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

_______________

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. 

When I was a veterinary student,  I didn’t  even question the possibility that vaccines  could cause harm. I was taught that they are the cornerstone of health and must be given. However, as I went on to practice, I  realized that vaccines are not that safe.

In the first few years of practice, I not only saw severe acute vaccine  reactions, but also clear onset of a variety of health problems soon after vaccination.  I  also saw several cats with feline fibro sarcoma, a type of tumor that has been confirmed to appear in the vaccination site of  1 out of 1000 cats.

I naturally started to ask the question “if you and I would be willing to get vaccinated if there was a 1: 1000 chance of getting cancer,  why were vets not  obligated to tell their clients that this risk was there?”

From my perspective, injection of any artificial substance, especially mercury and formaldehyde containing substance cannot create a greater state of health.

Under the natural conditions, pathogens mainly affect the individuals who’s immune system is weakened.  Most bacteria or viruses enter through the mouth, respiratory tract  with the exception of rabies.

The immune system has time to prepare for the unwelcome visitors and in most cases respond by eradicating the pathogen before it gets a chance to grow and spread.  It would also be rare to have more then one serious pathogen  attacking the body at the same time.

In contrast, vaccines introduce multiplex pathogens by an injection that bypasses natural gateways.  This  situation can be compared to someone entering your bedroom window in the middle of the night instead of ringing the bell. How would you feel?

Over  the years, I have heard both sides. The one of the drug and vaccine  companies telling me that ‘vaccines are safe’ and the one of anti-vaccine proponents  saying  that ‘they are damaging to health.’

First, I was unsure about who to trust.  However, after more than 20 years in practice, I can see that the pets with  fewer or  no vaccines  do much better than those who get  vaccinated. 

Here is some important information:

1. Vaccines contain dangerous carcinogens and disease causing chemicals such as mercury and formaldehyde.
2. Vaccines are sometimes made by infecting healthy laboratory animals, including dogs, cats and horses, which causes endless unnecessary suffering. To me it doesn’t make sense to kill an animal to save another.  When I was a student, I  saw these poor souls locked in isolation for a lifetime, most  often loosing their lives under torturous conditions.
3. I have observed time and again that early vaccination can neutralize natural maternal antibodies and leave your puppy unprotected.
 In reality, puppies and kittens vaccinated at 8 – 12 weeks end up more vulnerable to the diseases.
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.

 What  can you do to keep your dog disease free?

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.
 Your puppy will learn to communicate and interact with other dogs by being in their presence and contact with other dogs will stimulate the  production of antibodies by being exposed while being protected by maternal antibodies. This is in fact natures “way of vaccination.”
5. From my perspective,  any antibody presence is sufficient despite some labs claiming that  there is a low (insufficient) antibody levels. I have not  seen any dogs with antibody presence getting sick.
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.

What to do if your dog has been tested for no antibodies

1. Early vaccination before 12 weeks of age often neutralizes or blocks the maternal immunity. Vaccines simply destroy maternal antibodies by binding to them.
2. If a titer test confirms presence of no antibodies, you may consider vaccination with one antigen of parvovirus ( not a combination ) at 12  weeks
 and 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, Lyme disease and Giardia – they have the highest side-effect causing properties. I have seen many dogs vaccinated for Lyme 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. 
Kennel cough is a self-limiting disease similar to a cold. Vaccine causes very frequent side effects – kennel cough itself.
5. If you live in an area with rabies, the vaccine may need to be given, however, give it at least 4 – 8 weeks from other vaccination.
6. Never give more than 1 antigen at a time.

How to reduce the chance of vaccination  side effects

1. Never vaccinate your dog 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.
  Some of these side effects may persist for a year or a life time.
3. Consult an open minded holistic practitioner who knows how to recognize vaccine related issues.
4. If you see problems appearing within 1 – 2 months after vaccination, it is safe to administer 2 doses of homeopathic remedy Thuja 200 C 2 weeks apart

Conclusion

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

It is evident that none or minimal vaccine protocol is safer that regular vaccination.

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

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.

Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM

NOTE: If you currently work with a practitioner, day care or boarding facility that demands vaccines, 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. If you find them not respecting your wishes, choose another service care provider.

