I almost answered her question privately and then I thought,  it is a perfect opportunity to get a few  things of my chest, write a blog and hopefully help at the same time

Over  the course of the past  months of blog writing,  I  have found a new passion for writing and bringing more clarity into animal healing. I like to question and challenge beliefs of others and also my own. This way I keep my ego in check and keep on learning. In the big scheme of things,  we humans, know very little.

My friend has a bumper sticker on her truck that says: “Don’t always believe  what you think”.  I love this quote  because it reminds me  how often we construct  false beliefs  about many things in life.  Veterinary medicine is no exception.

So how  shall we  approach life and make important decisions or even foot fungus?  You can either approach it from “a rigid smart ass”  point of view or be flexible by combining a reasonable degree of knowledge,  experience, observation and  intuition.

Several months ago,  I wrote  a blog  called “Tribute to our bacteria superheroes.” There I mentioned  that despite  all the negative publicity bacteria gets, the whole world would cease to exist if bacteria disappeared.

So here is the scoop on nasty dog foot fungus:

1. HIBITANE ( chlorhexidine) SOAP IS TOXIC to bacteria and it is also toxic to other cells especially if applied on regular  basis.  IT  SLOWS DOWN AND SOMETIMES PREVENTS  HEALING.
2. Many dogs who  with front foot  lesions  have issues with their NECK. They often  suffer neck injuries from pulling on the leash,  inappropriate collars  (barbaric restraint collars as choke collars or even prong collars), carrying heavy logs or hitting their head.
3. Dogs that have hind  foot  lesions usually have suffered a LUMBAR SPINE injury
4. What  follows such neck or back  injuries is muscle tightness,  which leads  to restriction of nerve  function, energy and blood flow to extremities and especially  the feet.
5. This often creates unusual sensations such as referred pain, pins and needles or numbing which can make some dogs lick their feet. However, even if they don’t  lick, the skin on their  feet is weaker and MORE PRONE TO INFECTIONS.
6. Frequently,  bacteria or  fungus has been detected however, they are usually SECONDARY and because the primary issue comeS from the spine, antibiotics and antifungals are usually ineffective.

What  is  the Natural Healing Solution?

1. Stop using Hibitane and start  using  Healing Solution to promote skin  healing naturally
2. See an experienced  animal physiotherapist  or chiropractor for a neck assessment.  If you  contact me,  I will be able to connect  you with the right person.
3. The most  important  part is to get  any pressure off the neck  by replacing your dog’s  collar  with a harness  such as  Sensation or  Easy Walk harness that attached in the front.
4. For dogs with hind feet  issues, any sprinting, ball retrieving and back stressing activity should be avoided.
5. Ideally,  your dogs  general  health , diet and supplement schedule  should be reviewed as well.
6. If you would like to speak to me. All new clients are eligible for 15 minute Free Consultations  at www.peterdobias.com/services

Do you have any other examples of  how dogmatic, rigid approach to life leads to trouble?  How  do you make life’s important  decisions.  Share your insights in the  comment in the section below.

Thank you for making a difference and sharing  this article with others.

This is one of the most common replies when my clients see a quote for a broken tooth repair from a  dog dentist.  Yes,  repairing a dental fracture can be very expensive.  That is why reading this blog  post may save you lots of money.

What  you need to know to reduce the risk:

Avoid feeding beef, buffalo or bison shank bones.   They are often harder than dog teeth. Most dogs  will get  simply carried away chewing on a large bone and may crack one of their teeth.  This is how a  2 dollar marrow bone can turn into a painful and  very expensive adventure.

I already hear  some some of you protesting: “But my dog loves big bones!! He likes to work at the bone marrow!”

Solving the dilemma

In reality, nature intended canines to hunt for birds, rodents , rabbits, goats and perhaps deer. Most dogs would  simply  not dare to come even close to a buffalo or a cow.  With the exception of a pack of hungry Chihuahuas, most dogs simply do not like hanging on the ankle of a angry bull.

