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?

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.

Then I began to feel nervous because there is so much to talk about and only a few pages available. I asked myself, what would you and others like to know about healing and what is the most common challenge in keeping your animal friend healthy and long living.

If you have seen the movie Social Network, you know how powerful Facebook is. Ten years ago, no one would have known that this  21st-century phenomenon would transform the way we live, think, communicate and bring about change.
One of the biggest frustrations of the last century for many was that media and a few powerful people had the control over the available information. If they wanted to hide the truth, in most situations they simply stopped the flow of information and created another story that served them better.  Truth has been often twisted and turned around for the sake of making money. Some of the striking examples of this can be found in the pet food industry, human or animal health care or the way we have been destroying our planet.

I’m fully aware that I cannot solve such humongous problems by writing one article but as an eternal optimist I feel that you and I can make a difference, especially with the help of social media and creating a viable holistic healing community. I’m very happy to see that those in power cannot control the flow of information as easily and that the 21st-century has an incredible opportunity to bring about so much needed change.
As a vet of 23 years, I have always been interested in helping you to keep your animals healthy and long living and to do it naturally and at a lower cost.  What I hope for is that after reading this article you will be able to make better choices to heal gently and deeply as nature intended. This applies to your animal friend as well as to your own health.I hope that you will find the information below helpful.

What is health?

For most people and animals, health is the most valuable asset.  It is that great feeling of calm and harmony that exists throughout the body, mind and soul – well being on the level of every organ, cell, molecule and atom of our body. It is the happy dog playing in the field, the content cuddly cat wanting your attention and comfort, it is the family and  friends gathering where everyone is happy and no one complains about their pain, disease or even cancer.
True health can be compared to a nice sunny, breezy day. It means stability, flexibility, vitality, and is the degree of joy and happiness we and our pets feel.

What is disease?

Disease, in contrast, is like a day in a polluted Shanghai or the feeling of being in  a storm. It is the loss of capacity to maintain calm and harmony when we or our pets face external challenges. The damage is sometimes  repairable, but if the body loses the capacity to heal and repair, the initially acute problems  result in chronic incurable disease.

The liver and kidneys do not walk around on their own.

Conventional medicine commonly categorizes diseases by a diagnosis or a name of a specific set of symptoms. Practitioners often specialize in treatment of one organ system for example cardiology, gastro-enterology or dermatology.  The physician then prescribes toxic substances that the body needs to eliminate in addition to dealing with the disease itself.
Most of us have seen specialists losing sight of your beloved dog, cat or  family member and focus on “the kidney disease patient”, “the diabetes”, or “cancer.” They focus on what they see and lose sight of  why it happened.  No one becomes ill out of nowhere and in most cases a disease is the result of stress, loss, injury, poor diet, nutritional deficiency or unhealthy lifestyle. Some people believe that disease is all about genetics.

The truth is that no genes will manifest without strong influence of environmental factors and many genetically predisposed conditions can be prevented. Would you like health care custom tailored to your pet’s needs? Conventional treatment is usually selected according to a generic protocol that is commonly used for every patient with the same diagnosis. Most often doctors do not have the time to get to the core because they are too busy, overwhelmed and frequently burnt out. Why?  I believe that intuitively they know that the drug driven approach to medicine is a dead-end street.  Withholding  these thoughts takes a lot of energy. Many veterinarians crumble under the pressure of seeing their clients desperately looking for answers where they can’t be found.

Side-effects or the effects of drugs?

In most cases, drugs suppress the symptoms of the disease but are not addressing the cause.  This can be compared to you taking a sleeping pill at the time your house catches on fire.  This will numb you out and your  self-preservation mechanism will be disabled. However, the destruction will go on.In addition, toxic  and side-effect causing drugs create additional sets of symptoms.  These side-effects are “commercially undesirable” effects that are very cleverly put in a separate category.

Striking Example

Here is an example of  side-effects of METACAM, the “anti-arthritis” drug that is prescribed much more frequently than exercise, massage, physiotherapy or supplements. • Gastrointestinal: Vomiting, diarrhea, inappetence, melena, hematemesis, ulceration. • Central Nervous System/Behavioural: Ataxia, personality change, seizures, sleepiness, hyperactivity, depression, trembling. • Renal: Elevated creatinine and BUN, acute renal failure. • Dermatologic: Pruritus, eczema, focal alopecia, moist dermatitis (hot spots). • Hypersensitivity: Urticaria, allergic dermatitis. • Hematologic: Immune mediated hemolytic anemia, immune mediated thrombocytopenia. • Hepatic: Elevated liver enzymes, jaundice.

