My Journey Into Canine Nutrition
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“What we think is good for dogs has been shaped more by marketing than by biology.”
– Dr. Harvey Cohen, “If Dogs Could Choose”
All my life I’ve been a dog lover. My parents met on a horse ranch, and their mutual love of animals later led them to become dog breeders. Their chosen breed was Newfoundlands – big, shaggy black dogs that are both gentle and intelligent. They were all house dogs, though they also loved being outside in the winter. Despite the dog hair, growing up with as many as a dozen Newfies at a time was a joy. Throughout my childhood I went to numerous dog shows, and got to stay home from school whenever a new litter of puppies was born.
As an adult, I’ve only had one dog at a time – and I love them like my children. That means I want to give them the best possible nutrition – not just for their health and longevity, but also to keep my vet bills down. I’d rather invest in feeding them well now than spend my time and money later in the vet’s office. But can I feed my dogs the same way I feed my kids?
This article explores that question. I’m not a canine nutritionist, but as an integrative health coach coming from a functional, holistic perspective, I’m curious about the ways in which good nutrition overlaps for people and dogs – like the Venn diagram shown above. For both people and pets, functional nutrition focuses on optimizing healthy gene expression – and with so many genetic disorders plaguing dogs these days, this is a worthy approach. After delving into the science of canine nutrigenomics (how nutrition affects gene expression); consulting with an integrative canine nutritionist; and speaking to two vets, an animal psychic, and two pet practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine – a common-sense understanding of canine nutrition began to emerge. Slowly, I’ve figured out how to incorporate my dog’s meals into my regular shopping and cooking habits – which saves me money, time, and most importantly, benefits my beloved dog’s health, longevity, and well-being.
Clearly, canines and humans share some common ground. As with people, many of the chronic illnesses prevalent in the canine population today are the result of diet, especially processed food. With good nutrition from whole foods, these illnesses may be prevented, managed, or even reversed. Foods that may appear healthy may actually be sending unhealthy signals to the epigenome – tag-like structures on the DNA of all mammals – that directly affect gene expression. Epigenetic tags from an unhealthy lifestyle may be passed down from parents to pups, predisposing them to healthy or unhealthy gene expression.
The good news is that we can shape the outcome of these tendencies. And nutrition is the clay in our hands to sculpt the future health of the animals we love and care for.
“Unlike the genome, we can alter our epigenome over time with new environmental signals, such as optimal nutrition. And that is exactly what you can learn to do with your dog’s diet.”1
Here are some basic guiding principles of good canine nutrition:
Dogs need complete and balanced nutrients
According to every expert I’ve read or spoken to, a dog’s diet must be complete and balanced, whether homemade or store-bought. That means tailoring the diet to the individual dog according to life stage (puppy, adolescent, adult, pregnant, nursing, or geriatric); activity level; age; whether the dog is neutered or not; and health history. Just as with people, a diet deficient in vital nutrients may lead to illness, disease, and even death. Formulating and making a complete and balanced diet is complex, and while well-intentioned, many homemade dog diets result in nutritional deficits and health issues. For this reason, most vets do not favor homemade diets for dogs, whether raw or cooked. And for this reason, even with my expertise and training as an integrative health coach, I knew it was important to consult with a professional canine nutritionist in formulating a homemade diet for my dog. What we came up with is complete and balanced for Piper and her nutritional needs. It also fits my financial and lifestyle needs. To my surprise, a raw diet is not recommended for Piper right now. For another dog, it might be. It’s imperative that you get guidance from a qualified pet nutritionist.
“Individual is key – I simply can’t express this point enough. I have yet to meet a dog who has ‘read the book.’ Nor have I met any two families with the same needs, resources, and lifestyle.”
– Dr. Jeanie Amanti, CVA, PhD
It’s important to start where you are, and do the best you can with what you’ve got. A good first step is topping your dog’s dish with real, whole foods such as bone broth, fish (cooked or canned), cooked meat, steamed vegetables, a little coconut oil, or some plain yogurt. Small steps in the right direction really matter, and often lead to other steps. It all adds up.