The right  sized  bones can be very beneficial

However,  if you want to avoid regular dental cleaning under anesthesia,  the right  sized  bones can save Fido a lot of dental trouble and save you tons of money. I usually  recommend feeding lamb or goat   bones twice a week.  The abrasive action  of these  hard but  not too thick bones is perfect for keeping your dogs teeth shiny  without the risk of dental fractures.

Why I do not  recommend junky dental bones?

Many companies  have come up with alternatives to dental bones.  However most of them are  innefective and  loaded with artificial preservatives, wheat, starches and ingredients of  questionable origin.

Real bones are the best option!

What to do if you discover a fractured tooth?

Since my clients have learned about feeding the right bones, the number of  fractured teeth has dropped sharply.  However, no matter what you do, your dog can crack a tooth by munching on a rock or having an accident of some sort.

I remember Roz, a German Shepherd that chased a ball and tried to catch it mid air. Unfortunately, she missed the ball  and bit a big cement block instead. She fracture several teeth  and needed a medical attention.

The rule of thumb is if you can you should repair it. If a veterinary dentist is available in your area, he will give you the right suggestion.  Many general practitioners have also suitable dental equipment however, some over-prescribe extractions because they are not trained to do root canals.

Also, if a tooth is removed, the opposing one is usually affected by  increased tartar build up and gum disease.   It will frequently be lost a few months or year later.

Timely response is   important

The sooner you can get the fractured  tooth  examined  the better because because a freshly fractured tooth can regenerate and stay alive by applying a  cemment cap. In most fractures  older than a few  days, a root canal is most likely needed and sometimes, an extraction may be the only solution.

Summary

1. RAW BONES ARE SAFE TO FEED.
2. NEVER FEED COOKED OR SMOKED BONES  – THEY ARE  HARD AND INDIGESTIBLE
3. Feed the bones of medium sized  animals for optimal and safe  cleaning effect
4. Large beef, buffalo and other large bones are too hard and can cause dental fractures.
5. RAW Chicken  bones  are safe  to eat but  too soft to  clean teeth
6. It is ok for a dog to eat bone fragments. The stomach  acids disolve them and aid complete disolution and digestion.
7. Fractured  teeth should be restored if possible.
8. Raw dental bones should fed 1 – 2 a week

The  statistics show  clearly that cancer “fights back”  at  an ever increasing rate and intensity.  It  appears that no matter how many times we  say “ No” to cancer;  cancer’s  reply is often “Screw  you!”

My life is far from being untouched by cancer.  Both of my grandmothers died of cancer, my brother passed away from a brain tumor and my father died from prostate cancer. To add to all this, my brother in law was diagnosed with a brain tumor  a few years ago. His  diagnosis was a  real shock to me. I wanted to cry out” Oh no, not again!  However, deep  inside I felt a shift. It was then  that I realized,  cancer can’t  be fought, it has to be understood.

Over the years in my veterinary practice,  I have always been puzzled  as to why there were clients who’s animals were  more prone to cancer than animals of others. There was no correlation with regards to  the breed or even species.  Gradually,  I started to see that while so much research has been  focusing on the development of new  drugs,  chemotherapy, surgical techniques, the effect of environment and our diet,   the most  important factor is commonly forgotten.   Our  lifestyle, our  state of mind  and the energetic  connection between  us and  our  pets.

During the past 100 plus years, the  discoveries in  genetics and DNA led us to believe that if we or our pets inherit a certain gene or disposition,  we and they will suffer from the  same conditions as ancestor. However, the more recent  findings confirm that genes  will remain dormant and unexpressed  unless they are  turned on by an impulse from the outside.  This impulse can be from a biochemical,  chemical, physical influence or even more subtle energy generated by our fears and  thoughts.

Despite the old  saying – “ healthy mind, healthy body”  many people  still believe that the “cure for cancer” comes from the outside and is dependent on the discovery of some sort of “miracle drug”  that will “fight  cancer.”  The reality is such that  despite the advance of medical science and technology,  we can extend  and prolong lives, but  have neither found the cure for cancer nor have paid sufficient attention to its  prevention.

