"The Food Guy"

She wanted to know: "What are your qualifications?" This inquiry arrived forty minutes into a conversation that had begun as a simple request; "Tell me what to feed my dog." and had morphed into an explanation of the liver's two-phase detoxification process. It seems that her six year old Jack Russell didn't just itch and scratch; the reason she had asked for a food recommendation; but had been lethargic and vomiting, which prompted a trip to the vet and a blood profile that showed elevated liver enzymes. I suggested she moisten a dry dog food we sell that is made without synthetic vitamins and minerals (less stress on the liver) and supplement that food with N-Dimethylglycine(DMG): a tertiary amino acid that naturally strengthens the immune system while assisting the body in fighting foreign antigens, and milk thistle: an herbal medicine used for centuries for the treatment of liver disease.

"I have no qualifications." I told her and then qualified that, "No degrees in nutrition. No experience as a vet tech. No formal education."

I knew she was wondering, in that thirty second vacuum of silence that enveloped our heretofore dialogue, "Who is this Doug and why does he have this responsibility, let alone a "corner?"

Well, the first query is, indeed, a murky existential quagmire and the second a question that deserved an explanation, which I gave to her and now share with you, gentle reader.

At heart, I am a bibliophile. I've had a book in my hand for as long as I can remember, and have worked in bookstores, served as a publisher's rep and, for ten years, owned my own shop. My interests are wide and varied; eclectic and far-flung; with an interest in nutrition that arose from my decision to become a vegetarian thirty years ago.

My vegetarianism has evolved into a form of veganism that seeks life energy; a quality found in freshly grown, uncooked whole food.

What I seek for myself I desire for my animal companions, with this clear distinction: Unlike myself, dogs and cats were made to be carnivores, evidenced by their tooth structures, the industrial strength hydrochloric acid in their stomachs, their short, straight gastrointestinal tracts and their ability to handle bacterias.

I am an advocate, therefore, of complete, balanced human-grade raw food meat diets for dogs and cats that are grain-free and high in moisture and enzymes.

I am not, however, a fundamentalist, nor, as I said, a nutritionist or a self proclaimed expert or consultant.

"I'm Doug, The Food Guy."

I use a holistic (I hate when they spell it wholeistic) perspective when dialoging with customers, which does not mean I look for peas and carrots to go with the dog's/cat's meat and potatoes (euphemism). Rather, it is part of my philosophical bedrock that an integrated whole has a reality independent of and greater than the sum of it's parts. Moreover, every integrated whole has it's own unique quality that can only be ascertained by understanding the parts.

What do I mean? Well, the woman with the Jack Russell would have been best served with the raw food diet I advocate, but in dialoging/counseling with her it became apparent she would never be comfortable with raw meat dog food in her kitchen. So we moved to the next best option; a dry food thoroughly moistened that would address the dog's liver issues without the trauma of raw meat. This canine owner was, in addition, an advocate of supplements in her own diet, so was perfectly comfortable with using DMG and milk thistle in her dog's.

"I'm Doug, The Food Guy."

Another of my bedrock principles is simple: Do not harm. If a dog/cat is presented as a finicky eater, but I find out the animal hasn't eaten in a week, I do not offer food possibilities but advocate a trip to the vet in the strongest possible terms. I know animal medicine is becoming as expensive and exclusive (and problematic) as the human variety, but I resist the temptation to employ my auto-didactic knowledge and prescribe: I do not wish to be a de-facto vet.

"I'm Doug, The Food Guy."

So, if you want to come see me at Western Pet Supply to dialogue and reason together in the best interests of you and your pet, come on down, whether it means a raw food diet or the best $25.00 kibble we can find, because...

"I'm Doug, The Food Guy."

Since I have no qualifications, I guess I could have headed a federal agency in the current administration (Who loves ya, Brownie!) But sometimes Fate, Experience, Perspective, Empathy, Compassion, Common Sense and the plain love of animals intervenes, since I'm;

Oh well, you know...

Doug