Hello Readers, and Welcome to another Instalment of (I really must find a catchier title) How Very Important it is to Use Basic Nutrition to Formulate Recipes. 😊 I hope many have seen the pdf addition from very recently, if not you can read it here: https://thepossiblecanine.com/download/the-importance-of-nutrients-in-a-home-made-recipe/ The blog entry today is meant to complement that pdf and […]
Bilberry is an under-utilized herb in Western herbalism for dogs, and one I rely on regularly for many reasons, as you will see. I recently did a little Facebook info-series and promised a fuller monograph soon, so here we are. I welcome questions as always. Name: Bilberry, Whortleberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)Family : EricaceaeParts Used: Fruit, leafActions: vasoprotective, antioxidant, […]
As an herbalist I am confronted, on a daily basis, with dogs (and cats, and humans) who present with multiple health issues including cancer, often that have been treated medically but are either not responding, or responding but with heavy fallout, as in side effects. Dog owners, who make up the bulk of my clientele, […]
As spring approaches, many dog lovers are bracing for weather that can turn their dog into an itchy, relentlessly scratching misery, and seeking online support just in case anyone has found a perfect solution – a new supplement that stops itching without the side effects of a steroid, or a diet change that makes all […]
Happy 2026 to my Readers, and I hope you all enjoyed a happy and healthy holiday season. Mine was very quiet – just how I like it – with a much-needed break, and more time to spend with my bird, dog and cats. Now that 2026 is in full swing, decorations down and goals for […]
Taking stock of how far the world of canine nutrition has come in the 28 years since I bought my first copy of Richard Pitcairn’s seminal Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, I am always blown away by how far we have come, in terms of consumer knowledge, science, and attitudes towards dogs in general […]
Ashwagandha has recently emerged as a “Top Ten” Herb of Commerce, in the canine world anyway – one of the herbs that everyone is giving or at the least, talking about. And while I deeply applaud herbal knowledge shared widely, it needs to be used wisely as well. As I have said many times with […]
A Popular Addition to the Canine Diet Today I want to address a popular addition to the canine diet, one I see popping up all over – almost as commonly as turmeric – today we look at cinnamon. Again I’ll say, that an herbalist rarely recommends ANY herb across the board for all people, dogs […]
Hello and welcome to this special corner of my website. My approach to health and wellness is, for humans as for dogs and cats, an integrated path of herbal formulations-herbs, with dietary adjustments as indicted. While most people think of me as a canine or animal herbalist, and that is of course true, all my […]
Introduction One of the topics I am asked about on a regular basis, is which herbs are useful for “tummy troubles”. A little vague, and much of the time people mean intestinal (diarrhea, gas, constipation) but reflux and regurgitation are also common themes. Symptoms may be mild, moderate or even severe, but they are always […]
Hello Friends, well, after a long absence from this blog here’s a new entry out of the blue – I’m finding myself answering the same questions over and over on social media, so decided it would be quicker and more thorough to simply write a few lines here about the Purina scare, and hopefully add a […]
Hello Readers, it sure has been a long time since I posted! Many of you know I had to take time earlier this year, for medical reasons, some of which continue but the most serious has been resolved, and I am working full-time, with clients and students, again. I’m planning to add a post here […]
Hello Readers, fellow Herbies and dog lovers! It’s been a while since I blogged, but today I have two important announcements to make, so here we are. Today, I’d like to share with you, news about two new offerings from me, one a series of services, and the other, a Membership group on Facebook I […]
“Western herbs represent a treasure-trove of effective traditional medicines and the collected and refined experience of practitioners for over 2,500 years.” Jeremy Ross, author of Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine I want to say a few words about what I am referring to as the Western Herbal Tradition, for clarity’s sake, as I so […]
Happy 2022 to all my readers! we have all been through some tough times lately, in varying degrees, thank you COVID-19. I am no exception, although I have not been sick – I may have had Omnicron but if I did, it was mild – I do live an isolated life and am double vaccinated […]
Good morning, all and I hope you are well and healthy in these challenging times. This entry is later than planned, as I continue to struggle with the loss of my heart-and-soul dog Daniel, whose image is all over this site, last February (there is a blog memorial coming as soon as I am able). […]
Greetings to my readers, and let me wish everyone a safe and Happy Holiday Season! Whatever you celebrate – and even if you don’t – I hope you are able to find some downtime, some rest and rejuvenation, not *just* over the holidays but moving ahead into 2021. It’s become a bit cliche to say, […]
Another quick entry! I promised to share this recipe earlier today, on Facebook; I frequently refer to the “medicine cookies” I make for Danny and a few folks have asked for the recipe. I’m happy to share, as this is more a method than a recipe and you can use it in a variety of […]
A quick entry today – many of you know I’ve been extra busy this year with both my own dogs (the Very Old Boys) presenting some challenges (Daniel is 14 and four months, Zeke fifteen and a half, both large breed)…so my “extra” time has been either tending to them or sleeping! 🙂 Lest I […]
It certainly has been a year! and a while since I added to this blog…with many ideas to share, but not enough time, I am looking forward to a new year of hope and healing, and more entries, more Newsletters! and catching up in general, with my many projects on the go. Right now, many […]
Further to the last two entries on management of your dog’s diet during COVID-19 – perhaps the biggest issue home feeders are facing now, is finding supplements needed to balance their dog’s home made diet. This is, as mentioned in the last two entries, more of an urgent concern for clients or anyone whose dog […]