Now, tell me,  isn’t this clear? We need to  change  our  thinking and stop buying into claims that treatments like these are the pinnacle of modern medicine. The irony is that if you and others will not buy METACAM,  it will cease to exist – end of story!

People buy these drugs out of fear that if they don’t, their pets will be in discomfort or harmed while the opposite is true. It can be compared to being afraid of floods and preventing it by turning on a water hose in the middle of your living room.

Surviving or thriving?

With drugs, the patient’s life is maintained, however, toxic  substances can never  prevent a disease nor can they create a greater degree of health. In the best case, drugs are a crutch and in the worst case scenario, they kill.
As I said before, some parts of conventional medicine are very important; most holistic practitioners are open-minded and recognize when these treatments are  necessary. Good examples are: surgery, the use of thyroid supplements, insulin, cautious use of antibiotics or medication needed in life threatening emergencies.
A good holistic  practitioner views symptoms as signals of disharmony within the body and selects treatments that focus on eliminating or neutralizing causes of disease, enhancing the function of the immune system and promoting cleansing reactions of the patient. A Holistic approach to medicine has existed for centuries and perhaps millennia. During the last century, holistic medicine use, research and development were artificially hindered by the powerful influence of the pharmaceutical industry and its financial interests to dominate the medical field.

How does healing happen naturally?

If you see your dog’s, cats or your own body as an energetic system that is composed of the same molecules, atoms and even smaller energy particles, achieving health has to consist of creating harmony. Energy flows freely to all parts of the body evenly. Imagine this flow as light and every disease part represents a dark area that sucks the light out like Dementors from Harry Potter.

When disease sets in, it can be compared to a black hole – the darkness that sucks the life out of cells, body parts or of organs. This state can be caused by energies from the outside like toxins, viruses, stressful  situations,  trauma but also by emotional trauma, and also negative thoughts or fears. This applies to animals and people.

On the deepest level,  healing is simple.  All we  have to do is:

1. Provide the body with what  it needs – good food, supplements, nutrients, love and care
2. Eliminate what  is foreign or toxic – drugs, toxins, negativity
3. Restore the  energy  flow  in areas that  are congested – homeopathy, physio, acupuncture, massage, chiropractic and other energy healing techniques.
4. See healing as bringing the light where the darkness sets in.

The power of your mind and intention

Modern holistic medical science also acknowledges other, less known, aspects of healing such as addressing the invisible vibrations and energies that each person radiates. These energy fields can represent lower or higher frequencies depending on the individual’s state of mind and health.

We are all part of the very intricate, complex energetic web  and and it may be no surprise to you that the health of individuals in a closely knit unit such as family, community or even the nation affects everyone involved including our animal friends. You must be careful not to blame yourself for everything that happens to others around you because usually there are many factors involved.  I’m just asking you to bring more awareness to this possibility.
One of the most mysterious areas of healing is the effect of our thoughts and intention on our health and the health of our animals. You may have heard of stories were terminally ill cancer patients recovered despite being given a terminal diagnosis because they mobilized the power of their will. One of these people is Dr. Servan-Schreiber who was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor and recovered after he was given no hope. I’ve also seen some pets that recovered from very serious or even terminal conditions and in such cases I have seen an incredible love and determination of the owners.

Placebo – the best, not the worst case scenario.

Knowing how powerful our mind an intention is, I hope that our society will see the placebo effect as a positive achievement and not something to be frowned upon.  I believe that the negative connotation of the placebo comes from the fact that the drug companies cannot sell our intention or healing through the power of our belief.You may want to suggest that it is different in the case of animals because they can’t understand what they’ve been given.

That is true however I have seen  better recovery rates in patients who’s owners strongly believed in the positive outcome of the treatment. I’ve also seen  clients who are absolutely terrified of disease and their pets were much  sicker on average. Most veterinary staff could tell you stories. My goal is to empower you, giving you a better understanding of your pet’s situation to achieve optimal health, happiness and longer life.

I hope to make you feel less afraid and stronger through knowing that there is so much that we can do. I also believe that there is a power in our holistically minded community of people like you.

There is no doubt that there is power in numbers and if Facebook was instrumental in toppling the Egyptian government, perhaps we can use it in transforming the veterinary and human health care. I hope you will join me by clicking the LIKE button at Dr. Dobias Healing Solutions Facebook page. You can  learn about many interesting topics for free.
With gratitude,

Can we fight  cancer?