If there is one condition that people ask  about the most, it is allergies. I hope that the upcoming Allergy series will bring you more clarity and  relief to your dog if he or she too is   trapped in the world of allergies or conditions that resemble them.

Our own experiences shape our perception about our healthcare

My grandfather was a herbalist and my father was a conventional veterinarian and by the time I was six years old, I was the Quinea pig for both. I was given herbal teas and medicine and my father used to think that there was no difference between prescribing medication for people and animals. Because he had the access to prescription drugs and considered the visits to the family doctor a waste of time, he gave us antibiotics for every cold, anti-histamines for allergies and corticosteroids for every pimple on his own.

Trapped in the cage of old beliefs

When I got to vet school, it was because I felt I wanted to figure out healing with more than a cook book approach to medicine. We were taught how to prescribe drugs or perform a surgery but seldom, if ever, we were taught approaching each patient as an individual. Our teachers simply were not aware that the disease symptoms are only the signals of the body that it is out of balance and all they could do was to teach us what they were taught. It  also applied to allergies.

I am sure the teachers  meant well. None of them were taught that drugs that are sometimes life saving often  degrade and erodes the  health health we want to restore.

I compare the situation of prescribing drugs to using a credit card. We use it knowing that eventually the statement will come and we will have to pay the balance. If we don’t, we will have to pay the balance plus interest. In the case of drugs, the interest equals the drug side-effect.

A post graduation wake up call

When I graduated from vet school, I started to realize that conventional medicine was not the answer for many health problems. I saw the damage caused by overused drugs and feeding junky processed food. In the mean time, my allergies to animal hair were getting out of control and I knew that if I wanted to continue practicing, I had to heal my allergies and anti-histamins were not working. I also wanted to figure out why so many so called “allergic” dogs and cats didn’t  respond to the conventional treatments and their health continues to deteriorate.

I started to explore more holistic approaches to healing, examined, observed and studied thousands of patients and gradually  realized that more than 80% of all conditions diagnosed as allergies are not true allergies.

In the mean time,  I was also able to cure my allergies with a combination of better diet, cleansing my body and working with several different practitioners from homeopaths, energy healers, chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapist.  Thanks to the “misfortune” of having allergies, I   understand them better.  The good news is that  most allergic people and pets could be allergy free with applying a few relatively simple steps and this is what I want to share with you in my upcoming allergy series.

Humility vs. arrogance

I am very grateful to all my patients, clients, teachers for the wisdom they brought to me. It would be easy to  overlook some amazing solutions to a problem, just because they often appear to be “too simple.” The treatment of allergies may be one good example.

I am saying this with humility of knowing that I don’t always succeed. It is simply because there is still so much to learn about medicine.  In fact I believe that the biggest threat to good medicine is the arrogance of thinking that “we know.” 

In the following chapters of the Allergy series, I would like to share with you what I have learned about allergies and how you can make a difference in the life of your dog if he or she is suffering from allergies.

I also hope that the information will make you give  your own health a thought and  increase the chances of healthy, happy and long life.

Stay tuned, I will do my best to post one articles a week about Allergies.

With gratitude,

To subscribe for articles about allergies and more news, click here

Have you ever happened  to be without internet?

It has happened to me today and I think that the “dog gods” are responsible.  I may not  have a TV but  I  am  definitely guilty of spending more time in front of the computer  than my dog,  Skai, would wish. He often  gives me “The Look” when I am working.

I  am often conflicted because I know that at least the main  purpose of my life is to spend time with my two and fourlegged family, friends and others interesting people. How do I decide that I divide the time fairly and do not loose the sight of what matters?

So here I am, sitting  in an internet  café in Tofino, BC, learning that  there is no internet today at this end of th world today.  “You are in the middle of nowhere… so don’t be  surprised that  the internet doesn’t  work!”, the café employee laughed.” She appeared to be entertained over my obvious symptoms of internet withdrawal. Me, no internet…! Neverthless, I have succeeded  not to  throw myself on the floor and I didn’t have a temper tantrum.  However, I am still feeling like if my internet umbilical cord was ripped right out.

