DISCLAIMER: Neither Ashlyn nor Ellen are veterinarians. The information on this page describes the diets of Cherokee and Whidbey; these diets may or may not be right for your pet. Check with your veterinarian before changing your pet's diet. Ashlyn and Cherokee | Ellen and Whidbey | Sample diet Ashlyn, on Cherokee's diet: Ashlyn and Cherokee at the Oregon coast (July 2004) "I discovered that Cherokee had a mast cell tumor when she was 8 years old, (she is 11 now). She had it removed and the tests came back as a grade 1 (the best results possible). Everything went smoothly until last October (2003) when she had a wound on her rear right pad that wouldn't heal. It turned out to be malignant melanoma. The vet was suggesting that we remove her entire leg. I had them remove the pad only but the results suggested that it may have made it into her blood stream. She told me that chemo wouldn't cure it, that there was no cure. I had her recommend an oncologist and a holistic vet. The oncologist told my vet that after she saw Cherokee's lab results that she didn't understand how Cherokee was able to walk. I decided not to make an appointment with the oncologist." "I went to the holistic vet and she was fantastic. She is trained as a traditional vet and supplemented her education with acupuncture, chiropractic, and nutrition. She combines both eastern and western philosophies. She gave Cherokee a chiropractic exam, Chinese herbs, and set her up on a new diet. The thing that I liked most about the holistic vet was that she gave me hope. It took me 2 months to not look at Cherokee like she was going to die any minute. Since her diagnosis, Cherokee has been to the Oregon coast and to Whistler twice. Today, she and Whidbey ran like gazelles in the park. I would have liked the oncologist to have seen her do that!" "Cherokee's new diet (all organic and raw foods) has given her lots of energy, eliminated her horrific gas and removed plaque from her teeth! She looks forward to her meals and licks the bowl clean. And I feel like I am doing something to help." "The strange thing is that a lot of positive things have come out of Cherokee's cancer. Ellen and I started Cherbey's as a healthy dog treat business, I have learned a ton of information about what I have been feeding my dogs in the past (for instance, euthanized animals and rancid restaurant grease are some of the ingredients in some pet foods), and I have learned so much about organic foods. I also know that Cherokee has had a happier life than most humans (I rescued her from death row at the pound when she was a 1 1/2). When it's her time to leave, I will be devastated, but I feel that I really am enjoying my time with her now." Ellen, on Whidbey's diet: "When Ashlyn told me about Cherokee's diagnosis, it made me question how I had been feeding Whidbey. I thought I had been feeding him well since I was buying him expensive dry food. After doing research with Ashlyn for Cherokee's diet, I found that even the most unsuspecting dog food can contain additives, preservatives and animal by-products whose long term effects on animals is uncertain at best. I decided that I wouldn't wait for Whidbey to get sick to change his diet to a more healthy alternative." "I started Whidbey on the same basic diet as Cherokee, all raw meats and vegetables. The first day on the new diet, Whidbey wasn't sure what to do with his food. I convinced him to eat it and after a few meals, he started going nuts when he knew he was getting fed." "After a few months on the new diet, I started seeing noticeable changes in Whidbey. He had much more energy and lost the few extra pounds he was carrying around. His coat looked healthier and wasn't greasy anymore (I used to be so embarrassed when someone would pet him and have grease all over their hand when they were done!). Whidbey NEVER got excited about his meals when I was feeding him dry food -- it quickly became one of the highlights of his day." Ellen and Whidbey at the Washingon coast (April 2004) A sample raw meat and vegetable meal: Cherokee and Whidbey get the same basic diet except that Cherokee gets some extra supplements and can't have carbohydrates because of the cancer. To make their vegetable mix, we take just about any vegetable we can find (except onions and white potatoes) and puree them together. For example, we take broccoli, sweet potatoes, carrots, celery, spinach, beets, red cabbage, cauliflower, squash, dandelion leaf, brussel spouts, parsley (for good breath), and puree them in a food processor. We also add in fruit that’s in season (apples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, or blackberries, but no grapes or raisins), and sometimes a handful of brazil nuts or pumpkin seeds. There are also some “good for you extras” such as; kelp, bee pollen, turmeric powder, ground flax seed, glucosamine, and burdock root. Then comes the cubed raw meat. We basically want to give the dogs protein, but that can be beef, chicken, tofu, or even hard-boiled eggs. At feeding time, we take the vegetable puree and protein, add supplements and mix it all together. A spoon full of yogurt or cottage cheese also makes them happy and Whidbey gets some brown rice and lentils. Vegetable mix and tofu cubes (Note: Some dogs are allergic to soy/tofu products. Consult your vet before making any changes to your dog's diet.) Whidbey gets VERY excited for dinner!