Dr. Cathy Alinovi DVM

21/07/2025

How often should you get blood work done on your pet? The answers you did NOT expect... HERE:

This is a trick question! And to answer it, there are several other questions you should ask yourself first. Let’s start with the purpose of blood work. If you’re trying to identify problems before they happen, bloodwork actually is not the way to do it. Bloodwork is looking for pathology, which...

03/07/2025

So, your dog has an ear hematoma… should you go to the vet?
There are a couple of questions you need to ask yourself in order to make this decision.

So, your dog has an ear hematoma… should you go to the vet? . There are a couple of questions you need to ask yourself in order to make this decision. . First of all, does your dog appear to be in pain? Some hematomas, which is a fancy word for blood blister, are really […]

22/06/2025

If you are watching your vet “glove up” before seeing your pet, I can bet two things are true:
-- You are feeding a raw diet.
-- Your vet doesn’t understand true risks with salmonella nor does she/he understand all of the body’s natural defenses against bacteria nor does she/he understand our bodies are all covered with normally occurring bacteria and yeast and any could make a problem
If this is your situation, my first response would be to suggest that this might not be the right veterinarian for you. Sadly, that kind of excludes most conventional veterinarians because most of them have been misinformed and don’t really remember what we learned second year of veterinary school in microbiology class.
But it’s always an option to try to educate your vet. Here are some thought provoking questions (sadly, they might just amplify the adversarial position your vet has put you into, but they are worth asking.):
-- Is there any documented evidence that dogs carry salmonella bacteria on their external body or in their mouth that has caused human illness?

-- How often do you, the veterinarian, allow a dog to lick the inside of your mouth? (The answer of course, is never… but worth asking to demonstrate the absurdity of the situation.)

-- Which kind of pet food has been documented to transmit salmonella to humans and create illness? (Correct answers: Kibble! There are no documented cases of human illness from raw pet food!)
We are in agreement that one should wear gloves when handling any type of f***s, of course! But other than that, these questions might just help get you and your vet on the same page. I’ve had a few clients have good luck telling their vet:

“I’m not here to discuss _____ >___ or be criticized. I’m here for ______. Please respect my choices or I can go elsewhere.”
Still seeing patients in Tampa, Clearwater, and virtually.

01/06/2025

DID YOUR DOG BECOME FEARFUL AFTER SURGERY? IF SO, KEEP READING:

Gunny here.
There is some talk on the internet about dogs becoming fearful or aggressive after having surgery, so I wanted to weigh in… from the canine perspective. Think about it this way: All of a sudden I’m on the way to “the vet.” It smells there (even if it’s clean, trust me, there are lots of smells). It’s damn noisy. They separate me from my human and stick me in a metal box. I’m not saying the box isn’t clean, but it makes crazy noise and echos everyone else’s noise. And it definitely doesn’t smell like home.
Eventually, strangers grab me out of the metal box, grip me hard, stick sharp pointy things in my legs and the world goes gray. The next thing I know, I’m back in that metal box, and I feel drunk. Bad. Maybe nauseous. The whole world is blurry. This is scary stuff. Plus, part of my body hurts, right down between my legs.
Finally, the family shows up, as if everything is great. Sometimes I even get this horrible plastic tunnel on my head that makes my neck hurt and makes it impossible to eat, drink, or get in the car. (I used to like the car.)
This is traumatic stuff. What makes you think I’m ever going to trust a new situation again? Do you wonder that a group of us dogs become fear aggressive after castration/spay?
I don’t know squat about science. I just know I went through it and it makes total sense to me why some of my brothers and sisters get panic attacks.
Lucky for my family, I was already a grumpy dog. No real change there. But here’s my canine two cents: (click link for more!)

Gunny here. . There is some talk on the internet about dogs becoming fearful or aggressive after having surgery, so I wanted to weigh in… from the canine perspective. Think about it this way: All of a sudden I’m on the way to “the vet.” It smells there (even if it’s clean, trust me, there ...

