Tag: Dr. karen Becker

Shared Blog Post – Human Foods Dogs Can & Can’t Eat by Dr. Karen Becker

< Updated 22SEP22 >

Knowing what “human foods” you can safely feed your dog can be confusing. Unfortunately, the internet and even pet care professionals, who should know better, often give contradictory and confusing advice. Sadly, that advice is often only supported by myths and not research studies based on science. Even sadder is that we deprive our dogs of some healthy, natural sources of vital micronutrients.

On September 21st, 2022, veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker posted an infographic on Facebook, adding clarity to this topic. Thank you, Dr. Becker!

You can view, print, or download a PDF of Dr. Becker’s infographic and her comments at this link –Human Foods Dogs Can & Cant Eat-Dr Karen Becker

Dr. Karen Becker on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/doctor.karen.becker

Shared Blog Post – No Pain, No Force, No Fear: An Interview with Niki Tudge by Dr. Karen Becker

< Updated 23FEB20 >

< A short link for this page – http://bit.ly/BeckerTudgeFEB20 >

Dr. Karen Becker interviews Niki Tudge the founder of the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) and discusses why and how Tudge decided to launch what is today an 8000+ member organization of pet care professionals committed to the training, husbandry, and management of pets that is Pain-Free, Force-Free, and Fear-Free as outlined in the PPG Guiding Principles. The Pet Professional Guild is an organization grounded in science, facts, and ethics committed to education. I encourage any pet care professionals to join and support the PPG and suggest that anyone with pets looking for a pet care professional start their search at the PPG’s Find A Professional page.

Tudge describes the Guiding Principles as “…how do we behave towards animals, how do we behave towards our industry, and then how do we behave towards our customers? She elaborates on the PPG’s philosophy of no pain, no force, and no fear and how PPG has defined force as “…any approach that causes physical or emotional fear with the intent of damaging” while also emphasizing that it is essential to give the dog a choice to interact in the training process, and if the dog is not enjoying the process we need to modify our approach.

Becker and Tudge discuss various PPG programs, including the PPG’s junior membership, which has three levels for children; 8 to 12, 13-17, and then an apprentice level for young adults 18 to 20 years of age.  If you have a child that is interested in dogs, I strongly encourage you to enroll them in this program, especially if they are interested in a career working with companion animals.

The interview also introduces PPG’s brand new Pet Rescue Resources Program, which is a free program targeted to shelters and resources, which will include guidelines, videos, handouts for protocols that they need to have in place to provide the best possible care for the homeless pets in their charge.

One of the best comments from the interview, “Dr. Becker: You allow your dogs to be dogs, I think is the best way to say that.”

You can view the video of this interview at https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/02/23/no-fear-training-for-dogs.aspx

Recommended Resources

Dr. Karen Becker Interview with Niki Tudge – https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/02/23/no-fear-training-for-dogs.aspx

Transcript of Dr. Karen Becker Interview with Niki Tudge – https://mercola.fileburst.com/PDF/HealthyPets/Interview-NikiTudge-ThePetProfessionalGuild.pdf

The Pet Professional Guild – https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/

The Pet Professional Guild Guiding Principles – https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/PPGs-Guiding-Principles

The Pet Professional Guild Find A Professional Page – https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/Zip-Code-Search

PPG Junior Membership – https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/Junior-Members

Shared News Story – An Exposé on Prescription Diets from WJLA ABC7 News

How lab tests show prescription pet food ingredients are no better or cleaner than off-shelf brands

< A short link to this blog post >

< Updated 13MAY21 >

In this news story dated 22MAY19, and broadcast by WJLA ABC News 7 in Washington, senior investigative reporter Lisa Fletcher examines prescription pet food sold through veterinary offices. This is what Fletcher said about this story in a Tweet: “You pay a lot for prescription pet food. Wonder what’s in it? Bet you didn’t know you might be buying arsenic, lead, pesticides and BPA for your sick pet. We tested 125 top products. Results tonight, only on @ABC7News.”

Notable quotes and information in this report are listed below.

