Let food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food.
- Hippocrates  430BC

He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the skill of the physician.
- Chinese Proverb

When diet is wrong medicine is of no use.
When diet is correct medicine is of no need.
- Ancient Ayurvedic Proverb

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The Good Ol' Days (cont.)

But, when I see the industries that have grown around servicing today's pets I remember a simpler and better way. The horsemeat in that can was real chunks of meat without all the chemicals we see in pet foods today. No one would have ever suggested that supper's leftovers would upset the balance of any dog's nutrition, in fact it was regularly half their meal. There were very few vaccines and there were very few sick dogs. Old Yeller was the only dog I ever knew who got rabies. There were no doggy treadmills and no animal psychologists. Nobody went to obedience school because a tired dog was a good dog. The SPCA only had two or three strays at any given time. When we went to the vet there wasn't anyone else in the waiting room. Raw meaty bones were the norm, not the latest discovery. And if someone had tried to tell you then that a bag of hard, dried kibble was filled with delicious, healthy things to eat, you would probably have replied "Hey, you must think I'm stupid!".  Oh, for the good old days!

Great Tips for a Pet Safe Holiday Season! (cont.)

Exercise is always important but especially so at the holidays. A nice long walk and some romping in leaf piles with the kids is a good way to spend some of that holiday energy and have everyone a bit calmer before sitting down to the long awaited feast.

Educate your guests as to what the 'pet rules' of the house are and let them know that these rules are for your pets' safety and well being. Be sure to let them know about begging, treats and where to safely put dish scrapings after the meal.  And keep an eye on Uncle Al who will secretly feed little Bailey treats all day and swear he's not doing it!

Thanksgiving leftovers for your pets may seem like a wonderful idea while you are feeling generous and in the holiday spirit, but don't do it unless your pet is accustomed to eating the same foods you are about to serve. For a pet unaccustomed to anything but kibble, the introduction of even a partial plate of thanksgiving dinner can create gastric disturbances (I'm trying to be delicate here) that could range from unpleasant to bad enough for an unexpected  trip to your veterinarian... just as you were about to serve the pie! Your veterinarian has lots of stories about this that I'm sure he or she will be happy to share with you.

Keep snacks and other plates of food out of reach. Even your most pet loving guests don't enjoy dog slobber with their crackers and cheese, and you definitely don't want your pet dangerously scarfing down the bacon wrapped scallop with the toothpick in it. Keep all things chocolate away from your pets. Chocolate can be very toxic and has induced seizures and even death in many pets.

Secure garbage receptacles safely out of reach of your pets. That means behind closed doors (inside a cabinet) or even high on the counter. A quick raid on cooked turkey bones can have tragic consequences for cats and dogs alike. I place all of my turkey bones into a bag that goes directly into my freezer and from there to an outdoor garbage can just before the scheduled weekly pickup.

Temporary ID tags are a great idea if you are taking your pet visiting with you on a holiday or at any other time. Most of us have our cell phones wherever we are so having your cell number on your pets' tags with your home telephone number is doubly effective if your pet has wandered off. 

Emergency veterinary care information whether displayed prominently in your own home or secured in advance of where you are visiting has saved many a pet's life. Be sure to ask whether the facility is open on the holiday and if not, where they refer their emergencies to. Then Google the driving directions and keep them handy with the rest of the information.

With all the upsets and difficulties that can show up unexpectedly in our lives, we never really have that far to look for something to be truly thankful for. I know it's that way for me, and I hope it is for you.

Have a warm, wonderful and safe Thanksgiving holiday from all of us at Pet Wellness Resource Center!

Be happy, stay healthy,

Deb Silke, Director
Pet Wellness Resource Center

The Diet/Health Connection: The Word is Out! (cont.)

Here's something to think about... probably 95% of veterinary patients are cats and dogs. Cats and dogs are carnivores, and that means that they require a diet much higher in animal protein than we humans. The world is pretty much in agreement these days that we are what we eat. It doesn't seem much of a stretch to extend that same rule to our pets. Wouldn't it make sense in the practice of administering professional health care to dogs and cats that training in carnivore nutrition would be essential?

Back to the small but growing number of veterinarians who actually support the idea of leaving commercial pet food behind in favor of a diet more naturally suited to the animal. They are the ground breakers in their industry and they are listening to their clients. Still, there are some hurdles to overcome. 

Most veterinarians work for a clinic or hospital practice. More and more, these practices are becoming corporately owned. Just like physicians in a human hospital practice, they may have certain productivity benchmarks to meet. For example, veterinary vaccination appointments bring in a substantial amount of revenue. A veterinarian who is not encouraging clients to get annual booster shots may be noticed unfavorably by superiors. If a veterinary facility does a big business in pet food, that same veterinarian may be required to stop engaging in conversations about feeding 'real' food, even if he or she whole heartedly believes in its benefits.  And if none of those hurdles are present, I hear from my clients that even when their veterinarian agrees that a diet of 'real' food is best for pets, they are rarely able to provide any guidelines for it and don't yet know where to send their clients for reliable information.

The sad fact is that a veterinary facility today probably has the least information available on a healthy diet for your pets than anywhere else you might think to look for it. While I am confident that we are at the forefront of some huge and wonderful changes in how veterinary care is taught and practiced, we are not there yet and like most big industries, it is a titanic that will take some time to turn around.  
 
In the meantime, there are established and dedicated sources out there where you can find the information you need about optimal pet nutrition and can be confident that it is reliable. 

We at Pet Wellness Resource Center recognize each pet as an individual, that while their basic needs may be the same as another, their own particular requirements related to age, activity level and current state of health are specific to them. We make it our business to get the right information about pet nutrition to you about your pet.

At Pet Wellness Resource Center we are passionate about keeping you informed and helping you to keep your beloved pets healthy and happy through the most natural means possible. We offer our services to you through telephone consultations, health evaluations and workshops at your pet business, organizations and clubs.  

For more information please visit our website at www.PetWellnessRC.com  or call us at 978-655-4696.