07/03/2025

Picking out toys for your cat can be more complicated than it seems! If you’ve ever glanced at the packaging, you’ve probably noticed how every product claims to be top-notch. Whether it’s “premium fabric” or “high-quality catnip,” it’s designed to convince you that it’s the best thing for your cat.
I recently had a client who was determined to find something her cats would enjoy chewing on—and she got pulled into some clever marketing. The treat company convinced her that their product was natural, made with only food-grade ingredients. Sounds great, right? But her cats wouldn’t even touch it.
So, let’s break down the ingredients and figure out why the cats weren’t interested. The first ingredient listed was “fresh chicken.” But let’s be real—if you take fresh chicken, grind it up, form it into a tube, and leave it out, it’s going to start to smell and rot. How can a company claim this is “fresh” chicken?
The only way it’s possible is the company isn’t telling the full story!
What kind of chicken do you think they’re using? It’s definitely not the high-quality cuts we buy for ourselves. What’s actually in that chew stick is likely chicken that came from factory farms, died prematurely, and was discarded. After sitting in a dumpster for weeks, it was processed into a powder and called “chicken meal.” This isn’t fresh chicken—it’s a dead food that doesn’t smell or taste good, which explains both why the cats weren’t interested in it and why it didn’t immediately start rotting in the packaging.
These companies are geniuses at marketing to us. They understand what we want to see, but we need to take a step back and ask ourselves, “Does this really make sense?” A chew stick made from “fresh chicken” that doesn’t require refrigeration? It just doesn’t add up. No wonder the cats refused to eat it.
The original goal of my client was to find something to help clean their cats’ teeth, but once again, this is just clever marketing. Here’s a fun experiment for you to help prove my point: For the next six months, try eating only hard, crunchy food—and don’t brush your teeth, since most of us don’t brush our cats’ teeth. This should give you an idea of whether chewing on dry food or hard toys really cleans teeth.
Spoiler: it doesn’t.
Most of this is just marketing misinformation, misleading us into thinking there are simple solutions for cleaning our cats’ teeth. While there are ways to help, it requires a proactive approach—starting when your cat is young. For many of us, we didn’t know about things like brushing with coconut oil when our cats were babies.
I applaud pet owners who are trying to find natural ways to care for their cats, but remember: the term “natural” isn’t regulated. In fact, “natural” doesn’t always mean healthy. After all, p**p is natural, but that’s not going to clean anyone’s teeth!
The key is finding something truly healthy—and that’s not always as easy as it sounds.
Still seeing patients in Tampa, Clearwater, and virtually.

25/02/2025

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has gained popularity as a potential health supplement for both humans and pets. When considering its use for dogs, it’s important to understand what ACV is and its potential benefits and limitations.
Understanding Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV is typically made from fermented apple juice. The most commonly discussed form is unfiltered ACV containing the “mother,” which is a cloudy substance composed of beneficial bacteria, yeast, and enzymes. This type of ACV is considered raw or unrefined and contains several components that contribute to its potential health benefits.
Potential Benefits for Dogs
-- Probiotic and Prebiotic Properties: ACV with the mother contains beneficial bacteria like Acetobacter and Komagataeibacter, which may have probiotic effects. It also contains cellulose, a type of fiber that acts as a prebiotic.
-- Antimicrobial Effects: Some studies have shown that ACV can inhibit the growth of certain harmful microorganisms in laboratory settings, including E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and -- Candida albicans. This suggests potential benefits for skin and ear health in dogs when used as a topical rinse.
-- Metabolic Health: Research indicates that ACV may help reduce cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood sugar levels. This could be beneficial for overweight dogs or those with metabolic issues.
-- Enzymatic Support: ACV contains enzymes such as amylase and lipase, which might support pancreatic function.
Limitations and Considerations
While ACV has potential benefits, it’s important to note its limitations:
1. Acidity: ACV is a mild acid with a pH of 4-5, which is not strong enough to significantly impact stomach acidity (pH 1-2) for digestive support.
2. Mineral Content: Although ACV contains trace minerals, the amounts are likely too small to significantly impact a dog’s nutritional status.
3. Yeast Concerns: The presence of various yeasts in ACV means it may help with yeast issues in some dogs but exacerbate them in others.
Safe Usage for Dogs
If you’re considering using ACV for your dog:
• For topical use (skin or ear rinses), neat or diluted ACV can be safe and potentially beneficial.
• For internal use, a general guideline is about 1 teaspoon for a 30-50 pound dog, diluted in water or food, once daily.
In conclusion, while ACV may offer some health benefits for dogs, it’s not a cure-all. It can be a useful addition to a dog’s health regimen when used appropriately, particularly for skin and ear health or as a supportive measure in weight management. However, for more significant digestive issues or health concerns, it’s helpful to seek professional advice (from either an integrative veterinarian, or a holistic pet health coach) rather than relying solely on ACV.
Believe it or not, I’ve met a few dogs allergic to ACV. How can that happen? I think their immune system is so out of balance and the owner has been trying to fix things with ACV that the immune system decides to add ACV to the list of problem makers. So if your pet gets worse with ACV, if might not be a “die off” reaction and it might be an allergic reaction
Still seeing patients in Tampa, Clearwater, and virtually. https://healthypawsibilities.com/can-apple-cider-vinegar-benefit-your-dogs-health-safely/

