Prevention is better than cure - yes, for cats and dogs too!

We've all heard the adage, prevention is better than cure. But what does it exactly mean and how is it true for cats and dogs too?

What does prevention is better than cure mean?

It means that it is easier to stop something from happening than it is to repair the damage after it has already happened.

Let me give you an example.

Your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes. You've been feeding him a processed dry and canned food diet for all of his life. He's been overweight for most of his adult life and he also has a history of inflammatory bowel disease, treated with steroid medication. By the time you come to me, the diabetes is quite advanced and your cat requires daily insulin injections.

If you had come to me as soon as your cat was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, I could have recommended dietary changes to support the bowel, and natural steroid alternatives. Diabetes can be caused by steroid medication and so the dietary changes and natural medicines could have prevented diabetes from occurring.

Alternatively, if you had come to me as soon as your cat was diagnosed with diabetes, we may have had a better chance of managing the disease without the need for insulin. We still might be able to improve your cat's condition so that he no longer needs the insulin but our chances of doing that may be reduced the longer your cat has had diabetes.

And, if you had come to me when you first got your cat, I could have guided you on the right path in terms of the best foods to feed your cat to avoid him becoming overweight, getting inflammatory bowel disease and then diabetes.

Why am I telling you this?

I decided to write this article because I want you to know that there is so much more that we can do for your cat or dog if you take the "prevention is better than cure" approach.

Most of my clients come to me when their pets are sick, and often they will say to me, "I wish I had come to you sooner".

Their cat or dog may have just been diagnosed with an illness, or they may have been diagnosed some time ago. The later that a client comes to me to help their sick pet, the chance of getting results may reduce, the road to healing may be longer and it may cost more.

It breaks my heart when I see animals suffering. And it breaks my heart even more when the cat or dog dies as a result of their disease when we may have had a better chance to save him or her if a preventative approach was taken.

Please know that I don't say any of this to make you feel bad or as a means of blame. I say it because I care and I want to help your pets be healthy and happy using safe and natural remedies. I want to help you give your pets the best chance of living a long life without suffering from disease.

How can we prevent disease in our cats and dogs?

Unfortunately we can't prevent every disease but we can certainly take great steps to prevent many, and otherwise, to reduce the chance of illness developing.

One of the best ways to do this is by feeding our pets a healthy, nutrient-rich, balanced and species appropriate diet. Basically, it's about feeding REAL food. And by real food, I am referring to food that:

• is appropriate for a cat or a dog (ie it replicates food that the cat or dog species has eaten for the longest period in their evolution with slight adjustments to take into account recent dietary developments);

• contains the nutrients that cats and dogs need;

• is prepared in a way that the cat or dog will be able to absorb the nutrients in the food;

• contains high quality ingredients (as opposed to low quality, pet grade ingredients);

• doesn't contain artificial colours, flavours, preservatives,

• doesn't contain synthetic vitamins or minerals;

• is fresh / minimally processed (as opposed to food that is heavily processed).

It's also equally important that our cats and dogs have enrichment (eg movement, play, opportunity to use their natural instincts), that they have a safe and clean environment, that they are supplied with fresh, clean water, that their exposure to toxins is minimal, and of course, that they are well loved.

By combining the elements of healthy food, enrichment, low toxins, clean water and love, you will be giving your cat or dog the best chance of preventing disease.

If you would like help in ensuring that the food you're feeding your pet is helping them prevent disease, or if your pet has been diagnosed with an illness and you want to find out about safe and natural remedies to help them heal, please book in a free chat with me here.