By Marlene Siegel, DVM
As a veterinarian, for been privileged to witness and support the profound bonds between pets and their parents firsthand. Throughout my career, I have rarely met a pet parent that does not want to offer their fur baby the best life possible. But what does “best life possible” look like? What I have gathered from 40 years of practicing veterinary medicine and doing my best to restore health, is people want their pets to live longer, live free of pain and suffering and maintain their vibrancy and joy. The modern definition sums this up as quality of life.
Sadly, our medical model for humans and pets is a broke care model. We have been conditioned in our modern world to follow the mantra “if it is not broken, don’t fix it.”
Current statistics are undeniable:
It is estimated that 1 in 4 dogs will develop cancer at some point in their lifetime.
1 in 3 cats are diagnosed with cancer (I believe this is highly under reported)
And when we include arthritis, skin disease, gastrointestinal disorders, obesity and autoimmune issues, nearly 100% of our pets are suffering with 1 or more conditions.
Furthermore, statistically pets are living 7 years shorter than they did 20 years ago. Clearly our system is broken, and we need a paradigm shift, a new way of approaching a health focused lifestyle.
The emotional journey of pet ownership is marked with love, devotion, and at times heartache. It is devastating to witness pets suffering from illnesses that could have been prevented, leaving pet guardians with feelings of heartache, sadness, regret, and sometimes guilt.
Though we all are destined to leave this planet, our goal is to live life to its fullest while here and help our beloved pets do the same. To accomplish this, we need to care for the single most important item, our bodies and the bodies of our pets (and in my opinion Mother Earth too). Consider the body as the vehicle that transports us through life. Unlike a car that we use for travel, when the car is beyond repair, we buy a new one. We have one “body suit” while here in earth school, and it is our duty to learn what it takes to support the body physically, emotionally and spiritually. Because our pets cannot choose their lifestyle and diet, they rely on us, their pet guardians, to provide the right diet and support their body’s need through healthy lifestyle choices.
Healthy lifestyle choices include:
Learning how to reduce if not eliminate the things that are creating dis-ease in
our beloved pets
Providing a species-appropriate, nutrient-rich diet
Knowing how to identify deficiencies and toxicities along with mitochondrial
dysfunction
How to support your pet to detoxify the 6 organs of elimination
How to support mitochondrial biogenesis (make more healthy mitochondria)
In our world of information overload, people may learn a lot of wonderful tips and tricks, but sometimes people learn SOOOO much, they see how much they need to change in their life, and they become overwhelmed. These people don’t know where to start which leads to Analysis Paralysis, the end result is they do nothing at all!!!!
Solution: Becoming Empowered Pet Parents
Parents must learn and understand their pet’s biology and how to support their pet’s health. This includes understanding diagnostics (including the why behind testing, the best tools for detoxification, healing the gut and improving the microbiome.) I developed this online/on-demand program to be a comprehensive guide for pet parents. The course provides information needed to understand their pet’s biology and how to support HEALTH.
I also offer live consultations to help pet guardians implement the strategies, understand the diagnostics (including the “why” behind the testing), the best tools for proper detoxification, healing the gut, improving the microbiome and much more….
While it’s understandable that the upfront costs of preventive health care may seem
daunting to some (like the diagnostics to identify underlying health challenges,
feeding a proper species appropriate diet and essential nutrient supplementation),
it’s crucial to consider the long-term benefits and savings it will provide. It is also
important to calculate the savings reaped from less veterinary bills! Avoiding one
health challenge that requires veterinary intervention (doctor doctor exam, a minimum
workup and treatment) could average from $200-$600 for less chronic conditions
and much more if surgery and long-term care is warranted. And this cost does not
include the physical time to take the pet to the doctor, the time it takes to treat the pet
and the emotional anguish owners feel when their beloved pet is suffering!
Let’s face it, we all spend money on things that really don’t have value or contribute
to our health. One area that I am particularly passionate about is dining out at
restaurants. Though there is an emotional and social reward for dining out, it is
considerably more expensive than eating at home, and unless the food is organic,
cooked in healthy oils (no canola or soybean) and gluten free, it IS going to cause
inflammation in the body!
Suggestions on ways to offset the up-front cost of health care for your fur family:
Reduce your eating out by one meal/person/week. Set that savings into a jar or
savings account.
Reduce non-essential shopping (one less outfit, shoes, jewelry) by $10 -
$20/week. Set that savings into a jar or savings account.
Reduce outside entertainment costs by $10-$20/week. Set that savings into a
jar or savings account.
Ask friends and family to donate the cash they would have spent on gifts for
birthdays, anniversary, or holiday to go towards equipment that the whole
family can use for detoxification (infrared therapy, ozone therapy or hyperbaric
oxygen home system).
Invest in your education! Learning and knowing what to expect, how to care
for and what to do is the first step in being the best advocate for your pets.
In conclusion, as a veterinarian and pet owner myself, I advocate for a proactive
approach to pet health that prioritizes prevention over intervention. Do not settle for
symptom suppression, learn to identify and implement the strategies that create
longevity and a thriving life for your beloved fur kids.
Marlene Siegel, DVM
BRMI Veterinary Advisor
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