Hello all…I hope you are all safe, staying in, and doing well in this difficult time. Many have emailed since my last update – I have limited time for blogging these days, but it’s important to me to get this information out to you. Further to the last post, I’ve answered many individual emails but […]
This message is first and foremost directed to my clients, both current and recent (last few years) who are too numerous to reach individually, whose dogs are eating one or more of my therapeutic recipes. First let me say that anyone who needs specific advice, whose dog is on a strict recipe such as we […]
Hello, Readers! This is just a quick reminder that the Cooking Course starts next week- the most comprehensive course of its type you will find anywhere – with information far beyond using the NRC values, and including food science,wet vs dry methods of cooking, preservation of nutrients and phytochemicals, storage and nutrient loss, safety of […]
As promised, this entry will evaluate three other commonly used orange veggies that may or may not be a good fit in your individual dog’s diet. We looked at sweet potato versus yams in the last article, and now let’s take a peel at the every popular pumpkin, at carrots and lastly, winter squash (acorn,butternut, […]
Good day readers – I’m just dropping in quickly today to offer you a little information, something I had promised for a while, but seems extra important now we are launching the Home Cooking Tutorial in March. It’s a little series on some foods we home feeders use all the time, as part of our […]
Following a couple of previous, highly successful home cooking tutorials – I am running another session this Spring. It is a course that has been requested many times, and for which I see a real need. Homecooking for dogs is increasing in popularity, as many dog lovers want to move away from kibble, but don’t […]
I’ve been intending for a couple of weeks to get a new entry up, regarding my back injury, which is both healing well and more complicated than we initially thought – lots of sympathy email from fellow sufferers! but as soon as I was able to get working, I had to focus on clients, and […]
Hello readers, this will be a very short post as I am typing lying down and that is one slow process. Many, but not all of you follow my Page and/or Timeline on Facebook, and are aware I suffered an excruciating back injury two weeks ago, that resulted first in hospitalization and then, since coming […]
A brief entry today to announce the extension of my Sale on Herbal Consultations – I did not have a chance to promote it as I hoped, so in fairness to those who might want to take advantage of this offer, I’m extending it for the whole month of July. Further to the extension, I […]
As I sit down to write this, it is the day we set our clocks forward “for spring” and I am gazing out my ground floor window at snow that comes higher than my ledge, and more coming down. It is hardly springtime in my part of the world – yet! but I am thinking […]
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) Family: Fabaceae (legume family) Part used: root The roots are harvested from three- or four-year-old plants for maximum potency and sliced thinly. Once dry, they look like cream-colored tongue depressors. Also available in powder, glycerite and alcohol tinctures Constituents: Flavonoids, saponin glycosides (astragalosides), polysaccharides, amino acids, essential fatty acids and trace minerals […]
With all the fires raging across California, and smoke thick over the whole area but also moving Eastward across the continent, the herbal world is filled with ideas to support humans exposed to the bad air…but what about our animals? I’d like to address every species, but this entry will at least talk about dogs, […]
Hello readers – the “Spotlight Series” is a feature I hope will help many of you sort through the veritable barrage of confidently announced nutrition misinformation that seems to increase every day. I rarely have time these days to write up a huge blog entry, and so many topics really do require detail in order […]
This started off as part of an exercise for the Cancer Tutorial, and as it grew I decided to share it with a wider audience. One of the things I am most adamant about is ensuring that home prepared diets meet all nutrient requirements – fatty and amino acids, vitamins and minerals – at levels […]
Today I’d like to talk a bit about my Consultations, what they entail, what you as a client can expect and how the process works. After providing these services for close to two decades, I have had the opportunity to see what works best for my clients, and to that end, am implementing a few […]
…dogs of any age can have them too, of course. I developed this cookie a few days ago, after seeing a recipe shared around, for “candycane” treats that used wheat flour, a bouillon cube and red food colouring – I mean, none of these are tragic, I dislike overreaction, but I did wonder if I […]
This is one of those “by request” posts – since the whole topic of energetics has been tossed around so much lately in the natural health world, and there is a bit of popular confusion, I hope to be able to help sort some of it out. Plus, it’s a favorite topic of mine, much […]
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita, Chamaemelum nobile) Family: Asteraceae Parts Used: Flowers, fresh or dried Actions: antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, relaxing nervine, carminative, stomachic, antiemetic, vulnerary, diaphoretic, mild antimicrobial, aromatic, bitter tonic Energetics: bitter, pungent, neutral-to-cool, slightly dry Indications: Digestive Conditions -Gastrointestinal discomfort, flatulence, dyspepsia, loss of appetite, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, gastritis, diarrhea. Nervous Conditions – chamomile is useful […]
Last week on my Page (Facebook) I had promised a couple of new recipes, and then alas, life, work and all that jazz simply got in the way. So I promised to share a recipe, an existing one from my (hopefully) forthcoming ebooklet…this is one I make and use with my own dogs all the […]
There are times when you aren’t able to take your dog or dogs away with you when you travel. And when you aren’t you will certainly want someone who is qualified to take care of your pet while you’re away. So with that in mind, here are some things that you need to look out […]
Yesterday, in the spirit of all the cool recipes I plan to share in the tutorial, I whipped up a batch of a fall favorite here – spicy chaga-pumpkin cookies, with a little extra immune boosting kick thrown in as we head into the colder weather. These cookies, like most of my recipes, are pretty […]
