Skip to content
Previous article
Now Reading:
How to keep your dog safe from drugs and minimize side-effects

How to keep your dog safe from drugs and minimize side-effects

Health and Longevity Course for Dogs             Chapter 4

In Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 of the Health and Longevity Course for Dogs, I touched on two topics. One, how to determine what toxins are in your dog's body and two, how to get rid of them.

Today, I'd like to discuss the topic of pharmaceutical drugs one more time. While I'm not opposed to their use in some cases, my goal is to help you understand the effect of pharmaceutical drugs and why I choose to avoid them whenever possible.

A story from my childhood 

Every summer holidays, my brother, two sisters and I spent a month with my grandparents. My grandma was an amazing cook and her baking was out of this world. But whenever my mother, her daughter, arrived they would bicker about how to wash dishes. For some reason, my grandma always ended up with really dirty dish water and when my mother argued it should be changed, grandma usually resisted.

My mother’s argument was that if she washed dishes in dirty water, they would end up dirtier than before.

Of course, it wasn't completely true, but in retrospect, I understand my mother’s point. Cleaning dishes in dirty water doesn't make sense. Draining the sink and putting in clean water would make more sense. 

The process of recreating health

Now it's time to return to healing and the process of re-creating health. Disease is a state where health, the optimal state of being, is altered or lost. Nature installed a healing program directly into your dog's body. When your dog has a cut, the skin has the ability to heal, unless the wound is too large. 

The same automatic health-restoring process takes place in most of the organs and cells, except when the disease is beyond the body's repair.

Pain, discomfort and inflammation are a signal the body needs rest, which is the way nature heals. The purpose of inflammation is to increase blood circulation to flush tissues, eliminate toxins and bring white blood cells, the body's guards, to the area to remove diseased tissue and invaders such as parasites, bacteria and viruses. 

All these elements of the healing process must function properly in order to achieve the goal of a full recovery and restoration of health.

What effects can pharmaceutical drugs have on your dog?

Now that we've gone through the steps of the healing process, we can move on to the effect of pharmaceutical drugs, which can be divided into several groups.

1. Drugs that replace a naturally-occurring substance such as thyroid hormone in the case of hypothyroidism, insulin in the case of diabetes or mineralocorticoids of the adrenal cortex in the case of Addison's disease. You can see this group of medication replaces hormones that are essential to life and may be low or missing completely.  

This group of drugs usually have a very positive impact on the patient and can be life-saving. The practitioner’s goal should be to use them to restore the body's own hormone production, which may or may not be possible.

2. Drugs that eliminate parasites, bacteria or viruses get rid of pathogens and disease-causing agents. They also bring greater risks because of toxicity and the possibility of resistance. Now, if you remember the story of my grandmother's dirty dishwater, antiparasitic, antifungal or antibiotic drugs can be compared to adding dirt (or toxins) to the body. 

The body's natural tendency is to eliminate toxins, which puts extra stress on organs, such as the liver, kidneys and digestive tract. 

While these drugs can also be life-saving, they can have more profound negative effects. Good examples are antibiotic toxicity, loss of helpful probiotic bacteria, the potential of bacterial resistance and the spread of superbugs. Naturally, this group of drugs should be used only when absolutely necessary and with caution.  

Some of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to using these drugs:

  • Overuse of antibiotics when it comes to skin and wound care. For more information click on the links below. 
  • Use of chemical flea control, which causes serious side effects, such as seizures and even death. Click here for more details.

3. The third group of drugs alters or blocks the body's function

The most commonly used drugs from this group are corticosteroids, such as for skin disease, allergies and immune disorders. These drugs suppress the body's immune system function.

To better understand their effect, imagine your house is on fire. You run to your neighbor for help and he hands you a sleeping pill and suggests you don't worry, take the pill and go to sleep.

Steroids are the sleeping pill that put your dog's immune system to sleep and the consequences of these drugs are serious and deep, sometimes even after a few weeks of administration.

My experience is these drugs often permanently damage the body's immune system, making conditions incurable. Some people argue there was nothing else they could do, or panic and reach for steroids. However, I've successfully treated conditions such as allergies, skin disease, lupus and autoimmune disease without these drugs if the body is taken through what I call the Healing Cycle.

Another group of drugs under this category are NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). While suppressing inflammation may sound like a good idea, in reality, these drugs only mask problems, reduce tissue healing and cause severe side-effects. 

4. The last group of conventional drugs is the most controversial. Chemotherapy drugs are designed to destroy and eliminate cancerous cells, but they don't leave the rest of the body untouched. While there are some attempts to limit the effects of such drugs to the affected area, usually healthy cells in the body are also affected. 

My view of these drugs may be slightly different from most people's. If there is a record of a complete remission and cure when using them in a particular type of cancer, such therapy may be valid in dogs. However, in the case of incurable cancer, I've seen dogs with chemotherapy do worse than those who are treated with the Healing Cycle. 

The purpose of this article is to help you have a better understanding of drug use in medicine and their effects on the body.  

Except for the first group, adding drugs to the treatment plan is never as optimal as achieving a cure without them. Drugs should never be the first line of defense. Adding a foreign chemical substance in the body should always be taken seriously because by doing so, we are creating an unnatural state. Similar to the dirty dishwater needing to be changed, using drugs gives the body another burden to get rid of.

As I said at the beginning of this article, I'm not against using conventional drugs, but in almost three decades in practice, I can now say that reducing their use to less than 10 percent is doable. It's better for your dog and the environment, and our goal must be to advance and develop drug-free treatment plans for as many conditions as possible.

Listen to my podcast on this topic, here.

