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I'm hearing more stories of holistic veterinarians being pressured to step away from alternative medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years and, instead, to focus on traditional options that include commercial pet food with questionable ingredients and sourcing, drugs with harmful side effects and unnecessary surgery. The more I hear these stores, the more empathy I have for Rodrigo and Sydney's first vet. The vet who said that Rodrigo would live a short life. The vet who said Rodrigo would have to have a leg amputated. The vet who believed that all dogs were disposable – lose one, just go get another.
Holistic Medicine Saved My Dogs
If it weren't for holistic medicine, I have no doubt that Rodrigo would have crossed the Rainbow Bridge years ago. I often wonder how many dogs are put down because veterinarians tell pet parents that there are no other options; ignoring the many holistic and natural options that pet parents have to track down for themselves.
Rodrigo had a laundry list of health issues…
- Digestive issues, chronic diarrhea, loose stool, gas, and anal gland issues
- Joint issues so bad that he couldn't walk on one leg
- Skin issues that included gnarly rashes and yeasty/sticky skin on his tummy area
- Chronic ear infections that returned regularly despite medication
- Itchy paws that he'd like for so long that he created sores
- Behavioral issues because he was living in a state of inflammation and always in pain and uncomfortable
Raw feeding cleared up most of his health issues in less than two weeks. Learn more about feeding fresh foods, whole food supplements, and the importance of gut health helped my dogs make it to their senior years. Rodrigo and Sydney thriving and next year they'll be nine years old. Not bad for a dog that was predicted to live a short life as a three-legged mutt.
If it were up to their first veterinarian, my dogs would be dead. Today, I work with a holistic veterinarian clinic that respects my health plan for all of my dogs. They understand animal nutrition and support my passion for raw feeding. And I'm thankful that I have that support.
But what if they were pressured to only promote kibble, vaccinations, and harmful prescription medication? What if they were told that they weren't allowed to promote fresh food for pets and alternative medicine? Where would I be then?
“My intention here is to provide you with insight into a system that is deeply flawed and, in my opinion, threatens the ethical principles of medicine and the safety and health of our beloved pets.”
Dr. Peter Dobias Walks Away from Veterinary Medicine
This morning, I received an email from Dr. Peter Dobias (I'm on the newsletter list) and I'm sharing a portion of the letter below. His email is powerful and serves as a warning to those of us who have chosen a natural path to raise our pets. Our way of life is under attack. It started with how we feed our pets and now they're going after our first line of defense, our veterinarians.
I wanted to share an excerpt from Dr. Dobias' email here on my blog, however, I didn't receive permission, therefore, I'll try and summarize what he wrote. You can read about Dr. Dobias' experience on Facebook.
Two years ago, Dr. Dobias wrote an article about the Vancouver SPCA. This organization forced a foster puppy to be neutered because the puppy was displaying neurological tremors; I gather that no steps were taken to explore why the tremors were occurring. As a result of the article, the CEO of the Vancouver SPCA filed a complaint against Dr. Dobias. This was the beginning of what appeared, to me, to be systematic harassment of Dr. Dobias by the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia, as they sent him letters making demands on how he runs his business and including his line of supplements, sharing testimonials from the people he helps. They even wanted him to suggest traditional paths first, keeping holistic methods as an alternative if the traditional methods fail to work. Do they realize that he's a holistic vet?
The final straw was an anonymous email sent to the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia that referred to Dr. Dobias as a “snake oil salesman” – that's professional – and shared their confidence that he'd be taken care of by the College. This wasn't an official complaint, however, the College felt the need to give Dr. Dobias an ultimatum. Either stop what he was doing (helping pets holistically through his company) or surrender his license.
What Are They Afraid Of?
I often give traditional veterinarians an excuse for why they frown on holistic medicine and feeding fresh food. If the only pets they see (that are fed a raw diet) are sick, then I can't blame them for having a negative opinion about feeding fresh food. However, I'm starting to step away from that excuse. It rings of naivete. As I see the fresh food movement growing, as I see more pet parents seeking alternatives to treating their dogs and cats, and as I see raw feeding becoming the norm instead of a fad – I also see veterinarians and pet food brands fighting hard to keep the status quo.
But it won't work because traditional medicine and commercial pet food have failed many of us and we're seeing the lives of the pets we love saved by natural treatments and fresh food.
It's a disappointment that ego and profits are keeping people from keeping an open mind. If science remained stagnant, we wouldn't be where we are today.
