Midway Animal Alternative

Firstly, with all of our animals, it’s critical to get them spayed and neutered in most instances just to remove the responsibility. It is simply a fact that overpopulation (that propagates so much disease) is a critical factor to our pets’ health today. While there are responsible breeders, and I don’t intend to lecture on pure vs. crossbred dogs (BOTH have benefits!), owners should think of the financial and other requirements to breed for the best of the pets to get good homes FOR LIFE. But, in reality, most overpopulation is from accidental breeding, and that is where spay/neuter of the pet really comes into play.

So once you have a non-reproductive pet, what other factors are important?

1. A healthy environment. This means everything from a healthy air (please don’t smoke in a house with YOUR PETS OR YOUR KIDS!!!), and clean water, but also a low stress level and an environment as free of internal and external toxins as we can. We all know how stress messes with our health, and we must remember that any stresses we can get out of our pet’s life (stress from their perspective!!), the better physical, physiological, and emotional health they will have. (And we could improve ours while we’re at it!)

2. Vaccines, as well as other chemical medications. This is a contradictory issue, but the main diseases we wish to vaccinate for are life threatening and wide spread. While scientific evidence and experts’ opinions are changing as to how many and how often, vaccines still have great benefit. Ask you own veterinarian and educate yourself to make this decision. There often is not a set protocol, but more of a general set of recommendations that are very tailored to your pet with its exposure, age, health, etc… factored in along with your vet’s and your opinions. If you truly differ in the beliefs, just like with your own health and that of your children, you must have a veterinarian that you agree with and basically trust. This process is made with conventional tests and medications as well. Be informed of why a test is run, what information is gleaned from its’ results and what change it would make on treatment options/decisions. Be aware of the actions/side effects and appropriate times of day to administer medications and nutritional supplements, with or without food, and what to do if you skip a dose by hours or days. We have a bunch of great vets in this county and one will likely practice your style of medicine, whether that be conservative, aggressive, just make the decisions for you, or present and explain options but rely on your final choice. There are many right ways to practice medicine, veterinary or other.

3. Diet. This is also an area open for debate, with many options. A proper nutrition is important regardless of the stage of life your pet is in. While our domesticated pets are different enough from their wild cousins that most can’t survive on a scavenger or predator diet, there is a growing amount of attention to diets other than generic kibble from the grocer. There is much benefit in getting fresh, good quality ingredients, and to diminish or eliminate chemicals, such as preservatives, artificial colors, flavor enhancers, synthetic vitamins and minerals (many calcium sources are LIMEROCK!). Evolutionarily, cats or dogs are not herbivores so primary grain diets are, IMHO, not desired! There are people that feed home prepared diets, a diligent path to follow to self balance your pet’s diet (we don’t even balance our own very well!) Choose companies who discuss these issues and offer “human grade” meat and naturally preserve and use whole food extracts for supplements when and where possible.

4. Maintenance Therapies for Optimal Life. Be aware of the checkups, blood work, massage, manipulative (VOM), homeopathic and nutritional upkeep that your pet needs and realize that these frequencies may change throughout the year and throughout your pet’s life. Even in good health, see your veterinarian annually for a physical exam of your pet. This exam is more important than the regularly administered vaccines, IMHO. Get hands-on with your pet to better detect subtle changes to alert your veterinarian earlier rather than later. This will also improve your relationship with your pet and both of your health situations.

5. Activity-physical and mental. Know your pet’s breed and personality and provide enough and the best type of activity to avoid behavioral problems developing as well as providing that pet with a good life. A bored pet is not a happy pet. Seek out walks, games, or classes and competitions in obedience, agility, tracking, etc. You do not have to compete in these to learn about the activity to aid your pet’s need for purpose.

Overall, plan to treat your pet with the necessary respect that is needed to help it live a great life. The challenges facing the pets of today are much greater than those of our grandparents’ pets, and our care has to reflect that!!!

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Trish Kallenbach, DVM, CVCP

Midway Animal Alternative & Complementary Clinic

1821 S Suncoast Blvd.

Homosassa, FL 34448

(352) 795-0250

www.dr-trish.com