12/02/2025

What is a good source of fiber for your pet??? Dr. Cathy answers here:

Like many of our articles about a specific ingredient, I’m going to start with a few things that are NOT great sources of fiber for your pet: . Psyllium fiber (aka meta #>^il – I changed the letters so my post doesn’t get blocked). Why is this NOT a good source of fiber? I was told […]

05/02/2025

Are you considering, or is your veterinarian recommending, removing all — or even some — of your cat’s teeth?
It’s one thing if the teeth are rotten and infected (that’s bad oral hygiene). It’s something else when they are calling it “resorptive lesions” and wanting to pull every tooth as so-called prevention. We’re talking about resorptive lesions in this article.
Anybody’s cat have so-called resorptive lesions. Looks a little bit like the gums over growing on the teeth. And because it is gum tissue, it can be a little bit sensitive.
So western medicine wants to take out all the teeth to deal with this!
Every
Single
Tooth
But then when you look at the research for how effective it is, 30% of cats still have problems with their mouth, even after taking the drastic step of removing their teeth.
So I find this course of action incredible cruel, extreme, painful, expensive and unacceptable.
Let’s put this into human perspective with a little analogy:
Let’s assume I have a toothache and go to the dentist. Can you imagine if the dentist says we need to pull all of my teeth and put in dentures? Rather than fix the one cavity? Extreme, right?
So I know cats can be difficult. I’ve had a lot of cats in my life. And I understand as parents of four-legged animals, we don’t always brush their teeth every day. We humans brush our teeth twice a day, hopefully floss once a day, and we go to the dentist twice a year. And still our teeth are dirty.
Here’s another analogy:
Remember the last time you went out of town, but you forgot your dental floss? And you figured you were only going to be gone for three days and it would be fine when you get back home? And then you got back home and start flossing again and your gums were really sore and bled? Even though it had only been three days?!
Obviously, our cats don’t floss their teeth and we don’t floss their teeth for them. (I’m honestly not sure how we would do it.) But we don’t even brush their teeth every day. So think about your own gums when you went three days without dental floss, and they already got a little bit swollen. And now look at your cat who has gone many months or years of life and never had his or her teeth and gums touched. And we wonder why their gums are swollen and inflamed!
By labeling it as “resorptive lesions” we literally say that the cat is allergic to his teeth… But maybe this is a case of needing some serious oral hygiene.
So what are these resorptive lesions? Put simply, it’s an overgrowth of gum over the tooth due to lack of good oral hygiene. And there can be nerves and blood supply in that overgrown gum. Therefore, it makes the tissue (flesh) fragile. And what causes that overgrowth? Lack of brushing and flossing. But — Most incredibly important — your biggest contributor was an inflammatory diet. I find many cats who have gum lesions are allergic to something in their food. (Not their saliva or their teeth.) Everybody likes to blame chicken, but it’s not always that simple. Any ingredient in that food can be the culprit. And — really importantly — we humans don’t brush our cats teeth.
Let’s imagine the universe where we humans had all the time in the world, and we could brush our cats teeth daily.
Every.
Single.
Day.
And we could feed them fresh pet food that had no byproducts or inflammatory ingredients. They probably wouldn’t need all of their teeth pulled!
Removing their teeth is an extreme reaction. It’s a way for the veterinarians office to make really big money.
Can you imagine the amount of pain it would cause to have every tooth in your head pulled especially when many of the teeth are not loose or infected? These kitties simply need their gums cleaned on a daily basis!
So think of the pain. Or the fundamentals: Imagine the change of the anatomy when a mouth that supposed to have teeth all of a sudden doesn’t have teeth. And the cats continue to eat the same crappy food. No wonder 30% of cats still have problems.
So.
What to do?
Gotta fix the food. Figure out what is causing the inflammation.
Then slowly. Gently. Every day. Use a soft baby tooth brush, or a gauze pad, and gently clean the outside of the teeth with coconut oil. And if the teeth are really bad, then your kitty should have a dental appointment. And the loose teeth should be extracted. But absolutely not, no way in the world, do we pull every tooth in these baby’s heads.
Still seeing patients in Tampa, Clearwater, and virtually.