My   plan  was  that  I would come out  here with my 2 sisters and their kids only if I could finish some of my work that was “urgent.”   “Yeah,  urgent!, ” I hear the dog gods speaking,  “Living your life is the only urgent thing, take a break and spend more time with Skai. You have been glued to you Mac for days and what is  wrong with you…?”

“But  I am spending a lot of time in front of the computer giving people tips on how to keep the animal friends healthy.  Imagine, they could be spending time in the park or on the beach instead of  the vet office.   It is my way to say  thank you for having such a blast with Skai and other dogs and people.” I  argued.   “I hope that you will make the internet running again, because I need to post a post about our Allergy lecture and Skai’s 10^th birthday fundraiser.” I begged.

“Ok, ok,  you dog gods,  I will  promise that  I will spend much less time on the computer this weekend and more time  with on the beach.  Just make sure  that you will keep Skai “dispatched” as my assistant in life for many more years, will you?” I also hope we will be able to negotiate “a deal”  for other  canines around, they have so much to teach us! No I don’t mean peeing at the corners. I mean how to love and be good.”  Are you hearing me?

“Oh, by the way,  thanks for giving me all  those tips on healing and nutrition, my readers say that they  seem to be making a difference  and the natural supplement formulas that you planted in my head work great.”

I will  also post our conversation  on my  blog to pass on the message:  Computerize only after  the members of  your canine “good life squad” sleeps after a a good walk twice a day. Is that  a  deal?

Thanks for listening!

PS: Taking your dog for a walk or a run at least 45  minutes  2 x a day is essential for his or her health. The backyard is  for veggies or flowers but your dog needs to get o to see the world. If you see the pleading eyes, they are real.  Just make sure you get  of  the office chair or the couch before the dog gods disconnect your internet.  Aren’t dogs great in reminding us what really matters in life?

Did you too notice that many pet food companies and food industry giants are suddenly going all natural?  Many  people appear to have been  lured by the promise of top  quality ingredients and also by packaging and advertising that likely costs more than the food itself.

“But what if they have really changed?”  You may ask.

I wondered about the same so I did a little “market research.” We  all know what it costs to purchase  “quality ingredients” that these companies claim are in the bag.

Here are some examples:

Science Diet makes 30 lbs of all natural dog food that costs 57 dollars at an online store. This means that it is sold for a believable $1.90/lb.  However, if you consider that dried food may be around 60 – 75%   lighter than fresh food, you would be paying $0.47/lb.  If you consider the cost of drying,  packaging, storage and transportation and a 20- 25% distributor mark up and  30 to 40% store mark up, it is impossible to make high quality food for such a price unless the company sources from 3^rd world countries or uses inferior quality ingredients.

It is a paradox that so many people believe what is written on pet food packaging. It is an industry that is not regulated by any independent quality assurance organization.

If my assumptions are correct here are a few other examples considering 1:4 fresh : dry ratio

IAMS sensitive naturals 25 lb bag  would approximately cost  $0.38 /lb of fresh food

Royal Canine 30 lbs bag  would cost $0.40/lb of fresh ingredients.

To summarize,  it appears that an old dog doesn’t seem to be learning new tricks here. The old ones are just packaged differently.

Whenever  you are unsure about what decision to make, I suggest you look back to nature.  As far as I know natural means natural and kibble doesn’t grow on trees.

Thank you very much pet food giants. I will pass on your offer of “innovated” natural pet food and choose food as nature intended.  I also wonder, Mr. Giant Pet  Food Co,  why you serve wholesome delicious foods to vets at conferences and lectures?  Isn’t kibble the best nutrition out there?

]]> http://www.peterdobias.com/community/2011/07/natural-diet-is-the-best/feed/ 0 http://www.peterdobias.com/community/2011/06/choosing-the-right-supplements-for-your-dog-or-cat/ http://www.peterdobias.com/community/2011/06/choosing-the-right-supplements-for-your-dog-or-cat/#comments Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:03:12 +0000 Dr. Peter Dobias http://www.peterdobias.com/community/?p=2179
If you share your life with a  dog, or a cat, you may have found the world of nutritional supplements to be  a confusing impenetrable jungle.  In fact, most people are so confused that they often resort to the extremes. They either use no supplements at all or fill their kitchen cabinets and counters with dozens of bottles. Almost everyday I am asked by  clients for an opinion about supplements and my curiosity has led me to explore the supplement world  which often reminds me of sailing uncharted ocean waters.

