Four Critical Concerns for Dog Owners

My children and I have enjoyed the company of a variety of pets, including dogs, cats, a rabbit, guinea pigs, hamsters, fish and birds. On my own, I loved to go camping and hiking, and wanted a companion to share my life. Buddy, my shepherd/collie cross, came into my life in the summer of 2001. He was always a most loyal and protective companion. Nine years later, during a brief illness, tests and blood work showed that he had liver cancer. The loss of my dog triggered such profound emotions that I do not remember having ever felt before. This has caused some feelings of guilt. I was excruciatingly heartbroken over the loss of my best friend in the whole world; in this was the crux of the matter. Buddy WAS my best friend. This relationship was an even deeper bond than many human relationships. I questioned WHY this had to happen to my dog. After much research I was shocked to realize that my ignorance in many areas of pet care - from the food I fed him to the vaccinations he was forced to undergo - inflicted untold pain and suffering on my dog. So now I have adopted another puppy, and his life will be much, much better.

Most of us love our dogs as a member of the family, but we must be up for the challenge. If you bring a new puppy or dog into your life, you must understand that this is a lifetime commitment of ten to fifteen years and more. As a responsible pet owner, you are obligated to provide good nutrition, exercise, training, adequate housing, grooming, and vet care. Also you dog should be spayed or neutered. Be aware that costs for food, vet care, supplies and toys, boarding, classes and the like can add up over time. So if you have a dog or are planning to get one, I want to educate you in several areas of concern.

A veterinarian invests huge amounts of time and money to become a general practitioner, and even more to specialize in specific areas of pet care. So the veterinarian clinic or hospital is essentially a small business geared to producing a profit. Increasingly the past few years, vets are happily obliging and even encouraging owners who want to keep their pets alive at all costs. That means paying for the latest high-tech procedures, and these clinics are offering state-of-the-art veterinary services at large, comprehensive facilities. It can cost considerably to treat your pet, than for similar treatments for us, because the human medical system is vastly supported by governments. In Canada, at least, medical treatments are provided to us without the necessity of profit.

So, how do these veterinarians pay for their costs? Many pet owners feel that vet costs are outrageous, and many vets tend to push vaccinations and other tests. Vets are first and foremost compassionate and have a genuine concern for your pet, but follow their own agenda to be able to pay for their expenses. Therefore things such as vaccinations and veterinary medicines like monthly heartworm or flea/tick preventative have a high profit margin. Of course, vets feel that the quality of their product is superior to mail-order or OTC counterparts. But where do you think the vets get their supplies?

The following will come as a shock to most pet owners, as it did to me. I believe that the pet food industry is partly responsible for the death of my dog, Buddy. Most pet food and pet treats purchased at your local pet store contains questionable ingredients. Just read the list of ingredients on the back of the bag. ‘Meat meal’ of which the meat is not specified may be roadkill, euthanized cats and dogs (the chemicals used survive the cooking process), diseased livestock or sweepings from the slaughter house floor. ‘By-product meal’ contains anything from the specified animal that is not meat such as feet, feathers, blood, intestines, and such this of little or no nutritional value. Some food also contains stool hardeners such as powdered cellulose, beet pulp, tomato (or any other) pomace or ground peanut shells with the selling point that your dog’s poop is easier to clean up. Furthermore, high processing temperatures destroys the enzymes required for digestion. This forces the pancreas to supply those necessary to break down nutrients for absorption; this becomes more difficult as the pet ages. Vet recommended pet food to treat your animals medical condition also yields a high profit margin probably making it the worst pet food value.

After much research on the subject of diet, now I provide real food for my new pup, mostly in its raw form. His diet is mainly meat (chicken, fish, ground beef), which is sorely lacking in commercial processed dog food. This provides the living enzymes to make digestion easier, and his poop is well formed and soft. If you are not comfortable with raw meat and fish, cooking it is the best alternative. I also use organic or all natural pet food as back-up when I travel with him. Sure, this costs me more, but I have the peace of mind in knowing that I am providing a better nutrition for my dog. And heck, I will probably save on medical care.

Because these vaccinations yield a high-profit margin for the vet practice, annual vaccinations are encouraged to get the dog in for an annual medical check-up. Annual vaccinations are not necessary as recent research shows that immunity from many of them can last up to 3 years or even the lifetime of the animal. Combo vaccinations are also hard on the immune system, and many have been demonstrated to be extremely harmful to the animal in causing cancer, epilepsy and allergic reactions. Holistic veterinarians generally recommend titer tests to check immunity as a good alternative.

In our extreme love for our pets, many people tend to humanize them. In order to prevent or correct behavioural issues, you need to be able understand how your dog thinks from a canine point of view. Thus you may communicate effectively and train him using positive methods, since your dog really does want to please you. One of the greatest difficulties in owning a dog is the time and patience required for training, and many owners do not spend the time required in this area. An untrained dog is out of control and a nuisance to have around, not to mention complaints from neighbours, destructiveness and potential aggression issues. Other than his name, the most important word your dog should learn is ‘no’. Your dog loves and trusts you, so do not break his spirit with harsh or cruel treatment, but seek assistance and take your pup to classes.

I hope that the above has helped you to go forward in your bond with your dog. My new pup, Zorro, is ever much as boisterous and loving as Buddy was. As our bond grows stronger, I am confident that he will have a good and long life.

 Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It presents my written opinion based on personal research. Please be aware that the advice in this article should in no way replace that of a licensed veterinarian.