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...
There are many recommendations about feeding a puppy. Some say that the food received from the breeder should not be changed. Others recommend immediately eliminating chicken, giving only one protein, or switching to raw food as soon as possible. But what does a puppy really need and how do you...
Why antibiotics are not a black-and-white issue Antibiotics can save a dog's life. At the same time, they can cause adverse effects, alter the gut microbiome and select for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The right question is therefore not whether antibiotics are good or bad, but when they genuinely benefit an individual dog. Not...
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...
Diarrhea is one of those dog problems where the owner’s first question is very practical: what should I feed now? For years, the standard answer has been “chicken and rice.” Integrative veterinary medicine often suggests pumpkin, sweet potato or other squash instead, together with a well-tolerated lean protein. Both approaches...
Milk thistle for dogs: what Dr Dobias recommends, what canine studies show, seed preparation, silymarin dosage and how to assess results.
For decades, spaying and neutering dogs was often treated as a fairly simple choice: if a dog was not going to be used for breeding, the ovaries or testicles were removed. This prevents unwanted litters and reduces the risk of several diseases of the reproductive system. For me, the question has...
The old version of this article grew out of a very real question: if grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney injury in dogs, why do some dog foods contain grape-derived ingredients such as grapeseed oil or grape extract? It is still a good question. With what we know in...
I love coconut oil. I have used it on my dogs and seen good results, especially in caring for their skin and paw pads. That's why Dogs Naturally Magazine's change of stance made me think. They used to recommend coconut oil to dogs quite boldly. But later they started writing...
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...
