Introduction to Natural Canine Health   An Introduction to Natural Canine Health   Health Overview - Vaccines - Diet Health Overview We formed Canine Health Concern to discover why so many dogs are ill and dying years before their time.  The aim was to find a way to have healthy, long-lived dogs.  Thousands of dog owners worldwide have found the way, and rarely need to take their dogs to a vet – by following these simple principles.  Ill health is caused by: Genes Our practice of choosing mates for domestic animals has meant that the likelihood of passing on genetic defects has increased.  Animals in the wild choose mates using their sense of smell.  They seek good health in their mates, and are looking for an individual who is genetically dissimilar to themselves. When breeding for the show ring, we’re doing the opposite.  Perhaps we should think about this.  Proper husbandry can, however, minimise the chance of these faults showing themselves.  For example, hip dysplasia is thought to be genetic, but research shows that it can be avoided with proper diet and vitamin C supplementation.  Vaccines are known to make dogs develop autoantibodies to their own DNA – so by minimising or even avoiding vaccines, we can perhaps help dogs over generations.  Toxins There is no doubt that chemicals such as pesticides, weed killers, fungicides and domestic products like air fresheners and cleaning products, can cause cancer and other illnesses. This includes many flea control treatments which can cause cancer.  We think they’re safe – but they may not be.  Canine Health Concern brings information to light about these products, and finds safer natural alternatives.      Pharmaceutical drugs Conventional vets offer steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), and antibiotics when less harmful alternatives might suffice. Don’t get us wrong – these drugs can be life-saving.  But sometimes natural alternatives might be better.  Canine Health Concern researches the options for you, and points you towards safer products.  Complementary therapies available for dogs include chiropractic, EFT, acupuncture, homoeopathy, kinesiology, hands-on healing, nutritional therapy, TTouch, and so much more.  We’ve seen these therapies work wonders for our dogs, and we’re happy to share our experiences.  Become a member of Canine Health Concern, and take action to see your dogs thrive.  Bacterial and viral invasion Just like humans, dogs can be affected by bacteria and viruses.  We believe that the best thing you can do for your dogs in this respect is to feed appropriately to boost their immune systems, and explore the many natural options that can help your dog withstand disease. Stress Too much stress, whether you’re human or animal, can lead to ill health.  Many of the complementary therapies help to reduce stress, and many of them work well for dogs.  As a Canine Health Concern member, you’ll receive regular updates that address the stress issue, and we even offer workshops to help you minimise stress for you and your dogs.  Vaccine damage Our dogs are over-vaccinated, and vaccines come with horrendous side-effects.  See our separate information sheet below – because the vaccine damage problem is something you have the power to do something about.  It’s hard to make decisions when you’re simply doing what other people tell you to do – so we urge you to make use of the books, articles, newsletters and other resources that are available, so that you can make choices from knowledge rather than pressure.  Diet If your dogs aren’t getting the vital nutrients they need, then illness is sure to follow.  See our separate information sheet below on canine diet.  If you do this for your dog, he is likely to reward you with many years of companionship. There are also many books available to help you with your dog’s diet, detailed on our web site and in our newsletters.  It’s not difficult to feed your dogs a healthy diet, but it helps to be informed.  Back to top   Vaccination Questions and Answers Q: Should I vaccinate my dog or cat every year? A:  No. There is no need. According to the world’s most eminent experts on canine and feline immunology, “once immunity to a virus exists, it persists for years or life”. This fact has been accepted by official veterinary bodies in America and Australia. If you wish to vaccinate your dog, then he should have puppy shots followed by one shot after six months of age, and then no further shots are required.  Studies show that 95% of dogs are protected for life following this regime.  However, some dogs fail to become immune following vaccination, and some vaccines can fail.  Vaccines are not guaranteed to protect – not even if you vaccinate a dog every week (which would be highly dangerous). Q: I thought vaccines were safe - what are the adverse effects? A:  Many informed dog lovers are choosing not to vaccinate at all, because vaccines appear to be creating an epidemic of vaccine-induced disease.  