“Be brave enough to live the life of your dreams according to your vision and purpose, instead of the expectations and opinions of others.”
– Roy Bennet
When I set out on my journey of wanting to promote plant-based dog food as a vet and a Mum 3 1/2 years ago, I felt so incredibly alone! All I knew was that I felt great changing my entire lifestyle in my 50’s by going 100% plant-based overnight, and our little family dog Ruff loved the food I was feeding him having been a little dog who had only ever eaten meat-based dog food….surely this was the kindest way to feed our pets for our future?
I remember excitedly telling colleagues who I had known for years about this exciting new way of feeding dogs sustainably, and no one seemed as excited as I did…in fact one incident I will never forget! I remember having a lunch break at the busy practice I was working at and talking to a vet friend who I had such respect for and who I had known for years.
He had been a veterinary dermatologist most of his career and had actually been there to advise me when our own black Labrador Slick had been diagnosed with allergic itchy skin almost 18 years ago!!! I was so excited to tell him about why I had turned myself plant-based (as I tucked into my delicious avocado sandwich during our lunch break) and I proceeded to tell him how wonderful the food was at sorting allergic skin cases in dogs.
It was a truly novel protein diet far superior to any of the hydrolysed diets that we had been prescribing for years.
I waited for his answer expecting him to want to find out more to really benefit his itchy patients as I had already seen such remarkable changes in allergic dogs in the short time that I had been helping owners. He looked at me with a blank expression and said – ‘Would you like some more tea – I am making myself some’. I was so taken aback and felt saddened, shocked, numb, frightened (was I making a mistake?) and I felt so very alone!!
We all hate criticism, but being ignored can be as hurtful. I never mentioned it to him again and I held back mentioning it to any vet friends and colleagues unless they asked me about it. There is such a lack of knowledge about balanced and kind plant-based feeding of our pets.
How things have changed 3 years later and it is almost as if I am finally seeing through the fog and achieving my dream of sharing my vision and educating others. I was able to speak to vet students this month about sustainable pet foods which was a joy to catch them before they are ‘tainted’ by the large pet food industry companies.
The Start Of Inspiring Live Webinars
What an inspiring and fun evening having our very first live webinar this month with all the people who had bought the Plant-Based Dog Nutrition Course. I just loved having my Zoom screen full of wonderful people who I have helped. I do know that I had a vet, a doctor, a physiotherapist, a journalist, an occupational therapist, an ex-nurse and a teacher amongst the diverse interested people listening and sharing their concerns and listening intently to all I had to say….what amazing people (and their dogs) and best of all is that we all share the same vision for healthier dogs and a healthier planet!
“As a vet, I believe in a kinder, healthier way to feed our pets that does no damage to our environment, harms no animals and uses fresh, healthy plant-based ingredients for a balanced and delicious diet”
Arielle Vegan Vet
“If nobody changes then nothing changes but if somebody changes then everything changes!”
Arielle Vegan Vet
Greta Thunberg is a vegan
Greta Thunberg is vegan. Her impassioned plea to world leaders has brought me to tears!
Why do dogs and cats eat grass?
I have had a number of clients concerned that their dog or cat eats grass sometimes on a daily basis and they are concerned that there is something wrong with their pet
Ruff has a dental
I do feel very bad as a vet having a 5 year old dog with such bad dental tartar! Like 90% of the UK dog population, he has eaten….
I just feel exhausted
I am SO thankful for being vegan and appreciating everything good and healthy in my life and today I made vegan dog food…..and it was delicious!!
Has it been difficult being a vegan these last 6 weeks?
I have found it far easier than I ever imagined and in a way, I do wish I had done it a long time ago!
I learnt about ‘Millenials’
My son represents a true ‘Millenial’ as I learn from one of the lectures I attended at Vetfest that was given by the Head Nurse at Fitzpatrick Referrals
I meet ‘Supervet’ Noel Fitzpatrick!
He is such a lovely man and I felt a little ‘starstruck’ when I stopped to speak to him about what he had said in one of his talks
My friend is going to be fine
Today’s chance meeting could not have been more different – she was smiling and back to her cheerful lovely self
I put a needle cap with euthatal in my mouth!
It is June and all the roadside poppies are out – they calmed my anxiety by their sheer beauty on my drive in to work
Laughter is the best medicine
The afternoon was filled with a heady mix of happiness and nostalgia and camaraderie for what we had been through in the morning
I tried yoga for the first time
I tried yoga for the first time and loved it – followed it up with a delicious vegan burger
Elephants never forget
It was both beautiful and emotional to witness and every year around this time I wonder why a small grey cloud hangs over me















