It may be hard to swallow the fact that the fuzzy creature in your lap or at your feet has similar wiring to his wild cousins, but it's a fact I wish more pet owners would embrace.

We are the only species of animal that has developed a diet that is essentially toxic for us. We are now giving this "nutrition" to our pets, livestock, and zoo animals, not realizing that we are dooming them to follow us on our path to poor health.

Your dog's diet should meet his individual nutritional requirements, which may or may not be similar to other dogs his age.

Diet seems to be one of the most important factors after genetic inheritance in determining our health and well-being -- and the same is true for our animal friends.

Seeing how important the connective tissue and matrix are to our body's health makes us more aware and more able to act effectively. Here are some ways to protect and assist your pet's matrix.