  • “There is no medicine in prescription pet foods. There’s nothing ‘prescription’ in the food at all,” said Dr. Karen Becker. “There are no drugs, there’s no medicine, there’s no herb,” said Becker. “So, “by prescription” means you have to buy it from your veterinarian. But the list of ingredients on the back of the food is usually not much different than regular pet food.“
  • In fact, “Prescription Diet” is a marketing term, trademarked by Hill’s, the maker of Science Diet. That trademark is the reason other “prescription” pet food manufacturers alternatively label their prescription products “therapeutic” or “veterinary” diets.
  • WJLA had Ellipse Analytics, a specialized lab in Denver, tested 125-prescription pet foods from four leading brands: Hill’s Science Diet, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet, Blue Buffalo Veterinary Diet, and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diet. They tested for 130-contaminants including heavy metals like mercury and arsenic, antibiotics, pesticides, and mycotoxins, produced by certain molds, that can cause illness and even death. The results were compared to similar tests on more than 14-hundred traditional pet foods. Overall, prescription pet foods performed no better than their off-the-shelf counterparts.
  • And in some cases, prescription brands performed worse.
    • Our tests showed 40% of prescription pet foods contained pesticides, one of the highest incidence rates of any category the lab has tested.
    • The lab also found glyphosate, the controversial weed killer that is the active ingredient in Roundup, in some of the products.
  • For more than two years, Ellipse Analytics has compiled a comprehensive data set containing more than 2,000 pet food products. The lab believes it is the largest and most detailed data set of its type, giving their scientists a unique vantage point.
    • “Pet food products tend to be significantly more contaminated when it comes to heavy metals when it comes to pesticides and things like that than what you’d find in a human food product, which is a concern because humans have a varied diet,” said Callan. “Whereas, when you’re talking about pet food, you’re feeding the animal the same thing every day, multiple days in a row and in the case of prescription pet food, you’re feeding a sick animal the same thing every day, multiple days in a row. So, what would be, with us, something that could be spread out over the course of the diet, ends up being a concentrated event.”
  • Several lawsuits have alleged in class actions that Mars, Purina, Hills, and others deceptively sold prescription pet food in violation of state and federal laws. One such claim, in California, was dismissed by the trial court and is now on appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A decision is expected by the end of the year. Two cases are pending in Kansas and Missouri.
  • “These types of test results that you have discovered are not only not shocking to me it’s very frustrating because it causes pet parents to lose faith not only in the veterinarian but in pet food companies across the board.” – Veterinarian, Dr. Karen Becker

To see the story <click here> < https://local12.com/news/around-the-web/whats-really-in-prescription-pet-food >

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog

( http://www.words-woofs-meows.com )

Pet Nutrition – What Should I Feed My Pet? – http://bit.ly/What-Should-I-Feed-My-Pet

What do you feed your dog? – http://bit.ly/WhatDoYouFeedYourDog

Pet Nutrition: Some Myths and Facts – My story with Gus – http://bit.ly/Gus-Nutrition

Pet Nutrition – Should I Feed My Pet A Raw Diet? – http://bit.ly/ShouldIFeedMyPetARawDiet

Nutrition – Why Rotating Diets Makes Sense – http://bit.ly/DietRotation

Video – The Science and Dogma of Pet Nutrition with Dr. Richard Patton – A video of animal nutritionist, Dr. Richard Patton’s presentation, The Science and Dogma of Pet Nutrition, presented for Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor, ME on April 28th, 2016.  – http://bit.ly/Video-Dr-Richard-Patton

Book Review – Ruined by Excess, Perfected by Lack – The paradox of pet nutrition by Richard Patton – http://bit.ly/RuinedByExcess-BookReview

Book Review – Natural Nutrition for Cats: The Path to Purrfect Health by Kymythy Schultze – http://bit.ly/NatNutritionCats-BookReview

Podcasts from The Woof Meow Show

( http://www.woofmeowshow.com )

What do you feed your pets? – http://bit.ly/WhatDoYouFeedYourPets-Podcast

Podcast – Pet Nutrition with Dr. Richard Patton – http://bit.ly/DrPatton-Podcast

Podcast – Pet Fooled – A Look Inside A Questionable Industry with Kohl Harrington – http://bit.ly/WfMw-Pet-Fooled

Podcast – Pet Nutrition with Kymythy Schultze Author of Natural Nutrition for Cats: The Path to Purrfect Health – http://bit.ly/KymythySchultzeCatNutrition-Podcast

Other Resources

Prescription pet food — Food as medicine or feed-grade scam? – Healthy Pets with Dr. Karen Becker – https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2019/06/10/pet-food-prescription.aspx?

Shared Blog Post – Dogs That Should Avoid Going to a Dog Park from Dr. Karen Becker

In this post from May 10th, 2019, veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker discusses dog parks and why they are not appropriate for all dog dogs. < Click to read Dr. Becker’s post >

For additional information on dog parks, you may wish to read these articles on my blog.

