Holistic practitioners have long said that environment, diet and well-being play a major part in various illnesses and diseases. Many believe you must treat mind, body and soul for optimum health. Holistic vets use this method in treating animals. It has apparently made an impact.
According to an ABC News report, dated Jan 22, 2013, a new study will be conducted on golden retrievers to track how their health, diet and life style impact their chances of developing cancer. The study’s principal investigator is Dr. Rodney Page, who is a professor of Veterinary Oncology at the Flint Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University.
Dr. Page states that the 25 million dollar study will be watching for 3 types of cancer that can be fatal to both dogs and humans: bone cancer, lymphoma and cancer in blood vessels. Though the study will not intervene and offer any medical advice or evaluation, the team members will work closely with the golden retriever owners and their veterinarian.
They will document such things as the dog’s diet, medical history and environment. They will also watch for things such as the family interaction with the pet and if children spending time with the pet makes a difference. The study also wants to know if the pet has other pet buddies living with him or if he is the only pet in the household.
Dr. Page said that they choose golden retrievers “because they are very common. They are wonderful companions for people.” The golden retriever must be under the age of two and the owner has to be able to document that it is a purebred. The pedigree needs to be traceable for at least three generations to qualify for the study.
The researchers hope that this study will eventually be able to help humans that suffer from the same type of cancers. This truly is a study on how mind, body and soul, affects a dog’s overall health and will hopefully teach us how to maintain our own lifestyles the same way.
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