Many people believe that if they feed good quality food or the best natural food that their dogs or cats diet will be complete. This is not true.

Intensive agriculture has caused a severe degree of soil mineral  and nutrient depletion which has caused deficiencies in the whole food chain including plants, herbivores and finally carnivores.  We have seen sailors dying of scurvy, iodine deficiency causing goiter, vitamin B deficiency causing beri-beri, a neurologic disease and death. It is a paradox that most people and even medical practitioners do not ask the most important question. What is missing in our own and our pets’ diet? Is it possible that these deficiencies cause serious health problems?  Of course they do!

The story of Peggy and Skai

A few years ago I was asked by one of the local natural pet food manufacturers to come up with a better alternative for calcium and mineral supplement. First, I looked at several different mineral sources and found a unique species of mineral absorbing algae that has been used with great success in the treatment of osteoporosis.  I formulated GreenMin with the idea of providing the essential minerals.

First I used it  myself  and felt great, more energetic and less achy after exercise and yoga. Then I gave it to my dog Skai and his sister Peggy who lives with my friends. As time went on I started to see a huge difference between Peggy and Skai.  I was puzzled.  Skai’s coat became softer, shinier and rich colored, his digestion was better than ever and he was full of energy with no signs of stiffness.  Peggy, on the other hand, started to show some stiffness and my friends complained that she  limped on occassion. Her coat was dry and bleached out and she continued to have occasional diarrhea.  How could it be?  Then I  asked my friends if they were giving the supplement.  They sheepishly confessed that they forgot!

This was the picture of mineral deficiency.

Natural versus Synthetic

Most people understand the need for supplements,  however many do not realize the difference  between  synthetic supplements, natural extracts and whole food based supplements. While synthetically made supplements resemble their natural cousins, their comparison is similar to wholesome organic oranges and artificially colored and flavoured pop soda.  Generally, I try to avoid  synthetically made supplements. Many people do not know that many synthetic supplements are made in chemical labs from crude oil and other chemical substances.In fact artificial vitamins and supplements create a state of excess and chemical imbalance that I have gradually learned to recognize by observing subtle shifts in the energy of different organs and the body.

Deciding whether to give synthetic or natural is relatively easy. The more challenging part is to find the right product because many supplement label claims are inaccurate or untrue.

Beware of shady production practices, go with products you trust

I discovered this by doing research on certified organic spirulina which is no longer available in the western world. The reason is that Spirulina doesn’t grow without a naturally occuring Chilean nitrate that can no longer be used in certified organic foods. It is shocking that there are still many suppliers of “organic” spirulina from China which was  clear proof that the Chinese organic claims are untrue.

For most people it is hard to recognize products backed up with solid knowledge or those formulated haphazardly. Learn more about the company, learn to know people who formulate the products and their background. I also prefer having several different products rather than mixing everything in one. If products have too many combined mixed ingredients, choose others that are simple and made with human grade ingredients. I have chosen to make  GreenMin locally in Vancouver and source the ingredients directly from the growers.  If they do not want to show me their certification documents,  I don’t deal  with them.

Extracts versus whole food based supplements

Natural extracts are better, however they are still “extracted” from the whole food. The difference is similar to eating an apple and drinking apple juice. One is nutritious,  the other one is pasteurized sugar loaded  drink that can make the body acidic and imbalanced.

Whole food supplements are made of wholesome food with hight nutrient content and positive effect on the body. A good example is a turmeric, holy basil and ginger based anti-inflammatory supplement that has a very strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and superfood qualities that is much safer than conventional drug  Metacam that causes side-effects . Probiotics supplements are another good example. Vitamin supplements and minerals can also be sourced from whole food and these are the products that I like to use.

What do my pets get?

