Dr. Harvey’s Paradigm has truly changed my dog’s quality of life. I diagnosed my oldest dog, Muttley, with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (the dog version of dementia), along with other health ailments. Although Paradigm has tremendously improved his other medical conditions, such as alleviating his arthritis, increasing his energy level and helping his ability to lose weight, my focus in this post will be his mental health.
Unfortunately, with cognitive disorders, concurrent anxiety-related conditions are common. Muttley’s anxiety had become so severe that I tried every pharmaceutical medication that I thought would help, but there were no significant signs of improvement. Being a veterinarian, I felt hopeless not being able to help my own dog. Then I discovered Dr. Harvey’s Paradigm.
Let me back up to why I went searching for a new diet in the first place. My husband and I decided to try a diet that cut out all refined carbohydrates, artificial ingredients, dyes, and sugars for our overall health, and more specifically, to increase our energy level. After three weeks of strictly sticking to this diet, my energy level was truly remarkable. I was also amazed at all the other health benefits that came with following a fresh, whole food diet. Being on this diet paralleled with my attempts at finding Muttley relief from his anxiety. I began to wonder what benefits Muttley could experience being on a similar diet.
As I researched ketogenic diets for dogs, I came across several that required me to make the entire meal from scratch. Being a mother of two toddlers, I knew this was not a realistic option. I then came across Dr. Harvey’s website, and Paradigm was exactly what I was looking for. I felt confident it was at least worth a try, and I ordered a bag.
At this point, Muttley was riddled with anxiety. He was having severe anxiety attacks daily. During the day, I would have to keep Muttley right by my side or he would go outside and pace. When he did lay down, he would lick his dog bed obsessively. At night, he would not leave my side until I went to bed, and even then, he couldn’t sleep throughout the night. I would wake up to him staring at me, panting heavily, and trembling.
(Pictured above: Dr. Harvey’s Paradigm, pasture-raised chicken thighs, Nellie’s Free Range Eggs and organic coconut oil)
My bag of food arrived and after only two days of preparing fresh, homemade meals with Paradigm, Muttley slept throughout the night. Prior to paradigm, he had not slept throughout the night for as long as I could remember. As I continued feeding him Paradigm, homemade meals, he stopped having his daily anxiety attacks. He would relax on his bed during the day instead of trying to pace outside. He no longer licked his bed. He will occasionally follow me around at night when I’m doing my nightly chores, but if I bring his dog bed and place it so he can see me, he will lay on it and fall asleep. Most incredibly, however, I have also weaned him off all his medications!
Once I realized how beneficial preparing a fresh, homemade diet with Paradigm was to Muttley’s health, I switched all four of my other dogs onto the diet, and to no surprise, this diet has undeniably improved their overall health. I use Paradigm as the base of their meals, and I add in my choice of proteins and healthy oils. Inside the bag is a simple instruction guide that tailors to the age and weight of any dog. Paradigm is a dehydrated base-mix and once hydrated with hot water, I add in my choice of proteins and healthy oils. With the help of Dr. Harvey’s, not only am I able to make homemade meals with ease, but I also feel that they are getting the “best of the best.”
Disclaimer:
After contacting Dr. Harvey’s to share the physical and mental health benefits that I witnessed after switching my dogs’ diets to Paradigm, they have since given me free products from their other lines of food, supplements, treats, and grooming essentials for my honest feedback.
All opinions expressed about Dr. Harvey’s in this and any other article I post may not represent the thoughts or opinions of Dr. Harvey’s or its staff. Dr. Harvey’s products are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
This post is intended to help you take the best precautions preparing raw diets for your pups, but in no way is intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Yes, I am a veterinarian, but I am not your pets’ veterinarian. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
Dr. Julia Roach 
It must’ve been very disheartening as a vet, not being able to help your own dog and such a relief to work this out. We try to have a largely unprocessed diet at out place. However, I do love my chocolate and sugar too much.
Best wishes,
Rowena
Yes, it was extremely disheartening.
We also try to stick to an unprocessed diet, but yes, our family is addicted to chocolate too!
Being a vet, I thought you’d particular enjoy this little story from our family. Rewinding to when my kids were probably about 7 and 5 we had a border collie called Bilbo. My kids have always been what I’ll call non-eaters and their leftovers always ended up with the dog. My kids were pretty skinny, especially my daughter who was in the bottom 10% and later turned out to have gastroparesis. However, Bilbo’s girth had expanded to compensate and he was about 41 kilos when he went to the vet. This is when the full horror of just how many meals he was having everyday hit. I was the proverbial bad mother and he was not to get anymore leftovers. Well, like us humans, he’d equated food with love and the look on his poor face when he didn’t get his share. The school holidays also ended around this time so the kids lunchboxes came back out and while he might not have seen one for a few months, he knew exactly what they were and the fixated stare on his face when they passed him by was heartbreaking. We managed to get his weight down a bit and the next time we went to the vet they advised to reduced his food according to his leftovers. He was such a lovely boy but unfortunately passed away last year.
