Animal Healing Arts

23/04/2025

with Dr. Judy Jasek:

❓Do wellness appointments make your pet less well❓

Read more below in Dr. Judy's Substack post ⬇️

https://judyjasekdvm.substack.com/p/do-wellness-appointments-make-your

I used to believe in ‘wellness’ appointments, and, in fact, recommend them.

17/04/2025

Meet our Penny and her mom Alyssa!

Penny is our Queen Ween! She is our oldest pup and the one who would rather be an only dog 😂 Penny was diagnosed with IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) about three/four years ago after we noticed that she was rolling around on her back in pain. Her x-rays showed that she did not need to have the typical emergency spinal surgery for this disease, but we had to make some drastic changes.

We bought all the ramps, Penny started getting picked up/carried more, she started receiving Gabapentin (a nerve medication) twice daily to help with her pain and we were way more cautious about her activity level. That being said, Penny did start gaining weight. Being a dachshund she can easily go down a slippery slope when it comes to her weight which was going to cause even more issues with her back.

After finding Dr. Jasek Spring of 2024, we switched all of our five dogs to a raw diet with the help of the nurse in Dr. Jasek's office. I also had a very informative conversation with Dr. Jasek that made me more confident in making the right choices for Penny's care.

Being more of the natural mindset, I was worried about Penny being on a pharmaceutical drug long term (that really only felt like a bandaid). My husband was also very worried about maintaining Penny's pain levels without her being able to tell us when something was wrong. Within the last year, Penny dosage of Gabapentin has been lowered when paired with a Chinese Herbal blend, liquid tumeric and CBD oil to help get to the root cause of her inflammation that could be causing her more pain.

Penny has lost weight, looks so muscular while thinning out, she has more energy and all around seems like her happy self again! I couldn't be happier with making the switch to a raw diet for all five of our dogs and I feel that Dr. Jasek and her team have helped me become a much better dog mom!

12/04/2025

Meet our Frankie and his mom Elizabeth!

Frankie is a six and half year old seal point Balinese kitty. In the summer of 2023, we discovered a small lump on Frankie's right eyelid. The lump continued to increase in size rapidly and I got him in to see a vet specialist as soon as possible. A biopsy diagnosed him with a mast cell tumor, which unfortunately, grew at an aggressively alarming rate in just a few weeks' time.

Knowing at this point that Frankie's best possible chance for recovery would be a combination of traditional and holistic medicine, I did some extensive research and was so grateful to find Dr. Judy and Animal Healing Arts! It was an encouragement to have expert guidance in supporting Frankie's immune system from a more holistic approach while he also continued with some traditional treatments.

When the tumor did not shrink, we made the decision to have it surgically removed as that was Frankie's best chance at survival. Due to the size of the tumor at this point, he also ended up losing his right eye. Despite this, we were able to continue supporting Frankie's immune system with an all-raw food diet, mistletoe injections, herbal tinctures, and supplements.

Once Frankie recovered from surgery, he quickly returned to his usual spunky and affectionate self! One year post surgery, he was given the all-clear by the surgeon and internal medicine, which was a miracle considering they didn't think he'd live more than four to six months after his diagnosis.

I'm happy to say that Frankie is currently in excellent health, loves to snuggle like a baby in my arms, and is extremely playful and affectionate! We've continued to keep him on an all-raw diet with the occasional treat of a bit of cheese or raw milk.

Per Dr. Judy's recommendation, I also give Frankie weekly mistletoe injections to help keep his immune system strong and hopefully prevent any cancer recurrence. I truly believe Frankie is alive and well today because of the holistic care and treatment he was able to receive when he was so sick! Many thanks to Dr. Judy and the AHA Team for all of their support during this journey!

09/04/2025

Wednesday tips with Dr. Judy Jasek🐾☀️

Spring has sprung in many areas of the country and more critters are out-and-about with the warmer temperatures 🌱🐛🌷 This includes mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks, which may spread unwanted pathogens such as heartworm.

Dr. Judy shares some holistic non-toxic and less toxic options for controlling pests in her Substack video below ⬇️

https://judyjasekdvm.substack.com/p/spring-tune-ups

Which spring activities are your pet's favorite? We'd love to see pictures of you and your pet out-and-about enjoying the warmer weather 🐕🪻📸

Heartworm, Flea/tick and more....

05/04/2025

❓Did you know❓ April 1st to April 7th is Week! It's the perfect time to explore how a raw diet can benefit your pets🐾

Raw feeding focuses on minimally processed, whole ingredients, which mirror your pet's ancestral needs. Dr. Judy discusses the benefits of raw feeding and the importance of rotating proteins for your furry friends in her Substack video below ⬇️

Which proteins are your pet’s favorites? We’d love to see pictures of your furry friends and their favorite foods too ⬇️ 📸🐈🐶

Complete nutrition without supplements

02/04/2025

Happy April from Dr. Judy Jasek and the AHA Team 🌷🪻🐥Springtime brings many changes with blooming flowers, baby animals, and new plants🌱 We also start to spend more time outside with our four-legged friends 🐾☀️

Unfortunately, some of our furry friends also have springtime allergies and itchy skin. Dr. Judy discusses springtime itchy skin and allergies, plus holistic treatment options in her Substack video below ⬇️

https://judyjasekdvm.substack.com/p/springtime-itchies

Some home remedies to try

29/03/2025

The importance of the right diet
https://judyjasekdvm.substack.com/p/the-keto-diet

https://ahavet.com/new-client-form/

29/03/2025

New Substack post from Dr. Judy!