What can you do?

Here are your 12 steps to cancer prevention…

#1 Face your fears

If you catch yourself  worrying about you or your loved one getting cancer, do not  push the thought aside.  Just stop for a moment, close your eyes and invite the fear to come closer to look at  it.  Face it ,  do not  run away.  Challenge it with kindness, firmness and compassion as if the fear was a troubled bully that you try to understand.

Explore the fear, imagine, that you turn the fear  around,  upside down and  look at  it as if it was an object,  a seashell, a rock, a leaf or a flower.

You will notice that if you do not “fight” your fears, they will become less  intense and less frightening. You will discover a newly  found freedom and plenty of  energy  to  shift from just worrying to planning or taking action on how to prevent  or treat cancer in the best possible and least harmful way.

#2 Do the emotional inventory check

Another important  step in  cancer prevention is not to forget but  forgive. No matter whether we like it or not,  suffering from  hurts and emotional pain is  part of the human condition. The event  could have happened a long time ago,  perhaps your best friend had an  affair  with your partner or your parents were neglectful or your spouse told your friend that  she married you only  for material gains.  Perhaps you have suffered  a loss of  a loved one or were  a victim of abuse.

No matter  what the injury was,  finding a  way of neutralizing this experience is absolutely essential in reducing your risk of physical disease and cancer. Constantly replaying what happened, carrying the heaviness within will have the opposite effect. Yes, it may take time to let go of these  patterns but  it  is definitely  worth the effort.  Forgiving will neutralize the pain much faster than feelings of hatred or revenge.  It is your cells that bath in the sea of stress hormones and you decide what “ bath you prepare”

#3 Be nice to yourself

When working with my clients and their  pets,  I often  see  people blaming themselves  for their pets’ disease.  They feel that  they didn’t  look  after  their  pets  well or they go into  the world of ’should have’  and ‘would have’

We are our  own  worse enemies when it comes to being loving , compassionate and forgiving towards ourselves. This too generates a block of the healing energy.

Life is simply such that  it  brings  us  challenging times  and as painful as it may be, it is  a part of our learning on a journey to become better and more aware human beings.  Our animals have  their own journey and  we are not always responsible for their problems.  However, we can be their  source of positive energy if we put our life on the right track

#4  Surrender to mortality

Imagine  if  someone  gave you the gift of being immortal. I can’t prevent  myself from thinking that if I was 5000 years old,  I would get  bored with the same old friends,  the same  family , the same bad  habits.  As much as we may hate the thought of  mortality, it is exactly what makes being with our loved ones and definitely with our pets so special.

It is simply a part of the Universal plan of being human – experiencing the temporary nature of everything around us and  coming to terms with it.

It helps me to believe that the souls of our animals   come back  again in another body.   If you haven’t  read the story of my horse Alfa and Skai you can find it  here. Of  course ,  no one knows if it is the truth, however, I love the thought.

#5 Be aware of the possibility of your own sabotage.

It baffles me that so many  people miss out on the opportunity to take  simple and inexpensive steps  to living healthy lives and take chances that clearly lead  to disease, pain and  suffering.

Perhaps that is also part of the Universal plan of learning.  Many  people like to  play with  fire knowing that  their smoking ,  bad eating habits,  lack of   exercise or  a bad relationship are not healthy; however they  subconsciously maintain and are possibly addicted to these states.

It is an irony that  the biggest personal transformations happen as a result  of  very challenging and turbulent  times and falling  down right to the very bottom. All we can do is to be there for our friends but telling them what  to do often generates more resistance. This may be one of the most difficult  parts of being a care giver – watching others hurling to disaster while they stubbornly refuse to listen to our warnings.

#6 Eat healthy, feed your pet real and natural food

This one is a  real  no brainer.   Eating junk makes your cells get all clogged up,  intoxicated and ready to turn their division into chaos and anarchy – cancer.  If  we add the sleepy, intoxicated and weak immune  system into  the  equation, the  chances of cancer  are many times greater.

