative to antibiotics
Testimonials of amazing animal healing.
Preventing and Healing Animal Cancer without drugs or surgery
Holistic Health for Horses
Feline Holistic Health
Natural diet for pet birds
Ferret Natural Health Care and Optimum Diet
Vaccinosis: Chronic disease caused by vaccines
Nosodes: Alternative to conventional vaccines
List of holisitic veterinarians
Managing flea bites and hotspots naturally
Improving your animal's health with kelp
Library: holistic animal health
Animal training and behavior library
Training Shasta for personal protection

Shop for all natural, non-toxic, safe products for your pet's health and well being.
 
 
 

 Natural Remedies for Stressed Pets
Animals respond just as well to non-toxic anti-stress natural remedies. Animals too, have an active mental and emotional life. and can manifest behavioral and physical problems that have their roots in emotional trauma.
 
 
 
 

Watch these Free Videos: 

‘We Become Silent" A must see documentary about the threat to medical freedom of choice. The Last Days of Health Freedom' details the ongoing attempts by multinational pharmaceutical interests and giant food companies  to limit the public’s access to herbs, vitamins and other therapies. 
Prescription for Disaster  in-depth investigation into the relationships between the pharmaceutical industry, the FDA, lobbyists, lawmakers, medical schools, and researchers, and the impact this has on consumers and their health care.
Video library   (whistleblower doctors)
 

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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 
 

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Natural Animal Health category
 
 
 

 

WHAT VETS DON'T TELL YOU ABOUT VACCINES
Read the comments of veterinarians who believe that vaccines are damaging our pets. This information will make you cry as your learn about the scam that is the mainstay of the veterinary field. Learn the truth  about the terrible suffering of pets and their owners and what can be done to protect your animals from the drug companies and ignorant vets. 'Shock to the System' covers the latest information on the vaccine issue, and puts the other pieces of the puzzle into the picture. Diet, environmental toxins, pharmaceuticals and stress all play a part in the health of companion animals.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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

Ready-To-Eat Raw Pet Food

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Natural dog and cat food  Quality pet food with only natural, wholesome ingredients and nutrient dense with vitamins, minerals, fats and fatty acids which are essential for the optimal health of your dog or cat. learn more 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Want to learn how to prepare raw homemade food for your pets? Sample Raw Homemade Petfood Recipes
 
 
 
 
 

Heart-warming testimonials People share their success of healing their animals without drugs, surgery, or radiation. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Natural Pet Treats  Pure and Natural
No Hormones
No Chemicals
No Artificial Color or Flavors
No Additives,  No Preservatives, 
No Fillers. Only The Freshest Human Quality Ingredients.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Join Dr Andrew Jones To Learn The
"Secrets" of Pet Emergency Care
And you could WIN The Veterinary Secrets Revealed Home Study Multimedia Course. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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 inflamed 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 from entering into a wound. Learn more
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Agility with Glucosamine and MSM  A holistic multi-action formula that contains glucosamine, MSM, sea mussels, special herbs and fish oils, which support the biochemical functions necessary for healthy bones and joints. Agility is a safe alternative to Rimadyl, steroids, or NSAID, with no side effects.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Home-base Income opportunity
Share with others nature's gifts that assists us on our journey to optimal health and wellness.

• Do You Really Know What's In Your Pet's Food? by Dr. Jane Bicks DVM Note: scroll down to the bottom of that page to watch the video and listen to Dr. Bick's audio
• Animal Nutritional Therapy (flaxseed oil, bee pollen, minerals, seaweed/kelp, Transfer Factor).
• Sample Recipes of Optimum Rawfood Diet for Animals. 
• Ready-to-Eat Health Food (raw or kibbles) for dogs, cats and ferrets.
• Treating Animal Diseases Naturally: part 1 - part 2
• Toxic shampoos, toxic drugs, toxic environment affecting pet's health
• Testimonials: saving pets from toxic nightmare
• Testimonials of amazing cures  with holistic veterinary treatments.
• Homeopathy for Animals: Safe and effective alternative to conventional veterinary practice.
• Library: Books and video on natural healthcare for animals, obedience dog training (and behavior problem-solving), and solving cat behavior problems.
• Safe, 100% natural pest control Natural organic safe and effective control of Flea, Ticks, Bed Bugs and other Pests 
• Animal Day Care and Boarding Places and Animal Rescue With the natural and holistic approach in mind 

• Preventing and Healing Animal Cancer without chemo, radiation, or drugs.
• Overweight Pet: Weight management for dogs and cats.
• Juliette de Bairacli Levy: Natural rearing.
• Routine Vaccination: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association:"Are We Vaccinating Too Much?"
• Saving Shasta's life: the holistic approach: How I restored my dog's health and vitality- Shirley
• Managing allergies, flea bites and hot spots naturally: A drugless approach.
• Rearing Healthy Pups and Kittens
• Holistic Health for Horses
• Holistic Health For Your Pet Bird
• Holistic Health for Cats
• Need Assistance or Support?: Join the free support groups and mailing lists.
• Holistic Veterinarians: listing 
• Health Supplies: natural, safe, non-toxic for pets.

Natural Health for Children:

• Alternatives to steroids, antibiotics, and ear tubes.
• Homeopathy for children and infants.
• Do you know what happens during circumcision?
• Health hazard and adverse effects of vaccines 
• Forced drugging of children: parents may face jail over compulsory drug orders.
• Attachment parenting.
• Resources for Children With Special Needs: the Holistic approach ADD/ADHD Helping Children, Not Drugging Them: In 1996 the World Health Organization warned that Ritalin over-use has reached dangerous proportions. Learn about alternatives to Ritalin and other drugs.

Natural Health for Women:

• Candida: Conquering yeast infections: The non-drug solution.
• Infertility and miscarriage.
• Treating menopause naturally.
• Autoimmune low-thyroid can cause fatigue, depression, excess weight.
• Estrogen's Deadly Truth: a story of deception, betrayal, hidden agendas, propaganda, and misinformation.
• Lifting the Curse of PMS.
• Beating Breast Cancer with nutrition.

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Enter Holistic Health for Women

Natural Health: Men's Sexual Functions:

• Optimal prostate health and disease prevention. Measure prostate enlargement.
• Prostate cancer: a drugless approach.
• Homeopathic approach to impotence, bladder infections, prostate problems, etc.
• The male andropause (like menopause).
• Male herbs for impotence.

And more...

Enter Holistic Health for Men

Peter R. Breggin, MD. - "The drugging of children has gotten so out-of-hand that America is waking up to this. This is a national catastrophe." More

Julian Whitaker MD. - "Class-action lawsuits have been filed in Texas, California, and New Jersey charging Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis, maker of Ritalin, with conspiracy to create the psychiatric disorder known as ADHD in order to fuel the market for their product."