We want freedom for our dogs

I cannot agree more with the idea that the degree of evolution of a society can be measured by the way we treat children, elderly and the animals.

For more than 20 years, I have been a proud Vancouverite who loves the outdoors, healthy life style and my daily dog walks. As a veterinarian who works with dogs and their people on a daily basis,  I can see the undeniable positive contribution of dogs to our health, wellbeing, our society, and our economy.

• Dogs get us out for walks and help us to be active.
• They help us connect with people on walks and prevent isolation.
• They help us to be healthy and reduce our health care costs.
• They allow us to experience unconditional love.
• They keep us company and cheer us up when needed.
• They remind us to be playful and enjoy life to its fullest.
• They teach us to live in the present.

I could go on and on and create a list that would definitely not fit on one page. There have been numerous studies written about the health and emotional benefits of living with dogs. The question I want to explore here is, why dogs, dog bylaws and animal control have become such a huge issue in recent years?

Some people say that this is a response to a few incidences where dogs of careless or irresponsible dog owners injure people. However, punishing all dogs and dog owners for the issues of a few would not be any different than treating all people like criminals when one person causes a crime. This attitude has generated a fiery public debate that polarizes communities and creates a lot of media attention.

Changing the topic for a moment.

One of my favorite songs is Sarah McLaughlan’s “Ordinary Miracle” and the lyrics say:

“The sky knows when its time to snow
Don’t need to teach a seed to grow
It’s just another ordinary miracle today…”

 

I love the lyrics because they are a reminder that there is no need to over-regulate the natural balance and harmony of nature or of a healthy society. The Earth will continue spinning and the seasons will changee without our control and generally  the unspoken rules and general courtesy in our society are much more powerful than excessive control and policing.  In fact such excessive attempt to control others naturally creates rebellion, distrust and disillusion of the general public.

For example, I witnessed an alcohol raid on the beach of English Bay in Downtown Vancouver where the police squads virtually raided the bags of unsuspecting people enjoying a beautiful summer day. While I am not a drinker, the arrogant and rude behavior of some of these officers was a frightening reminder of my past years of living behind the Iron Curtain. It was a reminder that even in democratic society, some people apply for a job with police or in bylaw enforcement because they love the taste of power.

Don’t get me wrong, I do not support heavy drinking neither anarchy, I just suggest that our lawmakers and enforcement could learn a lesson or two from the European countries where drinking in parks is not a big deal and dogs are allowed in parks, restaurants and on transit without disturbing anyone. In my opinion, extreme over-policing generates oppression and anger and makes “drinking in public” more prevalent and serious. The forbidden fruit always tastes the best. But getting back to dogs…

Just the other day, I found a new sign at the Capilano Dam in North Vancouver that said: “No dogs allowed on the lawn.” First I was angry. I have been dog walking in the park and Skai loves to play here! When my anger fizzled out, I realized that this situation could be used us a springboard to an open discussion.

Based on the news in the media, the battle over the freedom of our canine friends has been increasing in intensity. From what I know, the people who demand more animal control and ban of our dogs from parks and beaches are doing so  because they are afraid of dogs or do not like dog poop stuck to their shoes. These people have a tendency to make a blanket statement against all dogs as a result of a few incidents where aggressive dogs injured people.

As a veterinarian, I know that most dogs are loving and not aggressive. To me, restricting all dogs from parks is unreasonable and could be compared to us being treated like criminals when one person causes a crime.

In my opinion, the solution is not in “bylaw” officers sneaking up from the bushes and ticketing people for having fun and enjoying good life with their dogs. It reminds me of the fairytale of my childhood about a kingdom where people were punished for singing.

I understand that not everyone has a good connection with dogs and some people are afraid of them. However, because of the undeniable benefit of dogs on our health and in our society, we, dog lovers can’t tolerate the current situation where dogs owners are discriminated and treated as a second class citizens and the the anti-dog bylaws are getting out of control.