Today is a typical weekday here at my house- parrot is screaming, three senior dogs snoring away after breakfast, exercise and playtime; cats – well, all cats sleeping as they all do every day. I’m at my desk, working with clients, answering emails, getting some class material ready for the Tutorial group meeting in a […]
A little offering from me (and this may well be the shortest blog entry ever, in the history of The Possible Canine) over at the Facebook Page (which you can access here): https://www.facebook.com/ThePossibleCanine/ What we’ll do, every Monday, is look at nutrient requirements, A to zinc, how to provide them at optimal levels in your […]
This new feature will consist of five random things I want to share with readers, every Friday. They might pertain to a specific nutrient, to a food, a health condition, an individual herb, a method of herbal preparation, or even a quick recipe. I’ve been inspired to do this after reading the blog of a […]
As promised; a fun, easy and healthy treat for dogs, with some serious benefits, and a few variations so you can make it to suit your own dog’s unique tendencies. I made this for my three, not as a meal (it’s not a balanced diet!) but to use as topper for some of their meals, […]
…and that’s just the start. This very simple, but powerfully nutritious frozen treat can be used in a couple of ways, so again, I am hoping to give you options. It can be very nutrient-dense, all on its own, or diluted with some liquid (bone broth is good, but you can use vegetable broth, coconut […]
So, it’s the weekend and I am having a little fun with recipes – a thread on my Facebook group convinced me to develop more frozen treats for the warm summer months, and since not all dogs love fruit, I thought I’d do a few savoury, but still very healthy versions. (Berries are great, but […]
Every summer, a few frozen treat recipes start to appear around the internet, usually yogurt based, with additions like sardines and salmon and blueberries – all good stuff. I started to wonder if I might not concoct a few such treats myself, maybe with a twist here and there – and share them here and […]
So, last week on my Facebook Page, I asked readers a simple question: who here has a senior dog? And the response was overwhelming. I suspect that thread might just be the liveliest one in the history of my Page. Seems a lot of people have senior dogs, and are interested in learning about how […]
Hello, all! I am posting today to share a flash sale with my readers – I generally try to do two sales per year, one approximately around each of the Solstices. A bit late this summer, but here we go. From today until Friday June 30, the following (major) discounts are on offer. The Basics […]
This morning I made a comment – accidentally – on a post I saw on Facebook, sharing a highly sensational trailer regarding the power of nutrition with canine cancer. (When I say “accidentally” I mean I thought my comment was on a Friend’s post, but it was actually on the source of the share, so […]
Those of you who follow my Page on Facebook might’ve seen today, my post about finding the herbal solution for my dog Amara’s rather challenging issue – and finding it by using one herb , which I had selected as a test, a diagnostic, but that turned out to be all we appear to need […]
This morning I am compelled, finally, to get this brief but important article up for all those who are dealing with yeast infections in their dogs. On my Facebook group and elsewhere around the net, I frequently hear about people struggling with yeast infections in their dogs, notably in the ear or paws, but also […]
Spring is dandelion time! While I use dried root and tincture in my clinical practise all year long, there is just nothing like the fresh, whole plant – flowers like bursts of sunshine, young leaves not yet too bitter – to inspire creativity and get us all out into the fields, gathering, and back into […]
Spring has finally arrived here in the Gatineau Hills and I have been having a very busy year so far. I can’t believe it has been months since my last post! Today I am sharing some thoughts, briefly, on my position regarding raw and cooked diets for dogs; I often hear, both professionally and on […]
I’m not sure when I actually bought Todd Caldecott’s lovely and informative book Food as Medicine, it might be about 5 years ago. Although I practise as a Western Herbalist, I have a long standing interest in Ayurveda, and Todd is a great herbalist, someone to be fully trusted. Almost as soon as I got […]
Yesterday, a member of my Facebook group asked a simple question, and it prompted this post. In keeping with my commitment to adding shorter but still detailed articles, I thought I’d elaborate my answer here for those who need it. And since digestive issues in dogs are so common, that may mean, any of you. […]
When did you start your blog and, for anyone who is just seeing it for first time, please provide a description of your site. Would you say your blog focuses more on sharing stories with your readers, or providing a resource for your audience? Answer: This version of my blog was launched in 2011, but I […]
Happy New Year to my friends and readers, I am looking forward to a great year ahead, after what many described as an Annus Horribilus — 2016! One of the comments I’ve received a lot, about this blog, in email and on my Facebook group, is that my entries are “amazingly informative” (blush) but sometimes […]
So, this time of year always brings out a few recipes for home made “wax” that can be applied to a dog’s paws and act as a barrier against cold, salt and gritty stuff during walks in the cold wintertime. I make this stuff every year too, with a few of my own twists, so […]
Hello all, and a very happy Holiday to everyone! Whatever you celebrate (and tonight is Christmas Eve) I hope this season finds you well, hopeful, healthy and at peace. I and my little zoo here in the Gatineau Hills are enjoying a respite from the extreme cold, and some happy, lazy, playful downtime as well. […]
Over the past week I have had a flood of emails asking about calendula, a wonderful and easy-to-grow herb that I utilize in many ways, for both topical and internal issues, for humans, canines, and other species.. The biggest question in my Inbox right now- is it safe? And the answer is yes, it’s a […]
Seems that everywhere I look, people are baking and starting shopping lists for holiday food – and many are asking me what’s safe to give their dogs, for a special meal, too. Everyone knows I’m a great supporter of feeding a fresh food diet, whether raw or cooked; at the same time I always stress […]