Dogs Need Food in Their Whole, Natural Form
Functional foods are nutritional ingredients that are found in real foods – protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. For both people and pets, these are best derived from natural, whole or minimally processed fresh foods, preferably local and in season. Ultra-processed, mass-manufactured, packaged foods are deficient in these basic nutrients, and may even cause harm. If this is what your dog eats, sooner or later it will negatively affect their health.
Dogs Need Adequate Animal Protein and Fat
Functional proteins are as essential for dogs as they are for people. Sufficient amino acids are needed in order to synthesize the proteins that make a strong immune system; for building connective tissue, bones, blood, and joints; for creating enzymes; and for healthy functioning of muscles and neurotransmitters. Your top choices include muscle and organ meats, fish, dairy, and eggs. Meats may be derived from conventional sources such as chicken, pork, turkey, or beef; or from novel sources such as bison, duck, goat, rabbit, or venison. Avoid shellfish, except for very small amounts of oysters and certain mussels.
Unlike people, dogs can only get the proteins they need from animals, which should ideally constitute 80% of their diet. This is considerably more protein than we humans need. We need nine essential amino acids in certain proportions in order to synthesize complete proteins. Dogs need ten, and they can’t piece them together from plants, no matter how you combine them. Taurine, for example, is derived only from animal flesh, and is essential for canine (and feline) cardiovascular health, fat digestion, and eye health, among other roles. So please do not use beans and rice as a substitute for meat. Dogs cannot be vegan.
What makes these animal proteins functional? The same criteria that determines healthy choices for people. They should be bioavailable (exist in their natural form). They should not trigger food sensitivities. Quality is important to balance with cost considerations. To whatever degree possible, choose foods that are free of pesticides, antibiotics, heavy metals, and artificial hormones; non-GMO; minimally processed; and ideally pasture-raised or grass-fed, and organic.
Protein and nutrition needs for dogs also vary according to age, activity levels, and health conditions. From a Chinese medicine perspective, certain meats are warming, while others have a cooling effect or are neutral. If your dog has an inflamed or sensitive gut, this is worth taking into consideration and yet another reason to consult with a pet nutritionist.
Functional fats are a source of superior energy. Healthy fats enable the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and provide essential fatty acids that are necessary for normal brain function, nerve transmission, and cardiovascular health. Dogs that are prone to pancreatitis are highly sensitive to fats and it is imperative that they get only the right kinds and amounts. Functional fats include sardines, mackerel, salmon; and oils such as omega-3 fish oil, borage oil, olive oil, and most of all, coconut oil. Organic expeller-pressed oils or naturally derived oils such as krill or salmon are ideal. Omega 3, 6, and 9 essential fats must be in proper ratio to each other, which means reducing omega-6 fats found in vegetable and seed oils, grains, kibbles, and flour-based treats. Avoid hydrogenated oils – good advice for both you and your dog!
Dogs need diversity in their diet
One of the problems with commercial dog foods is standardization. Just like people, dogs are individuals, each with their own genome and epigenome. What works for one dog may not work for another.
Commercial dog food companies have brainwashed and misled pet owners for over fifty years that a “complete,” “healthy,” and “balanced” diet can only be obtained from their manufactured products. This is not true. We are also led to believe only a standard and consistent diet is safe and healthy, and that dogs have “sensitive digestion.” The reality is that this has developed as a consequence of the over-processed commercial foods they’ve been fed their whole life. Strict adherence to manufactured pet foods has unfortunately become the norm, and has had devastating, even deadly, effects on our precious dogs’ health.