Here are a few ideas to open a discussion about  how to solve the current situation

• Every dog owner in Vancouver should register their dog without an exception which will be helpful to establish the most accurate dog count.
• This ratio of families with and without dogs should reflect the ratio of beaches and parks where dogs are allowed.
• Ideally each large beach or park should have a dog and no dog section to reduce the need to travel to distant locations.
• Led by the example of other developed nations, dogs should be allowed on public transit with a comfortable muzzle with the exception of service dogs who would not need to be muzzled.
• To reduce the risk of accidents and dog bites, it may be viable to create a system of dog registration where off leash privileges would be granted to dogs who graduted from already existing “canine good citizen” certification programs. The registration tag for  certified dogs could be “green color” to recognize safe dogs easily.
• I believe that most people would agree with fining people who mistreat dogs, train them for aggression, act irresponsibly or do not pick up their dogs poop.
• Install poop bag vending machines or stands where part of the proceeds from the sales would go towards animal welfare and dog training. There are great “corn based” compostable bags on the market that are environmentally safe. As an alternative, poop bags posts could be serving “sponsored” by a local advertising business.

The point I want to make here is that while I respect a difference in opinions and do not expect everyone to like dogs, I strongly believe that dogs and their people do not deserve to be treated like second grade citizens. No one likes to be spied on, raided upon in parks or forced out in the gettos of small and second grade public parks and places.

Based on the statistics, 36% of Vancouver families live with dogs and this number should be equally represented in the number of beaches and parks that dogs are allowed in.We pay taxes, we love our dogs,most of us are responsible citizens and yes, Mr. or Ms. Politician, we have the power to vote out those, who do not respect our equality.

With Respect,

Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM

A Vancouver veterinarian, dog lover and advocate.

To support Freedom for Vancouver Dogs Petition join us on Twitter here.

I have always known that dogs are smart but there is another characteristic that is deeply seeded in the canine soul – compassion.

I know no other animal than a dog to jump to the rescue of his friends so selflessly and without thinking twice if their life is in danger.

My dog  Skai regularly jumps to my rescue when I am swimming despite the fact that he much prefers a pasture to the ocean.   I have seen dogs grieving their best friends,  I have seen them protecting or saving  children and I have  also heard of stories where a dog ran to get help when their friends were injured.

As I am thinking of all the different situations,  I can’t  help myself  thinking that dogs are in fact the most evolved life form on this planet.   They without  a doubt are the masters  in showing us what love and compassion really is as you can see from the videos bellow.

All I  want to do today is to say one big  thank you to those dogs and humans who care… and make the lives of others safer and better.

With gratitude,

Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM

I have just come across the response of a Victoria veterinarian, Dr. Chris Collis in regard to the article “This raw deal is a good one from Dec. 10 of  Times Colonist ,(posted at the end of this blog)  and feel obligated to respond.

I too am a veterinarian licensed and practicing in British Columbia, with 24 years of clinical experience. In the early days, I also believed what I was taught by processed pet food companies that their food was the best.

However, as years progressed, I observed an alarming trend where feeding processed food and even special diets was not enough to keep my patients healthy. I continued to see a rising number of patients suffering from allergies, obesity, diabetes, pancreatitis, and a variety of organ dysfunctions and cancer. The paradox was, that even though I knew that eating processed food is not good for people, I somehow blindly believed what I was told. Kibble was the best.
In the mid 90’s, I started to see a few of my clients switching their pets to raw or cooked natural diets. First, I was concerned but when I started to see some dramatic recoveries and general improvement in most, I started to question commercial diet companies and their intentions.

After 15 years, I have no doubt that the pets eating wholesome food live longer, look younger, move better and need to see a vet less frequently. In fact, my own cat Mina has been on raw food since she was eight years old is now 21. My dog Skai, who has turned 10 years in August 2011, has never been on processed food and doing very well. ( I have enclosed a brief video of him and his sister who is also fed raw. It  was shot  a few months after his 10th birthday.)

It is not my intention to get into a lengthy debate about who is right or wrong because diversity of opinions is a good thing.