My favorite  book for people is called “Anti-Cancer   -  A New Way of Life”  by  Dr. Servan- Shreiber

When it comes to  your pet, I am in the final stages of finishing my upcoming book “ If Dogs Could Cook “  that will give you a simple and clear outline  on feeding your pet naturally.

In one sentence.  If you want to reduce the chances of cancer, do not  feed processed  food , no matter how  natural it is claimed to be.  There is nothing better  than whole food.

#7  Chemicals do not  belong  in our household or bodies.

Whenever I visit my friends or  family,  I find it so interesting that the degree of their  health  can often be measured  by the kind of cleaning products they buy for their household.

Most  chemical cleaning  products  do not  have all the ingredients  listed and buying them is a real crap shoot.  Many of them  are  carcinogenic or at least toxic and they  wreck  havoc  in the body.

The safest  way is to  simply avoid  any chemicals.  There are many natural and healthy alternatives  that  may be just  a few dollars more.  If you are on  a budget,  most  cleaning can be done with  vinegar, soda and natural castile soap.

I am sure your pets will also appreciate the absence of chemical odors and deodorants.

#8 Exercise

I  see physical activity,  fresh air or yoga as a form of flushing and purifying the body.  Every  cell  gets  more  blood and oxygen which increases cleansing.  Cells,  tissues and organs also love to be bathed in endorphins which our the “feel good “  mediators  released by  exercise.

The most difficult  part is to  get  used to the exercise and also stop listening to the voice in our head that tells us that we should not go because “everyone will be better than us, which you know is a big part of dodoo or an excuse to sit on the couch, watch TV and be miserable.  Remember that our ego thrives on the addiction to  suffering and will try to play game with us all the way.

Luckily, most dogs are always  in for a walk or a run.  We would do anything  to see  the happy  face and tongue  hanging out.  Cats  enjoy a regular outing  too and if it is cold or rainy, play with them indoors to make them move.

If you do not  exercise  regularly,  I  suggest you  stick it  out  for 2 – 3  weeks  until  a  good  habit  forms,  join a  yoga  or  gym class to get in the routine and don’t  forget to take your  best  friend out  for walks or  runs.

Pets can be the  best exercise plan you have  ever had.

#9 Do you do what you love to do?

I often wonder how  many people really love what they do.  Not that long  ago,  my nephew  came to me to share his  small business idea that  he and his  friends  came up with.   He was passionate about  his  plan and I could  see that he  loved the  idea.   Then he  paused  and said  something that  I will not  forget:  “ This business will be  a kind of  hobby that I don’t  intend  to make much money with.  I am also planning to get another job to earn a living.”

The crazy thing is that  there are many people who live their  lives  like this.  They have things  that  they  love to do  and then they have a job.

I urge you to not waste  one more day and start planning  your future work based on what you love to do… I know, it may not be as easy to get up and quit  the job that you don’t  like,  just  do not  wait too long and at least develop a plan.  I have seen many people who’s  work is their  hobby and they are the happiest and healthiest   folks  walking this  planet.

Sometimes, a radical  “job amputation”  is not really needed and a slight modification  to  your current  job does wonders.    In my case, I  have always loved working with people  and their  animals but  didn’t  like  managing my clinic and dealing with a high volume of  work  in order to  cover the high  clinic overhead.

All I needed to do was  to plan a gradual exit, sell my  clinic and  keep a small number of clients to carry me over while I started to work on  creating an  income flow  from  lectures,  writing and a natural animal supplement line that is presently  in the making.

As a result, the  weekends  and  weekdays merged  into  one  word  – life.

To summarize, do not waste your life with work that you do not like. Your hobby and your job should be one, if you go  against the flow of the river, your health will suffer.

#10  Let your gut  and your  heart guide you.

I am sure you know that voice in your head;  your ego, that constantly  tells you what you should or  should not  do,  how you should or  should not  behave while  deep inside,  you feel that this  voice doesn’t really know what is good for your soul. “

My favorite authors on this subject are Eckhart Tolle and Adya Shanti , who’s teachings provide such a great resource for living a simple life in alignment with your true self.

