MerlinsMum

For what it's worth, I switched my two away from Grizzly Salmon oil and started giving them flaxseed oil quite some time ago - and their coat is better than ever, plus they don't fart as much. I won't be going back. My decision is based on ethical considerations - the oceans are dying and fish aren't our property - and also safety. Levels of mercury in fish are ubiquitous. As for your statement about prostate cancer, I think it's irresponsible to throw around statements about flaxseed oil and cancer without clarifying or backing them up. The fact remains that there is no CONCLUSIVE evidence of a link between flaxseed oil and prostate cancer. Several studies have been conducted, and they all offered contradictory results. However, a 2006 study involving 29,000 men showed no correlation between ALAs and prostate cancer. Not one study has been published proving a link between flaxseed oil and prostate cancer or any other kind of cancer. Additionally, some of the lab results that have shown a positive correlation did not take into account diet. These men were consuming ALA from fatty meat sources and consuming dairy, both of which are packed with trans-fatty acids and correlate with an increased risk of cancer anyway, including prostate cancer. Interestingly, the studies conducted on men on a low-fat diet showed that flaxseed oil was reducing the growth rate of prostate cancer cells and acting as a preventive for the development of prostate cancer by lowering men's blood prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. In any event, if anyone is worried, there is no need to go back to fish oil - use ground flax seed instead of flaxseed oil. Don't get me wrong - I'm all for taking precautions. However, with respect, I do think that statements should really be put in their proper context.

Oh no I'm so very, very sorry to hear this I hope you still have a lot of time together in which to laugh, love and share your beautiful friendship. :grouphug

:yay That's a BIG success!! :yay My two used to be fine with clippers, but Merlin got progressively less tolerant with them until he refused to give me his paws and would tremble. Sagan would be okay but SCREAMED if I tried to clip his dew claws I bought a dremel. It's much easier, although they still don't like, it and of course both of them have nails that grow really fast, so I have to do them every week... So believe me, I get this!

Deb, I'm only just seeing this, I've hardly been on GT or Facebook today. Poor Eric! And poor you - I know how horrible it is to worry You and Eric are in my thoughts. Please keep us posted! :goodluck

I am so sorry, Martin. You were such a beautiful boy, and your beauty shines through your smile. I am s sorry that you were let down so badly by my species for most of your life ... and so glad that you experienced some joy and tenderness before you had to leave. Thank you to the special people who gave you that last gift, and thanks to whom you were able to feel some of the sweetness and love that life can offer. Thank you for your kind heart, Holly.

I just wanted to clarify a couple of things for those who have expressed perplexity about why an ethical vegan would choose to switch his or her companions to a cruelty-free diet too. This is a dog-centered forum, so it is natural for everyone to be looking at this only from a dog's perspective. But look at this from the perspective of a cow or a pig for a moment. As an ethical vegan, my commitment is not just to the dogs in my care, but to other sentient beings as well. Cows are sentient beings, just like dogs. They are perceptually aware, experience panic & fear, grief and joy, just like your dogs do. Both can suffer. There is absolutely no ethical distinction whatsoever between someone taking a cow's life and someone taking your dog's life. The only difference is that the cow is a stranger to you, and your dog is not - you love him or her very much. Because you got to know her - her personality, her fixations, her good days and bad days. But we are so isolated from the animals that are brought to life just to killed and turned into meat. We rarely see them. We're not there to watch when dairy cows cry in grief at being separated from their babies, so we don't see that reality. Everything happens behind hidden doors, and most of our ideas about them are based on pretty (and pretty misleading) fancy commercials where "happy cows" are mooing, happy to give up the milk intended for their calves to humans who don't actually need it. But these cows - these numbers with a pierced tag in their ears - are all individuals. We just choose to ignore that fact. So this is the dilemma for vegans. How can we say that we reject the commodification of non-human animals, if we do so only where it concerns our own food, but not our companion animals' food? How can we reject violence in the consumption of our daily meals, yet condone violence when ti comes to our dogs' meals? The answer is that we can't. Additionally, there is evidence to suggest that canis familiaris does very well on a balanced vegan diet. So no, the reason we feel compelled to feed our dogs a vegan diet is not because we are 'akin to religious fundamentalists' (a baseless and really rather unfortunate statement by someone earlier in this thread) - it is because there is value in consistency. Someone else put this more eloquently than I could: Strangely enough, if one is consistent in defending all animals, one is called an extremist. If, on the other hand, one is not morally consistent, and defends only some animals one is criticized for being inconsistent. So apparently, the choice is between either being morally inconsistent or being seen as an 'extremist'. I’d rather choose the latter, since justice requires moral consistency, and I am a strong believer in truth and justice. (Kenneth Cassar) Hope that helps to explain our reasoning a bit more.

