Does Your Dog Need a Pet Vitamin Supplement?
by Geraldine Dimarco

Being healthy is something that everyone on this planet tries to achieve. We may not actually participate in everything that we should do in order to keep our bodies healthy, but we at least think about staying healthy. How could we not with all the media that is constantly surrounding us about getting and staying healthy?

However, do we ever stop to think about the one "person" that loves us unconditionally and their health? Our pets give us so much including being a huge stress reliever, that we sometimes overlook keeping them healthy. One thing that we can do everyday for our animals is to give them a pet vitamin supplement.

Did you know that dog vitamins will help your dog live a longer and healthier life? By giving them a good pet vitamin supplement you are helping to ensure that their immune system is running at its fullest potential. Just as with humans, our pets need supplements to keep up with the daily grind of life.

With the recent pet food scare coming out of China, our dogs need dog vitamins now more than ever. Even if you are even giving Fido a top quality dog food, he will still need supplements to stay at the top of his game. Many types of vitamins exist, including melatonin for dogs, and understanding which constitutes a good vitamin for your four legged friend can make all the difference in their health.

Where you dog are at in their life will determine the type of vitamins for dogs that you give to your dog. Take an active puppy for instance they will require specific vitamins to help them get the best start in their lives. A type of Omega-3 fatty acid should be included in the vitamin to keep the heart healthy.

A supplement for the older dogs is popular as well. Glucosamine for joint health and movement is included in many of the dog vitamins made specifically for senior dogs. You can find vitamins that are specifically designed for the overall health of an adult dog in the prime of his life - these are intended to keep the animal at their best and in the best possible health.

You should always find ways to keep your dog healthy no matter where they are in their life. What type of food you are buying them and what is actually in it should be of a concern to you. You should never buy a dog food just because it is on sale at the grocery store.

On the other hand, changing your dog's diet suddenly could lead to them having an upset stomach and other issues. It is important to remember that a dogs body is just as delicate as ours are. Every advantage that we give ourselves should be given to our dogs, including giving them a pet vitamin supplement to keep them strong and healthy. We want our pets to continue growing with us. When we think of staying healthy we have to keep them in mind for this task to be achieved.

Kidney failure in dogs is a common and serious condition that can affect many dogs. It is probably one of the leading causes of death in older dogs. There are two forms in which kidney failure can manifest itself, acute or chronic. The acute form can happen quickly and suddenly, while the chronic form begins slowly and progresses over time. Sadly for the dog owner, news of either form of kidney failure is upsetting.

Kidney failure causes a loss of approximately seventy percent of normal kidney function and it is these organs that act as the body's filtration system. If the kidneys do not work properly, toxins and waste products slowly build up in the blood. This can lead to a variety of problems, and sadly, eventual death. This unfortunately is the harsh reality of canine renal failure.

Dog kidney failure stops the ability of your dog's body to function properly. Toxins begin to build up in his body, and once this starts, a number of symptoms and warning signs will more than likely become apparent. Each form of kidney failure shows different symptoms - with the acute form your dog will possibly have become dehydrated. To test for hydration, gently pull on the skin of your dog's stomach. This should spring back. If it does not, there may be a possibility that your dog is dehydrated.

You may have noticed your dog not wanting to pass urine, or there may be no urine production at all. This is also is a warning sign that your pet may be a victim of acute canine kidney failure. Kidney problems in dogs can lead to your dog having extremely painful kidneys, and you may notice your dog moving with stiff legs or an arched back. These symptoms are signs for any dog owner to watch out for.

Chronic kidney disease in dogs shows different symptoms. They may well have a change of appetite with no desire to eat where normally they would happily gulp down their food. They may perhaps go off their food altogether. This will, over time, lead to weight loss. The first warning signs which highlight the start of the disease are increased thirst and water consumption. These are frequent signs of kidney failure in dogs. Sadly the dog may lose control of its bladder with frequent increased urination occurring. As time goes on urination will become painful, in some cases impossible and blood may appear in the urine.

Canine kidney disease is serious, and can be deadly, so if there are any signs of urine symptoms, vomiting, lethargy or depression in your pet, treat this as a warning sign and alert your vet straight away. If caught quickly it may be possible to gain control over the disease.

If your veterinarian suspects dog kidney failure, he will normally follow four steps to determine if the dog has kidney failure or not.