My 9 year old dog Skai receives

A whole food probiotic cultured multivitamin.

GreenMin – an essential mineral, phytonutrient and superfood formula that also detoxes the body of heavy metals and other toxins

Wholemega – essential omega oils sourced from virgin salmon oil and certified organic flaxseed oil.

Nondairy probiotics.

Mobility and joint support made of Perna mussel.

Turmeric based anti-inflammatory, such as zyflamend after vigorous exercise which has also strong antioxidant – anti-cancer properties.

Once every 6 months, I do a liver cleanse with a herbal supplement and chlorophyll complex

My 19-year-old cat Mina receives

A whole food glandular and vitamin supplement formula ( available through email order only at contact@peterdobias.com due to manufacturer regulations)

GreenMin for Cats Esssential mineral supplement.

Non-dairy probiotics

For  senior cats I add a glandular supplement to support kidneys ( available through email order only at contact@peterdobias.com due to manufacturer regulations)

If you’re interested in learning more details about supplements, description and dosing, visit our webstore.  I’ve created easy to follow categories according to age and  specific organ support.

With gratitude,

PS:  A percentage of the proceeds from the purchase of any products goes to Healing Foundation  to conduct medical research in the field of  holistic disease and cancer prevention and  to provide free education to you and other holistically minded pet lovers.

Recently, I have had the pleasure to interview one of the Vancouver’s most talented healers, Ryan Carnahan on a very interesting topic of detox.  Heavy metals are one of the most serious pollutant and disease causing factors out  there.  Learning how to detox naturally may ad months and years to your best friends life.  I hope you will enjoy this interview.

With gratitude,

Dr. PD:

Hi  Everyone,  I have the pleasure to  introduce you to Ryan Carnahan  who has  been  very  kind and  agreed for me to interview him. He is a person who has a deep knowledge on the level of nutrition, supplements and  energy healing and I would like you to hear  a little about   minerals and their function and foremost,  how they  contribute to getting rid of  heavy metals in the body.

Ryan,  what  is  your background?

RC: I have been  in  practice 17 years,  in my practice, I combine homeopathy, osteopathy, herbal medicine, energy healing and of course  nutrition. I integrate all these in my practice to provide  people with a  well rounded  approach to maximize  health and longevity.

I have also heard that you’re a new owner of a dog?

RC: Yes, Reina,  we have had her for 8 months, she is a rescue dog from Mexico.  We are  very  blessed to have her in  our life and she has really taught me a lot and I have learned a lot from you in our discussions in how to take care of her.

What has she taught you?

RC:She is an ongoing reflection of what is going on  in my life.  I have always known that  pets are  very similar to children but  experiencing this is very different.  In my  practice,   I see the dynamics between  children  and parents and see how directly children and pets are  influenced by the things that  happen in the families and may be outside of the awareness of the parents. I can  look at  Reina and  I can see what is going on with me. It is apparent that they pick up the energy in the household and they adapt to the household and other relationships.  It is a constant reflection of ourselves and it takes away some self-centeredness of ourselves  because  we devote our life to taking care of someone else and it is an honor to do so.

I would like to go back to the topic of minerals and what  function in the body they  have and what  happens  when  we  provide a whole food source of minerals.This is quite important and I know you have picked up on it  when  you created GreenMin by seeing that  the best  quality raw diet  can be  still deficient in minerals. We can be feeding the highest quality diet from the most  pristine  environments but the plants are growing in soil that  is lower in minerals than it once was. The body needs to  use these nutrients for detoxification and maintaining health.

The liver is the most  important detoxification  organ  and it  requires a huge selection of nutrients in order to detox the  body from a  wide  range of toxins – including those produced during metabolism and from microbes such as bacteria, yeast, as parasites as well as environmental toxins.

The liver is  constantly working to metabolize these toxins and if the body is not receiving the full  spectrum of nutrients such as  minerals  and vitamins, the liver’s enzymes will not be able to process these toxins efficiently and they will start to create health problems.