In my opinion the results of  “fighting cancer” are similar to the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. The more we fight it, the more damage is done, in other words the  higher the cancer rates are.

After years of treating cancer in my practice and also witnessing it when my brother and father died of cancer under conventional medical care, I have reached the conclusion that *cancer cannot be fought but it has to be understood*.

Can cancer miraculously disappear?

I have also treated  a  few miraculous patients where their  confirmed malignancies simply disappeared. These cases only left me puzzled and determined to learn more.  I can’t get rid of the feeling that the harsh conventional cancer treatments  are the dead end alley of medicine. I dread to see people and animals going through chemotherapy, radiation and heavy drug treatments gradually fading away, some surviving but most definitely not thriving.

Cancer fundraisers – where does the money go?

I often feel that  the money you and I donate at cancer fundraisers are  wasted  on drug research that leads nowhere. Millions of  scientists  from around the world have been desperately searching for a cancer cure while it couldn’t be more clear that the main answer is in prevention.

The current situation  in the pharmaceutical industry doesn’t  help either. It is nicely portrayed  in a movie  called  “Love  and Other Drugs.” This movie is a reminder that your health and the health of your pets has been gambled with in a very lucrative moneymaking scheme of the big Pharma.

The answer be closer than you think

The irony is that if we all decided to stop our dependency on pharmaceuticals and lived a healthier lifestyle, this would dramatically shrink the drug revenues and restore the budgets of most countries in the world. Why are we so gullible that we allow our taxes cleverly redirected to the coffers of companies who perceive health care as their golden pig? All this is done under the cover of modern and progressive health care.
I will ask you a question. If you had a grocery store and a mother with  a hungry baby or a senior came in to buy essential food, would you price gouge? Of course not. It  is no secret that drug companies do exactly that and we allow it.

In a way, there is not much difference between the big pharma and cancer. They take over in a ruthless and invasive way  and eventually cause the system to collapse.

Biologically, cancer is  a form  of disharmony that results from a multitude of  insults from toxins, vaccines, overuse of suppressive drugs, radiation, chemicals, poor diet, stress and unhappiness. There is never just one cause. Under such pressure,  the defense mechanism of the immune system fails to detect and destroy cells that have turned malignant and a tumor starts growing.

Cancer in puppies, kittens and children

You may ask why children get cancer. From the holistic point of view, a child can carry physical, emotional and energetic imprint of many previous generations; not  only in the genes but also on the energetic level. Cancer is the disease of chaos and decay, where the body cannot maintain the order. Even though growth of defective and potentially cancerous cells occurs in every body, not all individuals end up with cancer. That is why the key to cancer prevention is  a balanced body and the immune system  which is the key player  in eliminating cancer cells.

A cold may be a natural “training method”

Some time ago, I decided that simple colds that we get here and there may in fact be the immune system’s training for the really important anti-cancer protection. Because no one can say for sure what triggers cancer growth in each individual, the best way of preventing cancer is to reduce and eliminate toxic substances from our environment and food and provide the body with nutrients and building blocks  that are needed for good health.

When it comes to cancer prevention,  everyone talks about diet, supplements and the environment. I would like to start on another note.

The topic of “toxic worries”

If you catch yourself  worrying about  your dog, your cat, family member, a friend or you getting cancer, pushing these worries aside doesn’t mean that they do not exist.  Just stop for a moment, close your eyes and   “invite”  the fear to come closer.   I urge you face it and not  run away. Explore the origin of your fear, turn it around and upside down  as if it was an object,  a seashell, a rock or a leaf.

If you repeat this exercise whenever your fear appears, it will become less intense and frightening and you will free up energy that the body can use for cancer prevention.

Be nice to yourself

If you have ever blamed yourself for being responsible  for  your pets’ disease you’re not alone. I ask you to be kind to yourself because no one can really know what our level of contribution is. Yes, it is true that in some situations, there may be a connection between your health and the health of your pet. People who are happy and aligned with  their life’s purpose definitely get cancer less often and so do their pets. That is why I am so passionate about helping people create a purposeful and happy life because pets definitely benefit.

