We all want the best health and the longest life for our Pets!

Now more than ever before we can accomplish this. Public awareness has been increasing slowly but surely. Since I started my Wags and Woofers site, I have been connecting with the best and brightest in the areas of Veterinary, Holistic, and Animal Nutrition Researchers. The verdict is definitely in.... Kibble is Bad, but here's the thing, you don't have to freak out, because you can make things better for your furry buddies. There are articles and special people that tell all about the research and Steve Brown is a pioneer in this special field. He is remarkable and tells it like it is, here are 2 segments that will give you that "Ahaaa" moment. My other go to expert is Rodney Habib , Rodney travels around the word to get answers, and I promise, you will really love what he has to say.

The take away from all of this simple, before we had the K word, we fed our pets the left-overs that we ate. This was before all the overly processed foods that are out there now. Before you grumble that you have no time, listen to this, "our pets lived longer". Yes, you still have no time, well there are choices you can make, that will ease your pain. The concern and ground swell that is being made regarding Pet Food, within the Pet Food Industry is turning, and now you have some great companies that are making it easier for the time constrained. Be sure you buy Species Appropriate BALANCED COMPLETE meals, meaning, meat, poultry, or fish that have the proper balance of vitamins, minerals, ground bone and offal (heart, liver etc.) and fruits and veggies. The above are either frozen or dehydrated and if you are still not sure, there are the Limited Ingredient Wet Foods in the can. 

Please do your RESEARCH your Pet Family will thank you.......

Fiona 2years later        

We have just seen Fiona's Veterinarian / Cardiologist, Dr Kirsty Barrett...... and all is well. This was her 2 year check-up and we are cleared for another year. Dr Barrett is always slightly guarded in her delivery, so when she asked "how does it feel to have a perfectly healthy dog?" I almost fainted. The young intern that took all our yearly info, told us the PDA issue that Fiona had is now considered a highly fixable Heart Anomaly and FiBee should live a very normal life.

I should note that Fiona is fed a Raw Balanced Diet and has been since she was 6 months old, she also gets a Probiotic and Manucca Honey (occasionally for digestive issues, etc) and her treats are Dehydrated Red Sweet Potato with sprinkled Cinnamon (make them myself) Carrot slices, Blueberries and Papaya, not all at once of course. My intent is to keep her as healthy as I am able to with a species appropriate diet. I have seen the results first hand of feeding only KIBBLE as a main diet. Dr Karen Becker DVM, NMD, who many of you know I have the greatest respect for, has been at the grassroots unveiling of the Kibble Producers (all of them). With scientific back up, she has lead this cause that these Producers would rather NOT have the public aware of.

The answer of course rests with you, the Pet Parent. My suggestion is very simple, RESEARCH, RESEARCH, and more RESEARCH! Google a question and read the verified material, it won't take that long. And BOOM you are informed,

Dr Kirsty Barrett DVM /Head Cardiology VCA Main Hospital Los Angeles, above when Fiona was first diagnosed, after her surgery and 3as she was last year and the current state of Fiona aka FiBee.

Today I have a really SWEET SWEET topic for our "Walking the Blog" series.

Honey.... and how it can help our Pets in many unknown ways! Firstly the history of this ancient natural wonder, from the Chinese, Babylonians, Egyptians, Europe and the Americas it is one of the greatest gifts we have. It has enormous health properties for Humans and we are actually in the discovery stage, for our Pets. Holistic Veterinarians already know this, and have wonderful results.

While researching this article I have asked the question, why does Manuka Honey have these numbers that grade up? Well it is the strength of the MGO and that is the amount of DHA (Dihydroxyacatone), Methylglyoxal and Leptosperin the higher the number the strength of DHA the stronger the anti-bacterial. UMF is the grading system  of the New Zealand Honey Association. The nectar of the Manuka Bush (DHA) in concert with the Bee Pollen (containing peroxide) is what renders this a natural Antibiotic and thus the higher the number the better for use. The Manuka Honey is not a combination of other ingredients it is the purest form and a number + 44 is the best (or higher).

If we take charge of the care of our furry pawed loved ones, I think we can reduce the Vet visits and raise Healthy and Long Lived Pets. It takes awhile for the Veterinary Community to catch up. So if we stand ideally by and accept the extra Vaccine or the intrusive (not to mention costly), interventions they offer very little except in extreme emergency situations. Why not try a Vet who also practices Holistically?