However, I cannot agree that commercial diets are the safest because we all know about the hundreds of cats and dogs that were irreversibly damaged or died from the effects of tainted commercial pet food. Sadly, melamine has been also found in baby formulas made by companies who often blow the horn of “excellent quality control”.

It is true that the quality of any pet food is important and that it may vary depending on the knowledge, skills and integrity of the manufacturer. However, unlike processed kibble manufacturers who, as my colleague mentioned, use second grade ingredients, raw food companies frequently use first grade, human quality, non-medicated meat and organic vegetables in their products.

I completely agree that it is important to feed a balanced diet to our dogs and cats and ideally it should be us veterinarians who help pet guardians to do so. Strangely, we appear to have abandoned our common sense of what healthy food is and blindly follow the pet food companies, while some of our clients know better.

According to the statistics of recent years, veterinary visits and processed pet food sales are in decline despite the rise in the number of dogs and cats. It is possible that the pets of people who have embraced the feeding of wholesome fresh diets are healthier. And that some people may be afraid to see their vets and tell them they feed raw.

When it comes to bacteria, I have not seen one single client to have reported salmonelosis when feeding raw meat. I have also come to accept that dogs and cats are naturally resistant to intestinal pathogens and that they are not humans. Cats often eat mice that are frequent carriers of salmonella and other bacteriae without any ill effect and lets be real, dogs sniff and eat worse things than a piece of raw meat.

With respect and gratitude,

Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM, North Vancouver, BC

_________________________________________________________________

Re: “This raw deal is a good one,” Dec. 10 by Dr. Chris Collis, DVM

I have been a veterinarian for 22 years. The article on the pet food venture has me profoundly concerned. I’m a big advocate of small business, but the raw pet food business is fraught with substantial risk.
The article neglected the dangers associated with feeding raw meat to our pets. A nutritionally balanced, consistent quality and biologically safe food requires an understanding of biology, nutrition, biochemistry, disease and quality control. There is no routine standard testing of pet food by government agencies.
All pet foods are made from the discarded waste of the human food industry, including those contaminated with salmonella, e.coli and campylobacter. Commercial diet “cooking” destroys the infectious diseases and additional testing ensures the freedom of foreign material, mould and chemical toxins.
An ill pet fed a raw diet entering our hospitals would be handled as a potentially infectious communicable disease risk and a quarantine protocol would likely be instituted for the protection of our staff.
The use of commercial diets are the safest, most complete and balanced way to feed 99 per cent of our pets. I wait in anticipation to see the end of this fad and can only hope that the catalyst for its inevitable demise is not the death of a toddler from a raw food feeding pet owner who thought they were doing the right thing.
Who would want this type of risk on their conscience?
Chris Collis B.Sc.(Agr.), DVM
Victoria

Read there original article here: http://www.timescolonist.com/business/This+deal+good/5839618/story.html

<a href=”http://growlies.ca/2011/12/response-dr-chris-collis-veterinarian-victoria-b-c/”>A response to Dr. Chris Collis a Veterinarian in Victoria B.C.</a>

Another article:  Is pet food actually poisoning our dogs?

I  trust that no matter where you are ,  you will get a chance to slow down, spend some time with your loved ones and enjoy the holiday season.

We  sometimes get wrapped up in our busy lives, worrying about things that are unlikely to happen, postponing change until we graduate, till the  kids grow up, when the mortgage is paid off  or when we retire.

You too may have witnessed that there are many people being stuck in unhappy and unhealthy lives because they are  afraid of  jumping off the proverbial springboard of old habits  into the sea of change.  We all have been there.

The irony is that the people who inspire us the most are great at  jumping into the unknown.

A few days ago, I started reading the autobiography of Steve Jobs, who is ,without doubt one of the most influential geniuses of our times.  Jobs was a very complex and humanly flawed person but despite  his flaws, he was able to profoundly change the world we  live in.

His autobiography starts with a quote:

“The people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world,

are the ones who do…”

It is possible that some people  may consider you and I crazy too.   They don’t believe that disease and unnecessary suffering can be prevented by introducing simple, harmless yet effective principles of natural healing.