First, he will conduct a thorough physical examination. Secondly he will ask you about your dog's relevant history, including symptoms and behavior at home.

After completing the examination and history taking, your vet will conduct two further steps - a blood test and urinary test. Both of these are necessary as to conduct one without the other will give a less certain diagnosis. Both of these tests will confirm whether your dog has the acute form of canine renal failure, or chronic canine kidney disease.

If so, make sure you have sufficient knowledge to discuss ALL options with your vet.

Your dog’s body is full of intricate inner workings that enable the body to heal itself from within, given the correct nutrients and care. Pharmaceutical drugs in the long run add more toxins to the body that can debilitate the body even more, further compromising the healing process. Pharmaceutical drugs may help your dog live a short time longer, but for many dog owners that’s just not enough.

Pure drinking water, plant based vitamins and minerals, specific herbs to cleanse the blood, strengthen the immune system and repair the liver, hydrotherapy, and exercise can all play a part in repairing your dog's kidneys naturally.

You should always consult your vet before embarking on a natural treatment program, but there are natural means of reversing kidney failure in your dog that have been known to produce results even when a veterinarian has recommended euthanasia as the only option.

For more information on natural treatments for kidney failure in dogs, click here.

The Best Dog Health Diagnosis Is From Your Vet

Your dog is more than your pet. He is your best friend, companion, and protector. When he is not feeling well, the last thing you want to do is worry that there is something seriously wrong. Therefore, off you go to the veterinarian for a dog health diagnosis.

This really should be done on a regular basis (annually is highly recommended) instead of waiting until your dog is actually sick. Your veterinarian can help you to know which things to look for if you suspect that your dog is ill. On basic trips to the vet, your dog should have several things done to keep him healthy to start with.

Vaccinations are controversial. Several diseases are the culprits behind many dog deaths, but whether vaccinations are required in adult dogs is greatly in dispute. Your dog may be required by law to have his rabies shots, but other vaccines are not usually a requirement (except by a large proportion of boarding kennels).

Keeping your dog free from fleas is important to his health. Similarly other parasites such as worms of the various types, including heart worm.

Older dogs can have asthma or even a form of Alzheimer’s which is best treated by your vet. The importance of having regular check-ups for your faithful friend cannot be stressed enough, particularly if he has already been diagnosed with some type of health problem. But that said, don't overlook the possibility of treating many of these dog health diagnoses with natural remedies. Always discuss with your vet, but by the same token, don't go to a vet who doesn't have an open mind to alternative treatments.

Many times dogs can get the same types of illnesses people get. From a common cold to full-fledged fevers, even cancer. So one of the most important things that you can do to make sure your pet is in the best health he can be is to have regular check-ups.

When you keep your pet in the best health he can be by getting check-ups on a regular basis, he will be much happier and so will you. Having a dog that mopes or acts like he does not feel well is worrisome. Just like a child who is too young to tell you what is bothering him/her, when your dog does not feel well, he cannot tell you his stomach hurts or his head hurts.

He is relying on you to make sure he is healthy the same as he depends on you for being fed, walked, bathed, and loved. There are many things you can do to keep your friend feeling great and preventing serious illness. Your vet may recommend natural remedies to keep your dog in top health.

Making sure his diet is one that is recommended for his age and his particular needs can make the difference between having an energetic, healthy pet and one that does not feel like playing or leaving his bed. You should avoid commercial brands of dog food that have high concentrates of sugar and preservatives. Exercise cannot be stressed enough, and look at it this way. It is as healthy for you as it is for your dog.

A dog health diagnosis is the way to make sure there are no problems, even if they are little ones that could turn into something more serious later. After all, if you find out a few things about how to keep your dog healthy and happy, he will be around for a long time to be a faithful companion to you. He will love you unconditionally, greet you when you come home, and best of all, he will always be your friend.

Holistic dog health care is becoming a natural way for pet owners to ensure that their cherished pets are at their healthiest, living long, happy lives to the absolute fullest.

Nutritional needs are perhaps the most important aspect to consider when it comes to a dog's health, as theirs are somewhat different from ours and will require a certain balance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to ensure everything from the digestive systems to the bones, joints, and organs as well as the skin and coat are as healthy as possible. A diet of meat, vegetables, and whole grains without any processed foods or unnecessary fillers is usually recommended when following the holistic approach to dog care.