Wow. Such vitriol. As for veganism being a "lifestyle choice". I don't know any vegan who calls it, or would ever call it, a lifestyle choice. It's not about choice. It's an outlook on life, an ethical perspective based on the rejection of unnecessary violence. It is, to quote Gary Francione, an assertion that we reject the notion that animals are things and that we regard sentient nonhumans as moral persons with the fundamental moral right not to be treated as the property or resources of humans. Additionally, as Xan eloquently put it, animal companions (I won't use the word "pet") ARE our prisoners, in every sense of the word. We control their lives absolutely; and the lucky ones are the animals who are loved and taken care of, but the law regards them as mere property, as commodities, a fact which is at the very root of their exploitation. YES!! Well said. Yes! Cancer seems to be much reduced in vegetarian pets. That's a major point of interest. Many of the dogs I've known who have been fed a vegan diet also lived longer than average. This, sadly, is a point that cannot be emphasized enough. Dogs are not like cats, who are obligate carnivores. My vet is fully supportive of my efforts to transition my dogs to a vegan diet as long as I feed a balanced diet. The thing is, people tend to equate "balanced" with "meat-based", but this is a false equation - one that is based on a misunderstanding of the basic principles of nutrition. Xan, I have nothing but admiration for your efforts to feed your animal companions a home-cooked diet. I have only tried kibble brands so far, as I am always rushing and never have time to do a thing, but since your efforts seem to have been so successful thus far, I'm inclined to ask, nay beg for details of the meal chart you came up with! I will give anything a go, and I'll just have to set aside more time, then that's what I'll do. The inconvenience that may cause to me is not comparable to the suffering endured by the 10 billion animals we slaughter for food (and that's just land animals) every year in the United States alone. My dogs LOVE their veggies and their fruit. They whine if they don't get them with their meals. I add all sorts of stuff to their food. Xan - this is a podcast Prof. Francione created a while ago on non-vegan cats. When I get home I'll dig out an old podcast by the VeganFreak folks during which they talked about how they transitioned their companions - I seem to recall that one of their cats is not vegan because he is prone to UTIs as it is and a vegan diet in male cats in that condition is not advisable.

Good advice here. I hope the swelling of Reggie's foot goes down soon.

I don't have my two de-wormed. I had them done a couple of times, maybe even just once, I honestly can't remember. They go to playgroup very often, and meet other dogs on a regular basis. But I felt it was unnecessary as the boys take Interceptor every month anyway. Unless I have a reason to believe they may be infested with something, I will not have them dewormed, even though the vet sends me reminders for de-worming once a year or so. I just ignore the reminders, and they haven't pushed me about it.

So glad to hear that Isis' condition is improving!! :yay

Oh, no, poor Isis! And poor you - I know how crazy you are about her. Hoping you can get some definitive answers from the neurologist... please update when you can! My fingers are very tightly crossed for you both! :goodluck :goodluck

Just seeing this! How is Roscoe this morning??

Oh Dana, I am SO sorry. I logged on earlier to read that his lungs were clear and that he was in surgery, and then... this :( My heart is breaking for you. I am so terribly sorry :grouphug We are here if you need to lean on us... you're not alone.

Oh no I'm so terribly sorry. We're here for you. :grouphug

Keeping my fingers very tightly crossed for your boy... and sending hugs to you! Please update when he's out of surgery...

OMG Just reading this... I am so, so sorry I am so happy that Katie felt the warmth of genuine, unconditional love before she had to leave. Rest in peace, sweet girl. :grouphug

I don't have any advice but I am happy to hear that Neyla is still doing well, and that her osteo seems to be progressing so slowly. :goodluck

What a beautiful tribute. I am so, so sorry for your loss of Leopold. Rest in peace, sweetie. :f_white

Thanks, Kyle. We've just been emailing back and forth this morning. I'll probably stop by her house with my first-aid kit later today

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I have no experience with CHF.... just wanted to lots of good thoughts that there is a way to make Chase better. :goodluck

That is way too young Poor Pilot... I feel terrible for his humans. Life is just so unfair Sending lots of good thoughts and hugs to his family, and scritches to Pilot. May they have many beautiful days together before they have to part.

Checking in on Charlie this morning. What a beautiful roach :wub: Sorry to hear that he had some discomfort last night, but I'm glad he settled down and managed to get a good night's rest afterwards. Sending lots more love and goods thoughts for a quick and uneventful healing process. Dana - I'm so sorry to hear about John

Go, Freddy! :yay That's wonderful news, I can understand why you're thrilled

:cry1 Have to get out of this thread NOW, before I lose it... just wanted to pay my respects. Thank you Holly and GALT for the magnificent, compassionate work you're doing. Thank you thank you thank you.

OMG. How frightening. I think Sagan is due to get another rabies shot this Fall, so thanks so much for the head's up, I''ll talk to my vet.