There  are also companies  that do not like the idea of empowering people with free information and knowledge because that would prevent them from making money from disease.

The paradox is that  the most prosperous of  companies, those with a socially sound mission of making the world a better place such  as Wikipedia, Facebook, Google or YouTube do exactly the opposite.  They provide free information, education and thrive incredibly well.

All that is needed is a reliable financial model that powers the “free learning engine,” which in our case is the development and offering of innovative health care products, natural supplements and services.

I would like thank you from my heart  for supporting Dr. Dobias Healing Solutions throughout the past 3 years, purchasing or recommending our products and services.

I am also thrilled to share with you the plans for  2012:

• We  are almost finished with our new, streamlined  and easy to use website.
• We are  preparing the launch of  several very exciting new  products that will be unlike any other on the market
• We are ready to organize more webinars, seminars and community events
• We plan to bring other vets, healers and practitioners to take part in the Healing Revolution.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for being my source of inspiration, learning and encouragement.  3 years ago, I was not sure if the health and free education based business model would work and I am so pleased to see it thrive.

I am so glad to have “jumped”  because now You and I are creating health and take an active  part in the Healing Revolution!

Lets celebrate this holiday season, lets be crazy enough to believe that we can change the world and create many more healthier and longer lives.  I hope you too are ready to jump!

Happy Holidays!

Sincerely  Yours,

Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM

Learn about weaning, feeding, supplements and natural approach to vaccination

While one could think that puppies are born with a clean slate, the reality is that they often carry “a baggage full of problems” from previous generations.  These problems are not just genetic. It appears that puppies are also burdened by the imbalances and health issues  of their parents that were exposed to excessive vaccination, poor nutrition, stress and the use of immune-suppressive drugs such as anti-inflammatory and corticosteroids .

I am saying this because many people who get a new dog question what they have done wrong while they really have done everything right.

STEP 1 – BEWARE OF PUPPY MILLS

If you are planning to get a puppy, the most generous way is to choose one from a rescue shelter.   Not only will you feel great about your decision but you will also give a home to a dog that would otherwise continue to suffer or be euthanized if a suitable home is not found.

If you would rather get a puppy from a breeder, just promise that you will stay away from puppy mills, suspicious ads and pet store bought puppies.

Puppy mill owners (ab)use dogs as breeding machines. They lock them in cages, rarely walk them and most of them suffer tremendously.  Beside the endless suffering, puppies of these dogs often end up with serious irreversible health issues that even a miracle healer or a vet will not be able to solve.  I am warning you right here that treating these problems will suck your pocket dry and break your heart.

If you feel the urge to “rescue” a puppy mill puppy, buying one creates more demand which is exactly what the puppy broker or puppy mill owner wants.  Not buying one will make them go bankrupt and hopefully they will surrender the dogs to authorities.

I suggest that if you can’t find the dog of your liking in your area, there are many homeless dogs in “kill shelters” all over the US or in third world countries.

STEP 2 NURSING AND FOOD

Feeding dogs is another fiery topic and writing about it is like poking in a wasp nest.  I am planning to right on food more in the next issue and will only mention that good puppy nutrition starts with a well fed mother.

After more than a decade of feeding and recommending a raw, species appropriate diet, my clients and I have witnessed a huge difference between dogs fed processed and raw food.  Because I have repeatedly seen longer lives, less medical issues, shinier and healthier coats, better mobility, less chronic disease and cancer there is no way I would switch back to kibble.

Do you too wonder why processed pet food companies making kibble offer retailes and vet a wholesome fresh food at their lectures?

STEP 3 SUPPLEMENTS

Most people understand the role of vitamins and perhaps omega oils are in health.  However, many are unaware that the most common causes of disease and premature aging are mineral deficiencies.

Not one single mineral can be manufactured by the body and minerals are severely depleted in even in organic foods.  The main reason is intensive agriculture and excessive soil exploitation and fatigue.

That is why any pregnant or lactating mother should be getting these basic supplements:

Essential minerals and heavy metal detox,for example GreenMin

Multi-vitamins (Whole food probiotic based supplement)

High quality Omega Oils.