Inflammatory (‘itis’) diseases, and immune-mediated diseases are becoming increasingly common in dogs, due largely to vaccines. The words ‘hypersensitivity’, ‘allergy’, and ‘inflammation’ are interchangeable – and all are associated with vaccines.  Sometimes the hypersensitivity reaction is so severe that the patient must be immediately injected with adrenaline or they will die.  Depending upon the animal’s genetic predisposition, the inflammatory reaction could manifest as inflammation of the brain, inflammation of the digestive system, inflammation of the bones and joints - in fact, any of the many inflammatory conditions. The inflammatory reaction could even lead to cancer.  This is why scientists have written and produced scientific papers that link vaccines in with brain damage, epilepsy, behavioural problems, colitis, arthritis, thyroid disease, heart failure, kidney failure, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, leukaemia, cancer and more.  It makes sense to minimise the risks, and vaccinate as little as possible.  The UK vet Christopher Day observed that around 80% of patients first became ill within three months of vaccination. CHC conducted the world’s first independent vaccine damage survey to test this observation. There were over 4,000 dogs in the survey. We asked, if your dog is ill, when did he become ill in relation to the vaccine? We were astounded by the results, which are published in full in Catherine O’Driscoll’s book, What Vets Don’t Tell You About Vaccines. 91% cases of Ataxia (a neurological problem) occurred within three months of a vaccine event. 81% of dogs who had tumours at their vaccine sites, first developed the tumours within three months of being vaccinated.  (Studies also show that cats and ferrets develop terminal cancer at their injection sites.) 78.6% of dogs with encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) first developed the condition within three months of being vaccinated.  This is where conditions like epilepsy arise, and where many behavioural problems start.  73.1% of epileptic dogs first became epileptic within three months of being vaccinated. 65.9% of dogs with colitis developed the condition within that first three months, and vaccines are also known to cause food-related allergies.  61.5% of dogs developed liver failure within three months of being vaccinated. The above figures were chosen at random from our findings to illustrate the principle to you: vaccines may be protecting our dogs against viral disease, but they are doing so at a very high price. If vaccination had no bearing on subsequent illness, only 25% of dogs should become ill in each three-month period.  It is also worth noting that one study showed that vaccines cause dogs to develop autoantibodies against their own DNA.  Vaccines are therefore theoretically capable of causing inheritable disease.  Q: Is CHC saying that we should leave our dogs unprotected against horrible diseases like distemper and parvovirus? A: No. You should not leave your dogs unprotected. But you can minimise the risks. Firstly, if you choose to vaccinate, you could have puppy shots and possibly the first year’s booster, and leave it at that. There is no scientific justification for the overkill that is happening now.  Secondly, you could use the homoeopathic alternative. It’s called the ‘nosode’ and it’s been used by many breeders and show people for years. Take a look at CHC’s web site for details of homoeopathic vets near you, or send an sae to the British Association of Homoeopathic Veterinary Surgeons, Chinham House, Stanford in the Vale, Oxon SN7 8NQ, UK.  If you are outside the UK, you could ask your conventional vet for a referral.       Vaccine manufacturers are currently trying to tell us that dogs need annual boosters against leptospirosis, which is a bacterin rather than a virus. However, many eminent scientists say that this vaccine should be withdrawn as it is not very protective, and it is the vaccine most associated with adverse reactions.  If you are worried about leptospirosis in your area, then by all means consider the homoeopathic alternative.    The kennel cough virus mutates (like the flu) so you can’t guarantee permanent immunity with the vaccine. However, one study showed that the homoeopathic nosode is more protective against kennel cough than the vaccine - and it’s safer. Incidentally, if you are feeding a wholesome natural diet, your dog’s immune system will be far better able to withstand any viral or bacterial challenge.  Transfer Factor (colostrum) is also known to inhibit bacterial and viral effects, and natural foods like garlic and olive leaf extract are also anti viral/bacterial.  