So when  we  talked about GreenMin,  I  was  thinking especially about minerals and how the animals  may be benefiting from that. Animals  eat  food with  bones  and organs and  these contain  heavy metals.   Particularly the kidneys and brain  can contain  high  levels of  mercury and other metals like cadmium. Lead is often stored in the bones. If our  animals  eat  bones and organs which is  a part of their natural  diet, their liver, kidneys, bowels and lungs – all of the detoxification routes – need to metabolize and process toxins in the best possible way.  In  order to  do this, they need a full spectrum of nutrients to handle this.

Coming back to  some of these minerals like  sulphur, selenium, zinc, magnesium etc – these are crucial in  the production of detoxification enzymes in the body and the liver.

Mercury is a real  problem and  it comes  from the environment, vaccinations that the farm animals and our pets  get and these compound into the pets bodies and hopefully,  if your pet is healthy, it will be  able to excrete as much of the heavy metals as possible.  Sulphur, selenium, zinc, manganese, magnesium and others are all required for these enzymes, especially in the liver for detoxifying these metals.

Now coming back to mercury in specific, sulphur and selenium bind to mercury in the body so what happens is that mercury attaches to these minerals and can create a depletion of these minerals in the body.

Zinc will compete with cadmium, lead can compete with calcium and become deposited in bones, so these toxic metals have a way of sneaking in and using our metabolism and nutrients that we are ingesting to wreak a little bit of havoc.  So it is important that we have a really healthy supply of the good minerals so that our detoxification enzymes can be in the best form possible and so that they can help shovel these metals out of the body.

So if we are in a nutrient deficient state, like many of our pets are who may be on a very poor diet to begin with, you compound that nutrient deficiency with the environmental toxicity with the toxicity of the vaccinations and all of these things and they are really not in the best place possible to be able to recover and rebound.

Now, it can sound kind of doom and gloom but ultimately we don’t have to be afraid of environmental toxins.  We need to be wise, we need to be prudent and we need to be informed.  We just have to do the right thing so that we are in the best place possible so our bodies can be the natural detoxifiers that they are.

Our bodies will eliminate toxins through our bowels, our hair, our sweat, our urine but they need the proper nutrients in order to do that and that is where I products like GreenMin can come in and really put the animals in the best place possible for the toxicities that may be in the food that they are eating.

Dr. PD So if I understand well, the minerals are basically the soldiers of the body for the detox system and they work really hard to eliminate any heavy metals or any toxins that are in the system through being part of the liver and the enzymatic system and just helping to eliminate.  That makes a lot of sense because we have seen this especially in middle aged and older animals that are probably much more burdened by heavy metals and different toxins, they suddenly can look renewed and that is most likely what is happening.

Now some of our listeners and clients and customers have been wondering whether they have to put vitamins and essential oils in the food on top of minerals and some of them also believe that if they put vitamins and maybe essential oils that they do not need to put minerals in.

What is your opinion about that?

RC: Well, you know minerals, vitamins and oils are all very different categories of nutrients. You can try and just put eggs and flour in a cake and see how that tastes but really you are going to need a little sugar, a little baking powder and whatever you need to make the cake that tastes its best! In my book I talk about the three top supplements.

For me it is a good quality multivitamin, a high quality fish oil- and I say high quality because there is a lot more popular fish oils coming out there now that are not high quality. So yeah, fish oils are important.  They don’t have to be fish oils, Omega III’s can come from a plant based form but they are not as potent and bioavailable as the fish oils. And the third is a probiotic supplement. So we have these top three things that I think are very important.

Ryan, I have always believed that the health of people and their animals come along together.  It sounds like you may be a perfect person for some of our listeners and clients to be in touch with.  Where do you work and what do you do?  I know that you work in the human field and I would like to know a little bit more about your practice.

RC: Sure, I practice in Port Moody, BC ( Vancouver Lower Mainland region) and work with a wide range of people dealing with conditions ranging from back pain to digestive problems, immune system problems, etc.  I specialize in chronic pain but I do treat a wide range of ailments.  As we spoke about earlier, my approach is quite holistic and I use different modalities to approach the body to try and look at it from as many angles as possible to really see what is going on.

