Overweight Pets – Does Dog Food Taste Too Good
Did Your Vet Say You Have An Overweight Pet
If you can’t feel your dogs ribs then your dog is probably an overweight pet. Some pets have an inherited tendency to gain weight but in most cases pets gain weight for the same reason their owners do – too much food and not enough exercise.
One of the reasons your pet may be overeating is because of additives in their food. Many commercial pet foods have been enhanced with artificial flavors to make them more appetizing to your pet. Your pet may continue eating even though he/she is full because the food just tastes so good.
Also dogs and cats are genetically programed to hunt but they don’t have do that anymore. Their bodies like ours are designed to work – run, jump and move to find their food. Current lifestyles for pets though don’t involve a great deal of physical activity.
Vets say the best way to help pets lose weight is to reduce the amount of calories they take in and encourage them to exercise more. Some veterinarians have recommended that overweight pets be given the so called “diet” dog foods but they are not beneficial for all pets. Some off these “diet” dog foods are low in certain fatty acids and so they have a tendency to cause dry, flaky skin and a dull coat.
One vet commented that “some of the fattest” animals she has seen are on low-calorie diets.” Low-cal diets may cause your pet to become intolerant to fat which may cause pancreatic problems if they are switched back to a regular diet. Natural pets foods are better than the commercial brands but holistic vets suggest homemade diets or at least adding vegetables to your dogs diet.
Want to get more idea about how to help your dog lose weight? See our post ==>
Overweight Pets – How To Avoid This
Natural Flea Control for Dogs – Part 2
Filed under: Dog health, Flea control, cat health, flea contol
Natural flea control for dogs is actually a three part plan. The first part as described in our previous post Natural Flea Control For Dogs is just the first part – keeping the fleas off the dog or cat. The second stage of the plan is to treat the inside of your house, especially the places where your dog spends a time, such as his/her bed, rugs and sofas. Here is what Natural Dog magazine recommends: Frequent washing - Regular laundering of your dog’s bed and cleaning area rugs at least once a week can remove fleas and ticks that have made their way from your pet to these surfaces. Frequent vacuuming – To treat areas that can’t be laundered, such as sofas and floor cushions, wielding the vacuum at least weekly can help. Make sure you have a vacuum cleaner with a disposable bag for this job. Dispose of the bag after each vacuuming because any flea eggs inside the bag can hatch and start the flea infestation process all over again. Treat surfaces - Applying borate-type powders on carpets and citronella sprays on baseboards can also help keep fleas out of your house. The last part of the plan for natural flea control for dogs is keeping the fleas and ticks out of the yard. If you have a few chickens and some guinea fowl they will gobble up your flea and tick problem. Since not all of us are zoned to raise chickens your other option is to keep the grass cut. There are also certain nematodes that can help control flea populations in the yard. These microscopic worms, available from garden-supply stores, consume not only young fleas but other insects. You must apply nematodes monthly. Keeping your dog healthy is one of the best defenses against flea infestation. Some vets say animals who eat a minimally processed, wholesome diet are less susceptible to parasites. Alternative medicine also called integrative, natural and complementary medicine, holistic medicine takes a broader approach to health than allopathic. The conventional medical model focuses on x-rays, blood panel results, and other lab test. Allopathic veterinarians look for path ology – a detectable physical change in the tissues that signals disease and forms the basis for a diagnosis. But this approach looks at only a very small part of the picture. Holistic treatment methods, also known as modalities include homeopathy, chiropractic, nutritional consulting, massage, flower essences, traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture, herbs) A holistic practitioner studies the whole patient, taking into account not just pathological symptoms (say changes in blood chemistry) but also alterations in normal function (such as bowel changes), emotional state, sensation, prior illness and more. Holistic vets consider the whole body. Holistic vets incorporate more than one type of treatment, including the best of conventional medicine, to make a more inclusive ‘whole’ system of wellness. Holistic medicine puts a bigger emphasis on having the body heal itself. For example an allopathic veterinarian would likely prescribe an antibiotic to fight a bacterial infection, while a holistic vet might prescribe nutritional supplements to boost the body’s natural defenses. With a holistic vet you get the best of both worlds, knowledge of conventional medicine but also possible alternatives to convention that are less harmful to your pet. [tag]cat health problems,dog health problems,holistic pet health,holistic vets,natural cures for pets[/tag]
Natural Flea Control Cat
Benefits of Alternative Medicine for Pets
Integrative Complementary Medicine for Pets
Home Remedies for Dog Skin Allergies and Cat Allergies
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How to Treat Dog Allergies
There are many ways to treat itchy skin in dogs and cats. Here are three suggestion for natural cures and one specific natural cure for cats itchy skin.
