Getting older is inevitable for everyone, including our beloved pets. When does a pet become “old”? That depends on whether you are a cat or a dog, and what size of dog makes a difference as well. In general, cats and small dogs are generally considered geriatric at the age of 7, whereas larger breed dogs are considered…
In my two earlier blogs I explained what medical mushrooms are, and how they differ from poisonous mushrooms, or psychedelic mushrooms, and how many medical mushrooms are also highly prized edible mushrooms. Briefly, mushrooms are a fungus, which is related to yeast, mold, and mildew. They live off of dead or dying materials by secreting digestive enzymes that break…
Palliative care and hospice care are not the same thing, though they are often used interchangeably. Palliation is defined as “relieving or soothing the symptoms of a disease or disorder at any stage of an illness”. More and more people are choosing palliative care and so in this blog article we will explore the concept of palliative care and…
A Guide to the Important Medical Mushrooms for Pets Although all medical mushrooms have in common their beta glucans, each mushroom has a slightly different expression of its medically active components. So we know that there are some mushrooms, like the Turkey Tail for instance, that based on hundreds of years of practical use we have come to learn…
What are Medical Mushrooms? Mushrooms can be poisonous, or they can be magically psychedelic, or they can be really tasty additions to a meal. But for me, the best use of mushrooms are as medicines to help my patients become vibrant and well, and to stay that way. So its worth it for you to read more about mushrooms…
The story behind the discovery of the anti-cancer effects of the herbal extract artemisinin is fascinating. The history of artemisinin began hundreds of years ago during the Han Dynasty in China (200 BC-200 AD). In the tomb of a nobleman of the Han dynasty archeologists found a silk scroll labeled: “Medical Treatments for 52 Diseases” (this is translated from the…
The fish oil fatty acids, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), have so much research showing their value for both people and their pets, so much, that its important for you to know more about how these oils can help both your pet’s health and your own. These long-chain polyunsaturated omega three fatty acids are found in standard…
We discussed the use of fish oil in the last column, and how important it is to give an adequate dosage in order for your pet to actually improve on fish oil. Now I want to discuss several other nutraceuticals that you may be interested in knowing about for your pet’s sake. The basic, most important nutraceuticals to consider…
Nutraceuticals are considered to not be nutrients, nor are they considered to be pharmaceuticals. They actually are considered to be an entirely new, previously undescribed category of health supplement.
“Western” herbs are those plants that commonly grow in North America and Europe. They have been in use for hundreds of years to help with a number of common complaints. In the paragraphs that follow I will introduce to you a few of the more important Western herbs, and what they are used for in pets. Psyllium seed and…