Non-dairy based live Probiotics to promote good digestion and proper immune system function.

The most well known issue of mineral deficiency in pregnant and nursing bitches is lack of blood calcium in pregnant or nursing bitches – eclampsia. One of the causes of postpartum eclampsia is under functioning parathyroid gland which leads to slower release of calcium.  However, proper function of the pituitary gland also depends on the presence of other minerals and nutrients.

Feeding lactating bitches balanced diet and supplements is equally essential for the well being of puppies and their development.  If you are tempted to purchase cheap synthetic vitamins, just remember that because there is a difference between a plastic orange, orange juice and a wholesome orange, there is also a difference between synthetically made vitamins, natural extracts or whole food based vitamins.  Because we can’t make food in a chemical lab, synthetic supplements are always going to be “the plastic” orange of nutrition.

STEP 4 WEANING PUPPIES

Just recently, I saw a mother at Wholefoods feeding her baby by squeezing baby food from a tube. I watched her and wondered if she knew that this “baby food” ha a fraction of the nutritional value of fresh food that she could blend and prepare fresh at home.

It is an example of how blinded we have been by marketing and advertising. Many people are convinced that feeding sterilized, pasteurized food is somehow better.  Nature doesn’t make baby or puppy food and that is why I recommend feeding puppies the same high quality raw food as you would feed an adult.

Starting 3 – 4 weeks of age, you can introduce high quality raw food by  feeding the mothers in the pen with puppies that will gradually start eating it.  By the time puppies are 8 weeks old and ready to come home, they should be eating a variety of meats, veggies, eggs and  chewing on raw bones to massage their gums and promote healthy teeth and bone development.

I am not a big fan of giving milk products mainly because in nature, milk is not a part of the canine diet as soon as puppies are weaned.

Just don’t forget to give your puppy vitamins, omega oils, minerals and probiotics to keep it strong and healthy.

STEP 5 VACCINES

I am relieved that there are now research studies available that confirm that the practice of yearly dog vaccination has absolutely no scientific basis and that most dogs immunity lasts at least 8 years and possibly even a lifetime.

Vaccines are another fiery topic. All I can do is to give you my humble opinion and suggestions.

• Natural immunity obtain from the milk of mothers persist in most puppies until 12 – 16 weeks of age.
• Vaccinating puppies before 12 weeks will “wipe” out the maternal antibodies which leaves puppies more vulnerable to infections.
• Vaccines contain serious carcinogens such as “thimerosal” (that contains mercury),  formaldehyde and other chemicals.
• Most people are unaware that vaccines are often produced by infecting and sacrificing healthy animals.   To me, the notion of killing one to save another is insane and I feel obligated to inform you about this practice.
• Vaccines can also cause chronic often life long disease that resembles the disease that they are supposed to prevent.  Some good examples are digestive problems, skin issue or mental and behavioral changes that disappear after neutralizing the effects vaccines have with homeopathic remedies.
• Most vaccines bypass the natural entry gates of infection such as mouth or the airways and this is a severe shock to the immune system.  How would you feel if a person entered your house through breaking the windows (the analogy for an injection) as opposed to ringing the bell?
• The administration of multiple antigen vaccines is also a very unnatural way of creating immunity. In nature, usually only one serious disease pathogen would be present at the time allowing the body to fully focus on one pathogen.  Giving combination vaccines makes the immune system overwhelmed the same way you would if you are working on several major projects at the same time.

Here is an immunity protocol that I have been using in my practice for years.

