Alternatives

There is a time and a place for everything. This includes treating and preventing medical conditions in ourselves and our beloved furry family members.

Now more than ever, our pets are succumbing to chronic illness at an alarming rate and an increasing percentage of them are being diagnosed with cancer at younger ages than ever recorded before. It really makes you wonder ” what are we doing wrong?” and “how can we fix it?”… There are some breeds that are predisposed to certain illnesses (including cancer) which makes it even more prevalent to be proactive vs reactive.

There is a deep sea of articles on the internet regarding the alarming increase in chronic disease in our pets. Never before have we seen such a drastic increase in autoimmune disorders, skin conditions, seizures, and more… We have to ask ourselves “what can we change in our pets lives to reduce their risks of a shortened lifespan?”. Spoiler alert, you won’t find it in a vet clinic!

The American Veterinary Medical Association states that almost half of all dogs will develop some kind of cancer by age 10. ALMOST HALF. That’s a terrifying statistic.

The answer may seem impossible, but it’s easier than you’d think! The best ways to support your pets longevity is to offer a species appropriate diet, adequate exercise, limiting vaccinations, and reduce exposure to toxins in their environment. It’s also very beneficial to have a well educated support person to help you navigate the pet industry with informed decisions and not just “doing as you’re told” by your veterinarian (unless they’re holistic or integrative of course!).

Unfortunately, many pets are being over prescribed a litany of antibiotics, steroids and immune suppressing drugs to battle simple solution problems which is destroying their gut health and ultimately increasing their risks for many diseases including cancer. Plant medicine was utilized many millennia before “big pharma” and many of the drugs used are derived from plant constituents! All it takes is a little extra know-how and guidance to stray from the beaten path of chemicals and toxins to find a wonderful world full of natural and effective alternatives.

Here at Jennuine Pet Services, we will never tell you NOT to go to or not to listen to your vet in the case of an emergency. We will encourage you to get regular diagnostics (blood/urinalysis) done and be proactive vs reactive. We understand that sometimes, the comfort and safety of the dog comes first.

Battling allergies rarely requires the harsh single prong approach of masking the symptoms with immunosuppressants while feeding subpar quality nutrition (usually hypoallergenic kibble). It is a well known fact that immunosuppressants each come with a long list of side effects not limited to: decreased appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, sepsis, fever, muscle atrophy, hypertension (high blood pressure), negative changes to skin and coat health, organ damage, gingival hyperplasia and an increased risk for several types of cancer. You can read about the some of these drugs and their associated side effects here.

When you heal the body from the inside out, you are not masking symptoms. Focusing on high quality nutrition, adequate mental and physical stimulation, as well as limiting exposure to toxins is the key to longevity from a holistic standpoint.