Dear Humans

21/03/2025

New episode of Cultural Apothecary is out now! Anywhere you listen to podcasts or Real Alex Clark on YouTube. We talk about pet food, vaccines, and what’s really making your pets sick. Link in my stories.

20/03/2025

18/03/2025

https://youtu.be/rxInrRQLEmM?si=d625Q6wGcjAw5L8U
Jackson Galaxy teaches us how to introduce a dog to a home with cats, or vice versa

In today's video I tackle the age old question: can cats & dogs really get along? As a proud bi-petual living with 7 cats and 3 dogs, I can tell you that the...

14/03/2025

https://insidescoop.pet/

Get the real scoop on pet health from the world's most trusted pet health innovators and advocates.

13/03/2025

21/02/2025

My dog, Duncan died six years ago on 1/9/2019 from Science Diet Dog Food (as well as thousands of other pets who got sick and died). I was the lead plaintiff in the class action lawsuit against Hills which we won). I sent out a warning message to every Facebook group I could find to warn them about the food. Two weeks later, Hills issued a recall and the rest is history. When I called Hills, they admitted on the phone that they killed Duncan and offered me $10 in coupons for free food for a dog I no longer had.
I got over 12,000 messages from pet parents who all had sick/dead pets and I didn’t know what to do help them. Thankfully, I met a few holistic vets and very knowledgable pet advocates who helped me during those first 60 days. They encouraged me to open a group and Saving Pets One Pet @ A Time (The Original) was born. I continue to do this because of the terrible guilt I have about killing Duncan unknowingly, and also to honor his memory. Amazingly, this cute little dog has saved THOUSANDS of pets over the last 6 years.
I have spent countless hours taking pet nutrition courses, studying, attending pet conferences etc. Fortunately, I have befriended many holistic vets who I have learned from as well (I really need to get a life. I spend entirely too much time doing this and running this group, participating in conferences and doing interviews)!

Participating in the lawsuit and getting the pet food tested etc was extremely stressful. These big pet food manufacturers do not play fairly and they have deep pockets. There were so many terrible things that happened over that two year period as a result of this lawsuit it solidified my belief that they have no regards for our pets only our money.

You can watch my interview regarding how I started a pet food movement here: https://youtu.be/2mQvDpGmQy8

Here is what would I recommend pet parents do to ensure their pets are healthy as possible:
Get a holistic vet. Not all vets are made equal. Do your research. Develop a list of qualities that are important to you and make sure they meet them. Just because they say they are holistic doesn’t mean they are
Feed a raw or gently cooked diet…..absolutely NO kibble or any veterinary prescribed pet food
A good quality nutritious diet is not cheap. Either are vet bills, antibiotics, vaccinations, etc. Pick your poison!
Do NOT use any traditional flea/tick/heart worm medications which are dangerous. There are plenty of holistic options that are just as effective and safer
Only do an initial set of vaccinations ( Parvo, Distemper, Adenovirus, and Rabies) and then titer test after
Research your dog’s symptoms BEFORE you go to the vet. Anticipate what they may recommend. There are usually holistic alternative s for everything
Do NOT give antibiotics because they destroy the pets gut biome. Try holistic options first whenever possible
Chewy, Tractor Supply, Walmart, Pet Supplies Plus etc do not carry quality products. Go to a locally owned holistic pet store or online holistic pet store
Feed food and treats with the least amount of ingredients as possible
When you see vitamins listed on the ingredient panel those are synthetic vitamins which is what Duncan died from. Pets should get their vitamins NATURALLY in their food (not added in)
Do not spay or neuter until your pet is 18-24 months old (or has had their first heat cycle)
Watching Pet Fooled is the most important documentary you can ever watch on streaming services (your pet will thank you)!
YOU must learn to be your pets advocate. You should not trust anyone with your pets life
Everything you put in and on you and your pets body is toxic unless you research it
I live a life of could have, would have, should have…..I don’t want others to do this and live with this guilt. Learn from Duncan and myself. Thanks to Duncan, I live a very holistic life now and I research EVERYTHING I feed my family, put on our bodies and use in our home. That’s Duncans legacy.
Do IT for Duncan. God bless you all.

There was nothing Kelly would not do to keep her service dog, Duncan, healthy. So when her vet prescribed Hill’s Science Diet, she did not think twice. She t...

16/02/2025

Check out Acupet Integrative Veterinary Care new website!

For the last few months a new website for Acupet has been brewing under the creative hands of Candice Baker of The Marketing Baker. I love it and am really keen to share it with you. Most importantly you can find out about holistic consults, now also offered nationwide, and how western herbal medicine can help your dog and cat with chronic health problems.
I look forward to hearing what you think 💚💚💚
https://www.acupet.co.nz/

28/01/2025

Fabulous homemade raw recipes for cats

Healthy food, happier cat

26/01/2025

19/01/2025

Healthy food, happier cat

08/01/2025

The Forever Dog - "One of the most obscure mushrooms we use on a regular basis in all realms of life is Chaga🍄, in the form of tea🫖.
Chaga is a strange mushroom because its texture is similar to woody tree bark 🪵(so there’s no sautéing this particular gem). Its hard texture lends itself well to brewing supercharged teas and broths.🍵

We add small Chaga chunks to everything that requires a volume of pure water: from bathwater (Dr. Karen Becker) and hummingbird feeders (to reduce bacteria growth, Rodney Habib disscovered) to homemade batches of kombucha and soak water for seeds we are sprouting. We’ve had fresh Chaga tea in the fridge ever since we discovered this brilliant beverage, and its subtle vanilla flavor is delicious iced or hot (for humans) and can be used to supercharge freeze-dried or dehydrated dog food, in place of reconstituting these foods with plain water.

