For some bizarre, unexplainable reason, when I was a young pup of a veterinarian, I was intrigued by skin problems, particularly allergy.  Maybe it was because we were told in vet school that allergies were not curable and I love to prove people wrong.  I had even considered going back to school and getting a board certification in veterinary dermatology.   Allergy patients in my practice in south Texas made up about 15% of my veterinary work.  I worked with so many allergy patients that other vets in town sent their stubborn cases to me.  Why not?  They were frustrated. 

A couple of facts that might interest you as a pet caretaker.  Over the past five years the cost of veterinary care is rising at about 10% per year.  The average cost of a visit to the vet now cost $287 and that is just for the basics.  If the vet does ancillary testing, the cost can rise into the thousands in a hurry.  The cost of veterinary services has risen so dramatically, that a new phrase “economic euthanasia” is now being used.  This is when a pet is euthanized because the pet caretaker cannot afford the treatment.  This is

Most spiritual, religious and philosophical discussions describe the appearance of an individual self that has moved away from its true self and in time recognizes the longing to return to its true nature.  Many call this the spiritual pathway. Life expresses itself in ways so that the apparent individual experiences its true nature as well as experiences that point in the direction of the true self.  Each culture has its own way that is most efficient in accomplishing this goal.  People in India and the Far East have a close connection to the apparent inner self and have been taught

One of the common problems that we find in cats is constipation, particularly senior cats.  These cats will often have a history of recurring constipation that continues to get worse until it becomes a clinical problem.  They typically are treated with supplements to soften the stool and in the beginning, they may help.  As time goes by, the constipation turns to obstipation and then the cat goes to the vet clinic for enemas.  This often happens several times a year. Constipation, hard stools, can be caused by two different problems.  The first, and most common, is dehydration.  The kidneys are

This blog is not a political blog.  It is a health-related blog, for both ourselves and our pets.  Our health is paramount in its effect on our pet’s health, so it is our responsibility to stay healthy so that we can contribute healthy energy to our pets in order for them to thrive.   The Covid-19 virus pandemic is the greatest viral threat that our country has faced in two generations, so it is important the we learn as much as possible in order to protect ourselves and our pets.  Using the history of pet viral pandemics; response, mitigation and

I was having my coffee out on the porch this morning and I was thinking about my old friend, John.  John had been my best mate and confidant for many years and he decided to transition a couple of weeks ago after a long experience with cancer.  When I got the news from his daughter, I was expecting it but it still sent me into a tailspin of grief. During my coffee, I happened to be listening to some music while I was remembering some old times that John and I had; the walks in the mountains, long conversations and

Have you ever wondered why we can’t cure cancer?  Heck, we can’t even cure the common cold.  The reason we can’t is because we are asking the wrong question.  It is that simple. Conventional medicine, whether it is for humans or for animals, is based on this question, “What disease is causing these symptoms?”  This approach focuses on determining the identity of the disease with the specific intent of treating the disease.  Treating, however has very little to do with curing and absolutely nothing to do with healing. How many of you have had pets that developed symptoms, took your

I just read an article by a popular pet health magazine that stated that dogs that vomit bile in the early morning can be normal.  She states that she just gives her dog a late evening snack to prevent it from happening.  What?  If it were normal, then all dogs would be vomiting bile in the early mornings and she wouldn’t have to give a late evening snack to prevent it from happening. If we look at vomiting, not literally for goodness sakes, we first have to understand that it is a symptom and not a disease.  If we think

As a veterinarian for many years, the toughest diagnosis that I have ever made is bone cancer.  The main reason for this is because the client has brought her dog into my office for a lameness, expecting a quick resolution, only to find out that her dog has a malignancy that is going to kill him.  I have literally seen caretakers collapse to the ground when told the news.  There is no way to soften this unexpected blow; like being hit by a bus. The first time I ever heard about bone cancer (osteosarcoma) was when I was in undergraduate

Be On The Lookout For These Nasty Weeds……. It is that time of year again when grasses go to seed and if you walk your dog in fields where they grow, it can be bad news. Foxtails, cheatgrass, speargrass are all grasses that produce seeds that can be very dangerous to dogs. Depending on where you live in the country, one or more of these nasties will be waiting for your dog. These grass seeds spread themselves by both wind and attaching themselves to bystanders. Once they attach themselves, the point of the grass will often penetrate the skin and

I remember the first time I saw a cat with feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS).  It was a pretty bizarre clinical picture.  The cat would start twitching its back muscles and ripples would run up and down the spine.  The eyes would be completely dilated and it would act possessed, often trying to attack.  I was certainly perplexed by this bizarre disease. FHS has been an enigma in the veterinary field and there have been several theories as to what causes it, but about the only thing that has changed over the last 50 years is the name of the disease. 