But good nutrition by its very nature defies both standardization and isolation of nutrients. Foods are alive in their whole, natural form, and are received by the body as complex symphonies of micronutrients, microbes, enzymes, and cofactors too numerous to name. Nutrients partner with each other within a mammal’s body. Dogs thrive on diversity just like people do – although sudden changes may be jarring, especially if their gut is inflamed from many months on unwholesome food or a mono-diet. This may cause or worsen sensitivities, creating a vicious cycle. My daughter adopted such a dog, but carefully introduced new and different foods until she found the ones that worked. Chicken and beef inflamed her dog’s gut, while rabbit, turkey, and duck were well tolerated. Gradually, she was able to rotate in new foods until her dog’s digestion normalized. Five years later, her dog enjoys a variety of different foods, and only has occasional digestive upset – curiously, when anxious or stressed. Bentonite clay has been a crucial ally in this process – just 1/8 teaspoon is enough to firm up poop, fight parasites, and absorb toxins from contaminated water or other questionable things dogs may eat.
“Dogs were never designed to eat dry, ultra-processed pellets every day of their lives. They were designed to eat real food – fresh meats, vegetables, organs, healthy fats – moisture-rich meals that mirror what nature provides.”2
Manufactured kibbles and canned dog food also come with other problems. Kibble is made by way of a process that uses high pressure processing (HPP). Picture a huge vat in which all the ingredients are broken down into a uniform mixture at very high temperatures, high pressure, and shear force (surface friction) that kill bacteria and destroys vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, essentially destroying all nutrition. The next step is extrusion, as the mixture is then forced into machine-made molds that produce dry pellets. High heat destroys many nutrients and turns essential fats rancid; proteins are denatured, and the cellular matrices of plant fibers are ruined. Flavor and color are lost. Micronutrients are eliminated, and all enzymes, probiotic bacteria, and antioxidants are killed. Every living, natural component that was there is destroyed. The result is a rendered food-like substance that is sterile.
Artificial additives and preservatives abound on commercial pet food labels. These synthetic vitamins and minerals are added to “complete and balance” the food, since all the nutrition has essentially been destroyed. Not only are these vitamins and minerals not bio-available, they have been the source and cause of pet food recalls, and have caused severe illness and even death to thousands of pets.3
Chemical testing also reveals the presence of allergens in many commercial dog foods that are not listed on the label.4 And dry dogfoods as well as bonemeal products are notoriously high in fluoride – a toxin associated with canine osteosarcoma (bone cancer), which is ten times more prevalent in dogs than people.5
Packaging and storage standards are the icing on the cake. Package materials may be toxic. There are no requirements for expiration dates and they are seldom, if ever, used. A bag of kibble will be shipped with no climate control, and may be shipped in a hot truck or stored in a warehouse for months. The result is further degradation, rancid fats, and mycotoxins. Pet products are definitely not held to the same standards as people food (which also falls short).
“The process [of extruding kibble] denatures proteins, destroys many natural vitamins, and can even create harmful compounds like advanced glycation end products (AGEs). To ‘fix’ this, manufacturers add back a cocktail of processed vitamins and minerals. Then they slap on the “complete and balanced” label. But just like humans don’t thrive on fortified junk food, neither do dogs.”6
Kibble is a highly processed convenience food that benefits dog owners, not dogs. Convenience ranks very high in today’s world. For some dog owners, time-saving convenience foods make it possible to have a dog in the first place. As a single mother, I certainly know what this is like. Yet the fact remains that nothing like kibble would ever be eaten by wolves or wild dogs. Canines are not meant to subsist on grains, much less extruded and artificial ingredients. Follow the kibble, and you’ll find the many health problems that plague dogs today. A friend of mine was even able to heal her dog’s cancer by taking him off kibble and replacing it with a therapeutically formulated diet of real foods.7
“A dog fed only dry kibble – cooked at high temps, preserved for shelf life, loaded with starches and preservatives – will almost always carry more inflammation into their senior years.”8
Canned dog food, though moister, isn’t much better. It’s loaded with harmful by-products, thickeners, stabilizers, and other chemical additives and uses the same artificial non-bioavailable vitamins and minerals used in kibble. Any semblance to real meat or recognizable food is due to mechanical manipulation and use of fillers. It does appeal to dogs more than dry kibble, however.