Your Dog's Health and Herbal Remedies

Using a combination of various essential oils, flowering essences, plant extracts, and certain herbs, people have been treating a host of ailments and health conditions for the last few thousand years. As of recently, these ancient healing practices have found their way into pet care and are now becoming increasingly popular as more and more dog owners are looking for safer, healthier, and less invasive alternatives to treating their pets.

Some of the plant life that's used for treating dogs include both calendula and chamomile for promoting the healing of wounds, and the latter is often used for the treatment of respiratory ailments as well. For dogs suffering from constipation or bowel disorders, crushed flaxseed mixed with plenty of water may do the trick. For dry, itchy skin, oats are as soothing to a dog's skin as they are to a human's, and if your pup is having trouble sleeping, smelling some lavender may help them to relax and finally fall soundly asleep.

Before concocting any type of herbal remedies of your own, make it a point to do plenty of research and be absolutely certain that what you're giving your dog isn't toxic or harmful in any way, as not all herbs and flowers are safe for pets, or even people for that matter. Also, ask your veterinarian for their input and recommendations when it comes to holistic dog health and using all-natural remedies for their care.  (Don't necessarily expect your conventionally trained vet to be in favor of natural remedies, however).

Holistic Veterinary Care

Today there are an increasing number of veterinarians who are putting great stock in holistic dog health, making it a large part of their practice. A veterinarian who practices holistic pet care treats animals as a whole, rather than identifying a certain problem and prescribing one type of treatment related to that specific injury or illness.

For instance, if your dog has suddenly come down with some sort of rash on his skin causing irritation, redness, itching, a possible infection, and some fur loss, a "regular" vet would probably prescribe an antibiotic to treat the skin infection and then perhaps a topical ointment to address the itching.

A holistic veterinarian may also prescribe those two remedies, but there will be more emphasis on finding out what could have caused the rash to occur in the first place, which, of course, was the root of the infection. With holistic care, the dog's indoor and outdoor environment, his daily lifestyle, eating habits and nutritional intake are all taken into consideration before attempting to diagnose or treat the animal.

In light of growing concerns over pet food recalls, questions about whether or not to vaccinate, or how many immunizations may be "too much," or if we're overmedicating our pets as well as ourselves as a society, dog owners continue to search for effective ways for keeping their beloved best friends as healthy and happy for as long as possible.

And the great thing is that the more holistic your approach to the care and health of your dog, the less you'll actually need expensive veterinary treatment - because your dog will always be in great health!

If you're interested in holistic dog health and saving on vet bills, the Vet Secrets Home Study Course is invaluable.  It's a course compiled by a holistic veterinarian to assist pet owners to keep their pets healthy naturally!

If you've been reading my dog newsletter for long, or visiting my websites here or at www.HealthyHappyDogs.com very often, you'll know that I'm dead against the dreaded annual vaccinations for our adult dogs.

Well, Dr Larry Siegler is of like mind. Vaccinations can and do cause serious health problems in our pets. They're not only unnecessary, they're positively harmful. And the tragic thing is that any vet worth his or her salt would agree that they're unnecessary.

So why do the majority of pet owners continue to vaccinate their pets?

Dr Siegler suggests it's because vets don't want to lose the income from giving the annual vaccinations. I like to think that most vets do have our dogs' wellbeing at heart, and that the reason for hauling you in each and every year for these unnecessary and harmful booster shots isn't purely profit.

It IS important to have your dog checked out annually to make sure s/h e is generally healthy and that there is no health problem which you haven't noticed, which your vet will pick up. While I think it's a misguided method, I like to think that many vets get you in on the pretext of required vaccinations, to make sure that your dog is in good health.

But whatever the reason, I strongly recommend that you think twice before following your vet's advice to vaccinate annually.

Here's the article

The Truth About Pet Vaccinations

by Dr. Larry Siegler

Most guardians have never been told the truth about vaccinations. On the contrary, you are likely to get annual notices from your veterinarian that your companion is “due for their annual booster shots”. The evidence against vaccinating, however, is overwhelming. Most veterinarians just choose to ignore the research because they don’t want to lose the income from giving booster shots to all those animals each year.Vaccinations represent a major stress to the immune system. They can not only cause side-effects and allergic reactions, they also contribute significantly to long term chronic disease. Chronic health problems frequently appear following vaccination including skin allergies, arthritis, leukemia, upper respiratory infections, irritable bowel syndromes, neurological conditions including aggressive behavior and epilepsy, auto-immune diseases and cancer.