…Excerpted from a Plant Healer Magazine article last fall. Hot spots It’s possible that hot spots are THE single most asked-about canine issue I encounter on the net, over 20 years of yahoo, AllExperts, various forums and now Facebook. Hot spots are very nasty to deal with, and the conventional approach is harsh, the natural […]
… because I do this every year – for the next ten days I am offering a special price on the two nutrition courses. (The Herbalism course already is at a rockbottom price, until the New year when it will be going up – so it’s staying as is). If you take one of the […]
…well, that fell by the wayside with all the other stuff I have to get done all the time. However – I do bake cookies and other treats for dogs, and once in a while I hit on a tasty and healthy delight I have to share. Today is one of those days. Fiddling around […]
Common Conditions – Lower Urinary Tract Disorders of the Dog Overview To start with, conditions of the urinary system in both dogs and cats are very common, and form a significant percentage of my own clinical cases. Diseases of the bladder and urethra are related to several factors – genetic, nutritional, bacterial/fungal and neoplastic. Because […]
Response this morning to a few emails I’ve received – friendly questions, so I’m glad to respond. The jist of it all is, my recipes may be balanced and cover the essentials, but where are the Superfoods? Isn’t it boring to feed just sweet potato or quinoa, chicken, liver, heart, maybe some sardines or salmon, […]
Rescued animals of all species, ages, and backgrounds can present with a range of physical and emotional issues –which are very often, if not always obviously, deeply connected. Some of these problems are apparent immediately, while others will emerge over time. To what extent they will pose a challenge to the guardian, depends on […]
This was an idea I put forth to my student group, and it was met with so much enthusiasm, I decided to go ahead and set it up. The only questions were, how hard to make this? I have students of all levels in my course, from total beginners to a couple of veterinarians already […]
Good morning all – my Inbox and PMs are full of inquiries so I thought I’d put the answers all in one place today. With regard to the course progress and launch date or any news pertaining to the course: 1) Check my website – right here! the latest blog entry regarding the course is […]
I’ve been promising to share the mushroom/astragalus Medicine Ball recipe, and I just made a batch to make sure my (usually eyeballed) proportions are right – so, here it is. There are loads of variations to try – I’ll share some below – but this is a basic immune-supportive, overall tonifying treat for your furry […]
Something I hear an awful lot of, in my work as a herbalist for humans as well as other species, is the simple lament that “herbs don’t work”. Sometimes expressed with chagrin, other times with dismissal, it’s a familiar refrain to me and for many of my herbal colleagues as well. The jist of the […]
With all the focus on my new herbal course, I’ve been neglecting to talk about the two canine nutrition courses I’ve run for years, seems like they are well known and I always have a steady stream of new students along with graduates. That said, I think it’s time to re-cap what the Formulation course […]
Recently I’ve been receiving messages here, on Facebook and by email, all of which lament the idea that the Practical Herbalism course is “now closed” and all asking when it will start up again. In light of what appears to be a major misunderstanding, here’s a few straightforward facts about the course as things stand […]
Today I want to bring my readers up to date on a few changes here, as I’ve been delayed a fair bit, with computer woes, and may have appeared to disappear, for a while. Early in March I finally switched computers after 8 years, and it has proved to be a real challenge. With […]
Using Herbs Wisely Today I want to share a little general wisdom about herbs; their strengths and proper applications for animals, and how readers who are interested in herbs, can sort through the ocean of information (and misinformation) regarding their use. Some of the things I see online and hear from members of my Facebook […]
Herb – Yarrow Achillea millefolium Continuing the series with a wonderful “old standby” herb, but again one I feel is underused in animal herbalism – yarrow! This is a common “weed” that grows everywhere, so one virtue is availability, for sure. An important herb in human herbal medicine, I make much use of it with […]
https://www.facebook.com/events/868226859961447/ A quick entry today to let readers know that I’m hosting a Live Chat on Facebook this Sunday, 1pm EST, and to invite you to drop by with questions or to “listen in”. The main purpose of the chat is to discuss my new course, so many have written in with questions, but I’m […]
This entry today comes after many discussions on my Facebook group, Canine Nutrition and Natural Health – and I promised to do it, so here it is. In the midst of a thread about finding a “holistic vet”, on the group – I ventured in to say, as I have in past, better to find […]
Today I am pleased to offer a new course, a unique course, focused on dogs, on herbs and on common canine conditions you as a home herbalist will almost certainly encounter. Why this course, and why now? There is a veritable avalanche of information today, online and in books, on the subject of “natural health” […]
Practical Herbalism for Common Canine Conditions I am so thrilled to introduce this new online course, focused on practical herbalism, using herbs for minor health issues we dog lovers encounter all the time. I have a full Course Outline posted in a separate entry – now here is some more information on how the […]
Practical Herbalism for Dogs – Homestudy Course This online course will be open-ended, meaning you can take as long as you like to finish. The course starts with covering some basic information on herbalism, describes how to stock up a home apothecary, and then goes straight into the conditions you, as home herbalist, are likely […]
Cancer Help and Support – getting the diet right, Part One For this entry I thought I’d talk a little about the so-called cancer diet; I say “so-called” because from where I sit, there are many variations, and what I tend to use with an individual dog draws from many sources. On the internet, when […]
Many of my readers who have asked about herbs for the immune system, in the hope of avoiding a cold or flu in winter, have learned about the power of the Elder tree, both flower and berry, and are using it for their human family, in syrup and tincture and elixir. Such a great ally […]