The goal of the treatment is really about balancing the body so it can heal itself, it is as simple as that. So we identify imbalances on a physical, mental, emotional and energetic level and then use herbs, homeopathy, osteopathy and energy balancing to restore balance to the body.  It is all about balance and once the body is balanced it will heal itself.  And I say the same thing about animals.  If we are providing the nutrients that they require, the body will tend to go back into balance and that will in turn create much better health.  So this is what I aim for with my clients.

Dr.PD: I love the simple approach to healing because I usually say that we need to eliminate toxins and what doesn’t belong in the body and then provide the body with nutrients that it needs then rebalance and realign the energy and that is all that needs to be done because the body does the rest.  I think we will have a lot of opportunity to talk in the future and I believe that you are still open to new clients although I know you are very busy.  What is your website address?

My practice site is www.RyanCarnahan.com and I have another website which is healerathome.com where I offer a series of ebooks covering the most important natural first aid remedies and there is a free ebook on treating colds naturally, which I am really excited about because it is just packed with good information that can be used on a regular basis.

It has been great talking to you Peter – what we really focused on today is the physical aspects of health but the other important aspect of health is the mental and emotional aspect of ourselves and our animals. This is also very important for detoxification as well – perhaps we can talk about another time.

Dr. PD: Thank you Ryan,  those  are definitely topics that I would like to have the future discussion on.

Take Care

PS:  For more information of Green Min, FAQ and how to purchase GreenMin, CLICK HERE

In most situations, wound healing can be done naturally and here is how.

To purchase Healing Solution click here

I swear that originally I had no intention to write a blog on dogs and their sexuality. My very pure intention was to reply to a few questions of my readers about spay, neuter and false pregnancy and then I did some research online  discovered a dog toy of a very different kind.
We all have seen dogs expressing themselves  freely in many different ways.  Sometimes to our amusement and at other times are embarrassed when Fido decides to hump the leg of our mother in law or a dignified official visitor.

So today, I would like to start a very public discussion on dog sexuality, holistic approach to  false pregnancies, spay and neuter procedures and yes, the world’s first sex doll for dogs.

False pregancy

When I was a child we used to have a dachshund named Gerda. In fact  she was on top of the children’s hierarchy when it came to my father’s rating because she adored him and never talked back.

Spaying dogs was not as common back than and I remember Gerda wearing special pants that my dad called “the heat pants.” They not only prevented the carpet from being spotted with blood but also the heat vents  prevented undesired pregnancies. They were kind of a canine version of the chastity belt.
What usually happened within two months after the heat was to me puzzling and also entertaining. As the surge of hormones in Gerda’s body made its way to her brain, she started acting funny.  This occurred in two months dead on. She would pretend that she had puppies. This hormonal change is caused by a hormone called progesterone, which prepares the mother for motherhood after ovulation. This hormone also contributes to milk production, prevents the bitch from going into another heat too early and  creates a very natural desire to care for and nurture.
During the false pregnancy stage Gerda used to steal our plush toys, socks, underwear  and other goodies and gathered them in a nest that she made. She also started to produce milk.  I’m not sure what the likeness is between a piece of undergarment and a real puppy is but she was obviously satisfied.

If you wonder how you should deal with your dog’s false pregancy, I recommend doing nothing but allowing your dog to go through the motions and allow her body to realize that this is a false alarm. There is no need to worry except if your dog’s abdomen is significantly distended. In this case you may want to seek the help of a veterinarian to rule out other problems.

I definitely wouldn’t recommend any medication or doggie Prozac because suppressing the body’s natural tendencies would cause more imbalance and ultimately  poorer health.

Holistic approach to neutering and spaying.

First of all I am definitely in favor of birth control for our pets. Many animals get euthanized because they haven’t found a suitable home. Excessive breeding makes it harder to find homes for homeless animals. I agree that there are some good and responsible breeders whose role it is to preserve the heritage of certain breeds and  I very much respect their work. I  especially value those who breed responsibly for healthy genes and disease prevention  instead of for looks.
There is another reason why I am in favor of spay and neutering. I believe that un-neutered pets suffer unnecessarily because the majority are never allowed to breed. Imagine if you had to live in celibacy against your natural desires and instincts. My heart goes out to many unneutered male dogs who are never let off the leash. Their owners worry that they will either get into a fight or run away to find “a girlfriend.”   The life of a neutered dog is much easier and they frequently make much better pets.