If you haven’t heard, the latest news that is keeping oncologists up at night and dancing in the streets is using metronomic chemotherapy for cancer in people and pets.  I am sure they are quietly saying, “It’s about time.”   At a time when people are running away from chemotherapy like a dog from a skunk, oncologist are breathing a big sigh and leaping at the opportunity to accept the latest (and greatest?) approach to cancer. Metronomic chemotherapy is basically using lower dosages of chemotherapy drugs on a more consistent basis than the previous chemotherapy protocols. What I find particularly

Empowered pet caretakers are certainly aware of the incidence of allergies in pets.  It is one of the most common problems we find in dogs and cats.  Hopefully, by now, we know that allergies are due to damaged gut and immune imbalances and the only way to cure allergies is to restore normal health to these two systems.  If you aren’t aware of this underlying cause, then go to my website and check out my blog on seasonal allergies in pets. As a practicing veterinary clinician for over 35 years, I will be the first to admit that the conventional

When The Tail Wags The Dog…. I recently read an article written for veterinarians, by an accountant, that deals with ways to recuperate lost income due to the Covid-19 virus pandemic. His recommendations were not a surprise, because we had seen this happen during the housing crisis that led to a recession with loss of jobs and income. Many veterinarians did what their accountants told them to do in order to survive the economic crisis. The accountants use standard models such as if your gross income is down 15%, then raise your prices by 15%. Seems logical. But, not when

Many years ago, when I was in undergraduate school, I decided to breed my Labrador Retriever.  She had a beautiful litter of ten puppies.  It was a delightful experience and she loved being a mamma.  I also remember the experience that I had when people would come to buy a puppy.  They would pick up the puppy, look at it closely, watch it walk around and then make the darnedest comments. One morning, a lady called to say she wanted to see the puppies and I gathered them together for her to look at them.  I was watching the puppies

I have been a veterinarian for almost forty years and I must admit that I am not real excited about the way the profession has moved over the last decade or so.  There is one thing that I am happy about and that is the introduction of hospice care for pets. Many veterinarians and veterinary techs have taken to the road to work with clients that are dealing with terminal pets, setting up programs that will provide an easier transition.  Most of these protocols include addressing pain and comfort, relieving stress and preparing the caretaker for the ultimate decision as

Several years ago, my book Whole Pet Healing, was published by HayHouse Publications.  Shortly after it was released, I started getting phone calls from people all around the world wanting me to help them with their sick pets.  It was something I never imagined would help, but I tried and now I have clients that consult with me on a regular basis.  I love it because I get to visit wonderful caretakers all over the U.S. and from Canada to Denmark. It is not surprising that people are moving in a natural direction when it comes to pet health care

Many of you have pets (and yourselves) with allergies and many of you are aware that springtime can be a time when the allergy symptoms are the worst.  When the trees are blooming and the grasses start growing, the pollen counts become enormous and just a snoot full of these will often send your pet into a tail spin. Atopy (allergic inhalant dermatitis) is extremely common in both dogs and cats.  Symptoms will often include runny eyes, runny nose, paw licking, itchy ears and scratching.  Other symptoms less often seen that are linked to allergies are ear infections, anal gland

One summer evening, I was walking my dog Chloe in the neighborhood.  She was on a leash and enjoying her stroll down the sidewalk in the shade of the trees.  Out of nowhere, a very large dog came running across a yard and attacked Chloe.  He took her to the ground and started biting her ferociously as the dog’s owner ran across the yard, yelling at his dog.  Fortunately, I knew how to safely break up the fight and the injuries were superficial.  Chloe, although shaken up, recovered nicely. Nothing will put a scare in you like having your dog

I recently read an article written by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) the other day that listed their guidelines for veterinarians to use for pets that are having general anesthesia and surgery. I found it a bit amusing and here is why. AAHA has been around for many years. It was formed in order to insure a higher standard of care by member hospitals, which created a sense of security for pet caretakers. Years ago it was very popular and many hospitals were members. Member hospitals proudly displayed the AAHA certified sticker on their entrance door and also in