Chaga’s medicinal properties make it a calming paw rinse for removing road salt in the winter and soothing hot spots in the summer (soak a cotton ball with cooled Chaga tea and apply directly to the sore)."

30/12/2024

Is your dog’s back hurting?💥🐶 The top signs every pet parent should know.

Back pain and IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) are some of the most common issues that can affect our canine companions, especially as they age or if they're a predisposed breed.

Whether it's a sudden limp, difficulty jumping, or general discomfort, identifying the warning signs early is crucial for helping your dog avoid serious injury and improve their quality of life.

IVDD occurs when spinal discs become damaged or degenerate, causing pain, nerve damage, and even paralysis. While breeds like Dachshunds and Cocker Spaniels are especially vulnerable, back pain can affect dogs of any size. Left untreated, it can lead to chronic pain and reduced mobility, making effective management crucial.

From supportive bedding and non-slip surfaces to rehab, mobility exercises, and harness support, there are many ways to help manage your dog’s back pain at home.🦮 Working closely with a qualified rehab professional and veterinarian will ensure the best approach to managing their condition and improving their quality of life.

On this week's Inside Scoop podcast, licensed Physiotherapist and Canine Rehab Therapist, Sarah MacKeigan discusses:

💥 How to recognize different types of back pain.
💥 The causes and symptoms of IVDD.
💥 Practical home care for dogs with back pain or IVDD
💥 Comparing surgical versus conservative treatments.

Plus in the group files, download an 18-page PDF with a screening tool, a checklist for home care with IVDD, and recommendations for supplements beneficial for IVDD, DM, and other neurological conditions.

To watch today's podcast comment SCOOPERS and I'll message you the link to join the Inside Scoop, a Planet Paws monthly subscription community. All live podcasts are recorded and available to watch later. You’ll also be able to watch over 5 years of content including: past live podcasts, interviews, ebook downloads, and more!

30/12/2024

27/12/2024

Heralded as the king of Ayurvedic herbs🫚, Ashwagandha is one of most revered adaptogenic herbs in the world and is best known for reducing cortisol levels 🌡️ and stress responses in humans. But did you know when it comes to your dog🐶, cat🙀, or horse🐴, it has also been clinically proven to reduce stress from:

🏠 separation anxiety
🏘️ relocation stress
🧨 noise induced stress (like firecrackers)
🚘 travel stress

According to the new Dog Aging study there ‘may be no such thing as a well-behaved dog, with over 99% of U.S. dogs reported to have moderate to severe behavior issues’, often with increased tension and stress during the holidays. Ashwagandha may help!

Join our Facebook Live here on my Dr. Karen Becker page, Sunday at 10am ET, where we’ll cover the latest science surrounding Ashwagandha’s health benefits in dogs and cats, including increased calmness, cognition, immune function, gut and joint health. We’ll cover how get this mighty herb into even the finickiest of pets (with optimal dosing🥄 recommendations, and what pets should not take this herb). See you LIVE, Sunday!

21/12/2024

Remember no one is arguing the need for sterilization, it's the surgical technique that should be reevaluated. Hysterectomy and vasectomy achieve the same goal but leave important hormones intact according to science.

"The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract
Objective - To determine if gonadectomy in dogs is associated with the risk of cranial cruciate ligament disease (CrCLD) and to quantify the magnitude of the association.

Study design - Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sample population - Comparative studies with gonadectomized and entire dogs, with CrCLD as an outcome measure.

Methods - A systematic search of the primary and gray literature was performed. The effect size of the outcome measure was defined as the OR and 95% CI. Subgroup analysis was performed with s*x, breed, and age at gonadectomy. A pooled OR (95% CI) was generated from meta-analysis of relevant studies. Certainty in the body of evidence was rated with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework.

Results - The literature search yielded 1398 results and 24 relevant studies were included for synthesis. Gonadectomized female (pooled OR = 2.293, 95% CI = 1.768–2.945) and male (pooled OR = 2.117, 95% CI = 1.665–2.691) dogs were both at increased odds of developing CrCLD in comparison with entire female and male dogs, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that gonadectomy at 1 year or less was consistently associated with an increase in odds of developing CrCLD in both s*xes. Overall certainty in the evidence was rated as moderate. All included studies were observational and no controlled trials were available.

Conclusion - In data with moderate certainty, gonadectomy is associated with increased odds of developing CrCLD in both s*xes, particularly in dogs gonadectomized at 1 year of age or less.

Clinical significance - This study provides an estimate of the true effect size of gonadectomy on the odds of developing CrCLD, which may be useful for clinical decision making surrounding gonadectomy and the timing of gonadectomy."