• Never vaccinate your puppy before 12 weeks of age if you have the choice
• If your puppy has been vaccinated early, any medical condition may or may not be a vaccine side effect. I recommend consulting an open minded holistic practitioner who knows how to recognize vaccine related issues.
• If you suspect vaccination side-effects you can safely administer a homeopathic  remedy Thuja 30 C or Thuja 200 C – 1 dose to neutralize vaccination side effects.
• Maternal antibodies protect puppies fully until 12 – 16 weeks. When your puppy is 12 weeks old get a parvovirus and distemper “antibody titer test” done.
• If any antibody level is present, retest at the age of 5 months and socialize your puppy on a moderate basis with other dogs. Your puppy will learn the “ropes” by being in the company of other canines and its exposure to pathogens while it is protected will stimulate the production of their own antibodies. This is in fact natures “way of vaccination” and this is exactly what vaccine companies don’t want you to know.
• To me, any level of antibodies suggests protection despite some labs reporting low titers as insufficient. In fact, no one can say what levels are or aren’t low.  I have never seen parvo or distemper in dogs that have had even a low positive titer.
• If your puppy tested negative for antibodies consider vaccination with one antigen of parvovirus (not a combination) at 12  weeks and distemper 4 weeks later.
• Retest for antibodies 1 month and then 2-3 months after the vaccine and then 2 – 3 months later.
• If your puppy’s titer continues to be negative, you will have to make a decision about   which risk is higher – boosters or the incidence of an infectious disease.
• Never use vaccines for Kennel Cough, Lymes disease and Giardia as they have the highest side-effect causing properties.
• 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 and talk to your veterinarian about the rabies incidence in your area.

It may be shock to you but many healthy puppies maintain lifetime antibodies with zero vaccination except for rabies.

To summarize, no one can give you 100% guarantee that your puppy will not get infected with or without vaccines.  In my practice, I always try to avoid them whenever possible.

With gratitude,

If you have been in our community for some time, you most likely know about my efforts to provide you with knowledge about natural disease prevention.

 Good health is like the spring that feeds the river of a good and fun life.

What is your picture of a good life? What are your dreams? What makes your heart sing?

To me, a good life is to be able to care well for those I love, to have a lifes purpose and to have enough time to spend with my family and friends. In my world, a good life is taking Skai to Europe and showing him the places I grew up or making the wild dream of taking him to Hawaii real.

Skai is very lucky but making his life good is not a frivolous indulgence. Caring for him helps me to make a clear statement that every two or four legged soul deserves good food, safety, protection and love.

It is sometimes depressing that there are so many helpless animals and children who suffer unnecessarily. They are hungry, mistreated or suffer from the consequences of lack of food, resources or proper medical knowledge.

In my eyes, Skai represents a symbol of change and hope for a better world.

We have a lot to learn from our animal friends, because they have no problem living in harmony with nature and their history is not lined with war, greed and destruction.

People often complain about the evil corporations as the symbol of greed and destruction of our planet. However, we need to be reminded that these companies would not exist if we, as a collective, didn’t use their products, for example drugs.

This is not to say that drugs are not useful especially in an emergency or a life threatening situation. However, 90% of healthcare problems can be solved better without the use of toxic drugs.

We all should do more and speak louder to our governments to make sure that doctors, who are often caught between a rock and a hard place, have access to knowledge about natural principles of healing.

In the ideal world, doctors should not need to be afraid of being ostracized, marginalized and even legally prosecuted, when they use natural treatments in place of toxic and often damaging drugs. The continuous lobbying of drug companies to push natural products out of the marketplace under the cover to make us safe is ridiculous because pharmaceutical drugs kill more people than any natural treatment ever will.  

Many people tell me that they have been feeling down about the state of the world or the health of their loved ones; not knowing what to do.

I feel that the “feeling down” is just a wake up call from the Universe to start searching for a solution. Sometimes things have to get bad before they get better. The good news is that most of the current health issues can be easily solved by using natural methods before they get serious.

Every week, I read about some of your concerns about the state of veterinary care or the health problems your animal friends have been faced with.

While I will always do my best to be there for you no matter what the health problem is, I hope you will take the opportunity to learn how to prevent these in the future by attending my webinars.

You can also make a huge difference in the lives of others by telling them that there is a natural choice.

With much gratitude,

PS:

Make sure to bookmark 0ur webinar information page to stay informed about our  upcoming webinars.

http://www.peterdobias.com/community/webinars/

Hi everyone,

many of you have been following the story of Indiana, the dog of our client Karen from Toronto.  Several weeks back, Karen was told by her local vet to put Indiana down. Even a panel of 5 veterinary specialists thought that Indy must had had cancer metastases since he was diagnosed with organ lymphoma 18 months ago. To their surprise they found nothing and  Karen kindly shared her story with us.  If she didn’t go with the voice of her heart, Indy would not be alive.