Surrender to mortality

No matter whether we like it or not, life is terminal. Perhaps, it is our pets’ shorter lifespan that makes us appreciate them more. Surrendering to mortality is the only answer to enjoying the present moment and worry less about the future. It is not always  easy. I too sometimes catch myself wanting to stop time. My dog  Skai is going to be 10 this year and Mina, my cat is 19 years old. All we can do is ‘our best’ and try to remind ourselves that worrying doesn’t help.
Food is the best medicine

If your dog or cat is on the junky  processed food made of poor quality ingredients, changing your animal friend’s diet is a good way to start.  Processed food is definitely  not nature’s recipe.

If you want to reduce the chances of cancer,  feed natural and wholesome food  and if you’re unsure how to do it there are many people who can help. You can also reserve a consultation  on my website www.peterdobias.com .  I would be happy to help.

Unnaturally occurring toxic chemicals

The health of your family can be affected by the cleaning products you buy. Many of them contain toxic substances  that can wreak havoc in the body. Think about it this way; Every chemical competes for locations and receptors  with the natural and beneficial substances. It takes  energy and resources for the body to detox and cleanse.
There are many natural and healthy cleaning product alternatives and if you’re on a budget,  most cleaning can be done with  vinegar, soda and natural soap.

Detoxify

A cleanse is a very important part of cancer prevention. If you are one of those people who have difficulty fasting their dog or if you own a cat, a slow and gradual cleanse may be the right choice.
My favorite protocol includes chlorophyll complex and non-dairy probiotics in addition to the bi-annual liver cleanse  with a herbal formula called Livton. The products can be requested by emailing us on this page. We would love to put  them online however the company that makes them,  Standard Process doesn’t allow us  to sell them online.  Silly policy, great product but we can provide you with them and shipping is at  no charge if you send us this code ( preventcancer2011) with your request.

There are many other cleansing protocols  and this one is only an example.

Exercise

I  see physical activity and  fresh air as nature’s way of flushing and purifying the body.  Every  cell  gets  more  blood and oxygen which increases cleansing. It is similar to how water gets cleansed and purified in nature. It happens in streams, rapids  or surf through oxygenation.
Massage, regular combing and stretching also promotes tissue regeneration and improves energy flow.
Providing the right building blocks is essential because cancer is a disease of depletion and deficiency. After 23 years in  practice, I am seeing more clearly, how starved our own bodies and the bodies of our pets are when it comes to minerals, vitamins  and other  nutrients.

Supplements

If you want your animal friend to be healthy, I recommend supplementing the following: all natural plant-based minerals such as Green Min,   unrefined virgin salmon oil alternating with flaxseed oil, whole food ( not synthetic) multivitamin and probiotics.  Here is what  I give to my dog and my cat

The reason why I recommend all natural supplements is simple.  The body knows the difference and there is increasing evidence that excessive amounts of synthetic supplements can in fact be detrimental to our health. Did you know that many synthetic supplements are made of crude oil and other chemicals?

Two supplements deserving extra attention.

CHLOROPHYLL complex (available by request) –  which I already mentioned above is one of the most powerful substances. It is all alkalizing, cleansing and it has pH balancing properties. Chlorophyll has the capability of transforming sunlight into other forms of energy that can be used by plants. I sometimes say that it carries  the healing power of the Sun.

ZYFLAMEND is a noteworthy product made by a company called NEW CHAPTER ORGANICS. The founders have  dedicated their lives to developing supplements that would have direct anti-inflammatory/anticancer effect without the harsh side effects of traditional drugs.
Inflammation is one of the precursors of cancer and that is why it is  important to reduce it.   The most important ingredient in Zyflamend is turmeric – one of the most powerful anticancer super foods. I have used this product in dogs only ( not cats )  and  noticed a clear difference in the rate of cancer growth. Skai gets Zyflamend once a week as a form of prevention and I  take it about 2x a year.

While a specific study on dogs and cats has not been conducted, I  see turmeric as one of the most promising superfoods and hope that as time progresses, we will be able to conduct animal specific studies. I have used it successfully as an anti-inflammatory.

Can homeopathy be used in cancer treatment?

As a veterinarian practicing homeopathy for 14 years, I’m used to hearing many positive and also some defammatory statements about homeopathy.  Some people are having  difficulty grasping the idea that very minute small doses of very diluted substances can create a profile and healing reaction in the body.