To fulfill consumer demand, raw frozen patties and packaged meals for dogs are becoming more popular and accessible. But quality is crucial: some low quality cold or frozen meals sold at Walmart, Target, and pet stores have been contaminated with molds that cause serious health issues and even deaths. Quality freeze-dried raw food is a good option, with better preservation of ingredients and lighter weight for shipping. Adding hot water to reconstitute these mixtures also adds liquid to the meal. My favorite is Dr. Harvey’s Raw Vibrance, which I use as a topper on Piper’s dinner. She loves it. I sent it to a friend as a gift for her dog, and my friend is eating it too! She says it’s great over a bed of quinoa with steamed greens and a fried egg on top. Real food for dogs is palatable for people, too. And real food costs less than even “high end” commercial dog food.
I’m tempted to eat my dog’s food sometimes, too. Every five or six days I throw some meat and vegetables in my crockpot. Red or green cabbage is a staple, and very cheap, along with carrots and yams. Other vegetables such as dandelion greens, kale, broccoli stems, mushrooms, or green beans are rotated in each week to add diversity. It only takes five minutes to put this together and turn on the crockpot. Finding room in my fridge for the finished stew is the hardest part.
All of this is easily integrated into my normal kitchen activities. I shop for and eat many of the same foods myself. It doesn’t break my budget.
Dogs need minerals, vitamins, probiotics, and phytonutrients
As with people, micronutrients for dogs are best derived from food, not pills or powders. While a homemade diet may not provide everything, artificial supplements cannot fill the gap, and ideally synthetic sources should be avoided. Like supplements for humans, many dog foods contain the cheapest, lowest quality, least absorbable forms. The resulting nutritional deficiencies may not be obvious. For example, “pica” behavior – when dogs eat urine-soaked soil, rabbit poop, or the like – may be the result of nutritional deficiencies, particularly zinc. It may also signal a need for fiber. In both children and pets, insufficient zinc may alter the taste buds, leading to “picky eaters.” Zinc oxide, the cheapest and least absorbable form of zinc, is often used in dog food. Zinc proteinate is better. Artificial B-vitamins may not only be improperly absorbed, but may also block receptors, impeding the uptake of B-vitamins in food. A nutrient-dense, varied diet will provide your dog with a good foundation, which may be supplemented sparingly as needed – but as my canine nutritionist emphasized again and again, it must be complete and balanced to meet your dog’s individual nutritional needs.
“Synthetic vitamins can play a role in meeting minimum requirements, but they aren’t a true substitute for the complexity, co-factors, and nutrient synergy found in real, fresh ingredients.”9
Phytonutrients in fruits and vegetables contain valuable antioxidants (which are destroyed by high heat used in making kibble). Phytonutrients enhance immune response, hormonal metabolism, and the conversion of vitamin A to retinol. They also cause cancer cells to die, and repair DNA damage from environmental toxins – such as tick medicines and toxins in vaccines.
Calcium is especially crucial for dogs, the absorption of which is enabled by vitamin D, and the action of which is paired with phosphorus. The calcium-magnesium-phosphorous ratio is critical and often problematic in homemade diets. Dogs also need liver and organ meats daily in their diets in the correct amounts (not too little, not too much – either poses serious health risks). It’s beyond the scope of this article (and my knowledge) to make specific recommendations. These balances are critical, and another reason to reach out to a pet nutrition expert.
Animal protein, fresh vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and calcium-rich foods are the building blocks of a healthy dog diet. Small amounts of unsweetened yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and miso help to provide probiotics. Healthy fats come from small amounts of nuts (walnuts, almonds, pistachios – no pecans), as well as coconut oil, olive oil, avocados, sardines, mackerel, and salmon.