Pancreatitis is a commonly diagnosed condition in dogs and cats. Symptoms are typically reduced appetite and vomiting. Although many other things can cause these symptoms, pancreatitis has become the most common diagnosis in recent years.

Most intestinal upset in dogs and cats can be simply treated by a 24-48 hour water or bone-broth fast, and if not drinking, subcutaneous or intravenous fluids. Danger signs are frequent vomiting (once every 2 hours or more) and abdominal pain (standing hunch-backed, not wanting to be touched, unwilling to move). These could mean an intestinal blockage and your pet should be taken to the ER immediately.

Unfortunately, big pharma has now "graced" us with a drug for pancreatitis that is just being released in the United States. Panoquell (fuzapladib) is an intravenous injection given by veterinarians for pets with a diagnosis of pancreatitis.

Here is a FOI request on the research study:

https://animaldrugsatfda.fda.gov/adafda/app/search/public/document/downloadFoi/13134

Note that this study only included 61 dogs, 31 of which were treated with the drug. This is a tiny sample and hardly adequate to evaluate safety!

Read the full article below ⬇️

Don't let your pet be a guinea pig

28/03/2025

How to evaluate and treat your pet at home.
https://ahavet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/HomeTreatments.pdf

25/03/2025

with Dr. Judy Jasek:

❓How does your energy affect your pet❓

Your pet watches you constantly! It notices your habits and mannerisms and is an expert at predicting your behavior. Your pet will also take on your energy just like humans. You know how it feels when a happy person walks in the room and you feel uplifted? Or if an angry person walks in the room you may contract or withdraw?

The problem is, your pet won’t understand why you are angry, upset or afraid, but its body will feel the effects. It is natural for you to react by feeling upset, afraid, or angry when your pet is sick in any way. However, your pet will be confused by this reaction and may even think that it has done something wrong😕

Therefore, it is very important to try to remain hopeful and optimistic when your pet is sick. Envision your pet in a healthy, active state; if you believe in a higher power, ask for guidance in the resolution of its condition.

Try to keep your pet’s routine as normal as possible. Go outside, even if it is just for short walks or to sniff around a bit🌱 Your attitude can have a huge effect on the outcome of your pet’s health condition🐾

22/03/2025

Meet our Stella and her mom Flora!

Happy 9th Birthday to my sweet Stella🥳🐾🩷

Stella has been receiving treatment from Dr. Jasek for about 2 months now after receiving a cancer diagnosis in November 2024. Unfortunately, Stella has two liver HCC tumors (one is 12 cm in size), which are too risky to surgically remove. Traditional cancer treatments were not an option for Stella and I wanted to make her body stronger to give her a better chance.

I didn’t want to risk hurting her anymore, and looked to holistic medicine as a Hail Mary for Stella. Luckily, I found Animal Healing Arts! I have been so blessed by the great care, communication, compassion, commitment to excellence, and treatment we get from them since Stella’s first appointment with Dr. Jasek and the AHA Team.

I started administering mistletoe injections, conducting ozone (both therapies done at home — so easy), using Chinese herbs, changing Stella’s whole diet (as per the AHA nutritionist’s guidance), and implemented a few other lifestyle changes. Stella has not shown any sign of decline & on the contrary, is acting VERY energetic and happy!

It’s crazy to think that virtual care can be more effective than seeing a doctor in person… I am beyond impressed. Stella has an appointment with her internal medicine specialist here in Northern Virginia this week. I’m curious to see if her liver enzymes and the rest of her bloodwork looks any better than before we started these treatments. Fingers crossed!!!

Thank you for all that you do, AHA!

Love, Flora & Stella

16/03/2025

with Dr. Judy Jasek: Feeding the cancer patient 🐾

🐾 There is good evidence that a ketogenic diet is beneficial for cancer patients. The most important aspect of the keto diet is eliminating processed carbohydrates in the diet.

🐾 This is the same principle that we recommend in our raw species-appropriate diet recommendations.

🐾 To make the diet more ketogenic, you can add a bit more fat to the diet. I recommend well-sourced saturated animal fats.

🐾 Start with a small amount, and slowly increase up to 1 tablespoon per 50lb of body weight twice daily.

🐾 Here are some resources to learn more about a keto diet for your pet:

https://ahavet.com/ketogenic-diet-boosting-health-by-burning-fat/

https://rawdogfoodandco.com/keto-diets-for-pets-understand-whats-good-health-vs-just-good-marketing/

https://ahavet.com/the-skinny-on-fat/

The Ketogenic diet is a diet designed to create a metabolic state termed ketosis, where the body changes from a sugar-burning metabolism to a fat-burning metabolism.

