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© Written by Dr. Kim Bloomer
To clarify before I share my own approach to handling three of the most common ailments I hear about –parasites, obesity and paw chewing – I am a veterinary naturopath. I help my clients learn how to care for their dogs through nutrition and species specific feeding. Typically I can give them a “what I’d do if it were my dog” answer but I always suggest they get a diagnosis from their holistic veterinarian before embarking upon any natural remedy or treatment.
I’m lumping the three ailments or symptoms of parasites, obesity and paw chewing together for a reason. They all come together under poor nutrition and a weakened immune system which can often be addressed through a proper diet along with some natural modalities to control the parasites. Before I elaborate on just exactly what a proper diet is for a dog, let’s ask a couple of questions first so I don’t get any arguments regarding the diet. I’m just eliminating some of the typical responses beforehand! 
©by Kim Bloomer, VND
If our dogs are truly ours, then we should have the right to determine the best care for them ourselves
Some things here in NM have recently come to light for me that has me determined to be more of a voice for determining the health, care and wellbeing for my own animals myself. In my case this means my dog since he’s the sole “fur child” in our home.
What you need to know
©by Kim Bloomer, VND
Puppies are so cute but it does pay to know what you’ll need to do in advance of ever bringing your cute little furball home
You’ve done your homework and figured out which breed, even if it’s a mixed breed, what puppy will be right for you and your lifestyle. Before you bring your new puppy home however, you’ll want to make sure you have some things in place before you do. For me a puppy is nearly the equivalent of bringing home a new baby, because they are dog babies who need love, attention, care and the security of knowing they are safe. Let’s cover a few things you’ll want to before the day you pick up your new puppy:
Every breed has it’s purpose
©by Kim Bloomer, VND
So many dogs end up in shelters for the simple fact that the owner didn’t understand the breed they brought home
I was talking with a friend today about specific breed natures. I felt I no longer had wonderful Golden Retrievers and was handed a Neapolitian Mastiff because I personally had to learn something about my own nature - actually he is such a blessing and a gift I’d have it no other way. Neos are a rather stubborn breed while Goldens are typically obedient and sweet. I know that sounds so philosophical and it is in a way. For me it’s deeper and more spiritual than that but I won’t go there in this short blog post.
More to my point my Golden Retrievers were always two things:
Choosing the Right Treats for Your Dog
©by Kim Bloomer, VND
There is such a variety when it comes to treats for our dogs these days but make sure you are making wise choices for their overall good health
These days’ dogs certainly have a wide variety to choose from for their snacking pleasure. It’s rather funny to me how we feel the need to contribute to our dogs’ bad eating habits the same way we support our own. The good news is that while there is a wide variety of doggie treats on the market, the newest trend is leaning towards healthy or “natural” treats for our dogs. Keep reading here:
Spaying and Neutering
A perfect dog for your lifestyle
©Kim Bloomer, VND
Bringing a dog into the home is such a joy but it is also a big responsibility and one we need to be willing to adhere to
Bringing home a dog is the easy part. Taking care of and being responsible for the dogs in our care is the part that separates the responsible owners from the irresponsible ones. One of the most frequent topics that arise in alignment with responsible dog ownership is about spaying and neutering our dogs.
A perfect dog for your lifestyle
©Kim Bloomer, VND
It’s great when we see those cute puppies or amazing dogs in the movies and on TV but those dogs are highly trained or it’s Hollywood magic…
So, you’re looking for a new dog or a puppy? If this is your first time ever owning a dog, the best place to start to look is in your bookstore, library and the internet. That’s right because bringing home a dog is no small thing and it will take research on your part so you will begin to know and understand the nature of the animal you are bringing home to live with you and your family. Before you even choose a specific breed, you will need to know all you can about what it means to own a dog otherwise your new puppy might end up being another statistic in a shelter somewhere. Visit dog shows, shelters, dog sporting events, etc. so you can get a feel for the ways people interact with their dogs and the nature of individual breeds.
For the Love and Health of Your Dog
©by Kim Bloomer, VND
Grooming is more than just to beautify your dog, it’s for the love and health of your dog
Grooming your dog can often seem like a perpetual, ongoing chore. I know I’m guilty of occasionally thinking “time to groom the dog” doldrums. If we change our thinking about this though, it can be a time of real bonding for you and your dog. In fact, think of grooming as an act of love for the health and wellbeing of your dog.
The battle against superbugs
 ©Kim Bloomer, VND
Our canines have a world of infectious diseases that can lay assault against them and one is MRSA
As the USA Representative for the UK-based Bella Moss Foundation I felt it would be prudent to write about one of the canine infections that can plague our dogs, MRSA (methicillin-Staphylococcus aureus). This is a staph bacterium that has mutated from humans into animals and is resistant to one of the strongest known antibiotics, methicillin.
© by Kim Bloomer
photo by Illona Haus
Just as for human health, what we feed our dogs will determine if they will be healthy or diseased. It is up to us to not only know the difference in the myriad of choices on the market today but what we should avoid. Also understanding what a dog is as regards their needed food to thrive, we will begin to make better choices for them. Keep reading here:
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