1. Give your pet a gentle bath - Don’t use tap water, use distilled , purified or spring water. Water should be lukewarm. Use mild soap such as baby shampoo or use Pet Alive Skin and Coat Tonic. After shampooing rinse your pets coat (again use distilled, purified or spring water) with equal parts cool water and a tincture of witch hazel (you can buy it at the grocery store in the first aid aisle or skin care aisle) or use cooled strained peppermint tea.
After the bath, sponge affected or red areas with a rag (that has not been washed in soap) dipped in cool peppermint tea. Wring out the rag and hold the compress in place for several minutes.
2. If affected area is your pets hindquarters – Spray hindquarters with a solution of witch hazel combined with peppermint tea (8 oz. of cool tea combined with 4 oz. of witch hazel).
3. Apply aloe-vera gel - Before applying mix with two drops of wormwood or some valerian tea. Add no more than one-half teaspoon of wormwood or valerian tea mixed in one half cup of boiling water for ten minutes. You will probably have an easier time finding valerian tea since it is available at your grocery store (Celestial Seasons brand Sleepytime Tea). Both herbs have a bad taste and will prevent your pet from licking off the aloe-vera gel.
Tea for cat allergies – Add one teaspoon each eyebright herb, red raspberry leaves, and stinging nettle herb (You can probably find all these in a tea form at a health food store) and steep in 12 oz of boiling distilled water for 15 minutes. Strain the tea and let cool. Put in a spray bottle and spray affected area. Can be sprayed on cat’s face which your cat probably won’t like. Try using a cotton swab for ears, nose and eyes if spraying is too difficult.
[tag]natural pet allergy treatments,cat allergies,cat health problems, cat health questions,dog health problems,dog health questions, dog itchy skin,dog skin allergies,native remedies,pet allergies[/tag]
Natural Flea Control Recipes
Natural remedies for fleas
Flea control is a constant problem for all pet owners. Here are some natural flea control recipes I found:
Citronella Oil Recipe for Natural Flea Shampoo
Citronella has been found to repel insects. You can actually buy this in the essential oil form. You simply add 1 to 2 drops, depending on your pet’s size of Citronella oil to their shampoo and then shampoo.
Natural Flea Collar Recipe
Purchase a soft material collar and soak it in the following solution:
1/2 Tsp Alcohol
1 drop Cedarwood essential oil
1 drop Lavender essential oil
1 drop Citronella essential oil
1 drop Thyme essential oil
4 Garlic Capsules
Break open the garlic capsules and add the liquid to you alcohol and essential oil mixture and mix it all together. Pour the solution all over the collar until all the liquid is absorbed. Let the collar dry completely before using it. The collar is effective for about 30 days. To boost your pet’s flea immunity you may add 1 to 2 capsules of garlic to your pets food.
If you don’t want to mix up a natural remedy yourself consider using a natural flea shampoo with a residual effect. PetAlive BeFree Flea Shampoo helps deter fleas, flies and mosquitoes for dogs BeFree Flea Shampoo is a natural cleansing herbal shampoo for dogs using only tested, natural ingredients, supporting a residual mosquito, flea and fly deterrent effect while encouraging healthy, clear skin and coats.
In other words this product keeps on working even after you rinse it out to repel fleas. Plus it keeps your pet’s skin clear and healthy. BeFree Flea Shampoo contains absolutely no parabens, sodium laurel sulphate or harmful petrochemicals.