Dogs need fiber, but not too much carbs or high-glycemic vegetables
Just like people, dogs are vulnerable to inflammation, which arises from excess sugar and starch. Chronic inflammation in dogs is associated with many diseases, including allergies, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, cancer, cognitive issues, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, obesity, skin and coat disorders, and urinary tract disorders. Yet kibbles, biscuits, and dog treats are loaded with flour, which breaks down into sugar when digested. This is a key reason why obesity is soaring in our canine population, and diabetes is on the rise, up three to fourfold since commercial dogfood first became widely available in the 1950s. Cancer afflicts an alarming 25% of dogs in the U.S. today, and 50% of senior dogs.10 Limit your dog’s intake of processed food and treats – especially kibble, by-products, chemical additives, refined grains, and starchy vegetables. Do not give dogs fruit juice or tropical fruits other than melons. Never feed your dog sweets! These carbs are not dog-friendly.
Good sources of phytonutrient-rich foods for dogs generally include (but may vary according to your dog’s life stage and individual needs):
Cooked cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, bok choy, collards, cauliflower, kale). These leafy friends fight cancer in people and dogs alike. Avoid spinach, beet greens, and swiss chard, which are too high in oxalates.
Fresh, whole fruits, especially blueberries and cranberries. Apples, cantaloupe, and watermelon are also good for dogs. No dates, grapes, or raisins, as they can cause serious illness, including kidney disease, and can even be fatal to dogs.
Gluten-free whole grains, such as millet, quinoa, buckwheat, and oats in small amounts as nutritional sources. They should not be used as fillers.
Small amounts of legumes such as kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans, black-eyed peas, chickpeas, lentils, lima beans, and peas. Caution: Legumes are not a replacement for animal protein for dogs.
Green beans, raw or cooked
Cooked carrots, beets, pumpkin, squash, and yams. These are complex carbohydrates, so moderation is key.
Fruits and vegetables also produce exosomes – nanoparticles produced by plants that help maintain homeostasis in the immune system, modulate gut bacteria, and regulate DNA replication and gene expression. These natural compounds are a hot research topic due to their ability to “speak” to each other in cellular cross-talk. More research is needed, but one thing is clear: exosomes do not survive in ultra-processed food. Dogs eating mostly processed food such as kibble, canned food, and most commercial treats are likely missing out on this subtle but potentially important layer of nutrition. This is one reason why mass-manufactured foods are often called “dead” food.
Minimize high-glycemic starches such as corn, white potatoes, and cereal grains, which are commonly used to bulk up kibble. These are major drivers of canine obesity and chronic disease. Very small amounts are acceptable.
Like every branch of the food industry, today’s dog food market is driven by profit for the seller – not the health of dogs. A great deal of effort goes into seducing and misleading well-intentioned dog owners. As an example, one kibble that is grain-free and marketed (and priced) as “high end” contains the following suspect ingredients:
• Fermentation “products” – the label does not say what these are. How can any live, beneficial bacteria survive high-heat extrusion?
• Omega-3s in dry form – these essential fatty acids are extremely sensitive to heat, and easily turn rancid and even harmful. Human omega-3 are derived from oily/fatty fish and oil supplements; the same is true for dogs. Your pet nutritionist can guide you to give your dog canned sardines, salmon, or cooked liver in safe amounts instead.
• Synthetic B vitamins (calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, and B12 “supplement”). High pressure processing destroys just about everything that ends up in kibble; thus the need for undesirable synthetic supplements. The same is true of processed foods for humans, such as chips and cereal, which are also extruded and artificially fortified.
• Smoke-flavored salmon – what is the source of this smoke flavoring, and why is it necessary? Dogs do not need extra flavoring or incentives to eat real foods.
• “Natural flavor” – for both people and dogs, this insidious term refers to any substance that was once derived from a natural source. It may include any number of harmful substances. In both people and dog food, this term has been exploited by food manufacturers to paper over suspicious ingredients.
• Vitamin A supplement – since vitamin A is easily derived from animal proteins such as liver and eggs, or converted from natural carotenoids found in carrots and yams – why is it necessary to add it separately to a food that is allegedly “complete?”