If  you have not read the original article,  click here first before you go on reading the lines below.  Otherwise, here is the update:

Life is an ever-changing river that flows no matter how we feel about it. The flow brings changes and while change is the driving force of growth, evolution and discovery, often we feel discomfort when change takes places.

Over the last several years, I have really got the sense of what you and your animal friends need. Most of you look for ways to prevent disease, keep your four legged friends healthy and long living.

You also seem to enjoy a community of likeminded people who you can have an open discussion with and not worry about being looked down upon when you say no to drugs, chemotherapy, surgery, vaccines or processed food.

Aside from being your vet, I have always encouraged you to go with the voice of your heart and do what you love the most and do the best.

2 days ago, I promised to make an announcement.

Most of you know my connection with Skai, my dog and how much he means to me. He has been a tremendous teacher and so is my 20 year old cat Mina but I never understood her as well.

For 23 years,  I have been working with both, cats and dogs, and as time progressed I learned I can’t  be the Jack of all trades.  I have realized that if I  wanted to continue  developing my skills and help to create an effective system for natural healing  and prevention, I had to choose what I do the best and that is treating dogs.

There are many  “cats only” clinics but there is only one “dog only” practice in the US and none in Canada.

Today, I would like to announce that As of today, October 3, 2011, I will be the first Dog Only veterinarian in Canada and I trust that the cat lovers will forgive me.

However, I do promise that I will continue providing the same quality holistic veterinary care to already established  feline patients. The truth is some of you, my feline clients, are my dear friends and I would miss you and your cats.

My decision to take the canine direction is mainly based on the fact that cats and dogs are very different.  I have been constantly faced with the issue of “not offending the dog or the cat lovers” when teaching or doing research and I didn’t like it.

So after years of working with both species, today I am “coming out” as a dog only vet with the exception of my already established feline patients.

If you have any questions and/or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me here.

With gratitude,

Dr. Peter Dobias

Does it happen to you that each month or week has a certain theme? It seems that the Universe decides what the lesson should be and then serves us ample opportunities to learn and grow.

This week, the lesson is about following our heart.

Some of you may know that in addition to teaching about disease and cancer prevention, doing webinars and developing innovative supplements and natural care products; I still like to consult with a handful of clients to keep in touch with medicine and healing.

One of the common situations I see is that my new or even established clients who live out side of Vancouver need to use the services of my conventional colleagues.  

I believe that 99% of vets have the intention of helping their patients, however even then the recommendations given can arise from a personal point of view.

Today, I would like to share a story with you that I hope will encourage you to go with your heart whenever you are making the “life or death” decision.  Initially, I thought I would ask my client Karen, if it was ok if I shared her story with you and then I thought of asking her to share her story with you directly. She kindly agreed.

My name is Karen and I belong to a Golden Retriever named Indiana.  Our journey together has always been an adventure.About a year and a half, Indiana was diagnosed with oral cancer.  My conventional vet who practices outside of Toronto told me that Indiana had a few weeks, maybe a few months left to live. 

I remember the feeling of my heart melting and sinking to the floor.  It was suggested that I consult with an Oncologist who recommended starting steroid treatments right away. I had experienced first hand the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs and the toll they take on the body and decided to search for an alternative for Indiana.  I followed my heart.  I declined chemotherapy and other drugs.  It was then that Dr. Peter Dobias entered our lives.  For the next 18 months I have followed Peter’s recommendations and despite the odds, Indiana has remained healthy and happy.