Fruits and Veggies – my Top Ten Picks Further to my blog entry about pros and cons of feeding plant foods to dogs – several of you wrote and asked what are my very favorite veggies and fruits for dogs. Well, as always the bottomline has to be, that your dog enjoys and does well […]
A concerned follower sent me these questions with some deeply nonsensical answers attached,from another source – and asked if I might offer up some more factual and informed replies. These are all things I hear every day, anyway – so in aid of my personal mission to elevate popular canine nutrition to a serious study, […]
Ok, I’m a little late with this – busy times here (like you can all relate to, hhmm?) so I’m extending the date we discussed on the group. Starting today, as soon as this goes up, and right through till Sunday at midnight, I’m offering the following discount. 20% off any single course 30% off […]
A topic that comes up often on my Facebook group is, how do people know if a recipe they find online is balanced or not? It is critically important, of course, that recipes not only utilize nice wholesome ingredients, but they provide all the essentials a dog needs, from Vitamin A to zinc.Now this doesn’t […]
Canine and Feline Arthritis Arthritis is a wellknown, common and often difficult condition in our own species, and most people who live with dogs and cats will encounter the challenges it can pose for them as well. While prevention is always ideal, many animal lovers may not be aware of the steps they can take […]
WHERE: Rupert Community Centre, 24 Shouldice Road, Rupert, Quebec (about 45 minutes north of Ottawa) WHEN: Sunday, September 27, from 10 am- 5 pm COST: $75.00 in advance or 90.00$ at the door TOPICS This one day seminar will cover a lot of ground! In four parts, here’s what we’re going to look at. 9:30 […]
Since my Newsletter only lasted 3 issues, I’m sharing some of the articles here. There will be a Newsletter again soon, once I get Mailchimp sorted! – for now, some tips on how I approach reducing the overweight dog. (No, it doesn’t involve green beans). 🙂 Reducing the Pudgy Pooch – My Approach Obesity […]
Any of you who have followed me on Twitter or Facebook know that I am passionate about supporting the rescue efforts of animal welfare activists in Asia, both individuals like Mrs. Yang and groups like Soi Dog, Duo Duo and AnimalsAsia. I know that the shock and sense of helplessness we experience when confronted with […]
Re-post of an article I did for Plant Healer Magazine This is an overview of working with canine cancer, and the first in a much more comprehensive series. Intro Any herbalist who decides to make working with animals their primary focus, will encounter many of the same conditions over and over – none more serious, […]
Herbal medicine has seen a great increase in popularity of late, and this includes herbs for companion animals. With millions of petlovers concerned about the safety and wisdom of using dehydrated commercial foods for dogs and cats, along with a greater awareness of the dangers of environmental toxins, over-vaccination and excessive use of veterinary drugs, […]
A discussion on a Facebook group prompted me to share a bit about my life and work in TTouch, which I plan to pick up more energetically this year. The whole process of learning what TTouch has to offer is something that can be hard to explain – and extraordinarily so to those who want […]
My impetus for writing this article at this particular time, is all the concern I am hearing about the latest “Canine flu”. The outbreak has led to a real upswing in my Inbox asking “how can I boost my dogs immune system?” I felt it might be time to take a look at the immune […]
A quick entry today to let you know there is a new feature at the Facebook group Canine Nutrition and Natural Health. Given the volume of questions that get lost in the fast-paced world of Facebook, I’ve put a pinned post at the top of the page where members can ask anything they would like me […]
Reprinted from Plant Healer Magazine – link at bottom For those of us who love and work with animals, few things are as gratifying to see as a happy, well cared for elderly companion – dog, cat, horse, goat, ferret …a life well-lived, the result of good genes and most often, high quality care from […]
A re-post, with additional ideas, of an article I did for a local e-zine a few years ago. 🙂 Question: What diet would you recommend for a dog with epilepsy? Answer: As with any dog, before I make recommendations I like to evaluate several factors, starting with the dog’s age, overall condition, activity level, breed/size […]
Herbal support for the Heart Common canine and feline conditions Heart disease in dogs and cats is common, and may be congenital or acquired. In all cases, both dietary evaluation and herbal support may slow progression of the condition or at a minimum, offer improved quality of life. In all cases, too, veterinary care is […]
Today I want to update readers about what’s going on with my courses and consultation services at the present time. Those of you who follow my Page on Facebook (here) or are a member of one of my groups, have heard me state, I am taking some space from consulting while I finish my thesis […]
This will be a quick entry today, as I am spending the day getting ready for my workshop tomorrow (Tree Medicine, here in Rupert). I wanted to let readers know that the newsletter is finally ready to go – a few challenges here and there but so far, so good! Here’s what January has on […]
This is a topic that I am pretty sure I’ve written about before, but every time someone asks me – which is frequently – I can’t seem to find where. So today, I thought I might revisit the whole topic with a new post. Vegetables in the canine diet seem to carry a little controversy, […]
As Danny starts to get a little older, I am in the process of overhauling some of his diet, exercise and supplements, looking ahead to a long and healthy life. He is only 8, but this is the time to start thinking about what changes we might implement to help ensure longevity and quality time. […]
With so many self-styled dogfood “gurus” and such a mountain of (mis)information on the Internet, people who want to home prepare meals for their dogs, are often confused about what to feed. It’s critical to ensure not only wholesome foods but balance and adequacy, and hard to know how to do both… As a clinical […]
I’m so excited to announce that the GREAT herb site www.herbmentor.com will be featuring my articles in their new Herbs For Animals column. Initially, we talked about using blog entries from this site, but I’ve decided to write totally new content on a variety of topics – which will include herbs for felines, and possibly […]
