In the past, I didn't know anything about natural health for animals, although I did know a bit about herbs for myself and my pets. Typically, I just trusted the vet with their health care needs. After all, they are the ones with the fancy degree and the initials after their name, right?
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| Hadassah |
This incident was the beginning of my natural health journey for animals, causing me to begin questioning everything that we pet owners have been taught by our veterinarians, as well as the pet food industry. It was also what started me on a journey to find natural alternatives to pretty much everything in my life, for myself, my dogs and my home.
For many years, I was guilty of feeding myself the Standard American Diet (S.A.D. - and yes it is!), as well as feeding the same S.A.D. processed food diet to all the wonderful dogs and cats I've been blessed to share my home and life with over the years. I didn't know better, and they suffered right along with me because of my ignorance. After all, if it's sold at the store, it must be safe and healthy, right? Walk down the aisles of your favorite grocery store and see if this is the case... My rule these days when it comes to grocery items is if it has a list of ingredients, especially those that I can't identify or pronounce, I just leave it on the shelf and move along. Best to stick to raw, whole foods, organic when possible.
When it comes to feeding my dogs, if it has an ingredient list other than whole, raw meat, I leave it on the shelf. They are, after all, carnivores! I've never heard of a wolf going out of its way to find a bag of kibble, or scavenging in a corn field or veggie patch, have you? Our dogs are nearly identical, digestively speaking, to their cousin the grey wolf, as our beautiful felines are digestively much the same as their cousin the lion. Always look to nature to show us the way!
Before learning about species appropriate nutrition for my dogs, I used to be so proud when I'd buy those expensive 'premium' dog foods for them, thinking I was doing the very best for them that I could. Even when I was feeding them a high dollar pet food, I was rudely awakened when my dogs began exhibiting nasty ear discharge, skin and coat issues, dietary imbalances and an assortment of other health problems that the vet couldn't identify, rather just chalking it up to allergies, or labeling things as 'idiopathic,' meaning they really haven't any idea what caused it. The proof is in the pudding, as they say, and once my eyes were opened and I began feeding a raw, species appropriate diet to my dogs, amazingly, they no longer required dental cleanings, nor did they have skin and ear issues or dull coats, and those mystery digestive imbalances magically vanished. It wasn't actually magic though, just their bodies being nourished as nature intends, and in the process, saving my sweet dogs a lot of unnecessary misery.
After seeing what just changing their diet did for my dogs, I became interested in natural healing and nutrition for animals, wanting to help others learn what I have so that their pets won't have to suffer needlessly as mine once did. I began searching for somewhere to train to become a carnivore health and nutrition coach and found The American Council of Animal Naturopathy, where I trained in carnivore nutrition, as well as Small Animal Naturopathy. My training allows me to offer clients a truly holistic, whole animal approach to health.
You can view a listing of my credentials here.
Although I live in the high desert of New Mexico, my office is virtual so geography is not an obstacle, allowing me to work with you anywhere in the world. It is my goal to educate and empower you to share this journey with your animal companion so they can be their Happy and Healthy best!
In Health and Wellness,
Gloria Gray CSAN, CCNC
Board Certified Small Animal Naturopath, Board Certified Carnivore Nutrition Coach