We already had Lady a now 6 year old border collie x cav but she is more cav in temperament and so we needed another fetching dog and fostered two border collie x kelpie pups planning to keep one but they both stayed. They bonded together nd are our “twins”.
Best wishes,
Rowena
Awe, that’s adorable. I’m sorry for your loss. It sounds like Bilbo was a charmer.
And, yes, my two toddlers have definitely added a pound or two to my dogs’ weight. Even after the strictest talks, there is always the food that just doesn’t make it to their mouth and ends up on the floor.
I hope your daughter was able to gain weight after she was diagnosed with gastroparesis. That must have been tough.
I love that you kept both your fosters. ‘Foster fail’ stories are the best!
That’s impressive. We’re still trying to figure out if our dog’s anxious of if he’s just a pushy little beast. My best guess is the second.
Yes! That’s a tough one. I knew that you had to be British with your ‘pushy little beast’ comment…both set of my grandparents (along with uncles and aunts) were British and when I read your post, I read it with their Bristish accent!
Anyways, if you are having to medicate your beast to keep him calm, then I would say it’s anxiety. If you aren’t already, it’s worth a try to prepare a home cooked meal and see what results he would have, both physically and mentally.
Very interesting. My 6 years old Coton, Moka has anxiety, pain aggression and fear aggression. He is so sweet. When he panics, he attacks and bites one of my family or me. I have vet behaviorist and I put him on fluoxetine and Gabapendin. He is better but he still has anxiety whenever something happens like I need to take him to the vet, my other dogs bark, etc. I would like to change his diet to raw. My traditional vet doesnt recommend and is against raw food. I believe too much starchy is not good for his ulna leg (surgery at 10 months old). He seems uncomfortable when he walks. He licks on the floor all the time. He stares at me and sits next to the person all the time. Too much pet. Will the raw food help to change the behaviors? I have a good holistic vet but she doesnt know much about aggression. 😦 I am surprised that you wanted to learn about your dog’s behavior. Very impressive! Thank you for sharing!!!
I didn’t jump right into a raw diet—I started with fully cooking my proteins and I still saw enormous benefits. I personally use Dr. Harvey’s Paradigm and Raw Vibrance and then add in proteins and oils. Make sure your vet is involved if you decide to switch diets to make sure they are nutritionally complete.
My SIL makes her own dog food and I can really see the difference. In the 1950’s people swallowed the line that dog/cat food was “specially formulated” and you should never feed your pets from the table. I know of people who had dogs and cats that lived longer in the 1950’s than today. I wonder how many pets we’ve lost early in life due to the “specially formulated” diets whose first ingredients are wheat, corn or soy?
Yes, it is sad to wonder. My dogs are truly thriving off their homemade meals. I wish I knew what I know now—when my other two dogs were alive. One had a brain tumor and the other was senile and very arthritic —I have no doubt they would have had a different life with the diet I have my dogs on now.
Wagnificent!🐾
HuMom also uses a dehydrated veggie mix. We pawsitively love it🐾
I was once at a shelter too before huMom found me. I live with Idiopathic Epilepsy & have some issues with people or dogs I don’t know. As well as some cognitive behavioural issues that HuMom has addressed with diet & pawsitive behavior reinforcement 🐾
Loved reading about all your wooftastic family of dogs🐾
💜nose nudges💜
Awe! Thanks for sharing. It sounds like you have a wonderful HuMom!
I’m so glad I found you. We have two fourteen-year-old blue heelers with spots on their livers. We are following a homeopathic suggestion to serve them white rice and cooked chicken. It was suggested it was a liver cleanse. Thoughts?
Hi! Im sorry to hear about your pups’ livers. Is this advice from your veterinarian?
Yes.
I personally haven’t heard of that, but I would definitely take your vet’s advice. Can she/he recommend any additional liver supplements? I used MediHerb Livton Complex. Ask you vet if this is something they would feel comfortable adding to your pup’s diet after the cleanse.
Thank you!
You’re welcome, I wish I could offer more advice. Stay strong.
Did you add in any organ meat? Or is it not necessary?
I do, my favorite is organic, pasture raised chicken livers.
Hello, I wasn’t quite sure where to turn to for my question. My pup was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer and I wanted to try anything to improve her health unfortunately she was too far into the stage of it and had passed. I have almost 2lbs of a 3lb bag left of Dr. Harvey’s Paradigm and looking for someone who can use it instead of throwing it out. Just seems like a waste to toss out such goodness.
Thank you- Shelley H.
I’m so sorry for your loss. ❤️
That is very kind of you to offer Dr. Harvey’s. Do you have a Facebook account that you can post and see if anyone local would like it?