As the Old Year winds down and we all prepare for the holidays, I`m offering a bit of a gift myself, in the form of a new course – one I have been asked for, and urged to do for years – at a very special, one-time-only price. This is the Canine Dietary Formulation course […]
As most of my readers know, I cook for my dogs all the time, and I have for almost 20 years. In addition, I took years of training, and I formulate recipes for other people’s dogs, often very sick ones, sometimes sick with several conditions that contradict each other in nutritional recommendations. I teach nutrition […]
Well, at last – I have a spare hour today, and after many requests, thought I’d offer up a few ideas for making your own shampoo. I’ve been asked so many times, and there are mighty good reasons to do so; first off, most commercial shampoos contain a list of 17-syllable chemicals that you do […]
Few scenarios we doglovers face are as frustrating and even frightening as dealing with an inappetent dog. One of the things I am asked most about is, what to feed the dog who doesn’t want to eat, and are there any herbs that can help? Yes to both of these – but there are […]
One of the problems I sometimes encounter, working and hanging out as I do, with savvy dog folks and herbalists and nutrition geeks, is I tend to forget that many people in the world are not all that aware of things like chemicals in the environment and the dangers that they pose. It’s kind of […]
The new “Lite” version of the popular Basics of Canine Nutrition course, that is! By popular demand – I have developed an 8- module version of the more intensive course, which covers much of the same material in a more abbreviated format, and is specially geared to those who wish to learn the basics thoroughly […]
Every other day or so I receive an email from someone trying to find out when the “next session” of the Basic Nutrition course or the Intro to Animal Herbalism will be starting. I feel I have failed to convey the reality – they are both, always, open for enrollment. Both courses are self-paced, online […]
A bit of a pet peeve of mine (and many other herbalists I know) is the recent trend in herbal “information” in popular magazines and online sites and blogs. The trend looks fairly innocuous at first glance, to the non-herbalist anyway – what could be wrong with a page of quick and easy information on […]
For those of you who do the Facebook thing – tomorrow afternoon I’ll be live on my Page, between 2 pm and 4 pm, answering questions about home made diets, and sharing why careful formulation, balancing nutrients – and knowing all you can about the foods you choose to supply them is – so very […]
This is an article I wrote for an online journal (which is now not going to be published) and while it’s nothing I haven’t said so many times before, I thought it might be an idea to share here anyway. Occasionally I hear from Friends on Facebook or in “real life” that I might seem […]
Spring, though rather late, has finally arrived this year and many of my friends are considering a “detox” or spring tonic, which usually consists of some kind of restricted eating, perhaps even a semi-fast, and herbs to refresh and restore after a long winter. The spring tonic is a time – honoured tradition of helping […]
Another long entry repost from my article for Plant Healer Magazine, sometime last year. I think many of my students will benefit. The pitfalls and promises of working with animals. Reversing the Flow My last article for this magazine was all about how the way in which we manage domestic animal’s health impacts on not […]
In the Animal Herbalism course, we are talking right now about developing a working group of herbs we use regularly for dog and cat care, to address the minor issues our four legged friends regularly present us with. I’ve suggested students grow the herbs whenever they can, some or all of them – wildcraft if […]
Everyone who loves dogs knows that dogs love liver! Treats containing liver abound, recipes for liver “brownies” are perennial favorites (you can find one here on this blog, but there are countless versions) and simple baked treats are a mainstay as “bait” for show dogs and rewards for hard working canines in all kinds of […]
A quick post tonight to bring some badly needed information to the dog lovers who read this blog; if you’ve read anywhere that Grapefruit Seed Extract is a good, safe, “natural” product to use with your dogs, think again. First a rundown on what people use GSE for. It’s been promoted chiefly as an antimicrobial […]
In response to queries from my students, as well as members of various groups I frequent, today I am starting a series on that all-important foundation of the herbalist’s toolkit; understanding herbal actions. A few entries back I discussed the difference between using herbs in a home-remedy kind of fashion – perfectly good and wonderful […]
This is going to be one of those controversial entries, but I’ve been asked three times this week to comment on the topic, so I felt a blog entry was necessary. I will state at the outset ; I won’t be listing names of other consultants, good bad or otherwise! To do so is unethical, […]
This is a quick entry today, to announce a long-awaited offering from TPC – the Formulation Course! For many years on my yahoo and Facebook groups, I’ve been urged to set up an online class that teaches the art and science of basic dietary formulation, so those with an interest in developing their own recipes […]
An updated low-carb, grainfree version of the recipe I posted a few years ago, which included rice as part of the carb portion (and I no longer use rice, unless it is therapeutically necessary). Note that this is a higher fat diet, and so may not be suitable for all dogs. Some may require lower […]
Today I am thinking about an apparent contradiction that sometimes comes across in not only my own, but other herbalist’s writings – something that needs clarification, for those who have noticed and commented. It’s one of those superficial paradoxes, that holds a deeper truth. One of those “I have to write this, now” topics, and […]
With just a couple of days until the doors open on the new course, I am entering course material this morning, and thinking about how exciting this journey has been so far. Some herbal friends have asked me why I am entering the whole MM – Materia Medica – on my own, when there are […]
This is a reprint of an article I did for Plant Healer Magazine some time back. I am offering it here today as I go about setting up the course and enrolling students – it speaks to the very heart of my work and why I feel that – far from a trivial indulgence of […]
