In the nearly 20 years I’ve worked with dogs there has been a dramatic increase in health problems and behavior issues. Many of the health conditions are similar to those seen in humans, including sensitivity to foods, obesity, allergies, musculoskeletal issues, endocrine disorders, alarming rates of cancer, and aggressive changes in the biology of tumors.
From a behavior perspective, there has also been a significant increase in anxiety and aggression.
So, why are our pets getting so much sicker? While there is not one single cause, we do have some clues.
The pet food industry
In the 1960s and 1970s, pet food companies launched massive ad campaigns to convince consumers that dry kibble was the best and safest option for our four-legged companions.
But to make a dry food, it has to be very high in carbohydrates (65% or more). Ideally, the amount of carbs in a dog’s diet should be in the 20% to 25% range, and only about 7% for cats.
High carbohydrate consumption causes the pancreas to increase insulin production, which causes a blood-sugar spike and inflammatory response. Many of the diseases we see today are a result of chronic inflammation.
Still, the pet food industry brought in $65 billon in 2025.
With such profits available, corporate conglomerates and private equity firms are quickly taking over the pet food and veterinary markets. For instance, the pet division of one corporation — MARS — owns Royal Canin, Iams, Whiskas, Pedigree, Cesar, Nutro, Greenies, Sheba, Temptations, and Champion Petfoods.
Additionally, MARS owns the Banfield, VCA, and Blue Pearl veterinary hospitals, which run over 2,000 vet practices across the country. Further, along with companies like Colgate-Palmolive and Purina, MARS sponsors much of the nutrition education that veterinary students receive, and their information is skewed towards feeding kibble.
These corporations also have massive marketing budgets designed to convince consumers that kibble is the best and safest way to feed our pets. They also don’t often put carbohydrates data on nutrition labels, but you can find this information on dogfoodadvisor.com or catfoodadvisor.com.
There is no one size fits all when it comes to feeding, but you want to ensure your dog’s bowl is working as hard as it can for its health. If you chose to or have to feed kibble, research an option with lower carbohydrates and no by-products or fillers. Add cooked vegetables to the bowl to help populate the microbiome. Adding cruciferous veggies like greens, broccoli, and cauliflower also helps with phase 2 liver detoxification.
Finally, soaking the dry kibble in water or broth can help with digestion and increase moisture intake to support kidney function.
Early spay/neuter
In the 1990s, rescue organizations began the practice of spaying and neutering animals as young as eight weeks in an attempt to address animal overpopulation. This increased, early use of gonadectomy was carried out despite many experts’ warnings that the practice would have long-term health consequences.
The gonads (sex organs) form part of an elegant system of checks and balances, keeping the reproductive processes as well as many other vital functions across the body working properly. Early spay/neuter practice can negatively affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, the cascade of hormones produced by different organs that function in harmony. This can impair everything from our pets’ seketelal and muscle-mass maturation to their thyroid, adrenal, and other endocrine functions, to their red blood cell production and immune functions.
Further, investigators at Oregon State University are focusing on one potential mechanism of disease following gonadectomy that pertains to the role of luteinizing hormone (LH) in non-reproductive and cancerous tissues. Dogs that have been spayed or neutered can have blood LH levels up to 30 times normal because the hormonal negative feedback is lost, and several tumor tissues have been linked to increased LH.
So, what can pet owners do?
Wait as long as possible to spay or neuter your pet, preferably a minimum of two years. While not always possible, it is something to consider researching.
Continuous revaccination protocols
In the early 2000s, guidelines for vaccinations were updated, increasing their intervals in adults from yearly to every three years for rabies, distemper, parvo, and adenovirus. This was a step in the right direction, but should we go further? Because, even if our pets have adequate levels of immunity to disease, they are still continuously revaccinated.
The immune system can only handle so much stimulation at once. When we repeatedly challenge it with vaccines, especially multiple antigens at the same time, we risk pushing it into dysfunction rather than protection.
There are some options out there to consider in place of a rigid vaccinations schedule, namely what’s called blood titers. Blood titers are a simple antibody blood test that measures the level of specific antibodies in the blood to check if the animal is immune to diseases it has been vaccinated for. If immunity exists, no further vaccination would be necessary.
While many conventional veterinarians do not offer blood titers as a service, many integrative veterinarians do. If you’d like to learn more about blood titers as a possible replacement for continuous vaccinations, further inquiry is suggested.
Medications
The overuse of antibiotics and reliance on medications to treat symptoms without addressing underlying problems like chronic inflammation and an unhealthy gut microbiome, have serious ramifications.
Antibiotics destroy good bacteria in the gut. In addition, the common use of preventive medications for flea, tick, and heartworm puts stress on the liver and kidneys.
In Tahoe-Truckee we are fortunate that fleas, ticks, and heartworm are not pervasive —but traveling outside the area increases the risk, and there are pros and cons for oral versus topical treatments. A topical may not be a good choice, for example, if there are children in the house who pet the dog and then lick their fingers. Oral medications can have negative side effects, especially if the dog has a seizure condition or other neurological issues.
In general terms, avoid long-acting products and look for some of the natural options available, like Wondercide for flea and tick control. For heartworm, medication can be given up to 30 days after exposure; however, your veterinarian will likely want to perform a heartworm test before prescribing.
To close, I’ll leave you with this statistic: The Veterinary Cancer Society estimates that in the United States, 25% of dogs under age ten and 50% of those over age ten will develop cancer.
With basic nutrition and health changes, we may be able to lower these percentages, increase overall vitality, and extend their lives. With the beloved animal members of our families, for me personally, it’s a bet I’m willing to take.
~ Carla Brown, owner of The Savvy Dog in Truckee, is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-ka) and a Certified Holistic Pet Health Coach (HPHC). She is also a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the International Holistic Pet Health Coach Association, as well as an affiliate trainer for the UC Davis Veterinary Behavior Department. Reach her at thesavvydog.net.