To get more information about PetAlive Befree Flea Shampoo click on the ad below
Natural Diet for Cats
Found a interesting post on “mini site” about a natural diet for cats. Here is the link Natural Food Diet – Recipes for Cats
Dog Dehydration and Feline Dehydration
Signs of Dehydration
With summer coming soon, it is time to post information about dehydration in pets. According to the vets writing in The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats by the editors of Prevention Magazine Health books it is important to maintain constant fluid levels. Symptoms of dehydration include a dry mouth, sunken eyes, loss of elasticity in the skin and extreme exhaustion. This condition always requires a veterinarian’s care. So to prevent your pet from getting dehydrated this summer follow these tips:
Always have water available – As you may or may not know, pets do not really sweat. Most of their water is lost through panting. The vets recommend keeping two bowls filled with water in case one gets knocked over when you are not around.
No guzzling – If your pet has gone for a long time without drinking, letting them drink lots of water all at once may result in vomiting. Vomiting will cause your pet to lose even more fluid. Take the bowl after your pet has a had a few laps. Wait a minute or two and let them have some more.
Give electrolytes – Dehydration can cause your pet to lose electrolytes (minerals such as potassium and sodium that transmit electrical impulses throughout the body). You can give your pet an electrolyte rich drink such as Pedialyte or get an electrolyte solution at your local grocery store or drug store.
Try a sports drink – If your pet is uninterested in drinking, you can try giving them a sports drink that contains electrolytes such as Gatorade. Vets say some pets like sweet, fruity flavors.
Try ice – Pets that have gone too long without water may have trouble keeping fluids down. You know how when you having been throwing up, you eat ice chips until your stomach can tolerate liquid? It works the same for pets but you use an ice cube they can lick. That way your pet takes in fluid slowly.
Check the mouth – Sometime dogs or cats will not drink because something hurtful is stuck in their mouth, like a burr. If your pet is not drinking take a careful look (don’t get bit). If you can’t get the thing out, call the vet for advice.
Keep water with you at all times - You can get a no spill water bowl or keep a collapsible pet bowl that fits inside a pants pocket as well as variety of spill-proof containers. Check online sources and local pet stores.
Quick test for dehydration – Gently lift the skin along your pet’s back. If it snaps back into place your pet is okay, if it stands up in a ridge it is an emergency. Take your pet to the vet immediately.
[tag]feline dehydration,dog dehydration,dehydration symptoms,sign of dehydration,common dog health problems,cat health problems,electrolyte drinks,fluids and electrolytes[/tag]
Dog Gas – Natural Remedies
Excessive Flatulence in Pets
Though intestinal gas is a natural part of digestion, it is still unpleasant. Some animals produce more gas than others. Dogs have more a problem than cats but then often dogs are much larger than cats thus making it a more difficult problem to ignore.
Here some natural ways to help rid your pet of gas. These suggestions come from The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats by the editors of Prevention for Pets.
Walk your dog – Exercise helps move gas out of the intestine, and if your pet happens to relieve himself on his walk, even more gas will be released.
Soybean content in food – Soybeans comprise up to 25% of some pet foods. Some pets may find soy hard to digest. Changing to a food with less soy or no soy could make a big difference. Wenaewe Adult Dry Dog Food contains no corn, soybean, wheat, meat by-products, food by-products, dairy, artificial flavors, chemical preservatives, artificial colorants, GMOs, fillers, or ashes. Wenaewe also makes an equally nutritious cat food.
Switch brands slowly -Vets say it takes awhile for the colon to adjust to a new diet. They recommend switching over a period of three days, substituting one third of the new food for one-third of the old each day.
Keep trash can tightly covered – If your dog gets in the trash frequently, it can really affect their digestive system and increase their gas output.
Feed your pet the right amount of food – Overeating can overload the gut, so things end up fermenting that normally wouldn’t as a result your pet will have more gas.
No dairy - Most adult dogs and cats can digest only tiny amounts of milk. If your flatulent pet is getting milk, take it away for a few days and see if things improve.
Try Yogurt - Many yogurts contain digestion-friendly bacteria that can help decrease flatulence. Vets recommend giving 1/4 teaspoon of plain yogurt to cats and small dogs, 1 teaspoon to do 15 to 20 pounds and 1 tablespoon for large dogs. Most pets like the taste, so you won’t need to hide it in their food. Even pets that can’t handle lactose can usually enjoy yogurt without any problems.
Try activated charcoal – It’s messy, but it can absorb the smell pretty well. For small pets add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon to their food daily. For larger pets, 1/2 teaspoon is about right. Be aware activated charcoal can absorb nutrients as well as gas from the digestive tract. Don’t use it for more than a few days at a time.
