In the late 1980’s, I attended a workshop on holistic health therapies and whole food diet and began learning all I could about nutrition and wellness. By 1995, my husband, David, and I had changed our diet, eliminating most processed foods in favor of organic whole foods and herbs. Our golden retriever, Breck, was now nine years old and we had just been told by our veterinarian that the epilepsy, diagnosed when she was two years old, had taken its toll on her body and, in addition to the horrendous skin and ear allergies she had been fighting her whole life, would cause her life to be shortened by many years. At that point, there was nothing to lose, so we began our search for ways to use holistic therapies and diet to support her health and ease the symptoms of the allergies and epilepsy. I’ve shared her story below. I’ve also shared the story of our goldendoodle, Duffy, who was diagnosed at nine years old with dilated cardiomyopathy by cardiologists at one of the most prestigious veterinary teaching hospitals in the world and given six months to live. We were told there was no hope. Again, we took the responsibility of finding alternative therapies to treat his condition and, as you will learn in his story, he lived almost four years post-prognosis.

The success we experienced with both Breck and Duffy seems miraculous, but in reality, we’ve learned that, given nutritious foods and support from holistic therapies, the body often has the power to heal itself. I retired from teaching in 2016 and in the spring of 2018, after twenty-five years of educating myself on animal nutrition through personal reading, webinars and workshops, I began formal studies in animal nutrition, completing my 500 hours of coursework and a six-month practicum period working with ten families who were open to the idea of making positive changes in their dogs’ and cats’ diets. In May, 2020, I received my certification in clinical canine and feline nutrition and established my practice, Our Kindred Spirits, Inc.

I believe our two “kindred spirits,” Breck and Duffy, are making this journey with me and encouraging me daily to make a difference in the lives of other pets and their families. Knowledge truly is power. What you do over the course of your pet’s life creates either chronic illness or chronic health, so it’s important to become an educated pet guardian. Nutrition is the foundation of a healthy life for us, as well as our pets, and it’s never too late to make changes that will positively impact their health at any age. A wholesome diet is a preventive tool, as well; even healthy pets can benefit from positive changes at meal time. For all they give to us, they deserve the healthiest diet, and the healthiest life, possible. After reading Breck’s and Duffy’s stories, call me to make an appointment to plan a healthier diet for your “kindred spirit.”