I often teach my clients,  how to recognize the right  answer  in  any decision making.  Just try to think of  a question and listen to the answer that comes before your mind starts interfering and editing it..

This  includes decisions about your  pets medical  care  and treatment.   Ask yourself if you are you trying to please someone or following your vet’s  suggestion  just  to please him or  not to  feel guilty.

Just listen to your gut and make decisions from your  heart.

#11 the connection between you and your pet

If you have ever seen a musician or a teacher using two  tuning forks,  you know that  if you hit  one , the  other will start resonating on the same  frequency.    If you have never seen this,  perhaps you have seen a married couple where both people start looking and acting the same after a certain  time.   They  simply start resonating  on the same frequency.

Your pet is not  any different.  It  absorbs your love and  joy  but also the  stress or unhappiness that you may feel.   If you want to have healthy pets,  make  sure that you look after your health first  and happiness first.  Their health and well being will follow.

#12  Law  of attraction

It is becoming clear that as much as we sometimes do not want to believe it,  we usually  get what we wish  for or  what  we fear.

I am  not  writing this blog post to make you suppress your fears  of  disease and  cancer in anyway.

Worrying about the health and safety of our  loved ones  is natural and all we  need to do is face our worry,  be kind to ourselves when it  happens,  explore the fears until they fade away  and replace them with our vision of the best possible outcome.

The truth  is that  cancer can happen to anyone – you, me or our  pets.  However,   if you live our  life doing what  you love, eat healthy food, exercise regularly and face  your fears instead of burying them , the likelihood that  we will hear the  C word  diagnosis is much, much less.

Remember, your pet is like a tuning fork. It resonates on the same frequency..

Cat Lovers , click here.

In the previous blog, you learned about the importance of choosing a healthy puppy and avoiding puppy mills.

Now that you have chosen well, you may be wondering what is the best way to keep your best friend healthy. One may think that vaccines or “the shots” as many call them, would be the next step. However, it is not that simple.

The  main concerns

1. Vaccines contain dangerous carcinogens and disease causing chemicals such as mercury and formaldehyde.

2. They are often made by infecting healthy laboratory animals, including dogs, cats and horses.
3. Early vaccination can neutralize natural maternal antibodies and leave your puppy unprotected.
4. Vaccines have the ability to cause symptoms similar to the disease they are trying to prevent.
5. Combination vaccines often overwhelm the body and cause immune system problems.
6. Repeated exposure to vaccines can create toxic build up and serious chronic disease or even cancer.

Wondering what the alternatives are?

Here is your Healing Solution :

1. Never vaccinate your puppy before 12 weeks of age if you have the choice
2. If your puppy has been vaccinated early, any medical condition may or may not be a vaccine side effect.
3. Consult an open minded holistic practitioner who knows how to recognize vaccine related issues.
4. You can administer homeopathic Thuja 30 C or Thuja 200 C – 1 dose to neutralize vaccination side effects.

Nature’s vaccination protocol – the ideal choice

1. Maternal antibodies protect puppies fully until around the age of 10 – 16 weeks.
2. When your puppy is 12 weeks old get an “antibody titer test” done that is available in most veterinary clinics.
3. The most concerning diseases are distemper, parvovirus and leptospirosis. Most clinics run just the first two tests.
4. If any antibody level is present, retest at the age of 5 months and socialize your puppy on a moderate basis with other dogs.
5. Your puppy will learn the “ropes” by being in the company of other canines and will produce its own antibodies by being exposed to them while being protected. This is in fact natures “way of vaccination”
6. While no method can provide you with 100% guarantee, I have not seen any dogs who have got parvo or distemper since starting to use this protocol in the late 90’s.

Alternative vaccination protocol for puppies that were vaccinated early,

have an unknown history or tested negative for antibodies.

