What an inspiring story sent in by Roxy the Cavalier's Mum Deborah - we feel SO grateful to her for sharing in Roxy's story and also for sending the photos as her experience helps so many of us and echoes the experience of Dr Arielle with her own dog Ruff as shown further below in the post!
"Hello Arielle Wanted to drop you a line to share a few things.
I have 2 cavalier king charles spaniels who are 90% vegan, since Elmo started this diet, they did too, aged 11 and 12.
When we are out walking people ask me if they are puppies!! They are very active dogs, with wonderful physiques.
2 years ago Roxy who had had a murmur diagnosed already, fainted for a few seconds. I know this symptom of MVD (mitral valve disease) as I had a cav with it years ago.
The vet found some fluid on the lungs, which resulted in water tablets being prescribed and we decided to see a cardio vet. They scanned her and said yes she's C stage.
They asked me to come back every 9 months. We have been back twice.
Each time they have said the heart measurements have IMPROVED, this is nearly unheard of and she has gone back to being B2 stage so I've reduced the water tablets following the vet's advice! She is my miracle dog.
Again, i am no vet but the healthy vegan diet has to be playing a big part of this, as it did with Elmo.
All very happy news but I needed to share that Anderson Moores in Winchester, where we were referred to for the cardio visits, they asked what I feed her and when I said, they gave me a lecture about Roxy needing meat for protein.
I did say I had been influenced by Professor Andrew Knight's research. I was given a handout with different types of dog food (Hills etc) and the protein content.
I came home and googled protein content of Give a dog a bean to see it has a good level of protein with the added taurine needed (and the dogs look so forward to their meals).
I will not change their diets!
I am glad when I see you are visiting veterinary schools to spread the word. I hope you don't mind my dropping you a line but I was eager to share.
Thank you for all that you do for the animals and the planet.
We are so grateful for the extra years your healthy and nutritious food gives our dogs"
Kind regards Deborah
What respect I have for Deborah with all of her choices as it takes such strength to speak up against a veterinary specialist practice and she stuck to her ethics and did her research and she was right in her choices for her Roxy!
Sadly the Specialist veterinary practice that Roxy was referred to, have been bought out by the Linnaeus Group and this group is now owned by Mars Petcare - the very corporate group who sell only meat-based veterinary prescription diets to protect the profits of these large corporates.
Read here about misinformation spread by Nestle Purina about vegan dog food diets and how Hills have been sued by grain-free dog food companies for spreading misinformation about DCM and dog food diets.
If your vet has heard rumours of vegan diets and is advising against a plant-based diet for fear that it can affect heart health if using a food containing peas and lentils DO NOT try to change their views about the latest studies (as vets will believe the pet food corporates as these corporates have enormous control of the veterinary industry and only want to sell Royal Canin, Hills and Nestle Purina at their practices!)
Simply tell your vet that you are feeding delicious wet food trays Give A Dog A Bean or Jumping Jack as these complete recipes contain NO peas or lentils and high protein faba beans, quinoa and hemp instead; and they have the correct levels of added Taurine, Methionine, L-Carnitine and Omega 3s.
That will reassure your vet that you know exactly what you are doing and have made the right choices☺️
(Another top tip with your vet: Mention only the very neutral term 'plant-based' and NEVER use the word 'vegan' as it implies too much restriction and what is being taken away!
Also, tell your vet that your choice is based on sustainability and this will get them on your side straight away too as we ALL suffer from climate anxiety and plant-based dog food diets are known to be the solution to our climate emergency!)
Which other dog showed an IMPROVEMENT in MVD heart disease on his vegan diet?
It's Dr Arielle's own family dog Ruff who was diagnosed with a heart murmur in 2022 (Picked up by vet Dad Ross when doing a routine check on the then 8 year old Ruff).
Dr Arielle immediately had the full range of heart tests and found that so typical of many small elderly dogs, he had mitral valve disease (MVD) and needed to start on Vetmedin medication.
He has regular heart checks every 6 months, and in January 2025, a cardiology specialist at The Ralph Specialist Veterinary Centre (started by highly recommended vegan vet Dr Shailen Jasani); sent Dr Arielle as inspiring news as Ruby's; that Ruff's heart disease had IMPROVED and Ruff no longer needed the Vetmedin medication!
A quick check with veterinary cardiology specialist Dr Nuala Summerfield who was as delighted to hear as Dr Arielle, advised he stay on the Vetmedin and the addition we made to his diet is the Omega 3 Algae oil (which he absolutely loves!)
Just like Roxy's improvements, Ruff's heart disease is being perfectly controlled with his complete plant-based diet also Give A Dog A Bean and a mixture of dry foods - sometimes Green Crunch and sometimes Solo Vegetal. (Listen here what Dr Arielle feeds to Ruff each day and why)
Ruff remains Dr Arielle's complete inspiration for her Just Be Kind business as just like you and your own dog, she wants only the very best for him which is why at Just Be Kind, we continue to innovate and produce better and better products all the time!
Which cardiology specialist vet feeds plant-based to her own Cavalier?
