The world is changing quickly, and so is the way food is produced for us and for our pets. One of the biggest changes has been the widespread use of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. When we talk about GMOs, glyphosate inevitably enters the discussion. Glyphosate has been classified by...
This time, we are putting chicken under the microscope. Many pet owners avoid chicken almost automatically. Quite often, when a client first comes to us for advice, chicken has already been ruled out. When I ask why, the answer is usually: “this breed has a lot of chicken allergies.” Looking...
Have you ever checked a dog food ingredient list and found the words “cellulose”, “powdered cellulose” or “lignocellulose”? At first glance it sounds harmless: cellulose is a natural component of plant cell walls and therefore a type of fibre. On the other hand, purified cellulose used in pet food may...
Some time ago, I was asked to write about which bones are suitable for which dogs. The starting point for this article was, and still is, the approach of integrative veterinarian Dr Peter Dobias, who divides bones into three groups according to purpose: for eating, for cleaning teeth, and for...
Great plantain probably grows in almost every garden and, honestly, most of the time we see it as an annoying weed. As a child, I had a completely different relationship with plantain: if I scraped my knee or something was bleeding, a plantain leaf went on top. At some point...
Joint problems are not only an issue for old dogs. Osteoarthritis can develop as a result of trauma, a developmental joint disorder, dysplasia, excess weight or long-term uneven loading, and some dogs begin to need joint support at a fairly young age. This topic is very personal to me. Oscar has an elbow...
Does your dog keep licking the floor, carpet, sofa, or even your hands and feet? An occasional lick does not necessarily mean anything. Dogs explore the world with their mouths and noses, and a surface may simply smell interesting. But when licking becomes repetitive or intense, or it feels as...
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for dogs, but this is one of those cases where “more is better” simply does not apply. Dogs need vitamin D, among other things, for normal calcium and phosphorus metabolism and to support bone health. Vitamin D receptors are also found in cells of...
Your dog vomits once, looks at you, shakes it off, and five minutes later asks for food. Panic? Usually not. With vomiting, however, there are always two questions: is there a red flag that needs prompt veterinary attention, and if not, how can you gently support an upset stomach and...
Diarrhea in a cat can be a one-day unpleasant episode or the first sign of a problem that should not be watched at home for a week “to see what happens.” What matters is not only what the stool looks like. Look at the whole cat: is your cat eating,...