Before You Visit the Dog Park – http://bit.ly/BeforeYouVisitTheDogPark

Going to the Dog Park – Is It A Good Idea for You and Your Dog? –  http://bit.ly/GoingToTheDogPark

Podcast – Podcast – Going to the Dog Park – Is It A Good Idea for You and Your Dog? – http://bit.ly/WfMwGoingToTheDogPark

Shared Blog Post – Acupuncture – Stuns Veterinarians, Relieves Pain Without Side Effects

In this blog post from September 13th, veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker discusses the many benefits of acupuncture for treating our pets. Acupuncture is not some new-age trend but is an ancient Chinese healing art with thousands of years of history behind it. It can be useful for treating pain, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), seizure, cancer, hip dysplasia, and arthritis. I have personally benefited from acupuncture as have two of my pets; Gus and Muppy.

FMI – https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2018/09/13/acupuncture-for-pets.aspx?

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog

( http://www.words-woofs-meows.com )

A Chiropractic Adjustment and Acupuncture Treatment for Muppy – WWM DEC2016 – http://bit.ly/ChiroAcupuncMuppy

Holistic and Complementary Wellness for Pets – My Journey – WWM – OCT2016 – http://bit.ly/CompMed4PetsMyJourney

Podcasts from The Woof Meow Show

( http://www.woofmeowshow.com )

Podcast-Holistic and Complementary Wellness for Pets – Veterinary Acupuncture and Chiropractic for Pets with Dr. Michael Munzer – All Creatures Acupuncture – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2016/10/09/podcast-holistic-and-complementary-wellness-for-pets-veterinary-acupuncture-and-chiropractic-for-pets-with-dr-michael-munzer-all-creatures-acupuncture/ 

Podcast – Holistic Approaches to Chronic Disease – Orthopedic Issues, Skin Issues and Lyme Disease with Dr. Michael Munzer from All Creatures Acupuncture – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/03/18/podcast-holistic-approaches-to-chronic-disease-orthopedic-issues-skin-issues-and-lyme-disease-with-dr-michael-munzer-from-all-creatures-acupuncture/

 Podcast – Holistic Approaches to Chronic Disease – GI Issues and Cancer with Dr. Michael Munzer from All Creatures Acupuncture –  http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/03/25/podcast-holistic-approaches-to-chronic-disease-gi-issues-and-cancer-with-dr-michael-munzer-from-all-creatures-acupuncture/

Podcast – Holistic and Complementary Wellness for Pets – Our Personal Journey – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2016/10/08/podcast-holistic-and-complementary-wellness-for-pets-our-personal-journey/

Podcast – Pet Health and Wellness – Don and Kate’s Journey with Complementary Medicine – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2015/08/29/podcast-pet-health-and-wellness-don-and-kates-journey-with-complementary-medicine/

 

Shared Blog Post – 10,000 People Guess Top 3 Breeds of 31 Mutts – The Results Were Comical

If you have a marvelous mutt or mixed breed you need to read this – Veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker discusses a recent experiment which assessed a person’s ability to identify which breeds make up a mixed-breed dog based on the dog’s appearance. The guesses made by the 10,000 study participants were then compared to DNA tests for the dogs. The guesses were accurate only 25% of the time.

It is rare that there will be witnesses to the breeding which results in mixed breed puppies. Therefore, when these puppies or adult dogs end up in a shelter or rescue, they will be labeled with a breed or mix of breeds based on their appearance. Based on this recent study, as well as other studies, it is very likely that the label will be entirely wrong. For this reason, many shelters are no longer guessing a mutts lineage and are just labeling them according to size and color. To me that makes sense, as people often have expectations about a dog’s temperament and behavior based on that breed label, and since it is wrong, may end up disappointed.

FMI – https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2018/08/27/mutt-breeds.aspx

Shared Blog Post – Be Aware – This Pet Food Contains a Stunning List of 40 ‘Clean’ Ingredients – More Marketing Deception

 

In this post from 18AUG18, Veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker discusses the latest marketing practice by some pet food companies; the hyping of “Clean” ingredients. While that may sound like a good thing, because of the lack of a legal definition of the term “Clean ingredients” puts this in the category of just more misleading marketing hype.

Key points highlighted by Dr. Becker are:

  • The processed pet food industry is increasingly at a loss to understand how to keep pet parents happy and buying their products.
  • The industry touts the self-funded “science” behind their pet food, but laments that consumers don’t trust it.
  • The pet food industry also engages in misleading marketing practices intended to present their products as fresh, wholesome, “natural” and “clean.”
  • Unless big pet food aligns its goals with those of pet parents, it will continue to lose ground as consumers find alternatives to processed diets.

I find that the following two paragraphs from Dr. Becker’s post summarize her concerns quite well:

“No, the science the pet food industry would like us to buy into is the science of learning how to keep dogs and cats alive (surviving, but not thriving) on biologically inappropriate, “feed-grade” diets that must include synthetic vitamins to meet minimum nutrition standards.”