I have been practicing veterinary medicine for over 20 years and I see sicker animals at a younger age now than when I began. It is more and more common to see cancer in dogs and cats under 5 years of age. Autoimmune diseases are on the rise as well. Our companions are suffering from generations of over-vaccination, which combined with inadequate nutrition, poor breeding practices and environmental stresses are leaving each generation more susceptible to congenital disorders and chronic disease.

Vaccinations do help prevent serious illnesses, but they should be used with restraint. Before vaccinating, consider the risk. If your cat is indoor only and will never be exposed to unvaccinated animals, the risk of infection is low. The decision about vaccinations is very individual and should be guided by your own research on the subject before you go to the veterinarian.

Puppies and kittens should not be vaccinated until at least 12 weeks of age. Their developing immune systems are especially vulnerable to the stress of vaccines. Request individual vaccines and vaccinate at least three weeks apart if possible. Until 12 weeks of age keep your companion safe by avoiding exposure to public areas such as parks and pet stores. Keep them close to home and only expose them to animals you know are healthy. For puppies consider parvovirus and distemper at 12-15 weeks, and not until after 6 months of age for rabies. For kittens - consider one Panleukopenia combination (FRCP). Again, if available, give the vaccine components separately spaced three to four weeks apart. Feline leukemia and FIP vaccines may not be necessary for your cat. Consider its lifestyle and environment. IF your cats go outside and you have rabies in your area, give a rabies vaccine at six months of age. (Legal requirements vary from state to state.)

Vaccinations do not need “boosting”. Studies have shown that a single vaccination for parvovirus, distemper and panleukopenia results in long-term protection from disease. Simple blood tests can determine if your companion’s antibody levels for parvovirus and distemper remain high enough to resist infection. Next time your veterinarian suggests a booster shot, request the blood test first. (Rabies may be required by law every three years. Check the regulations in your state.)

I do not recommend vaccinations for Bordetella, corona virus, leptospirosis or Lyme vaccines unless these diseases are endemic locally or at a specific kennel. The currently licensed leptospira bacterins do not contain the serovars causing the majority of clinical leptospirosis today, so it is generally not a useful vaccine.

Homeopathic Nosodes are an alternative some guardians are using when choosing not to vaccinate. They can also be used before three months of age if an animal is at risk. Many guardians use these homeopathic medicines to help protect their companions against Parvovirus, Distemper, Kennel Cough, Panleukopenia and FIP. Some nosodes seem to work more effectively than others. Homeopathic nosodes are not vaccinations. They do not produce titers against these diseases like a vaccination. They do seem to offer some protection by reducing the severity of illness if the animal is exposed, even if they don't prevent it.

Never vaccinate a sick or weakened animal. If your puppy or kitten is showing signs of allergies or skin problems, WAIT. Vaccinating an already compromised immune system is almost sure to compound the problem!

Educate yourself. Your veterinarian cannot make this decision for you, nor should they. You are your companion’s guardian. It is your responsibility to give them the best care you can by researching and carefully weighing your decisions about their healthcare.

vaccinations for your dog …

[Please note that the views in the following article are not shared by all experts.  There is significant controversy over whether dog vaccines are necessary more than once every three to five years, or at all in adult dogs.]

Does Fido Really Need that Dog Vaccine?

by Ashley Mitek

Getting a shot at the doctor's office isn't much fun, and it isn't easy to watch your furry family member get one either - especially when it might be in its derrière. But in a world where even parents of young children are refusing to vaccinate their kids because they feel the risks outweigh the benefits, now some pet owners are posing similar questions to their veterinarian.

Dr. Arnon Gal is a small animal medicine resident at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. He says that, "vaccines are broken down into three categories: core, noncore, and then those that are not recommended due to lack of efficacy or fear of harming the animal." And just who decides what vaccines are core and noncore? That responsibility rests in the hands of the Canine Vaccine Task Force. They meet each year to review research and data from all over the country to develop the best vaccination protocol.

A core vaccine means that it has been decided that this shot is very important to the health of your dog, and that if the animal is not vaccinated, there is a good chance it will become seriously ill. Dr. Gal mentions that the core vaccines are, "Parvovirus, distemper, adenovirus, and, of course, rabies which is required by law."

The first three items on the list are usually combined into one vaccine so the animal does not have to receive four different shots at one time - ouch! In many cases, these vaccines will last three years. However, your veterinarian may recommend a different schedule for one reason or another.