Male dogs

may be neutered around the age of  7 -8 months, however, some sources claim that neutering after the closure of bone growth plates is more appropriate which usually happens between 12 – 18  months of age depending on the breed.  I suggest you basing your decision on your dogs behavior  and if there are no issues, than you can wait until 15 months.  However, because of the scrotum and testicle size, the surgery is more traumatic when done later.

The neuter procedure is relatively simple and I recommend you not cheap out by going to low-cost, high volume spay and neuter clinics. General standards of medical care vary despite clinic inspections. Presurgical blood work, intravenous fluids, proper inhalation anesthesia monitoring and gentle and caring handling are from my point of view essential.

However, don’t get your hopes up thinking that your dog will stop having sudden urges and the leg humping will stop.  I have been laughing my head off since I discovered  the  worlds first dog sex doll. However, when I thought about it from the  dogs’ health point of view,  I  feel that it is a great idea because healthy sex life leads to good health.  Think about it, if  your dog’s first “best friend” is placed in a private location in your home, this could  avoid embarrassing situations when guests arrive.    Fido may become also much happier  and less prone to get in trouble of any kind.

Female dogs

The spay procedure has become subject to controversy as to whether to remove both, uterus and ovaries (ovarie-hysteroctomy) or remove the ovaries only (ovariectomy).  This is from my point of view a better choice.

If you can’t find a vet who is willing to perform such a procedure, just look elsewhere. The main benefit is that if the uterus is left behind, it continues to produce certain hormones that are beneficial to the body, (despite them not being able to cycle or get pregnant). Females with intact uterus appear to be more comfortable after the procedure and have lower rates of  female urinary incontinence.  Some people may  be concerned about pyometra, a life-threatening buildup of pus and fluid in the uterus but I haven’t seen this in my practice.

Natural approach to postsurgical care

Over the years I’ve developed a simple postsurgical care protocol that has worked very well.

1. Arnica 1M – a homeopathic remedy administered orally once every two hours (or less frequently) for the first 24 to 48 hours depending on patient’s comfort level.
2. Calendula 200 C – 1 dose daily for five days. This remedy has a very positive effect on the incision healing.
3. Some people worry about what would happen if the incision healed too fast. In fact the faster it heals the better.

Incision care

I have left toxic chemical soaps, disinfectants and antibiotics behind long time ago.  Instead I have been using a formula called Healing Solution. My grandfather was a herbalist and  thanks to the knowledge that he passed on, I have been able  to create Healing Solution – a herbal mixture that is great for wound healing.  Calendula improves the speed of the healing, Hydrastis (Golden Seal) has antibacterial and antifungal properties, Hamamelis (Witch Hazel) reduces inflammation and swelling and Yucca contributes to healing and reduces inflammation.
I’ve used Healing Solution in my practice for more than eight years now and to my own surprise I have not seen problem incisions for very long time. The benefit of using Healing Solution is not only faster healing and recovery but it also eliminates the need for antibiotics in most cases of  skin and wound care.

Just recently I accidentally stepped on a very dirty dog comb and it was hanging from my foot about three quarters of an inch deep. The first thought was that this would get infected and then I decided to test Healing Solution. I rinsed the wound thoroughly, sprayed it with Healing Solucion and compressed it with a piece of gauze and held in place by Vetrap bandage and  waited 24 hours to take the bandage off. There was no sign of an infection, no abscess and  no antibiotics, no emergency, no drama.

Healing Solution can also be used for hotspots, wounds, punctures, ulcerations, sores, some fungal infections, insect bites and stings and anywhere topical healing is required. Similar to GreenMin, it has been tested on  people and is good for you and your  animal friend.

PS:

In recent years I’ve seen animals being neutered and spayed much earlier than necessary. I find this practice not ideal because early spay and neuter often affects physical and even mental development. It is also more traumatic to the young and growing body. The ideal time for spaying is somewhere around 6 to 7 months of age and around 7 to 9 months in males.