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As vegans we tend to lead with our hearts. That’s often a good thing. And yet, when it comes to the most ethical way to raise and feed our companion animals it can get divisive and confusing. 

Today I’m excited to welcome Vegan Vet Armaiti May DVM, to the podcast. Armaiti is a practicing small animal veterinarian and vegan advocate. She operates a house call veterinarian service in Los Angeles and aspires to have her own vegan integrative veterinary practice that incorporates animal advocacy.

Armaiti graduated with high honours from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2001.

In 2005 she graduated from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine before volunteering for 20 months at an emergency dog and cat hospital and then training in veterinary acupuncture through the Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine.

Dr. May has volunteered offering spay and neuter services to disadvantaged communities locally and abroad, including Guatemala and Nicaragua. She has served on the Board of Directors for RedRover, an animal organisation that brings animals out of crisis and into care and is currently President of Vegan Toastmasters, a public speaking organisation which empowers vegans to speak effectively on behalf of animals.

Dr. May completed her certification in animal chiropractic from Options for Animals College of Animal Chiropractic in 2015.

With such extensive qualifications and experience I’m keen to hear Armaiti’s take on how best we can support the companion animals we’re so lucky to share our lives with. I’m also grateful to have Armaiti clearing the path for compassionate vegans to be able to enter the veterinarian profession without having to compromise their ethics as part of their study.

In this conversation we cover:

• Armaiti’s vegan and animal activist journey.
• The challenges of being vegan while studying veterinary medicine.
• Armaiti’s work to educate the veterinary profession about the benefits of veganism.
• The Veterinary Association for the Protection of Animals (VAPA), an animal rights organization which raises awareness about the benefits of veganism and encourages veterinary schools to adopt humane surgical teaching methods.
• Humane surgical teaching alternatives for veterinary schools.
• The most ethical ways to raise companion animals.
• Can cats be vegan?
• What to look for / look to avoid in a vegan pet food.
• The ethics behind spaying and neutering – is it the kindest solution to the cat and dog overpopulation crisis.
• Armaiti’s prior role as President of Vegan Toastmasters, and how vegans can speak effectively on behalf of animals.
• What would Armaiti say to the individual that insists their dog or cat came from a humane and ethical breeder?

This conversation highlights the grey areas living as a vegan in a non-vegan world. As much as it’d be preferable and ideal to always know the black and white – simple if not always easy decision – sometimes compromises need to be made. I guess as always intention is key.

I regularly ask myself, is your intention genuine? For the greater good? That’s the option I endeavor to take rather than the more heavily travelled path of least resistance.

I’m glad we have Armaiti trailblazing the less travelled vegan way for veterinary professionals and for our companion animal friends.

Cats are more carnivorous however they too can be healthfully maintained on a balanced plant-based diet, provided it meets their nutrient requirements. Armaiti May DVM. Share on X

To connect with Armaiti I have you all linked up in the show notes below.

Connect with Armaiti via her website: https://www.veganvet.net/ and via Veterinary Association for the Protection of Animals (VAPA)

Connect with Armaiti across the socials: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter.

Armaiti recommended, Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats (4th Edition) by Richard H. Pitcairn.

Also, https://compassioncircle.com/ for plant-based supplements to allow your vegan animals to thrive.

Also the films, Called To Rescue and Peaceable Kingdom.

Finally, Armaiti mentioned the film Trace Amounts | Vaxxed | 1986 the act | Seeing 2020

That’s it for this week in Healthification. If you’re yet to rate, review and subscribe please do! It counts big time in letting this little show – and the amazing guests I get to chat with achieve some visibility among the millions of podcasts out there.

Big thanks to YOU for sharing this week with me.

The Healthification podcast is proudly bought to you by my FREE ‘Easy Vegan’ plan. It took me 25 years to transition from a meat eater to a happy, healthy Vegan! You can do it in just 3 days with my simplified ‘easy vegan’ plan!  Get the fit, strong, and healthy plant based body you deserve… while avoiding ALL the mistakes I made along the way!

To learn more check out: strongbodygreenplanet.com

Till next time, remember Creating a body and life you love is Freedom. (If this ex-refined-carb queen, non genetically gifted, naturally uncoordinated vegan chick can do it – so can YOU!!!)

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