Try a natural anti-gas product – Many vets recommend giving pets digestive enzymes on a regular basis because pets are subject to the sames kinds of environmental factors that cause humans to experience digestive problems.PetAlive Digestive Support is an excellent digestive system tonic and contains three carefully chosen herbs in therapeutic dosage to soothe and support the stomach lining, esophagus, and entire digestive tract. I like Native Remedies Pet Alive products because they are all natural and are thoroughly tested. If you more information on the product click on the banner at the top or bottom of the post.
Reduce mealtime competition - When pets are fed together, one pet may eat too quickly to prevent the other pet from get their food. Just like humans, pets take in too much air when they eat too fast and this causes gas. Feeding your pets separately will allow them to eat more slowly.
Make your pet eat more slowly – I thought this was a really clever idea. You put a large object – like a ball- in your pet’s bowl. Your dog or cat has to nose around and work harder to get the food so they will forced to slow down.
Raise the food dish – If your dog does not have to bend their neck so far down they will swallow less air. You can place the food bowl securely on a box or you can buy a stand that holds food and water at mouth level. The stands are really nice. My mother-in-law’s Doberman used to have a stand that a neighbor made for him. The dog’s look so much more comfortable eating from a dish at their level.
[tag]cat health,cat health problems,dog gas,dog health,dog health problems,excessive flatulence,flatulence in dogs[/tag]
All Natural Pet Allergy Treatments
Pet Allergies
Did you know dogs and cats can get hay fever? Just like you and I many pets are sensitive to airborne annoyances – pollen, mold, mildew,dust feathers and wool. While we many get red eyes, runny noses and sneeze a lot, pets are more likely to feel itchy. To soothe their skin and help keep allergies under control, here’s what some experts writing in The Doctor’s Book of Home Remedies by the editors of Prevention for Pets suggest:
Calm it with cool water – Give your pet a cool-water soak. Bathes your pet for five to ten minutes. Make sure the water is cool – warm water aggravates the itch.
Ease it with oatmeal – To make soaks more soothing, vets sometimes recommend adding colloidal oatmeal (like Aveeno) to the bathwater. It gives the water a smooth, silky feel that will calm irritated skin. You can buy this oatmeal at the grocery store where they sell over the counter medicine.
Subdue it with supplements – Try giving your pet a fatty acid supplement. The supplements come in capsules and are available from vets and some pet stores. Ask your vet about dosage. If you can’t get your pet to swallow the capsule, squeeze the oil into your pet’s food. They taste fishy and cats really like them.
Keep your pet indoors – In spring and summer, pollen fills the air-and your pet’s coat and airways. To prevent pollen from bothering you pet, keep them indoors during peak pollen time – usually early morning and evenings. Your local paper will usually give a daily report of pollen count.
Consider indoor environment – I know many people allergy sufferers who have benefited greatly by getting rid of curtains, carpets and thick upholstery. These are magnets for attracting and holding dust and pollen particles. It stands to reason it would work the same for your pet.
Clean and clean – Daily Cleaning won’t eliminate allergy-causing particles but it will keep them at a manageable level. Vets recommend vacuuming and dusting often and also change furnace or air-conditioner filters monthly. Wash pet’s bedding at least once a week, vets say. This will help reduce the buildup of dust mites-microscopic organisms that thrive on skin flakes and are a common cause of allergies in people and pets.
Check your brand of litter – Many litter box products contain chemical scents to attract your cat but many dogs and cats may be sensitive- both to the smell of the litter and to its dust.
Foot soak - Dogs with allergies occasionally suffer from itchy feet and soaking them in Epsom salts can be helpful. Fill a tub with just enough cool water to cover your dogs paws. Dissolve several cups of Epsom salts crystals in the water. Stand your dog in the tub for five to ten minutes, then gently dry their feet. Don’t let your dog dog drink the water since Epsom salts can act as a laxative.
Again you may consider a preventative strategy for your dog or cat’s skin. If you can keep their skin in good condition, your pet may not feel as much of an urge to itch and scratch. I know with my dog once that itch/scratch cycle started it was hard to break.