The one question I have seen over and over from interested students and the newly enrolled alike – which herbs will we be covering in the course? well, fair question! First off, the ones we focus on will not be the *only* herbs discussed, but certainly the main ones. In your own research projects and […]
I am getting a number of emails asking for two things; one, the details listed at the bottom of the course description, so I am going to just repost them here, without the description. NOTE: I have 27 applications for the scholarship so far; it is unlikely I will be able to choose more than […]
Over the last few years, interest in herbalism for both humans and other creatures has grown dramatically. Some call this “The Herbal Resurgence” and I for one love that name. When I was a teenager and into my 20s, there was a certain underground interest in herbs, but nothing to what we are seeing today. […]
A quick entry today, related to my recent focus on herbs for the anxious or stressed out dog. In my clinical work I very often meet dogs who exhibit a range of seemingly unexplained symptoms that have frustrated the owner for a long time. Many of them will improve with dietary adjustments and herbal support […]
This is a topic that has come up many, many times on all the groups and lists I’ve been part of over the past decade; how can we use herbs to help our nervous, hyperactive, thunderphobic, stressed out dogs? I’ve written a fair bit here, and elsewhere, on how to adjust diet, use supplements, TTouch, DAP […]
So, with about 25 topics in the drafts folder and a bunch of assignments to mark today, I feel a pressing need to add this entry. It’s mostly because I am asked about it all the time, because I have strong feelings about this, but also, well sometimes the spirit just moves us. Recently on […]
I’ve been asked many times over the past month or so if I can comment on the problems with arsenic in rice, especially brown rice, and what should those who home- prepare a diet with rice do about it. I am taking the arsenic issue very seriously but as always, or most of the time […]
A few entries back I posted a cursory look at supplementation for canines – dividing them into Essential, General and Targeted. I find a great number of my clients present with (on the Intake form) a list of supplements they are adding, but often they’ve missed the Essentials, and focus on Targeted (for a health […]
CANINE NUTRITION – 10 MYTHS DEBUNKED – It’s been 20 months since the first melamine-related pet food recall, and during that time, more dog lovers than ever have decided to turn to home made diet – cooked or raw – as insurance against a potential problem with a commercial product. But is a home made […]
The Basics of Canine Nutrition This course is the foundation for all the others, insofar as here we learn about the topic from the ground up, starting with anatomy/digestion, nutrients and food sources, and basic nutrient requirements of dogs. I hear more misunderstanding, half truth and total fallacy in this core area than any […]
Below is a reprint of an early article I did with TheBark – an interview they conducted with me several years ago. It was pleasant to review this and see that everything I said then holds true now. Many things in nutrition change, but a personalized dietary approach grounded in both science and observation of […]
Happy 2013, everyone! I woke up on this first day of the New Year, and thought, well this is a good time to begin. One of my strongest resolutions for the year is to update this blog more regularly. Between client work, my thesis, and teaching it can be a challenge to keep things running […]
Today, a guest post from Ellyn Grubbe, a former student of mine and a CASI graduate, Ellyn does consultations in her own right now and is one of the most nutrition-savvy dog people I know. She wrote this entry years ago to help members on our yahoo group figure out the foundational calculation of all […]
The facts about protein – this is a re-print of an old article I did for my yahoogroup, in it’s heyday..but the facts are solid and we have an entry point for going deeper into exploration on the topic.The core components of a healthy and balanced home made diet are the total energy, based of […]
In my work with animals I am often asked what herbs people should get for a “start-up” kit – not exactly First Aid, which entails specific items for emergencies, but a general kind of “what herbs (and in which form) should I buy or make to get going with helping animals”? So, in this article […]
Well, not necessarily cookie per se, but every weekend at ThePossibleCanine, I’ll be sharing one of my own, or one of my reader’s favorite treat recipes. Everyone who knows me and my work in nutrition, knows I am not a fan of a lot of carb-based, high glycemic, probably acrylamide laden “cookies”. Dogs do love […]
Ah – summer. And along with the great weather and days at the beach and gardening and all the good stuff, we have – these guys… …and with them, inevitably, to one degree or another, comes this. this and this No one is happy, least of all your dog. To make my position clear at […]
This morning I am pleased to share a recipe from a good friend and former student of mine, Ellyn Grubbe of Denmark. Ellyn completed both my Basic Nutrition course and the Advanced Canine Nutrition programme at CASI, has been a keen nutrition student as long as I’ve known her – and is now a consultant […]
Some rules are made to be broken. This one, I want you to take a closer look at. And see what you think is best. The Boston Terrier is one of many breeds prone to hypothyroidism; correct dietary iodine levels are essential for thyroid health, and many home made diets are low to deficient in […]
…”species-appropriate“, to be specific. This morning I am amazed yet again at how many people feel that “species-appropriate” is the main aspect of nutrition that needs to be considered when developing or choosing a canine diet. I know, I can come across a little strident on these matters – and when it comes to laypeople […]
As promised, here are some follow-up comments with regard to the recipe. I’ve based most of them on what my students have asked – I assigned this entry to the class, to see if they might come up with questions. And, clever bunch of keeners that they are, they hit on just about everything. So, […]
Update on this entry! Eight years ago I shared a turkey/rice/beef/sweet potato recipe, and while many people used it or variations and their dogs did superbly well, times change, we all keep learning and growing, so I am going at the bottom of this entry, to add an updated version. At the time I wrote […]