1. Early vaccination often neutralizes or blocks the maternal immunity. Vaccine simply locks the antibodies and puts them “out of commission”.
2. If there are no antibodies
a. consider vaccination with one antigen of parvovirus (  not a combination ) at 12  weeks
b. distemper 4 weeks later
3. Avoid boosters and unnecessary vaccine exposure by getting a “titer test “done 1 month after the last vaccine and then 2 – 3 months later
4. Do not use vaccines for Kennel Cough, Lymes disease and Giardia – they have the highest side-effect causing properties.
a. For Example – I have seen many dogs vaccinated for Lymes disease having symptoms of arthritis at the age of 2 – 3 years old. This vaccine has not been approved for people because of safety issues.
b. Kennel cough is a self limiting disease similar to a cold. Vaccine causes very frequent side-effects – kennel cough itself.

If you live in an area with rabies, the vaccine may need to be given, however, give it at least 4 weeks from other vaccination.

Never give more than 1 antigen at a time.

Conclusion:

Based on my experience, healthy puppies may not need any vaccination and maintain their antibodies ( protections ) for a life time. This is the safest way.

It is more likely that none or minimal vaccine protocol is safer.

Vaccines can cause serious side-effects that are often not noticed or recognized by conventional medical science.

No one can give you 100% guarantee that your puppy will not get infected with or without vaccines.

Healthy food, fresh water, the right amount of exercise and low stress level is the best disease prevention.

My choice will always be no vaccines whenever possible and antibodies are present.

Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM

PS:
If you currently work with a practitioner who demands vaccinating your pet, remember that it is you who makes the final decision. Be polite, state your request clearly and notice how much you can stand your ground. You are there for your pet.

Simplicity is one of the best ways of feeling peaceful and calm about our decisions.

Feline vaccination can be simple, there is only a few things that you need to know.

1. Vaccines contain dangerous carcinogens and disease causing chemicals such as mercury and formaldehyde
2. They are often made by infecting healthy laboratory animals including dogs, cats and horses.
3. Early vaccination can neutralize maternal antibodies and leave your kitten unprotected.
4. Vaccines have the ability to cause the symptoms similar to the disease they are fighting. For example: upper respiratory disease vaccine often causes sneezing and chronic nasal discharge, calici virus vaccine can contribute to gingivitis – gum inflammation.
5. Combination vaccines often overwhelm the body and cause immune system problems
6. Repeated exposure to vaccines can create toxic build up and serious chronic disease or even cancer.

Wondering what the alternatives are?

1. Never vaccinate your cat before 12 weeks of age if you have the choice
2. If your cat has been vaccinated early, any medical condition may or may not be a vaccine side effect. Consult an open minded holistic practitioner who knows how to recognize vaccine related issues.
3. You can administer homeopathic Thuja 30 C or Thuja 200 C – 1 dose to neutralize vaccination side effects.

Holistic Approach to Cat Vaccination

1. Maternal antibodies protect kittens until around the age of 10 – 16 weeks.
2. If you would like to measure the level of antibodies protection, you can get an antibody test done around the age of 12 weeks.
3. Generally, I find that vaccination creates a high probability of problems such as sneezing, coughing, asthma, digestive problems and in the case of Feline Leukemia – cancer itself
4. Because of these risks, the only vaccine I currently recommend is Rabies vaccine for outdoor cats only in areas where this disease is present.
5. To avoid unnecessary boosters of Rabies vaccine, test your cat 3 years after the vaccine is given and then yearly if you live in a rabies region. If you live in a region with no rabies, your cat obviously doesn’t need rabies vaccination

Conclusion:

Vaccines can cause serious side-effects that are often not noticed or recognized by conventional medical science.

No one can give you 100% guarantee that your kitten will not get infected with or without vaccines.

Minimal vaccination will increase the chances of good health.

Healthy food, fresh water, the right amount of exercise and low stress level is the best form of disease prevention.

My personal choice is no vaccines for cats with the exception of rabies for outdoor cats.

Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM

PS:
If you currently work with a practitioner who demands annual vaccinations for your cat remember that it is you who makes the final decision. Be polite, state your request clearly and notice how much you can stand your ground. It is your place to be there for your cat.

Next : #3 Healing Solution

Learn how to approach vaccination in adult dogs