13/03/2025

❓Which training treats are best for your furry friends❓

Training requires lots of positive re-enforcement and this includes lots of yummy treats! We recommend single-ingredient treats such as plain jerky or dried organs. Here are some options for well-sourced treats:

https://shoprawdogfood.rawdogfoodandco.com/collections/treats

https://farmhounds.com/collections/trainers

Dried fish is a favorite among many kitties:

https://www.vitalessentials.com/collections/cat-treats

Puppies also love to chew! Treats such as bully sticks, dried tendons, or smaller bones such as raw chicken wings or feet can make great treats. Raw poultry bones are high in cartilage and collagen, which are the nutritional building blocks for healthy joints.

https://shoprawdogfood.rawdogfoodandco.com/collections/rmb/Chicken-Bones

https://naturegnaws.com/collections/beef-dog-treats

🐾Which training treats are your pet’s favorite? We’d love to see pictures of your furry friends and their favorite training treats too ⬇️ 📸🐈🐶

Explore a variety of raw meaty bones at Raw Dog Food And Company. From recreational to consumable bones, there's a high-quality, healthy chew for every pooch.

08/03/2025

Saturday with Dr. Judy Jasek🌷🪻🌱

❓How do you avoid spring toxins ❓

You may be very careful not to expose your pet to chemicals in your own yard, but what about where you walk or train your pet?

Most carefully groomed lawns or parks are heavily treated with herbicides and pesticides that are toxic to your pet! Don’t assume that products the companies say are "pet safe" are free of toxins. Ask to read the ingredients and look them up yourself.

I have seen many pets get sick after walking in a park or sport field right after it is sprayed! Dogs and cats do not wear shoes, so they end up walking right in the chemicals. Unfortunately, they will directly ingest the toxins if they lick their paws afterwards🐾

Remember to walk your dog in the dandelions 🐾🌱and if your kitty goes outside, consider a catio at your home to keep it safe from spring toxins 🐈

https://judyjasekdvm.substack.com/p/spring-poisons?r=4v87r

Be sure to keep your pet safe...

05/03/2025

Spring is a time for new beginnings 🌷🪻🌱It's also often a popular time to bring a new puppy or kitten into your home 🐾

We often get asked about the best food to feed your new youngster. The answer is: exactly the same thing we recommend feeding adults! It is so much more important to provide optimal nutrition as we are supporting normal growth and development.

After weaning, the nutritional needs of a dog or cat don’t really change much from youngster to adult to senior; though there may be some individual variations. A balanced diet of meat, bone and organs is the way to go. We do not recommend synthetic nutrients and the diet should be about:

✔️10% bone
✔️15-20% mixed
✔️0-10% produce
✔️ the remainder muscle meat

Even if a puppy or kitten has been started on kibble, it can usually handle a cold-turkey transition to raw. In fact, many will not go back to eating the kibble after trying the ‘real’ food:
https://ahavet.com/feeding-puppies-and-kittens-raw-food/

Visit our friends at Raw Dog Food and Company for more information on raw feeding:

https://rawdogfoodandco.com/feeding-raw-dog-food/new-feeders-webinar/

If you have read my other posts, you know I am a proponent of feeding a fresh and ideally raw food diet to pets. What about puppies...

02/03/2025

Happy March from the AHA Team 🍀🐾☀️🌷 Here are some with Dr. Judy Jasek to help optimize your pet's nutrition:

✔️ Thaw and warm food to room temperature (68+ degrees)
✔️Add small amounts of warm water if needed to warm/ thaw food

Directly feeding cold/ frozen food interferes with nutrient absorption, can increase food sensitivities, can negatively impact the digestive system, consumes high amounts of energy, and may decrease their appetite.

❌Don't directly feed cold/ frozen/ refrigerated food
❌Minimize and don't feed frozen snacks
❌Don't microwave food to warm it up

🐾Which foods are your pet’s favorite? We’d love to see pictures of your furry friends and their favorite foods too ⬇️ 📸🐈🐶

21/02/2025

Friday with Dr. Judy Jasek:

🐾It is important to rotate proteins for your pet!

🐾Each animal protein (i.e. beef/poultry/pork/lamb/fish/rabbit) has its own unique nutritional profile.

🐾Providing balanced nutrition with a whole-food approach requires rotating in at least 3 different proteins per week.

🐾We do not recommend balancing the diet with synthetic nutrients (think multi-vitamin formula), as these are just a bunch of chemical that may not even be bioavailable to your pet; thus creating a false sense of security.

🐾Your pet may have protein preferences, or may just seem to do better on some proteins than others. It is fine to follow these leads. Just be sure not to get stuck on feeding only one or two animal proteins.

Which proteins are your pet’s ? We’d love to see pictures of your furry friends and their favorite foods too ⬇️ 📸🐈🐶