My name is Catherine Lane and I have worked with animals all my life, beginning in childhood in my father's veterinary practise. I grew up with dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds and many other species as part of my daily life, and my greatest joy was helping my father by holding, tending to them while he worked, and learning about their needs, breeds, health challenges and various treatments for those conditions. Throughout that time, I developed a great sensitivity to the needs and emotions of species other than our own. This interest stayed with me throughout life and prompted me to study complementary and alternative care with an eye to helping dog lovers like myself make the best choices for their companion,especially in terms of diet, supplements, herbals. To that end, I recently completed a a Diploma in Canine Fitness and Nutrition with the Companion Animal Science Institute, a programme that is both comprehensive, and unique in its specific, indepth focus on all aspects of canine nutrition. I have also studied canine nutrition informally for over a decade and continue to avail myself of the best available information on the subject. I have also practised Western herbalism for over 25 years, completing two certificate programmes in medical herbalism; one from Mary Conley, ND, and the other from the Australasian College of Natural Health. For the last year I have been working by referral as a nutrition consultant to Dr. Eddie Beltran, whose endorsement of my services is featured on the front page. It's one of the great privileges of my life to be able to learn from his vast expertise and incredible knowledge. I plan to expand my education now with studies in animal nutrition from Purdue University, as well as the Dominion College of Herbalism inVancouver, BC. I believe education in these fields is a lifelong endeavour, as knowledge constantly changes, and it is in the best interest of my clients that I remain up to date and informed on the topic. That said, experience is also a critical element of the field. Textbook studies are important and I value education greatly, but applying what we learn to the individual animal is always a learning experience in and of itself. To that end, I owe a great debt to the hundreds of cases I have worked with over the past ten years, all of whom have contributed so much to my understanding of how applied nutrition works in a specific case. As a consultant I tailor each dog's nutrition plan to the individuals needs (based on the owner's completion of a detailed questionnaire) and work interactively often on an ongoing basis, with my client. My goal is always to provide properly balanced, wholesome fresh foods and carefully selected supplements that work together to maintain health, vigour and even increase longevity.In recent years, I've guested on local Ottawa station CKCU's morning show Special Blend, as well as contributing articles on holistic health to several local magazines and periodicals. My radio show is now a regular, monthly event, and my article on home made diet has been featured in The Bark, September 2007 as well as on their website www.thebark.com. I was also interviewed in the March 2008 Dog Fancy by Holistic Health columnist Denise Flaim. With the help of what I consider the world's greatest moderators, I run The Possible Canine Internet Group which features informative posts, links and general knowledge sharing; topics focus on nutrition but can include anything related to natural dog care. We're a friendly and supportive group with a high level of respect for individual methods of feeding and personal choice, and I hope you will drop by and join in. Whether your dogs are currently healthy and you'd like to see them stay that way, or you are facing a challenge such as arthritis, heart disease, allergy or obesity, I can help you make the best possible choices for your best friend. Please see my upcoming article on Nutritional Philosophy for a deeper understanding of how I approach diet, combining a firm grounding in science with a keen appreciation for the individual dog and his or her specific needs. For more information on the type of consultations I currently offer, please see the section regarding Services, and let me know how I can help you and your dog explore all the possibilities.Yours in holistic health, |