Here is my point. If you think of the world around us, the physical force of a hammer will have less power than a chemical reaction of dynamite, which will have less power than if we break an atom and cause a nuclear reaction.
There is no doubt that invisible energies play an incredibly powerful role in our bodies and I see homeopathy as one of the ways of neutralizing  imbalances in the body. If you’re interested in more information about homeopathy you can go to www.peterdobias.com/homeopathy

I have  seen surprisingly good results in vaccine related malignancies and cats where these tumors basically disappeared despite their grave prognosis. Most frequently I see homeopathic remedies as a viable and important part of the treatment.
The recent negative media attention in homeopathy may be attributed to the fact that the big Pharma cannot license homeopathic remedies as their own and homeopathic treatments are very inexpensive. In my opinion, we are entitled to the freedom of choice and should be very  suspicious about any proposals to restrict the use of homeopathy and other natural modalities.

The spinal column –  the body’s energy highway

Over the years, I have become very intrigued about the connection between tightness or injury of certain spinal segments and lump and cancer formation. I have always believed that a healthy back is the key to a healthy body and that the back is the energy flow channel that  maintains  even  energy flow throughout  the body, tissues and organs.

If there is a back tightness or injury, the energy flow stops  which affects the adjacent skin and organs.  It  appears to me that there is a direct link between these congested areas and cancer.Once again, studies are needed and I hope that we will be able to receive and provide more funding to Healing Foundation, a non-profit focusing on holistic and natural health research.

How do you recognize a problem area?

When you massage or touch your pet, you will observe muscle tightness, twitching when touched or heat.  I recommend consulting an experienced physiotherapist, chiropractor, homeopath, massage therapist to name a few but not the only modalities. I especially like a technique called intramuscular needle stimulation –  IMS which reset’s the spastic muscle by inserting acupuncture needles. This can be compared to a computer that freezes. All you need to do is press RESET.

Surgery –  yes or no?

I have done surgery for most of my career and  I see it useful in situations  like traumas, fractures, lacerations or emergency procedures. I am not a big fan of lumpectomies because when a lump is removed, new and usually more serious ones will most likely crop up.

Do you need a diagnosis?

While some people are against inserting a needle in the tumor,  I find a simple fine needle cell aspirate and examination a very useful first step.  Most of the time you can determine if a lump is just lipoma ( a fat tissue growth ) or if we are dealing with a more complex situation.  In such cases I usually send the sample to a histology lab.

I recommend biopsies only when fine needles aspirate comes back as non-diagnostic and a more serious problem is suspected.  My rule of thumb is not to remove any lumps that are benign  unless they are  limiting in the physical sense.
You will not only save hundreds of dollars by avoiding unnecessary surgery but will most likely extend your animal friends life. As in anything, there are a few exception where cancer patients that benefit from surgery such as bone malignancies.

I sometimes see that people are torn when making medical decisions. Some are afraid of making the wrong decision, others try to please their vet or feel guilty if they decide to do less than what was recommended.

I suggest you get all the options and if unsure, talk to a couple of different practitioners you trust before you make the final decision.

If you find this article helpful, join our Facebook community or visit my blog for more healing news and updates.

With gratitude,

Chronic kidney disease or chronic renal insufficiency is one of the most common conditions of cats and slightly less common in dogs. Symptoms include increased drinking and urination often followed by lack of appetite, vomiting, and muscle loss and general deterioration.

Kidney tissue is composed of very fine and sensitive kidney units that filtrate the blood, eliminate toxins and regulate water balance in the body. These units are highly prone to damage due to toxins or immune system dysfunction.

The conventional belief is that kidney disease is genetically predisposed and that other causes such as bacterial infections, poor diet and toxins, compromise the very fine and easily affected kidney tissue. While all these are true, the kidneys’ health mainly depends on the general health and harmony of the whole body. Back issues, muscles spasm, injury and stress especially in the region around the third lumbar vertebra appear to be especially connected to kidney health. The immune system plays an important role in protecting the kidneys, however, if not finely tuned, it starts creating antibodies against still functional kidney units and destroys these along with tissue that is inflamed. This leads to irreversible and often serious damage.The clinical signs such as increased drinking, urination and increased levels of kidney toxins, start showing up only after 75% of the kidney tissue is destroyed.

However, I have seen animals living good lives years after they reach this stage if treated properly. The damaged kidney units can never be regenerated and the main goal of the treatment is to stop the kidney destruction and preserve the remaining kidney tissue.

When I started practicing, I saw many cats looking like walking skeletons, wasting muscle mass and not doing well at all. I was taught that this is caused by the kidney disease itself however, I was not convinced.

I suspected that the low protein prescription diet was the main cause of weight loss. We were told by the pet food companies that low protein diets are important in reducing the kidney toxin levels. However, I could see that animals fed this food were showing signs of protein starvation and deteriorated fast.