The second category of vaccines, called noncore "usually depend upon where the dog lives and whether or not it is in an endemic area," says Dr. Gal. He gives the example of an animal living in an area known to harbor leptospirosis, like Urbana, Ill. This bacteria is spread in urine and can be zoonotic; this means the other animal in your house, the one-year-old human kind crawling on the floor, can contract the disease as well. The vaccine to this bacteria is given to most dogs in Urbana because veterinarians know that this area is endemic, or as Dr. Gal likes to say, "if your dog lives in 'lepto-land' you vaccinate for it, and if it doesn't you don't."

Many of the noncore vaccines do not last as long as the core vaccines, so they may need to be boostered every six months to a year. In short, there is no cookie-cutter recommendation for dog vaccines. Other than making sure your animal has received the core ones, it is up to your veterinarian to determine what additional shots should be given.

"Every vaccine has potential side effects," mentions Dr. Gal, but reports show the risk is quite small.

According to newly-released data from Banfield, a chain of veterinary hospitals across the United States, after reviewing over one million dogs who had been given a vaccine, only a little over one-third of one percent had an adverse reaction.

Although it may be a hindrance to take time out of your busy day to drive the dog to the vet and keep them up to date on their vaccines, it would be much worse if you found out they had contracted a serious illness and may die, when it could have been avoided with one simple vaccine. For more information about vaccinating your dog, contact your local veterinarian.

An archive of Pet Columns from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine is available online at www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/.
Veterinary Extension/Office of Public Engagement
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
217/333-2907
Source: Dr. Arnon Gal

And for more information on possible dangers of vaccination, click here.

Pet insurance is an often overlooked area and is even thought to be superfluous by some. But pet owners soon learn how costly it can be not to have pet insurance when they require expensive, and sometimes urgent, veterinary treatment for their dog.

Although there are a large number of pet owners in developed countries, many of these pet owners do not see a reason to have pet insurance. It's odd, really - most of these same people would state emphatically that their pets are part of their family, and the average American will have health insurance for every human member of their family. Why then, would we not think to provide dog insurance (and cat insurance) for our pets?

Vet costs have risen tremendously over the last decade. To cater for this increase, pet insurance providers have increased their premiums, but the premium increases are very small when compared to the potential cost of veterinary care that may be required.

So the rising cost of pet insurance protection is one point to consider, but not having it can produce dire consequences.

All pet owners need to be prepared for health problems occasionally. And to ensure that when this happens, the cost of veterinary treatment won't cause financial strain.

If an injury or serious illness should occur, the last thing you want to have to worry about is how you will pay for your dog's treatment, which may well be required urgently.

The financial aspect of looking after a pet is something that must be taken seriously. Cash flow problems affect the majority of us from time to time. Raising what may be a rather large sum of money in a hurry can be prove to be financially embarrassing (contacting a relative or friend for the money), time consuming (providing evidence of income and other documents to a bank when asking for even a short term loan), very expensive (using your credit card), or even impossible in some instances.

If you do not have surplus cash on hand, and you do not have pet insurance cover, you may not be in a position to spend as much on your pet's treatment as you would like.

Having a pet insurance plan in place prevents these contingencies. Pet health insurance can usually be purchased relatively inexpensively despite recent rises.

There are a number of different types of pet insurance and similar plans available that can be purchased from anywhere between twenty to forty dollars a month, or an annual fee of much less (around a hundred dollars), which could save you a fortune in the long term. Some pet care insurance companies offer a discount if you have more than one pet on the plan.

Click Here for Pet Insurance Quote

Let me know what you think!

During the past 20 years the veterinary pharmaceutical companies have succeeded in slowly but surely taking over the practise of veterinary medicine.

How's that?

Here is a shocking article about just how that has been achieved, and how it may well be adversely impacting the health of your dog every time you see your vet. Yes, you read that right - seeing your vet may be harming your dog's health - simply because vets are now being influenced from the day they enter veterinary school, and on a regular basis in their practices, by veterinary pharmaceutical companies which ostensibly provide "treatments" and "cures" for all manner of ailments that you take your dog to the vet for, but which are solely profit driven and couldn't care less about dog health at all.