Colloidal silver is also worth checking out.  Again, study our web site for further details.  Q: My vet tells me that you are scaremongering and that I should continue to vaccinate every year. I don’t know what to do. A: Vets, however well-meaning, are educated in colleges that rely upon vaccine and pharmaceutical companies for funding, and few people are willing to bite the hand that feeds them. Vets’ education with regard to vaccines tends to stop beyond “do it”.  In short, your vet has been misled and poorly educated. Some of the information coming to light about vaccines has presented an ethical and economic challenge to vets – and so far, they aren’t responding ethically to the truth.  But your pet deserves to come first, over and above any such challenges. If your vet says annual vaccination is necessary, ask him if he has heard of the American research, and the advice that annual vaccination is unnecessary. If he has heard of this research, he cannot dismiss your questions. If he has not heard of it, then he lacks the knowledge to advise.  Don’t allow yourself to be bullied – become informed instead.   Q:  Is it true that Canine Health Concern enjoys vet-bashing? A:  Some people draw this conclusion, which we regret.  But the truth is that animals are suffering unnecessarily and the veterinary profession has been slow to grasp the truth about over-vaccination.  We are seeking to push necessary change through, for the sake of the dogs.  In reality, we value the veterinary profession highly, and advise you to find yourself a good vet who will work with you to nurture optimum health in your dog.  There are lots of good vets around, and their support is invaluable.  If your vet seeks to force you into over-vaccinating, then you are at liberty to find another vet. Q:  But boarding kennels demand annual vaccination certificates.  What can I do? A:  Some kennels will accept nosodes and titer tests, because they, too, are on the ball.  Show your local kennel owner our DVD – In Search of the Truth About Dogs, and Catherine O’Driscoll’s book, Shock to the System.  Become part of the team, and help educate fellow dog lovers.  Change won’t come from the system that makes money out of vaccines – it has to come from us.  You could also consider one of the many home and pet sitting services, many of which are detailed in our resource directory on the CHC web site. Back to top Diet Feeding your dog naturally – put simply, your dog can have his/her choice of: Raw Meaty Bones – chicken or turkey (wings, backs, necks or whole frames), lamb (necks and ribs), pork (ribs), oxtail, rabbit. Or the whole animal where appropriate. Raw Meat – chicken, tripe/offal, beef, lamb, rabbit, fish (raw or tinned). Vegetables – cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, spinach, kale, green beans, carrots. Other food items – fruit, eggs, natural yoghurt, garlic/herbs, honey, grains. Supplements – used where appropriate and/or to aid treatment of specific conditions. Feeding naturally is simple – the major part of the diet should be raw meaty bones, as well as meat and offal.  Add a small amount of vegetables, with occasional additions of other food and supplements where required. A typical day’s feeding might consist of chicken wings as a morning meal, and for the evening, tripe with a handful of lightly steamed or pulped raw (in a processor) broccoli, together with a dessert spoon of flax (linseed) oil and a teaspoon of natural yoghurt. You can vary which bone, meat, vegetable or additional item that suits your dog (and of course, yourself) from the foods available. Within a short time you will find a simple pattern that is second nature to you and one that your dog not only enjoys to the full, but will help him or her achieve optimum health. Q & A’s Q. How much do I give? A. You will find a natural balance – the amusing but simple answer is, if your dog is too thin then give more, if too fat, then give less!! Q. What is the right size of bone? A. Bones are there to be chewed. So, for example, a small chicken wing is great for a small dog, a larger chicken wing for a medium-sized dog, and perhaps oxtail or lamb neck for a large dog. Q. My vet says it is dangerous to feed bones. A. Cooked bones are brittle and can cause serious life-threatening problems. Raw bones in general do not pose that problem. Basic principles should be followed however – do not overfeed large amounts of bone as this can cause a blockage; do not feed bones such as very old beef bones that might be too hard; and do not feed bones that have been chopped/sliced that create splinters. As ever, in general the ‘whole food’ is the best principle, so a whole rabbit, fur and all, would be perfect. Life does not come with a guarantee on the label – your child can choke