17/01/2025

Understanding HPAI and Food Safety

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has just catapulted into being a serious concern in the food industry, particularly for poultry products. To understand the safety measures implemented against HPAI, it’s crucial to first grasp the nature of the virus and the techniques used to combat it.

Read more about this in my article in Happy Healthy Dog magazine!

Dr Cathy Alinovi, DVM. Understanding HPAI and Food Safety Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has just catapulted into being a serious concern in the food industry, particularly for poultry

30/12/2024

Please join us while we discussed this really important topic that has blown up in the media recently 

Have you heard about the Avian Influenza?

Join CBD Dog Health today for an urgent and informative discussion with the amazing Dr. Cathy Alinovi DVM and Kara Hanrahan, Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner.

TODAY, at 4 pm ET/1 pm PT, these professionals will shed light on the recent outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) and what it means for pet guardians.

If you’ve been worried about feeding your pet a raw diet or have questions about the bird flu’s potential risks to pets, this is the perfect opportunity to get expert guidance!

What Will Be Covered:
What is avian influenza (H5N1)?
Can it affect our pets
What precautions should you take with raw food diets?
How to keep your pets safe and healthy.

Don’t miss this chance to address your concerns, get your questions answered, and feel confident about feeding your furry family members a biologically and species-appropriate diet!

📅 When: Today at 4 pm ET / 1 pm PT
📍 Where: CBD Dog Health page

Let’s keep our pets healthy and happy—see you there!

12/12/2024

QUESTIONS ANSWERED FOR YOUR HAPPY HEALTHY DOG!

I want to invite you to read my latest monthly article at Happy Healthy Dog: https://happyhealthydog.org/cathydec

Happy Healthy Dog is a new free online resource focused on helping you find peace of mind, education and solutions for your dog's physical, mental and behavioral health.

And I am very honored to be an ongoing featured expert!

My latest article is focused on the issue (or in some cases non-issue) of holiday food when it comes to your pooch!

No matter what challenges your dog is faced with, I know we can all agree that we want our dogs to be happy and healthy! That is the focus of Happy, Heathy Dog.

Here is the link to my monthly article again: https://happyhealthydog.org/cathydec


Here's to your happy healthy dog!

By Dr Cathy Alinovi, DVM. Ah, it's that time of year again! The holiday season is here – it’s a time when we gather with loved ones, including our furry friends, to celebrate and feast. But wai

07/12/2024

Hey, Northern Hemisphere pet parents! Have you been keeping an eye on the weather lately? Even in sunny Tampa Bay, we’re experiencing some cool nights following Hurricane Milton. It’s not every night, but even just one cool night a month can signal the end of heartworm season.
You may have noticed I didn’t mention mosquitoes.
While daytime temperatures are still creeping into the 70s and 80s—just yesterday, I had a consultation with someone in Manhattan where it was 80°—the low forecast tonight is 45°. That’s a sure sign: heartworm season is officially done!

More here.. https://healthypawsibilities.com/lets-talk-about-those-pesky-heartworms/