Watch now! Drugs as the last, not first resort for your dog

Did you know this is only one article from our free Holistic Health & Longevity Course? Check out the entire course...

 

To read the entire Holistic Health and Longevity Course for Dogs click the links below. 

© Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM

Health & Longevity Course Chapters

To read the entire Holistic Health and Longevity Course for Dogs click the links below:

About the author

Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM is an Integrative veterinarian, nutritionist and creator of natural supplements for dogs and people. Helping you and your dog prevent disease, treat nutritional deficiencies, and enjoy happier, healthier, and longer lives together.

Most Popular

  • Pax the dog looking out airplane window
    In my article, I share the personal story of how I'm able to fly with my dog, Pax, thanks to overcoming challenges with sleepwalking and night terrors. This unique experience not only allowed me to travel with my service dog but also serves as a reminder that even difficult situations can have positive outcomes.
  • Dog smelling a white pony that is laying on the ground-communication hacks for a happier life
    Successful communication is essential for building healthier and more fulfilling relationships and happier lives. In this article, I'll share with you 8 communication hacks to help you avoid unnecessary drama, prioritize active listening and address conflicts effectively.
  • Dalmatian eating mixed fruit-safe fruits for dogs
    Can dogs eat bananas, apples, strawberries and other fruit? What about grapes? Find out what fruits are safe, toxic, and healthy for dogs. Learn about the potential health benefits and risks of feeding fruit to your canine companion, and get tips on the ideal time to feed it.
  • Illustration of the anatomy of a heart-how to protect Dog heart health
    As dog lovers, we all want our beloved pups to live long and healthy lives. Protecting your dog's heart from potential health issues is important, and in this blog Dr. Dobias shares some key points that you might not yet be aware of, read on to find out what you can do to keep your dog's heart safe. 

Dog Health

  • Husky lying on blanket with heart toy- Dog heart health solutions
    Dogs have our hearts and that is why we need to protect their heart. Dog’s as they age often face muscle problems and spinal misalignment and you might be surprised to know how that can hurt their heart. Learn how to protect your dog’s spine and by extension their heart.
  • Dogs Opie and Pax laying on an outdoor deck-Perfect No. 2
    Dogs and humans have evolved side-by-side but they are still quite different when it comes to their digestive tracts and dietary habits. We have studied their original environments such as the soils of the African savanna and consulted with top experts in the field of probiotics and microbiology to come up with a combination that reflects healthy bacterial flora of canines.
  • Man carrying a box being pointed at-Feedback and criticism
    Criticism can hurt a brand, but constructive feedback can help it grow. In this blog Dr. Dobias talks about the differences between these approaches, and how to handle the power of influence and opinion with care. 
  • Broccoli with minerals and vitamins-The nutrient depletion epidemic
    Are you worried that your and your dog's diet is missing something? Maybe you're worried about toxin levels in food, the environment, or flea and tick products. Let's face it; we can't remove ourselves entirely from our toxin-filled world, but we can do things to reduce our exposure to harmful substances. 

Human health

  • Dr. Dobias holding his dog Pax- finding peace amongst the chaos
    How do you navigate the seas of life? How do you deal with disappointment? Whatever life throws at us, we can always rely on our dogs to bring joy into our days. In this blog I share my thoughts on the support our dogs provide during the difficult moments in life. 
  • Person with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease holding the stomach
    Learn more about the alarming prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) affecting 1 in 4 Americans. Discover its main risk factors, diagnosis methods, and treatment options to better manage or prevent this silent yet severe condition. 
  • DHA-A new perspective on brain health, memory loss, Alzheimer's Disease, and dementia in people and dogs
    The Science of DHA and the Brain: Omega-3 fatty acids, primarily DHA, are the unsung heroes of brain health. They play crucial roles in brain physiology and biological activities, with exciting links between Omega-3 levels and cognitive function. Higher DHA levels have been shown to preserve the integrity of the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB), your brain's security system
  • Dr. Peter Dobias and his dog Pax-why we struggle where our dogs excel
    It appears that most of the world is ready for change, but whenever I think about the solutions to any of the problems that plague our world, I can’t prevent myself from thinking that we humans are acting like little toddlers who have broken a toy and do not know how to fix it. Despite my generally optimistic attitude, I have had a hard time staying positive at times because I know how complex this all is. Read here for some tools that make me feel good about the world, which I would like to share with you.

News, stories and good life

  • Dr. Peter Dobias with his dog Pax on his lap- dogs can save you from negative news
    Do you have trouble staying positive during difficult times? These days we are surrounded by a lot of negative messaging, and it's easy to let that get you down. Here are some of my tips for remaining positive, and don't forget to share your tips with me!
  • Man with great immunity system standing on top of a mountain- how to increase dog immune system
    Most of us have been exposed to panic-inducing information about the virus spread, however, I have noticed the general absence of one piece of information, how to make your immune system stronger and body more resilient. (It will definitely not happen by stockpiling toilet paper!) I have always loved immunology and the current situation has prompted me to put together two simple lists on how to increase your dog’s and your own immunity.
  • Man with dog wearing a collar and leash-dangers of balloon effect
    Does your dog have ear problems, nasal or oral tumors, reverse sneezing or an  itchy head or hair loss on their head? Learn how you can address some of these problems and save thousands in vet care costs.
  • Terrier dog eating raw food-Best diet for dogs-raw diet
    Now there is no need to guess if there is something missing in your dogs diet.  The HairQ Test is a highly accurate test for mineral deficiencies, toxins and heavy metals in dogs to finely tune your dog’s diet and supplement schedule.

Cart

Close

Your cart is currently empty.

Start Shopping
Close