"Whatever is unsure is possible, and life is bigger than flesh" is a line from Wendell Berry's wellknown poem Testament that struck a deep chord with me as I was looking for a name for my site. I had hoped to find a name that would express the sense of adventure and possibility I feel when it comes to the field of holistic health care for dogs. Not long after I read the poem, a friend returned a book of mine she had borrowed many years ago and had forgotten to give back - The Possible Human by Jean Houston. Written by a true pioneer in the human potential movement, and a brilliant, inspiring thinker, the title again reminded me of what I wanted most to express in my work and in my site - a vision of a healthier, longer lived, fully actualized canine who not only lives up to, but transcends what we currently think of as his species limitations.

And so, The Possible Canine was born.

What I believe is this: that the health and overall potential of dogs, like humans and other living organisms, rests on the cornerstones of nutrition, emotional wellbeing, responsible veterinary care, and a clean, toxin free living environment. Once these four are aligned we have not only a vibrant, fully realized animal, but a beginning - a framework for developing more of their abilities while at the same time we give back to them in terms of length and quality of life. The companionship of dogs, their intelligence, loyalty, service to humanity in so many capacities, even their role as guides for our spirit, if we choose to see them this way, has been invaluable to our own species for thousands of years. As we push further into uncharted territory of human health - medical advances, nutrition, mind/body medicine, answers to global environmental issues - I know we all want to bring our best friends along with us.

And to this end I dedicate my site.

To progress, balanced exploration of new ideas, canine company, and to Luke and Lila - my teachers, soulmates, bringers of daily joy, and dearest of companions.

Thank you all for visiting.

Cat Lane - May 4/2006

"Catherine Lane is a Canine Nutrition Consultant. I should correct that last statement, she's not just a Canine Nutrition Consultant, she's an exceedingly knowledgeable and experienced  Canine Nutrition Consultant. It has been my pleasure to establish a working relationship with Cat Lane. This allowed me to re-learn much of what I thought I knew about canine nutrition, which is humbling and refreshing after being a practising veterinarian for 38 years. When owners have decided to feed their dogs other than commercial foods, it is a luxury to find someone who completely understands the formulations, nutrient requirements, and supplements that my patients require.

They say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating and this certainly applies in this case. By virtue of careful and knowledgable adjustments of my patient's diets, the dogs get better, which allows confidence in the multiple aspects of diet formulation. Each formula Catherine provides is calculated to fulfil the individual's requirements, based on age, physiology, health, and activity level.

When choosing a diet to provide a healthful environment for a dog's development, one can chance it and pick a food off the shelf, being guided by that food's advertising. I would far rather people seek the expert advice Cat offers, absolutely for the good of your canine companions.

I often say to my patients that if I do not know something, I will refer them to someone who does. I use only professionals; people in whom I have total trust and have seen the benefits of their knowledge. I can wholeheartedly support Catherine. You will be advised very professionally and you will develop an admiration for her knowledge and sensitivity in this complex field."

Yours in health,
Dr. L.E.Beltran
B.Vet.Med, Ph.D, M.R.C.V.S.

The concept of sharing knowledge with others is one that's very dear to my heart. Over the course of many years on various Internet groups, including my own PossibleCanine discussion group, I've come to appreciate how thirsty my fellow dog lovers are for knowledge from unbiased, reliable sources.The demand has been such that I am currently developing material for the Basics of Canine Nutrition course, which will start a yearlong session in the Fall of 2008. The Home Made Diet course is currently full, but will also be starting a session in September of 08. Please stay tuned for details, and if you are interested in signing up, or more information regarding the curriculum,  contact me at catlane@thepossiblecanine.com. I will be glad to discuss the course material, your educational goals and background, and find the programme that's best for you.

***UPCOMING SEMINAR
Looking forward to a great summer series of short and longer (full-day) seminars in and around Ottawa, on topics including how to put together a balanced home prepared diet,  safe and healthy supplementation, feeding for life stages and common health conditions, and choosing the right commercial diet for your individual dog. Check back for details as they are confirmed.

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Look for my article on home made diet in the September / October issue of The Bark, and read the full length version at www.thebark.com.

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Due to popular demand, Cat will now be on the air for two full hours once a month,  Wednesday mornings between 7 and 9 am, with host Michael Houston (tic with no k) of CKCU's popular  Special Blend. "Cat and Dogs" will feature topics ranging  including how to home prepare a balanced diet for your healthy dog, supplement use,   feeding puppies, performance dogs and geriatrics, cancer prevention, therapeutic use of herbs, keeping your house and lawn dog friendly, basics of Tellington Touch, and much more. Be sure to tune in at http://www.ckcufm.com/listenlive.html  - it's always a lively and information packed two hours.

Information on Canine Hemangiosarcoma and other Cancers

http://www.modianolab.org/studyInfo/studyInfo_hemangio.shtml

http://thesumnerfoundation.org/

http://www.caninecancerawareness.org/CanineCancer-
Hemangiosarcoma.html

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1449