I’m the proud owner of a giant slobbery 140 lb. English mastiff named Maddy. Like most pet owners, I would do anything to enhance Maddy’s happiness, health, and general well-being, especially as she approaches senior age. I want to do everything I can to extend her life span, so we can continue to hang out on the deck, chill at the dog park, and take lazy naps full of loud snoring together.
About Maddy
While Maddy has always been an overall healthy dog, she has suffered some subtle ailments throughout her life. It took me a few years to catch on to what some of them were. In her youth, Maddy had experienced repeated ear infections, and she had lumps on her body that grew very slowly. By age six, I had a few of the lumps aspirated to find that they were not cancerous, but they were infected. The vet simply gave us antibiotics and nothing more. When the lumps continued to pop up here and there I realized there had to be a reason she was getting infections under the skin, and realized that problems under the skin and occasional issues with the ears pointed clearly to the probability that Maddy had allergies.
Not once did my veterinarian suggest allergies to me. In fact, most of what I have discovered or learned about pet health has been through my sister who is an avid researcher of pet health. So I turned to my sister to help me research what I should do. After switching my dog’s food to a healthier brand, I slowly weeded out ingredients starting with chicken and beef, which many dogs develop allergies to. I finally landed on a better quality dog food, made with only lamb, wholesome ingredients, and free of corn, soy, dairy, eggs, and wheat. I have seen a dramatic difference in Maddy’s skin problems. Hurrah!
But, its not over yet. The lumps are not 100% gone, and Maddy is getting older. She is a large dog with the potential for joint and bone problems, and she has a heart murmur. I want to learn more about how to care for her the best way possible. Unfortunately, I have not found many vets to be of great help beyond the standard treatments and pharmaceuticals they are taught or paid to offer. It really pays in the long run to find a more holistic vet, someone with a more diverse understanding of animal health.
A Holistic Approach
The other day my sister gave me a great book written by her new veterinarian. The book is called Natural Dog, A Holistic Guide for Healthier Dogs, written by Dr. Deva Khalsa, VMD. So far I am thoroughly enjoying this book which covers everything from basic health needs, balanced diet, common health disorders, allergies, herbs, supplements, breed-related issues, cancer prevention and treatment, and even has a chapter full of healthy recipes for dogs including recipes designed to specifically address fungal & yeast problems, cancer, diabetes, and more.
I love that her book is completely accepting of people who may not be able to cook dinners for their dogs all the time, but instead need to implement some simple steps into their feeding routine. There’s no way I can be one of those people that keeps groceries in the house and finds time to cook a gourmet dog meal; I can’t even do that for myself! But I want to know what foods I can easily mix in along with my dog’s bagged and canned food. This book addresses that option thoroughly.
The book also explains what to look for in bagged and canned dog foods: In short, look for whole food ingredients such as ‘chicken’ or ‘beef’ rather than ‘by-products’ or ‘chicken meal’ (or look for single-source protein foods, such as lamb or salmon for dogs with allergies). Look for ‘wheat’ rather than ‘wheat bran, wheat gluten or wheat mill run’. And opt for ‘rice’ over ‘rice flour, rice bran, or brewers rice’. Look for products that use whole vegetables and grains; even better, purchase products recommended by the author herself, also listed in the book.
As I continue reading this book, I plan to slowly implement some changes in my dog’s diet. Each day I take on a new chapter and attempt to add something easy to my dog’s feeding routine. My first mission: to add more diverse fruits and vegetables to my dog’s diet in an attempt to better balance her bodily pH levels.
Diversifying the Diet
Dr. Khalsa speaks early on in the book about pH balance in the body. You remember learning about pH back in science class right? It’s the scale between Acidic and Alkaline, and like most things in nature, the situation is best when the scale is in balance. Many foods are acidic, others are alkaline. The body’s chemistry comes into play just as much as the foods themselves with regard to creating pH balance. For example, lemons are quite acidic, but lemon once eaten and digested makes the body fluid more alkaline. Milk, which is alkaline, will make the body itself more acidic.
On a cellular level within the body, the pH level can play a major role in cell protection, and an acidic body can be susceptible to disease and illness. Acidic pH levels in the body can be related to incidences of arthritis, kidney problems, bladder stones, heart disease, as well as the establishment of cancer.
Traditionally dogs have been known as carnivores, as they are descendants of wolves and still retain those sharp, pointy teeth! However, even dogs benefit more from a balanced diet including vegetables, grains, and even dairy (as long as they’re not allergic). Apparently a diet high in meat-based proteins is a very acidic diet. Too much protein, especially poor quality protein, can put extra stress on the kidneys, lungs, and liver. Hence the need for other ingredients to create balance in pH levels.
According to Natural Dog, some Alkaline foods include apples, bananas, asparagus, carrots, celery, kelp, beans, peas, potatoes (if eaten with the peel), spinach, parsley, millet, quinoa, cheese, yogurt, and various herbs and spices including cayenne, garlic, rosemary & basil. These foods can be added in moderate amounts to each feeding. For the best advice on this, you should look at the book and refer to the entire chapter full of healthy and easy recipes you can throw into your dog’s diet.
Aside from the pH issue, the book covers many other easy ways to enhance your dog’s health. There is a whole section dedicated to healthy oils, such as olive oil and coconut oil. Last night I mixed a teaspoon of coconut oil, half a chopped apple, and about two tablespoons of kefir (a dairy product very rich in probiotics) and fed her that along with her regular kibble. It was easy to do, she loved it, and I’ve seen no immediate ill effects from feeding her these things.
What the Future Holds
The book also delves deeply into treating a dog plagued with allergies. Although Maddy’s skin issue has mostly subsided, it seems dog’s can develop new allergies to whatever food they’ve been switched to. It also seems that if a dog had been allergic to chicken or beef, they could develop an allergy to lamb as well. Dr. Khalsa outlines a plan of rotating foods so the dog has a broader food exposure. I plan to implement this rotation and progress into the feeding techniques specified for allergy treatment, and I hope to share my experience in the future!
If you’re looking for some holistic information that’s easy to understand and implement, check this book out. I have so much more to learn from it. For now, I already feel I have a great start toward trying to diversify my dog’s intake, and enhance her overall health and happiness. After all, I want “little” Maddy to be with me as long as possible, and to enjoy every meal that comes her way!
Information taken from “Dr. Khalsa’s Natural Dog: A Holistic Guide for Healthier Dogs” by Dr. Deva Khalsa, VMD. Dr. Khalsa is a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine, and earned her VMD degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, and the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. She has studied homeopathy for over twenty-five years, and lectures nationally and internationally.
