Estate Living Digital Publication Issue 8 August 2015 | Page 59

P ET

P OW E R
Woof

This year, global spend on domestic animals break
through the $100 billion barrier for the first time
ever! In South Africa, more than 85% of us see our pet
as part of the family, 57% see them as our best friend
and 81% admit to not feeling alone when with them.
From dog beer to dog counselling, pet weddings to
social pet-working, pet humanization, which is where
owners spend the highest level of care on their pets,
has opened the commercial floodgates. As a pet
food nutritionist, qualified chef and owner of Vondis
Holistic Pet Nutrition, Paul Jacobson suggests the
Banting Diet as an exceptional diet suitable for the
whole family, including dogs. “The true judge as to
whether a diet is perfect for both dog and human is
based on whether they are able to provide the correct
pH balances, with a leaning towards alkalinity,”
explains Paul. “It is quite clear why commercial pet
foods in pellet or kibble form cannot perform, as their
main ingredients are refined carbs, which are rated

as extremely acidic, and their contribution overrides
any alkaline ingredients that may come from a diet.”
comments Paul.
The Cape Town pet store has launched the Vondis
Holistic Pet Nutrition, a registered, scientific and
entirely complete and balanced diet that is natural,
wholesome and free of preservatives and their
biscuits, which are formulated with the help of
celebrity chef Jenny Morris, come in four flavours
like Rooibos and mint. Exercise is key and canine
behaviourist Heather Whitfield who runs a veterinary
physical rehabilitation and hydrotherapy practice
called Paws-itive Paws-abilities in Centurion has
been holding popular Puppy Aqua classes for nearly
10 years. The underwater treadmill, which is a
controlled, low-impact exercise programme, assists
with weight bearing, improves the range of motion
and prevents osteoarthritis whilst swimming classes
also have therapeutic benefits.

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