Native Remedies offers a product called PetAlive Skin & Coat Tonic. I like Native Remedies because their products are all natural and their products are created using a Full Spectrum Approachâ„¢ (FSA), a set of standards and processes that combine the best quality, laboratory tested, raw ingredients, Good Manufacturing Practices and a Full Spectrum manufacturing method guarantees products of the highest quality, safety and effectiveness, and they back them with a One Year Unconditional Money Back Guarantee.
Native Remedies’ products are not tested on animals and individual ingredients are well-researched and are natural, safe and effective.
Skin & Coat Tonic contains a combination of specially selected herbs, nutrients and biochemic tissue salts known for their tonic and supportive function on the skin and coat. Regular use of Skin & Coat Tonic has been shown to relieve itchy skin in pets. The product comes in the form of a capsule.
While conventional medicine works by often treating just the symptoms, natural medicine strives to create holistic balance. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, the natural ingredients in native remedies products support overall health and functioning.
[tag]pet allergies,dog itchy skin,dog skin allergies,cat allergies,native remedies,dog health problems,dog health questions,cat health questions,cat health problems[/tag]
Natural Treatments for Ear Mites in Dogs and Cats
Ear Mites Dogs Natural
Ear mites are itchy, uncomfortable, and unpleasant for your pet but they usually do not cause a serious problem. Problems only arise if your pet scratches so hard that he or she the skin or causes an infection to develop. Holistic vets say it is acceptable to try home remedies for about a month. If after a month you pet is still scratching, go see the vet. Your pet may need a more powerful treatment to eliminate the mites and stop the itching. If your pet has swelling inside the ear or a pus-filled or discolored discharge you should take them to the vet right away. Those are signs of a bad ear infection.
Ear mites are more common in cats than in dogs. An animal’s ear has a well-protected, warm, moist environment which is the perfect environment for ear mites. Though you can eliminate ear mites with medication, holistic vets explain that the mites may come back when the body’s natural defenses are weaker than they should be. Holistic vet Michele Yasson, D.V.M. writing in New Choices for Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats by Amy D. Shojai and the editors of Prevention for Pets says “A healthy animal won’t have the ear environment that is conducive to mites setting up house. Mites are merely the messenger telling you there is a problem. If you kill the messenger, the message will not change.” There are more natural ways to get rid of ear mites according to Dr. Yasson and restore balance in the body.
Use a tea rinse Green tea is a natural antiseptic that helps remove mite mess from the ear canal. Steep a tablespoon of green tea leaves in a cup of hot water for three to four minutes, stain it, and then let it cool to room temperature. Using a small dropper, flush your pet’s ear canal with the tea. Massage the outside of the ear to circulate the tea, and then stand back: When you pet shakes her head, the tea along with the grit in the ear-will come flying out. Then dry the outer part of ear canal with a tissue or cotton ball. Do this once a day for a month.
Use an oil treatment Put three to five drops of any kind of oil (almond and olive are recommended) in the ear canal. Do not use tea tree oil which can be dangerous for cats. The oil smothers the mites and also helps soothe the ears. If you want to kill any possible bacteria, soak a few crushed garlic cloves in the oil overnight (before you apply). Garlic helps kill bacteria that can lead to ear infections in pets with ear mites. Give the oil treatment once a day for a month. Be sure to clean your pets ears before applying the oil otherwise the accumulated discharge may protect the mites from the oil.
After you have cured the infection, holistic vets recommend you give herbs that help strengthen the immune system. A good natural herbal product we recommend is called PetAlive Ear Dr. for Ear Infections and Ear Mites.
Cats and small dogs: 2-3 drops in the affected ear.
Medium-large dogs: 3-5 drops in the affected ear.
Maintenance dose: The dosage above can be repeated once or twice weekly as a maintenance dose
While conventional medicine works by often treating just the symptoms, natural medicine strives to create holistic balance in the body to support systemic health, relieve ailments, and help prevent future disease. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, the natural ingredients in herbal remedies support overall health and functioning (rather than just suppressing symptoms).
[tag]natural cures for allergy ears in dogs,all natural pet allergy treatments,dog ear infection,dog ear infections,dog ear yeast infection,ear infection remedy for dogs,ear mites dog natural,ear mites in dogs[/tag]