Dr. Cathy Alinovi
Often when people read these types of posts, they believe that this is just one instance and this isn't proof that there may be an issue. That may be true, however, having worked in the pet industry for more than 5 years, I've witnessed, experienced, and have been told so many things that I'm a bit more doubtful.
Dr. Cathy Alinovi is the veterinarian who was kind enough to help me transition my dogs to a DIY raw diet right as I was going to give up and switch back to kibble. I met Dr. Alinovi shortly after starting Keep the Tail Wagging and she was kind enough to help me with many health posts and when I began researching raw feeding, she helped me understand the different models.
Despite her experience, she's still working hard to be the voice of smaller pet brands, our pets, and pet parents.
Well said.
I am going to throw in my two cents. How’s about human children only get fed mothers milk and then when they can start to chew, only feed them cream crackers and water and nothing else, because essentially that would be the same thing as feeding dogs only kibble and water. Lets then see how well and long human children on that diet do. I bet your bottom dollar they won’t be well at all.
My opinion – the only pestilence and disease upon this earth is inhumane unkind and that is the vast majority of human kind. Money never made the world go round, the world made the world go round. No amount of money will stop nature from having its way. Please picture a person flashing their wads of cash at the sun and asking it not to shine.
We have allowed ourselves to be conditioned by a minority who flash their wads of cash at the sun. You want to see change (and not money), actual change for the better? Truly use ones own common sense and reasoning. A truly wise person knows that it is difficult and life long task to govern the self, and so if someone wants to be a ruler/dictator etc and govern others, they have no wisdom and so cannot be trusted.
Those of you who are treating your pets as you would a human child, and seeing positive results then only share with like minded others and stop throwing your pearls to the swine. Those who prefer to be ignorant and cause their pets demise must feel for themselves and not be begged to change before its to late. This is how the nature of things work. Nothing good ever came from he said, she said bs. Actions and results speak louder than words.
Lastly, in all of history gone by, situations always got really bad before it got really good and the same will be for this generation and the generations to follow. Its a double edged sward and there cannot be one without the other, again, the nature of things.
So be fully engaged with the present because that all there truly is.
Perhaps Janice you could do some very easy research and read a little bit of Dr Dobias reasoning and facts and you may answer your own question 🙂
Are you sure it wasn’t because he wanted us to stop giving our beloved pets heart worm prevention medication? I feed my dog a raw food diet, but I love her beyond belief and would never stop providing her with the marvels of modern medicine. Remember when we thought blood letting was how to save lives? Luckily, we’ve learned a lot and now huge numbers of people do not have to die because modern medicine invented, say, the small pox vaccine?
I am holistic how I feed my dog and myself. As a Licensed Psychotherapist in the USA, who created a natural product for mental health that has shown to be superior, I agree with Dr. Dobias, they follow the money.
I have been forced to close my counseling office, and this has created huge struggles. Still, I refuse to sell my integrity, and I know that there a natural ways to heal.
My product has helped over 3000+ feel better, and I wish I had the advocates that Dr. Dobias and others have in the “animal” health field for me in the People mental health field. It is great and essential
My product is called Wellotonin is anyone is interested. It is safe, healthy, no side-effects reported ever, and the results are sustainable. If anyone out there, knows any influencers that can help, I would be so grateful. I have sacrificed everything to help others. When it comes to mental health, it truly is a game changer. More info on my website, thanks, Sheila M Cooperman LMHC
I have two friends who have experienced this in the States and I have been hearing many more stories of this say type of abuse. So I don’t think this is about a country, I believe that it’s about an industry. Follow the money.
While I have plenty of support where I live because we have a growing and accepting holistic community in Western Washington, I receive emails daily from people who don’t have holistic vets, access to people to help them transition to raw and support them on the journey, nor do they have independent pet stores. This is why we’re seeing a massive growth in raw feeding Facebook groups, IMO; people are seeking information and guidance.
I haven’t spoken to Dr. Jean Dodds about her experiences so I can’t speak to that, I can only share my thoughts based on what I do know.
This is very sad, but are you sure it isn’t more a Canadian problem than U.S.? Everything I hear and read gives me the impression Canada is, like European countries, limiting many freedoms such as speech in rather frightening ways.
Here in Colorado what I’m seeing is the opposite of less access to holistic practices. In fact what I wonder about is practices that don’t have the training trying to throw in a little holistic cover because it’s in style. Certainly no one has denigrated my diet or limited vaccination practices for many years, although maybe that is because of the vets I’ve deliberately chosen. Have vets like Dr. Jean Dodds been subjected to these kind of pressures?
I think a lot also comes down to owners. Even for their own health, I know people who really do just want a pill rather than changing their own diets, much less their dogs’.