By Margaret Gates “I have never seen a single case of serious obesity, diabetes, urinary tract disease, or IBD in a cat fed meat instead of commercial dry foods. Many other people have seen the same results. Further, I do not see nutritional deficiencies in cats fed properly balanced raw-meat diets. I want to emphasize a point here. The incidence of these problems has not just declined on a raw-meat diet, they have entirely disappeared. These results are too dramatic to ignore.” Elizabeth Hodgkins, DVM, from Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life. It is important to remove dr ..read more

(But Were Afraid to Ask) By Jen Boon Beauty, strength, and devotion. Those are three words which best describe a Bernese Mountain Dog! Originally from Switzerland, this breed is something of a fan favourite. Affectionately known by the nickname “Berners,” Bernese Mountain Dogs are gentle giants who – despite their enormous size – are full of kisses. With a tricolour face, soulful brown eyes, broad chest, and proud stature, Berners have become a popular pet for families across Canada. Interested in learning more about the Bernese Mountain Dog?  From their Swiss Alpine roots to their knack ..read more

By Dr. Jeff Grognet   As a holistic veterinarian, I believe that it is important to consider the natural diet of our animal companions and provide them with the nutrients they require for optimal health. In the wild, dogs and cats primarily consume meat products, including muscle tissue, small bones, brain tissue (lots of good fat there), and internal organs (think vitamins and minerals). While they may consume some vegetable matter from the intestines of their prey, this is not a significant addition to their diet, but it has been used as justification for manufacturers to add vegetable ..read more

By Lucy Jabrayan   ‘Inflamm-aging’, a word coined from inflammation and aging. Is all inflammation bad and does all inflammation lead to aging? The answer is no. Inflammation in acute circumstances is not a bad thing, in fact it is necessary for the body to heal and repair. Inflammation is a very natural response to triggers such as injury, chemical toxins, microbial infection, free radical damage, etc. However, chronic inflammation at the cellular level is something that should not happen, and if left untreated, can lead to premature aging and even diseases such as auto-immune diseases ..read more

By Lucy Jabrayan Canine Viral Distemper (CVD) is a disease classified as a pansystemic disease. It is a highly contagious and viral disease of canines and other carnivores, that being said, depending on the strain of the virus, it varies in virulence from mild to fatal. Although the name suggests it only effects dogs, CVD can effect cats as well as other carnivores such as ferrets. Although the disease can infect pets of all ages, the most common age range is between 3 to 6 months of age.  CVD is a paramyxovirus that is one of a group of RNA viruses that are predominantly responsible for ..read more

By Jessika Harding  www.ironwillrawdogfood.com Omega-3 fatty acids are essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that play an important role in maintaining overall health and wellness. They are not produced by the body in sufficient amounts, and therefore must be obtained through diet. There are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids, they are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). EPA and DHA are longer chain fatty acids found primarily in marine sources such as fish, mussels, and other seafood. While plant-based sources such as fla ..read more

By David Suzuki Foundation Living Green, David Suzuki Foundation https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/ People in North America love the companionship of pets — but those have a big impact on the planet. The good news: what you feed your dog or cat and how you look after it can help reduce your environmental “paw print.” In Canada, there are about 8.2 million dogs and 8.3 million cats. During the COVID-19 pandemic, anywhere from three to ten per cent of Canadians (an additional 900,000 to 3.7 million) adopted, purchased or fostered a cat or a dog. Pet numbers are much larger in the U.S. — about ..read more

Ticks in Dogs By Ryan Llera, BSc, DVM; Ernest Ward, DVM   What are ticks? Although ticks are commonly thought of as insects, they are actually arachnids similar to scorpions, spiders, and mites. All adult ticks have eight legs and have no antennae. Adult insects by comparison have six legs and one pair of antennae. Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of their host, which can be an animal or a human. “Ticks are efficient carriers of disease.” Ticks are efficient carriers of disease because they attach firmly when sucking blood, feed slowly and may go unnoticed for a considerable ..read more

By Jen Boon Have you ever spotted a fluffy corgi trotting down the street? If yes, chances are you remember!  Among all the dog breeds in the world, the Pembroke Welsh corgi is one that (despite their short legs) really stands out in a crowd. In fact, corgis consistently make the top 20 list of most popular dog breeds. With a foxy face, pointed ears, and soft fur that ranges in colour from fawn and white to red and black, it’s no wonder that heading into 2023, corgis are expected to become even more common canine companions.   Thinking about getting a Pembroke Welsh corgi yourself? B ..read more

The Queen at Sandringham with her corgis. Anwar Hussein/allactiondigital.com The late Queen Elizabeth II was known for many things.  She was the longest-reigning monarch in British history, visited over 117 countries during her reign, and brought stability, peace, and dignity to the royal family.  But did you know?  The late Queen Elizabeth II also had a deep love of animals. In particular, dogs! Of all the breeds, Pembroke Welsh Corgis held a special place in her heart. In fact, over the course of her 96 years of life, Queen Elizabeth II is believed to have owned at least ..read more