Many of my readers know a little bit about my beloved Ridgeback Daniel, the dog who rescued my heart after I lost Luke so suddenly and so cruelly back in 2006. Danny has been a soulmate for me since the day I clapped eyes on him, a wide eyed, sweet faced puppy of 10 weeks, […]
You know those little funny, cute, goofy things we all say to dogs when we love them so much and we’re focused on them day to day? Yeah – you who are reading this blog surely do. I had a few of those with my Luke…Wildewit’s African Jabulani – a few, well more like many […]
…and I don’t mean eggshell, although that’s pretty much a constant around here.. It’s been a month since I’ve been blogging – due in part to a heavy consulting workload, and then a two week “vacation” that has turned to three as I started research for my herbal thesis (exciting stuff). I’m posting tonight just […]
I know, I know – I have promised (and am working on!) entries about canine cancer, allergy, yeast, anxiety and more…but hey, it’s been a busy week (new students, lots of client work) and it’s the weekend (a long one here in the frozen north) and I am behind. It’s tough getting everything done, so […]
Since this sub-category is “Nutrients A-Z” – and since I am always going on about zinc, I thought we might start with a short entry on the role, requirements and optimal sources of zinc in the canine diet. In contrast to the never-ending tomes I compose on energy nutrients, I’m going to strive to be […]
In this entry I want to take a closer look at some of the main foods we could use to form the carbohydrate portion of our dogs’ home made diets, and then look at a sample diet. The higher-calorie/starch foods I see people using in home made diets often include: Rice Sweet potato Quinoa Winter […]
…and wonderful for multiple other purposes as well. I mentioned in the last entry that along with foods and supplements, some herbs can assist the body in coping with an upswing in radiation exposure, or simply deal with the everyday levels we and our dogs receive through Xrays, computers, microwave ovens and energy-saving lightbulbs. In […]
This entry is long overdue, but the topic is always relevant. Many people have become concerned about radiation since the terrible disaster in Japan last month; I believe the dietary steps we take to address these concerns are important not only immediately following a crisis, but all of the time. Like it or not, radiation […]
Life can get pretty dull if we take everything oh so seriously; that includes the topic at hand, which I take very seriously, as it is my life’s work. That said, I appreciate a little whimsy from time to time, and so do my dogs. Well, they appreciate most everything, but isn’t that part of […]
Over the course of the past week I’ve received a LOT of email about the entries on carbohydrate, some voices in support of my approach (no vilification of whole nutrient groups, multiple factors considered in dietary decision making) others who strongly oppose the use of any carb of any kind (except pulped veggies and fruit) […]
We all want to see our dogs calm, confident, happy and relaxed. And hopefully most of the time they are those things… but, anxiety is an issue that can and does arise in the dog psyche more often than we’d like – related to veterinary visits, thunderstorms, or separation from a beloved human (or […]
“The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough” Rabindranath Tagore There is something about the late afternoon in springtime, the force and slant of the sun, that brings about in me this tendency to reflection. I have always been affected by light; I once stared at a particularly moving Corot in the […]
Or, as the case may be, five of them for now. I started this concept as “Top Ten Things I am asked all the time” but it rapidly evolved into Twenty… now a blog entry covering all of these would be pretty cumbersome, so I’m starting with five per day. I’m basing my selection on […]
“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.” – Milan Kundera
You are all going to think this is my favorite topic. …the reality is, I am passionate about teaching others to be unbiased, well-informed – good critical thinkers and researchers when it comes to canine nutrition. And as I’ve been emphasizing, carbs are very misunderstood and unjustly feared. Extremes in diet are never wise, and […]
He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; […]
Today a client emailed me to ask about something her dog had been doing that she hadn’t put on the questionnaire because it had slipped her mind, as she focused on the problem she’s consulting me about. She wasn’t sure what the thing her dog does really is,or whether to be worried at all, but […]
This is always difficult, but every blog seems to need one. My top ten herbs for dogs, unlike my top ten for humans, is pretty static – these are the alltime necessities, the must-have, can’t-live-without tinctures, fresh and dried plants, powders and extracts I use all the time, most of the time. I’m going to […]
Let’s face it; people are really bothered by carbs these days. And with good reason, in many cases; excessive carb, especially simple sugars and those that contain gluten, contribute to not only our own, but our dogs’ tendency to gain excess weight, plus a whole host of other conditions we used to blame on fats. […]
I’ve loved this one ever since I first read it, somewhere online, many years ago. How true, start to finish (although I know none of you would be using a choke collar!) I lie belly-upIn the sunshine, happier thanYou ever will be. Today I sniffedMany dog butts — I celebrateBy kissing your face. I sound […]
Over the past two decades, there has been a veritable explosion of information about canine nutrition, with books such as Dr. Billinghurst’s series on raw feeding, Richard Pitcairn’s venerable Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, and a multitude of newer recipe books – some of which offer reasonably balanced recipes, others that appear to not […]
Milk thistle has become, over the last decade, one of the most commonly used herbs in natural veterinary medicine, addressing a whole host of issues most often related to active liver disease, or in hopes of slowing the likelihood of liver problems associated with longterm use of phenobarbitol in epileptic dogs. For humans too, milk […]
It has been a long time coming, this post. Many years ago, when I set up the original website, I had planned to add articles of all variety, and earnestly tried. Alas, I was not in control of the site, I had to find a time when my super helpful but equally very busy webmaster […]
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Something isn’t Clear?
Feel free to contact us, and we will be more than happy to answer all of your questions.