It took me a few years to dare to go against the conventional recommendations and started suggesting high quality raw protein diets for patients with kidney disease. In addition to glandular supplements supporting the kidneys and homeopathic remedy individually selected for each patient.

The results were surprisingly encouraging. Most patients with mild or moderate kidney disease maintained good body weight, showed great energy and didn’t seem to deteriorate as fast as patients on low protein food. They appeared to live longer than expected.

My own cat Mina was diagnosed with kidney disease at the age of 10 years. When I adopted her in 1991, I did everything according to the book . I fed her dry processed food and administered yearly vaccines until I woke up and realized what was happening.

Mina was my great teacher and one of the first cats I have used my new treatment protocol on. She is 18 years old still enjoying her retirement.

Over the years, I have finely tuned my treatment protocol and despite the need for individual assessment of each patient, I would like to provide you with:

General guidelines for holistic approach to treatment of chronic kidney disease

DIET

• Feed a good variety of high quality protein diet, ideally raw.
• Do not feed beef , buffalo or bison as they have a higher content of inflammatory factors which affect the immune system function.
• Avoid so called low protein kidney or senior diets.
• Dry food especially stresses the kidneys by “absorbing” water creating a persistent state of dehydration.
• If you do not want to feed raw, canned diet is better however canned food can never measure up to what nature intended.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES

• Homeopathic remedies bring stability and neutralize the body’s energetic state that leads to the disease itself. It is important to work with an experienced animal homeopath to use this form of treatment.
• In my experience, internet reference is not a sufficient basis for homeopathic prescription and often leads to confusing the situation.

GLANDULAR SUPPLEMENTS

• Renafood* for dogs or Feline Renal Support* for cats protects the kidney tissue by neutralizing undesirable antibodies against the body’s own kidneys and provides necessary nutrients specific to the kidneys.

PROBIOTICS

• The beneficial bacteria from the right probiotics is capable of using excess kidney toxin called urea for their own growth. My favorite brand is Immunity Probiotic by New Chapter Organics. You may click here for prices 20% lower than suggested retail.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS

• GreenMin is a new generation of whole food, certified organic mineral supplement containing 20 essential trace minerals. Unlike many synthetic supplements, GreenMin is algae based, USDA certified organic product. It replenishes minerals lost through excessive urine production.
• Tiny Tabs by New Chapter (Dogs) and Feline Whole Body Support*(cats) are my favorite vitamin supplements. They too are whole food based and I use them for my own pets and patients.

* Please note that  supplements marked by * are available only by contacting us at contact@peterdobias.com   The manufacturer – Standard Process doesn’t  not  allow  any online sales as per their policy. However, you can  obtain these products by  contacting us directly.

HYDRATION

• If you pull the skin on the neck and it stays up for longer than 1 second, your pet may be dehydrated. Simple administration of electrolyte solutions under the skin such as Lactated Ringers or Sodium Chloride (0.9%) will help pets in more advanced stages of kidney disease.

BACK HEALTH

• Check your pets spine especially around the 3rd-4th lumbar vertebra. This region directly supplies energy meridian flow to the kidneys. Increased heat, inflammation, muscle pain, spasm and sensitivity of this area will compromise the kidneys.
• The best techniques for treating the back are physiotherapy, intramuscular needle stimulation ( a form of acupuncture technique ), gentle chiropractic treatment and massage.
• Ideally, do not use any anti-inflammatory drugs such as Aspirin or Metacam as it is contraindicated in patients with kidney disease.
• I have neither seen any clear benefit of Enalapril, a drug that modulates the blood pressure. It is my experience that these drugs are detrimental to the long term prognosis.

WELL BEING AND FAMILY

• Don’t forget to do all you can to look after your own needs. I see direct correlation between the degree of health of people and their pets.
• Good exercise, at least 2 walks a day for dogs and access to the outdoors or the balcony for cats makes a big difference.
• Pets who spend a lot of time alone, do not get walks , play time and attention are more disease prone in general.

FURTHER SUPPORT AND RECHECKS

• If your pets condition is stable, a quarterly or semi annual recheck is highly recommended. This way, you can adjust the treatment and supplements as needed and avoid unnecessary complications.
• If your pet is vomiting, lethargic and has no appetite, hospitalization and further diagnostics may be needed.

If you are unsure what the best treatment decision is, especially because of the pressure from a conventional practitioner to follow the conventional drug and processed food route, you may be interested . If you are interested in how to choose the right vet click here to read my blog post.