• Salt – this is a necessary and vital nutrient for all dogs, but most dogs foods contain the cheapest kind, likely a bleached form that does not provide iodine or other trace minerals. The label doesn’t specify.
• Choline chloride – this nutrient is essential for dogs, needed for fat metabolism, liver function, and brain health – but it can be problematic in supplement form. During extrusion or storage, it can destabilize vitamins (especially vitamin A, D, K, and some B vitamins), causing even more nutrient loss in the final kibble. And it may impart an “off” smell or taste to kibble, which may further reduce palatability. Natural sources of choline for dogs include liver, eggs, beef, fish (like cod and salmon), and certain vegetables such as brussels sprouts, shiitake mushrooms, cauliflower, and broccoli.
• Folic acid – a poor substitute for natural folate, which is easily derived from green leafy plants (thus the word’s resemblance to “foliage”). I add a few dandelion leaves to my dog’s food whenever possible, and include parsley and other greens in her meals. You can get dandelion greens from your own back yard, as long as the ground has not been treated with pesticides, fertilizer, or other toxic chemicals. If your dog has a constant urge to nibble on grass, he or she may be seeking folate or chlorophyll.
• Canola oil – an inflammatory seed oil, vulnerable to heat, extracted with toxic hexane and preserved with harmful tocopherols. Canola oil comes from the rapeseed plant, which is treated with carcinogenic glyphosate (Roundup). In the kibble profiled here, this is ingredient number 7 out of 47.
• Insufficient calcium – artificial calcium in commercial dog foods is poorly absorbed. This formula has none. Again, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous must be in proper ratios in order to ensure your dog’s health.
Dogs thrive on many of the same “superfoods” as people
As I’ve taken charge of my dog’s health and rely less on commercial products, I find myself turning toward functional “superfoods” for dogs. These dog-friendly foods are a great way to enhance your dog’s nutrition and health:
• berries (all but strawberries)
• coconut oil (organic and cold-pressed)
• curcumin
• raw honey (small amounts, not for puppies)
• propolis
• mushrooms (and medicinal extracts such as maitake, reishi, or turkey tail)
• milk thistle seed (powder or liquid extract)
• pomegranates
• fermented foods, such as yogurt, kefir, miso, and sauerkraut
• fish oil
• liver (with guidance as to the safe amount for your dog)
• seaweed (a few tablespoons per full crockpot)
Many of these foods are powerful nutritional allies for people, too. I rotate all of them into my own diet, so it’s easy to add some to my dog’s dish, too. A little bit goes a long way, in terms of both health and happiness. My dog is thrilled when I give her a spoonful of yogurt or a handful of blueberries.
Dogs cannot tolerate certain people foods
This article wouldn’t be complete without summarizing how nutritional needs for dogs and people are distinctly different. These differences can be a matter of life and death, so they’re worth keeping in mind:
Certain foods enjoyed by people are toxic to dogs. These include grapes, raisins, caffeine in any form, chocolate, onions, nutmeg, peanuts, strawberries, xylitol, and cannabis. These foods may cause acute pancreatitis, fatal cardiac arrhythmia, liver failure, intestinal inflammation, internal bleeding, or damage to red blood cells. Xylitol can cause irreversible and fatal kidney damage, even in small amounts. It is frequently added to peanut butter and chewing gum – read labels!
Soy, wheat protein, white rice, and sugar may cause food sensitivities and leaky gut syndrome.
Dogs should never be given human drugs, especially painkillers, except for aspirin. Acetaminophen (Tylenol or Advil) is deadly for dogs (and not good for people, either). The same is true of alcohol.
Dogs produce their own vitamin C endogenously – but still need antioxidants.
Dogs should not eat grains or bread that contain gluten (wheat, barley, rye).
