ASK THE HOLISTIC VETERINARIAN

NUTRITION

The key to good health and a healthy body is directly related to what is put into that body, and this applies to both animals and people. Good nutrition is the basis of a healthy pet. It is essential to feed as healthy a diet as you can. Many commercial pet foods include by-products and also chemicals that are known to have serious side effects. By-products include chicken heads and legs, tumors, diseased organs, and many other things that are not considered good for human consumption.

If you wouldn't eat it why should your pet? Chemicals to avoid include BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin, as well as any artificial coloring or flavoring. Ideally a natural home prepared diet is a lot healthier, providing that an appropriate vitamin and mineral supplement is added. With cats it is essential to add the essential amino acid taurine to their diet, as lack of this can lead to blindness.

Foods that are good to feed include natural whole grains, such as brown rice, organic vegetables, and meats such as chicken, beef or rabbit. There are many good books that suggest detailed diets and some suggestions are given below. If it is not possible to prepare a diet then a good quality commercial pet food should be considered. Look for a food that is preserved naturally and keep away from artificial additives or by-products. Read the labels, and don't just look at the bag, as this can sometimes be misleading.

Many good natural pet foods are available, but even so it is good to add some natural foods in with the pet food, such as some left over vegetables or meat. Try and give as natural a food as possible and your pet will start to look and feel more healthy, vibrant and energetic.

There now is a shift towards raw food diets, such as the popularized BARF diet, which is an acronym for Bones and Raw Food Diet, developed by Dr. Ian Billinghurst an Australian Veterinarian. I think that most healthy dogs and cats do very well on a raw food diet as this is ideally what their digestive tract evolved to process. I would add that small, elderly or sick pets have special requirements and recommend working with a holistic veterinarian on their natural diet. Various raw food diet recipes are available for both cats and dogs. I recommend Anitra Frazier's book The New Natural Cat and Give your Dog a Bone by Dr. Ian Billinghurst as well as  The Ultimate Diet - Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats" by Kymythy Schultze which is very easy to follow and explains things very well indeed.

Web site: petsynergy.com

Email: drscholey@petsynergy.com

Phone: 509-892-7423

Holistic is derived from the word whole, and refers to the treatment of the whole organism, rather than the treatment of individual body parts, or the removal of symptoms. Conventional or Western medicine tends to concentrate more on the removal of symptoms. Holistic veterinary medicine encompasses many modalities, including conventional medicine where it is required or appropriate.

Modalities such as acupuncture, homeopathy, herbalism or nutrition are better referred to as complementary rather than alternative, as they can complement more traditional methods not just be last resort alternatives. It is required that the practitioner treating animals with whatever holistic method be first and foremost a licensed veterinarian. This is because veterinarians are rigorously trained in the diagnosis of disease and the practice of veterinary medicine and can determine the best approach for an individual patient.

For example a broken leg often requires surgical intervention, although homeopathic remedies can subsequently be used to increase healing, and decrease pain and inflammation. This is an example of true complementary medicine, where the best of all worlds is available. Holistic veterinary medicine includes many modalities.

Dr. Anna Maria Gardner MA Vet. MB is a Holistic Veterinarian formerly located in the San Juan Islands. Her services include acupuncture, homeopathy, nutrition, flower remedies and herbs, as well as reiki and other holistic modalities. She now resides in Spokane, Washington and is available for housecalls and phone consultations.

She was born in Sheffield, England and studied at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, UK from 1982 to 1985, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Medical Sciences June 1985. She continued her veterinary studies at Darwin College, Cambridge University from 1985 to 1988 and graduated June 1988 with a Veterinary degree, Vet. MB and a distinction in Surgery and Pathology.

She worked in Hong Kong from January 1989 to April 1992, when she became interested in complementary medicine and was able to study Bach Flower Remedies, Reiki, Homeopathy and Nutritional Therapy with a holistic healer. Reiki, Level II, certification completed during that time.

Web site: petsynergy.com

Email: drgardner@petsynergy.com

Phone: 509-892-7423