Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a passion for living a healthy livestyle. I love to exercise, I love to eat good quality healthy food and I love a simple life. One of the things that I see very often as a pet minder is the increase in arthritis, skin disorders, constipation and numerous allergies in animals. What I find interesting is that these increases also seem to correlate with what is occuring in people. If you do your own research, you will soon discover that our health system is having to deal with an unprecented increase in illnesses ranging from adult diabetes, allergies, autoamune diseases, bone degeneration, new forms of cancer, heart disease and the list goes on.

I am not a doctor and I can only comment on my own experience in terms of illness. When I chose to simplify my own diet; getting rid of processed food (where ever possible) the result was far greater than expected.  My energy levels increased, my body became leaner and stronger, my emotions started to rebalance, and many little things like back pain, arthritis and skin allergies just cleared up. Many of these things at the time I was told could only be removed through surgery and medication.

The reason I talk about this is to point out that many of our animal's illnesses seem strongly correlated to what they are consuming (likewise for people). Many tins of Animal food (pet food) are largely processed, full of preservatives and chemicals and questionable in terms of nutrition. Dogs and Cats like people require nutrition and balanced diet and unfortunately a lot of the commercial foods do not have this.

I recently looked after a lovely little Shitszu around 14 years old. Within the first day I noticed she had severe constipation and blood in her stool. After changing her diet and incorporating vegetables and fruit mixed in with raw meat the problem disappeared (if the case had been serious I would not have hesitated to take her to the vet). Sometimes we don't need to fix things in our health with a pill...sometimes it just means modifying our behaviour and choosing whole foods (unprocessed fresh fruit, meat, vegetables).
If you are interested in knowing more about how to feed your dog or cat whole foods. I would recommend a book called 'Real Food For Dogs & Cats' by Dr Clare Middle. She is a trained vet and well practised in alternative therapies. If you are interested in knowing more in terms of your own diet, then I would recommend www.drkarencoates.com.au who is a trained MD with years experience in alternative therapies for people. By the way, most people think that fast food is cheaper...its not actually. Unprocessed food is cheaper to make, more creative, tastes wonderful, gives you energy, emotionally balances and good for you (both you and your animals). Why not try it for yourself and feel the difference....consider.

One of the most wonderful aspects about my job is witnessing just how pets are loved by their owners. I have been very fortunate to work with some amazing people who completely adore their animals. It just goes to show how times have changed. I don't know about you, but when I was growing up, people loved their pets but often it wasn't as openly demonstrated as it is today.

I constantly see people lovingly embrace, show affection, pamper their animals with gifts and  openly love their animals in public. I can honestly say that people who openly show their feelings appear very very happy indeed and closer to their animals and perhaps to other people.
Often I get asked what I do for a living and when I tell them that I am a pet minder and that I look after animals in their own homes, the response is always....'that sounds like a lovely job'. Which it is! No wonder the statistics reveal that people with pets are often happier, feel connected, feel their animals give them meaning to their life, and according to www.petnet.com.au, less isolated and lonely. I figure, 'happy thoughts, happy body, happy heart and happy me'

We often give animals time we can spare, space we can spare, and love we can spare.  In return, animals give us their all.  It's the best deal we can ever ask for.