on a piece of apple, or pet food in a can or packet can lead to behavioural, skin and organ problems, or cause your dog to die years before his or her time. Common sense as always should prevail. Q. Does raw meat pose any problems to my dog’s or my own health? A. As ever, good hygiene standards should be adhered to. Otherwise, raw is the real deal. Dogs’ digestion is different to ours and they can eat raw perfectly safely. Q. Where can I buy my meat and bones from? A. The butcher is always an easy start. However, many pet shops now stock frozen raw food. If you have several dogs and a large freezer, you can also order direct from specialist  companies and have it delivered to your home. Our website resource directory contains details of many sources of raw food. Q. What if my dog doesn’t appear to like a particular food, or has a reaction to it? A. Every dog is an individual and should be treated as such. Most dogs will thrive on raw food, although occasionally one will not be able to tolerate it. Others might need to find the particular meat that suits. A little trial and error is all that might be needed to find what is right for your dog. Observing your dog and reacting on your observations is all that your dog asks of you. Q. Why steam or pulp vegetables? A. The cell walls of vegetables need to be broken down for the dog to be able to digest them. Q. What about ‘other’ food items? A. A few ripe fruits such as banana, apple and most other common fruit can be added occasionally to a meal (or given as a treat). There are a few exceptions such as grapes and raisins which can be toxic to dogs.  Fresh raw eggs are fine and do not pose a problem to dogs because they already have salmonella in their saliva.  But make sure they’re fresh.  Natural yoghurt acts like a natural antibiotic and the occasional teaspoon full can be beneficial as a general principle. Garlic is an anti-flea remedy, and many raw feeders never use anything else to keep fleas away, and it offers many other benefits. Although garlic is part of the onion family (which is toxic to dogs) there have never been any recorded cases of garlic poisoning at the Veterinary Toxins Unit. One crushed clove (not bulb) a few times a week is sufficient. Other herbs have many uses and are a subject on their own. Our website resource directory includes entries on herbs, as any other subject you might like to research further. Honey is a cleanser and healer, inside and out – a very useful addition when required. Grains – a small amount in the form of wholemeal bread or a little cooked rice or oats can be added, but grains should rarely form any major part of a dog’s diet, which is why many pet foods have been blamed for the rise in cancer and other ill-health in the modern dog. Q. Why give supplements? A. On the whole, if your dog is young and healthy, then supplements are probably not needed. An oil such as flax/linseed or fish oil is useful, as EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids) perform many vital functions in the body. There are many other natural supplements that can be used for specific problems. In our experience (and brought together on our website resource directory) there is usually some form of supplement that can help in treating many ailments and diseases, without the side-effects of conventional drugs. Many illnesses are simply diseases of malnutrition. Q. Are there any other foods that are toxic to dogs? A. The other common items to avoid other than grapes, raisins, and onions are macedonia nuts, chocolate, and of course various garden plants (again listed on our directory). Q. What about treats? A. Baked liver, small pieces of cheese, home-made biscuits (baked wholemeal bread or flour/water/cheese/garlic etc). Or there are various natural product treat suppliers listed on our web-directory. Q. Do you have any other information or advice? A. This is what CHC is all about. We have a comprehensive website and are happy to help point people in the right direction to find the information they need, whether they simply want to find a source of buying food, or to research a particular element of dog health. We provide a support function to enable dog owners to make informed choices about their loved ones.  Our quarterly newsletters and emailed monthly bulletins always contain information to help you keep your dogs healthy, and our internet discussion group is there to support you.  We also run Foundation in Canine Healthcare workshops to give you a good ‘how to’ grounding in keeping your dogs healthy, and we have published books to give you the information you need when making informed choices for your dogs.  Also, please see on our website for a recommended reading list.  There are lots of books out there to help you give your dogs many years of robust good health. Back to top