Big Pharma Takes Over Veterinary Medicine; Dogs and Cats Drugged with Chemicals for Profit

Big Pharma has successfully completed its takeover of veterinary medicine in the United States and other first-world nations. Knowing that massive profits could be generated through the bodies of pets, drug companies have spent two decades pursuing an aggressive campaign of rewriting vet school curricula, influencing veterinarians and brainwashing pet owners into thinking their dogs, cats and horses need drugs in order to be healthy. It was an easy sell: Most consumers already demonstrate a cult-like belief in pharmaceutical medicine thanks to a barrage of direct-to-consumer advertising funded by deep-pocketed drug companies, and it was only a minor shift to get them to believe animals need synthetic chemicals in their bodies, too.

So today, the majority of veterinarians in the United States now practice chemical-based medicine on pets. At the first sign of any health symptom, they slap the animal with a prescription for expensive, patented pharmaceuticals. Arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and even depression are now being treated with dangerous prescription medications. Earlier this year, the FDA gave approval for Prozac, a powerful mind-altering drug, to be prescribed to dogs, and many of the most common drugs for people are now routinely used in pets (including chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment).

(What's next, Ritalin for puppies? Ten years ago, it would have seemed absurd to diagnose a dog as suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but today, it's no more insane than the mass diagnosis of human children with this utterly fictitious disease designed to do one thing: Sell profitable amphetamine drugs to children…)

Pet health is now in rapid decline …

The result of all this is that our dogs and cats are sicker than ever. Ask any vet who's been practicing for more than ten years: They've never seen such an increase in the rate of liver disease, nervous system disorders, cancers and diabetes. Ever wonder why? It's because pets are being routinely poisoned with pet food and pet medicine. Popular anti-flea and anti-tick medications, all by themselves, are so toxic to the liver of any animal that if they were prescribed to humans, their side effects would make the Vioxx fiasco look like a harmless prank.

The idea of actually feeding your dog such high doses of poison that it ends up in the skin tissues where it kills ticks and fleas should be horrifying to any intelligent pet owner, yet most pet owners just buy what their vet tells them to buy, and they feed one chemical after another to their pets, oblivious to the fact that they're actually poisoning them. (And then they wonder why their animals die of cancer a few years later… gee, didn't anybody connect the dots here?)

Thanks to Big Pharma influence, veterinary medicine today has become just as much of a joke as the conventional medical system used to treat humans. The goal is no longer to actually heal anyone, but rather to maximize profits by treating and managing diseases without curing or preventing them. Many vets have figured this out, too: If they treat the animals with pharmaceuticals instead of actually curing them of disease (or preventing disease), they benefit from lucrative repeat business! And some of the fees charged by vets now — especially in emergency veterinary care — are just as outrageous as fees charged to sick humans in hospitals. I once spent more than $1,000 for a single day of treatment trying to rescue a sick dog, and half of those fees were for bags of saline solution dripped through an IV. $500 for saline solution? Give me a break. I got ripped off and taken advantage of by a pet care clinic that was exploiting pet emergencies for maximum profits. (There are crooks and dishonest practitioners in the pet care industry just like in the people care industry.)

Holistic animal care practitioners:

It's not all bad news, though. Fortunately, there are more holistic practitioners in veterinary medicine than in human medicine, and it's fairly easy to find a holistic vet in any major city if you look around. The holistic veterinarians understand nutrition, herbs, homeopathy and other natural modalities. They prescribe solutions and treat animals in ways that are outlawed in human medicine (because they actually work). If you care at all about the health of your pets, I strongly urge you to seek out and work with a holistic pet care practitioner who avoids prescribing pharmaceuticals. Any veterinarian who thinks Fido is depressed and needs antidepressant drugs should frankly have their licensed stripped away and be banished to some distant, isolated South Pacific island overpopulated with sexually aggressive baboons.

The future looks dim for mainstream pet health …

When you look at the outrageous toxicity of mainstream pet food, and you combine that with the chemical burden of pharmaceutical medicine, the future of health for pets in America looks rather dim. The pet food being sold at stores — even the so-called "scientific" brands — are mostly crap. Only specialty pet food companies offer genuine food. (My favorites are Azmira and The Honest Kitchen ).

