Tag Archives: dogs

Not Even Good Enough for Dog Food: Imported Food from China Loaded with Chemicals, Dyes, Pesticides and Fake Ingredients

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unfitDo you really know what’s in all the food you’re eating that’s imported from China? If you don’t, you’re actually in good company: The FDA only inspects 1% – 2% of all the food imported from China, so they don’t know either. Even when they inspect a shipment, they rarely test it for heavy metals, pesticides, PCBs or other toxic contaminants. Continue reading →

Dogs Can Sniff Out Lung Cancer, Pilot Study Shows

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Dogs are surprisingly adept at sniffing out lung cancer, results from a pilot project in Austria published on Wednesday suggested, potentially offering hope for earlier, life-saving diagnosis.

“Dogs have no problem identifying tumor patients,” Continue reading →

10 Common Phobias

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Terrified of the creepy-crawlies? Scared of slithering serpents? Well, you’re not alone. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, phobias affect approximately 10% of adults. There are a number of explanations for why phobias develop, including evolutionary and behavioral theories. Continue reading →

“You Haven’t Tasted Beef Until You’ve Tasted Grass-Fed: When You Do, You’ll Be Hooked for Life.”

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Today more than ever, the source of your food matters. Gone are the days when you could trust your neighborhood butcher or grocer to provide your family with wholesome, fresh food free from unnatural – and dangerous – hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, and herbicides.

Sadly, Continue reading →

The Truth about Salt

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The never-ending advice to cut back on salt fails to give the whole story on this misunderstood substance. In fact, if you don’t get enough of the right kind of salt, you may be sowing the seeds of your own health destruction.

Salt Tales

A nightly newscast recently carried a report on the most recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiative beginning a public campaign (propaganda) to further persuade Americans to cut back on salt.

Well, we have to remember that Americans think that salt is salt. Not so at all. Everyday salt that we consume is sodium chloride. This is a bad salt because it is processed salt. That means it is heated and the mineral value is diminished. Continue reading →

Tips to Protect your Dog when Temperatures Soar

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As many of us have been painfully aware, this summer has been abnormally hot in much of the country. There has been precious little rain or other relief and plenty of alerts advising us to stay indoors as much as possible. High heat can be dangerous and even deadly – and that goes for our pets too. As we head into August, often the hottest month of the summer, it is important to protect our beloved pets from these soaring temperatures.

Dogs should be kept indoors during times of excessive heat. When left outside, dogs should have proper protection from the heat and plenty of fresh, cool water. It is important to note that doghouses do not provide protection from heat, especially if they are exposed to the sun. Continue reading →

Medical myths: Bizarre, but true…

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Fat people are jollier

Ever since Falstaff, fatness has been associated with jollity. According to psychologists at Lakehead University in Canada, the “jolly fat” hypothesis might actually be true, at least among women. Not only have they found a link, they suggest a mechanism, too: estrogen.

They put forward the idea that body fat protects women again negative moods. In other words, the fatter a woman is, the less depressed she gets.

In the two-part research, the team looked at Body Mass Index (BMI), a measure that takes into account Continue reading →

Do Not Poison Your Pet with Herbal Medicine

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Herbal remedies marketed to pets might actually be dangerous to your dog or cat. Obviously, we prefer to give our animals natural herbs when possible. Our companion animals’ bodies work different from ours, and some products that work for people are toxic to pets. But with hundreds of “natural” or “herbal” options, how do you know which ones are truly safe?

The first place to start is with your veterinarian. There are even holistic vets who can help evaluate your pet’s condition and determine the best natural course of action. When you’re out shopping, read labels thoroughly and consult with the sales staff at holistic stores. But buyer, beware: Some of the commonly marketed products are ineffective and even dangerous.

Here are some of the most commonly recommended natural treatments that are actually toxic to dogs and cats:

* Pennyroyal oil is recommended as a natural flea repellent but is highly toxic to dogs. In addition to skin problems and allergic reactions, in concentrated doses, it can kill.

* Comfrey is suggested for bone health and conditions like hip dysplasia and arthritis. However, it can damage your pet’s liver and has been banned from use in Canada.

* Tea tree oil, touted as the skin-problem solution for cats, is highly toxic to cats, dogs, and other small animals.

* Garlic works as a natural insect repellent. However, in large doses, it’s toxic to both dogs and cats, causing anemia or even death. The jury is out on whether or not garlic can be used safely, but with the toxic potential, why risk it?