My canine companions have brought me immeasurable joy, and to a large degree my life revolves around them, much as it once revolved around my children when they were little. My present pooch was rescued last year as a sick and starving stray. Thanks to good nutrition, Piper has fully recovered her robust good health. She earns her keep by being endlessly cute and bringing benefits to my health, too. She boosts my oxytocin every time she snuggles up to me with her warm mammal presence. As an animal in contact with the earth, she transfers soil-based probiotic microorganisms to my skin, enriching my microbiome. As a goofy creature, she lowers my cortisol by making me laugh. In short, Piper makes my life, my health, and my world a better place.
Piper takes me for four walks every day, ranging from ten to forty-five minutes. These “exercise snacks” are a boon for my metabolism, and keep my joints mobile. Along the way, I pick wild berries and collect red clover flowers, dandelion leaves, and other wild plants; and once in a while an edible mushroom. Piper is patient while I forage, and I try to be patient with her when she stops to smell something, or to graze on the mineral-rich plants that grow from the base of a large rock. Often I feel it is she, with her superior senses, who is leading me.
As I write these words, my dear dog is stretched out on the floor by my feet, her head resting on my ankle. Her soft jowls warm my foot. Even half asleep, she is sensing, smelling, and aware of every movement and sound in the room and beyond. I’m so grateful for her gentle presence, so finely tuned to the world around her. I reach down and give her a pat. Her tail thumps on the floor.
It’s well worth the effort to give these sweet creatures the health and happiness they deserve. Like the centuries of dog owners who knew how to nourish their animals without commercial products, we, too, can find ways to provide healthy, affordable meals for our dogs. All it takes is some flexibility and willingness to learn and grow until you get it right for you and your four-legged family member. As with any new health habit, every small step brings you a little bit closer to your goal.
“Here’s my advice: trust your vet when it comes to diagnosing disease, performing surgery, or identifying clinical symptoms. But when it comes to nutrition? Do your own homework.”
– Dr. Harvey Cohen, If Dogs Could Choose11
To you and your dog’s good health –
Yael Bernhard
Certified Integrative Health & Nutrition Coach
Special thanks to integrative pet nutritionist Dr. Jeanie Amanti, CVA, PhD, for her generous input on this article. Dr. Amanti holds a B.S. in Animal Health Science, Food, and Nutrition. She worked in clinical practice as a certified veterinary anesthesiologist, and went on to do medical research specializing in neuroendocrinology as well as some vaccine development. She can be reached at individualizedpetnutrition@gmail.com.
Yael Bernhard is a writer, illustrator, book designer and fine art painter with a lifelong passion for nutrition and herbal medicine. She was certified by Duke University as an Integrative Health Coach in 2021 and by Cornell University in Nutrition & Healthy Living in 2022. For information about private health coaching or nutrition programs for schools, please respond directly to this newsletter, or email dyaelbernhard@protonmail.com. Visit her online gallery of illustration, fine art, and children’s books here.
Information in this newsletter is provided for educational – and inspirational – purposes only.
Have you seen my other Substack, Image of the Week? Check it out here, and learn about my illustrations and fine art paintings, and the stories and creative process behind them.
Dodds, Jean, DVM and Laverdure, Diana, Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimal Health, Dogwise Publishing, 2015, pg. 14.
Cohen, Harvey, Dr., If Dogs Could Choose: Rethinking Dog Food In a World Disconnected From Nature, Healthy Formulations, Inc., 2025
Example: Hill’s dog food added lethal levels of vitamin D to their canned dog food resulting in hundreds of deaths, countless sick dogs, and a massive recall. https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/hills-pet-nutrition-inc-576564-11202019;
Dodds, Jean, DVM and Laverdure, Diana, Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimal Health, Dogwise Publishing, 2015.
Ibid, pg. 133.
Cohen, Harvey, Dr., If Dogs Could Choose: Rethinking Dog Food In a World Disconnected From Nature, Healthy Formulations, Inc., 2025
The therapeutic diet was formulating by Dr. Amanti, who has also served as editorial consultant on this article. See “special thanks” note at the end of the article.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Cohen, Harvey, Dr., If Dogs Could Choose: Rethinking Dog Food In a World Disconnected From Nature, Healthy Formulations, Inc., 2025