“The science they tout involves testing the limits of dogs’ and cats’ tolerance for poor-quality, biologically inappropriate ingredients that have undergone extreme processing methods. The endgame is to keep carnivores alive on a processed diet of grains, starches and the poorest-quality animal protein they can get away with. It’s the science of dollars and cents. The cheaper the ingredients, the bigger the profit margin.” [ Emphasis Added ]

If you care about your pet’s health and what you feed them, you need to read Dr. Becker’s post. – https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2018/08/18/processed-pet-food-clean-eating.aspx

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog ( http://www.words-woofs-meows.com )

Shared Blog Post – Many Pet Parents Now Demand This, Saving Their Pets From Potential Agony

The Difference Between Being An Anti-Vaxxer and a Responsible-Vaxxer

In this blog post from February 11th, veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker discusses pet vaccination protocols and the difference between an anti-vaxxer and those recognizing the importance of taking a responsible approach to vaccinating pets, which concerns the over-vaccinating of pets. Dr. Becker notes that “Vaccines should never be viewed as “harmless preventive medicine,” as they can trigger vaccinosis and very significant disease in pets” and discusses how using titer tests can help prevent over-vaccination.

If you are interested in vaccinating your pet as safely as possible, I encourage you to read this article < click here > and those listed below.

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog ( http://www.words-woofs-meows.com )

Shared Blog Post – AAHA Vaccination Guidelines 2017 for Dogs – A Review by Dr. Jean Dodds – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/11/06/shared-blog-post-aaha-vaccination-guidelines-2017-for-dogs-a-review-by-dr-jean-dodds/

Shared Blog Post – Updated Canine Vaccination Guidelines by Nancy Kay, DVM – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/11/06/shared-blog-post-updated-canine-vaccination-guidelines-by-nancy-kay-dvm/

Vaccinations–Interviews with Dr. Ron Schultz – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2013/07/15/vaccinations-interviews-with-dr-ron-schultz/

How to Report Adverse Reactions to Vaccines, Drugs, Devices, Foods, and Flea and Tick Products – http://bit.ly/ReportAdverseReactions

Complementary Medicine – Tikken – Vaccines, Aggression & Homeopathy— http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2014/10/06/complementary-medicine-tikken-vaccines-aggression-homeopathy/

Shared Blog Post – It’s Time to Put a Stop to the Mindless Over-Vaccination of Pets – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/07/05/shared-blog-post-its-time-to-put-a-stop-to-the-mindless-over-vaccination-of-pets/

 

Podcasts from The Woof Meow Show
( http://www.woofmeowshow.com )

Podcast – A Holistic Approach to Vaccines for Dogs – Part 1 w/Dr. Judy Herman – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/07/15/podcast-a-holistic-approach-to-vaccines-for-dogs-part-1-wdr-judy-herman/

Podcast – A Holistic Approach to Vaccines for Dogs – Part 2 w/Dr. Judy Herman – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/07/22/podcast-a-holistic-approach-to-vaccines-for-dogs-part-2-wdr-judy-herman/

Vaccinations- Why they are important, Core Vaccines & Vaccination Schedules w/Dr. Ronald Schultz (June 22nd, 2013) – http://traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/WoofMeowShow-2013-06-22-Vaccinations-1.mp3

Vaccinations, Titer Testing, Non-Core Vaccines and Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex with Dr. Ron Schultz (June 29th, 2013) – http://traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/WoofMeowShow-2013-06-29-Vaccinations-2.mp3

 Vaccinations– Non-Core Vaccines for Cats and Adverse Reactions to Vaccines with Dr. Ron Schultz (July 6th, 2013) – http://traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/WoofMeowShow-2013-07-06-Vaccinations-3.mp3

Vaccinations – The Rabies Challenge Fund with Dr. Ron Schultz (July 13th, 2013) – http://traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/WoofMeowShow-2013-07-13-Vaccinations-Rabies_Challenge_Fund.mp3

Podcast – Holistic and Complementary Wellness for Pets – Our Personal Journey — http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2016/10/08/podcast-holistic-and-complementary-wellness-for-pets-our-personal-journey/

 

Shared Blog Post – How to Help Ease the Emotional Burden of Caring for a Dying Pet

How to Help Ease the Emotional Burden of Caring for a Dying Pet – Caring for a terminally ill pet is not easy. In her blog post from February 3rd, 2018, veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker offers suggestions on how to make this emotional process easier.

To read the full post – https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2018/02/03/how-to-be-emotionally-healthy-when-pet-is-ill.aspx