Recently, Indiana fell during one of our daily walks on a nearby trail. His front leg got caught on some brush and he fell hard onto his chin, front leg and stomach.  The impact was so hard, I felt like I had the wind knocked out of me.First he appeared to be fine but the next morning I noticed his lower eyelid drooping and could see the third eyelid covering most of his eye.  I called my local vet and made an urgent appointment to bring Indiana in.  The vet felt that the eye issue was not related to the fall and that perhaps he just had grass seed or a particle irritating his eye.  Upon looking through Indiana’s file, he asked me if he had really been diagnosed with cancer a year and a half ago or if it was a typo. He appeared to be truly surprised. He then recommended steroid drops for Indiana’s eye however, in my heart, I didn’t think the diagnosis was correct.  

I decided to call Peter and when I described the symptoms, he wanted to know what we had done in the last few days.  I told him about Indiana’s fall, and he suggested that Indiana had “Horner’s Syndrome caused by an a nerve injury.  We discussed Indiana’s treatment plan, and agreed to talk again in a few days.

As it happens, the following day, the extend of Indiana’s injuries were far more obvious. He was lame on his left hind leg and I could tell he was in pain.  I consulted again with Peter and we agreed that there is a possibility of a more severe back injury and my local vet should examine that Indiana.

This time, I  saw another associate. She reviewed his file and stopped at the entry about his cancer diagnosis.  The next few minutes that took place in the exam room, completely caught me off guard. I was told that most likely Indiana’s cancer had spread which caused Indiana falling and that Horner’s Syndrome was misdiagnosed.  I was then suggested euthanasia.  My heart sunk for a moment and then it roared.  I couldn’t believe what heard.  In my heart I knew that this was not Indiana’s time to go. I was not ready to give up on Indiana based on an assumption, not a fact.

I then called  Peter who suggested that Indiana should undergo further examination by a neurologist. The following day, a neurologist, an orthopedic surgeon and several interns examined Indiana.   They all came to the same conclusion that a battery of tests were required to confirm their assumption that cancer had spread throughout Indiana’s body.  They felt that since he was diagnosed with cancer 1 ½ earlier, his body is likely to be full of metastasis.

I would love to say that I was strong and confident the full 11 hours that we spent at the Ontario Veterinary College, but really, I was a mess. My emotions and mind were so strong that I could hear the voice of my heart only faintly.  It was telling me to keep going and not give up. The x-ray of Indiana’s lungs showed clear, “no signs of any nodules”.  His blood work in their words was “pristine”; the orthopedic consult was “unremarkable”, the needle aspirations of his lymph nodes showed “no signs of cancer” nor did the abdominal ultrasound.

After 11 hours of diagnostic tests, Indiana’s diagnosis of “Horner’s Syndrome” was confirmed and so was the lumbar spine injury that caused the hind leg lameness.  I was ecstatic and I could not shake off the feeling the specialists seemed bewildered and almost disappointed that they did not find cancer as they expected. I know that Indiana is not out of the woods and that we have to give him some time to recover from his fall.  All I want to say is, whenever your dog is given a death sentence, go with the voice of your heart, seek a second opinion and do not make a rushed decision.

If I did, my bellowed Indiana would not be sleeping on the bed beside me. He would have been dead.

When it comes to cancer, do not allow anyone to give your dog an expiry date.  As you can see, cancer doesn’t need to be a death sentence and you don’t have to use toxic chemo and radiation to treat it. All I know is that we need to learn more about natural ways of cancer treatment and prevention, the more pets will be able to live healthy, long and happy lives.

We need to collect more funds to conduct more independent studies that are not under the control of the drug companies that want to sell us drugs. We need to learn how to prevent and treat cancer naturally.

Sincerely Yours,

Karen Brady, 

Toronto, ON, Canada

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Karen and Indiana’s story that took place in September 2011 is  a real wake up call. The  sooner we do more research the sooner we will be able to use more natural and gentler cancer treatments. Indiana has been taking natural preparation  that appear to be effective and as you can see exceed the conventional veterinary expectations.  I believe that we  can do better than chemo and radiation but need to do more research drug companies are unlikely to conduct research of inexpensive natural treatment methods.

We need your help.  Please join us on October 15, 2011 at the launch of Healing Foundation to raise funds for independent cancer research. 

With gratitude,

Dr. Peter Dobias

Purchase your tickets here.