Nuts! Vitamin E for Dogs

I was very happy to learn something new recently, especially because it was easy. 

I've never thought about the benefits of feeding nuts to dogs because, of course, they are not naturally nut eaters. But if you think about it, their bodies ARE designed to eat animals who eat nuts, thus getting some of the nutritional benefits via the meat.

Well my dog doesn't eat wild meat. She eats farmed meat, where even the grass-fed beef and pastured poultry aren't quite eating their wild diet. Even the venison comes from deer that aren't wild, and she's certainly not getting squirrel, the master nut eaters.

The result is that she's not getting a lot of Vitamin E through her diet (unless she eats food that has it added via supplement). 

Itchy Autumn: a skin rinse

We're having and Endless Summer Autumn here in San Diego. It seems like every dog is itchyitchyitchy, including Vida. Dogs with inhalant & contact allergies are particularly susceptible, but many dogs are struggling to adjust through this first half of Autumn. 

Is your dog losing its balance when the season shifts?

Vida getting some red/infrared light therapy on her back.

If your dog's been a little "off" the last week or two it might be due to the shifting season. I've noticed that some dogs have their health get inexplicably wobbly during the transitions between seasons. They may be less resilient or flexible than normal, not adapting to the change easily. 

Working With Your Dog's Herbalist

We all have exposure to modern medicine where we don’t expect follow-up, nor the ability to ask questions or report problems. Working with your dog’s herbalist is just the opposite!

“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” Says who?

“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” 

That has got to be one of the most obsolete cliches out there about dogs.

Yes, you can. And you should.

Observing, Shifting... holistic dog care over time

Managing a long-term condition like Vida's cancer is a lesson in observation over time. Watching for and acknowledging the importance of the subtle changes is the foundation of good care.


Dogs don't come to us and tell us about these little changes. We have to look for clues in their behavior, body topography, movement, eating & drinking habits, elimination, fur,etc.