The way pets are being treated today by many mainstream veterinarians amounts to nothing less than the chemical abuse of dogs and cats by an industry that has, sadly, exchanged ethics for profits and no longer sees its primary mission as helping improve the quality of life of our animal friends. Personally, I'm outraged by the practice of drugging dogs, cats and other animals with synthetic chemicals to treat degenerative health conditions, and I think those who promote or follow such practices are engaged in extremely unethical, cruel behaviors that should be criminalized. Just like in the human health care system, nutrition has been thrown out the window and is now replaced with a system of chemical invasion that can only lead to a worsening of the long-term health of the animals exposed to such dangerous treatments.

The proper use of pharmaceuticals:

Some chemical medicines do have a limited role in quality veterinary care, however. Painkillers have a useful but narrow role. Antibiotics, although they are widely abused, can be helpful in certain limited situations. But treating dogs with antidepressants, chemotherapy, diabetes drugs, statin drugs, osteoporosis drugs and other such chemical agents is patently absurd. Most pet health conditions can be easily prevented or cured with good nutrition, and more challenging health problems can be cheaply and safely solved with herbal therapies and other naturopathic modalities. There is no scientifically justifiable role in veterinary medicine for the majority of the pharmaceuticals now being pushed onto vets, vet techs, and pet owners.

Even the pet shelters are being influenced by Big Pharma. When I rescued my pet from a local animal shelter, I was given a DVD sponsored by a drug company. It offered to teach me about pet behavior while brainwashing me into thinking I needed to give my dog toxic pills for preventing ticks and fleas. As this simple example demonstrates, even the animal shelters are now in bed with Big Pharma. There's almost no organization in pet health today that hasn't been taken over (or strongly influenced) by Big Pharma.

It's not enough to drug all the sick people in the world, you see. Big Pharma has to invent diseases and drug all the healthy people, too. And then, they have to drug all the children and infants to make sure those little beings are set up for future organ failure, which is even more lucrative for the drug companies later on. And just to drive yet more profits home, they've got to drug all the animals. Now the cats, dogs, horses, birds, lizards and other animals are no longer safe from the reach of Big Pharma. Drugs are posing a serious chemical threat to the health of pets.

There is almost no living creature left on this planet that hasn't been considered a potential revenue source by Big Pharma, and if they could make money drugging all the fish in the ocean, you can bet they'd come up with a fictitious fish disease and find a way to drop little fish pills into the oceans of the world. Profit is the purpose. Health is irrelevant. And your precious pet is only seen as a vehicle for generating profits by an industry that has zero compassion for living beings (human, canine, feline or otherwise). There is no effort to protect life. It is only an effort to protect (and expand) profits.

What you can do right now:

If you're a pet owner, I urge you to do two things right now:

1) Switch to a healthy, natural, holistic pet food. Read the report, Pet Food Ingredients Revealed to learn the truth about pet food ingredients. And make fresh meals from scratch whenever possible. Pets should not be raised to live on processed foods.

2) Fire your drug-pushing vet and switch to a holistic or naturopathic animal care expert, even if they don't have the same licensing credentials as the drug-pushing vet. State authorities, you see, are trying to de-license naturopathic vets, and there's a big effort now to push naturopathic vets out of the industry. Sometimes you have to seek them out yourself and ignore state licensing boards (which are totally owned by Big Pharma, by the way). I've found that licensing credentials are essentially useless, and the more credentials some vet has, the more deeply they're brainwashed into a pharmaceutical approach to veterinary medicine.

If you want a healthy pet, you've got to get back to basics: Nutrition, exercise, disease prevention and natural remedies for pets. There is absolutely no rationale that justifies the routine chemical treatment of pets with patented, high-profit pharmaceuticals. Mainstream veterinary medicine, as practiced today, is a cruel, exploitive industry that ultimate causes significant harm to the very animals we should be trying to save.

Don't be suckered by the "miracle pill" sales pitch. Dogs, cats and horses don't need meds. What they need is great nutrition and medicine from nature.

Just like people.

About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher and author with a passion for teaching people how to improve their health He has authored more than 1,500 articles and dozens of reports, guides and interviews on natural health topics, reaching millions of readers with information that is saving lives and improving personal health around the world. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a manufacturer of mercury-free, energy-efficient LED lighting products that save electricity and help prevent global warming. He's also a successful software entrepreneur, having founded a well known email marketing software company whose technology currently powers the NaturalNews email newsletters. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and enjoys outdoor activities, nature photography, Pilates and adult gymnastics. Known on the 'net as 'the Health Ranger,' Adams shares his ethics, mission statements and personal health statistics at www.HealthRanger.org

Reprinted from NaturalNews.com