Omega-3 Supplements for Dogs

Cure Dry Itchy Dog Skin

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are a requirement in both human’s and canine’s diet. EFAs are not produced by the body so it must be added to the diet as a supplement. The two most commonly known fatty acids are omega 3 (linoleic acid) and omega 6 (alpha-linoleic acid). The diets of our pets, like people, tend to include more omega 6 fatty acids rather than omega 3. This imbalance can be remedied by the addition of omega 3 supplements.

Omega 3 fatty acids are good for us and our pets because they help with the proper formation of cell membranes, cardiovascular functions, nourish the lining of the digestive tract, and work to keep your pet’s skin and coat smooth, soft and shiny.

Omega 3 fatty acids also help decrease inflammatory problems in the body. You may notice that your pet’s coat is dull and brittle or if he/she tends to have dry itchy dog skin. It is possible this may caused by lack of this particular fatty acid. Using omega 3 fatty acids for dogs and omega-6 in the right ratio can reverse skin problems like dandruff and reduce itching caused by allergies.

Nearly all holistic veterinarians and an increasing number of mainstream vets are now recommending that dogs and cats be given vitamin C and E supplements. Both of the nutrients are powerful antioxidants that help decrease the effects of free radicals, harmful oxygen molecules which are bodies produce. Omega 3 supplements for dogs and vitamin C supplements can help slow the aging process so that our pets can live longer better quality lives.

Studies show though that omega 3 supplements for dogs don’t give quick results. Fatty-acid supplements may take a month or more before they cause significant improvements in dry itchy dog skin. Other supplements such as vitamin C work very slowly. You won’t really notice any big change in your pet but at the cellular level things will be happening. Changes will be happening in your pet’s body that will help keep your pet strong and healthy for their whole life.

Though omega 3 supplements for dogs are quite safe, they shouldn’t be used without consulting your vet. You, the pet owner may not be aware of the interaction between the supplement and other medications your dog or cat may be taking. Also, every dog and cat will have different needs and may require different amounts of the supplement. Don’t assume human doses are the right ones for your dog or cat.

Does your pet have dry itchy dog skin? With increase in chemical pesticides and additives in our foods sources and general environment there has been a steady increase in dog allergies and immune-system problems. Want to know the symptoms of dog allergies? Read our post Signs of Pet Allergies and find out if your pet has allergies.

Pet Food Nutrition Labels

Pet Food and Ingredients

I just read this in Dr. Fox’s column and thought this information would be worth passing on:

A pet owner wrote to Dr. Fox that when he gives his 12 year old Aussie mix a bit of cheese, the dog has a seizure. Apparently the culprit is the additive annato. Though annato is a natural food coloring it has been linked with many cases of food-related allergies and is the only natural food coloring known to cause as many or more reactions than artificial food coloring.

Because annato is a natural colorant (from the seed pulp of a tropical tree, the Aciote or lipstick tree), companies may label their products “all natural, no artificial colors,” and this can lend a false sense of security to consumers who suffer from dye allergies.

Dr Fox advises not to feed cheese or cheese spread that is bright yellow or orange in color to dogs. He says there are too many reasons why dogs have seizures, and this one more to add to the list.

[tag]pet food,all natural pet allergy treatments,dog health problems,pet allergies,pet food ingredients,annato,pet food and ingredients,pet food labels,natural pet food[/tag]

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]

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).

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Ear Infections In Dogs And Cats

Dog Ear Infections

Dog ear infections and cat ear infections can look and smell awful, but they usually affect only the outer part of the ear and aren’t too serious. If you dog or cat is tilting their head frequently, being unusually clumsy, walking in circles or has drooping eyes, your pet may have an inner ear infection. If this is the case you must take your pet to the vet for treatment. Outer ear infections though can be treated with home remedies.

Here common signs of an ear infection in your dog or cat:

Your pet shakes her head or holds it to one side.

She is scratching or rubbing her ears, or she is rubbing her head against the furniture or carpet.

There is a yellow, brown or black discharge in one or both ears.

The ears smell bad or are tender or red.

According to New Choices in Natural Healing For Dogs and Cats by Amy D Shojai and the editors of Prevention For Pets here is what causes ear infections in our pets:

Cause: “Humans can hear sound waves traveling at 20,000 cycles per second, while dogs hear sound waves traveling at 100,000 cycles per second. Cats can hear even higher frequencies; it is what enables them to detect the ultrasonic squeaks of mice.

To protect this sense of hearing, their ear canals are L-shaped, which helps prevent damage to the eardrum. The weakness in this design is that it also allows the ears to trap moisture, debris, earwax, and parasites-any one of which can lead to ear infections. Cats often get infections because of ear mites, and up to 80 percent of ear problems in dogs are linked to allergies, adds Allen M. Schoen, D.V.M., director of the Veterinary Institute for Therapeutic Alternatives in Sherman, Connecticut, and author of Love, Miracles, and Animal Healing.”

Traditionally vets give antibiotics or antifungals drugs or other medications for ear infections. The problem with this approach is that it upsets the normal chemistry inside the ear, possibly making the infection worse says Ihor Basko, D.V.M., a holistic veterinarian in Honolulu and Kilauea, Hawaii. He advocates dealing with the underlying allergies and strengthening the immune system so it  can battle bacteria and other germs before they cause infection.

Ear Dr. is great at preventing and healing ear infections. Ear Dr. keeps ear canals clear and free of blockages and helps maintain health and harmony in the middle ear structures. Additionally PetAlive Ear Dr. soothes and conditions ear passages to prevent common itching and scratching. Ear Dr. also helps maintain a normal balance of flora in the ear canal thus preventing infection. PetAlive Ear Dr. contains a blend of natural, herbal ingredients in a medicinal olive oil base, all specially selected to support the health of the skin and structures inside the ear.

See our next post Natural Treatment for Ear Infections

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Tags: 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 dogs natural, ear mites in dogs, natural cures for allergy ears in dogs

Natural Treatment for Dog Ear Infections

December 12, 2008 by admin · 6 Comments
Filed under: Dog health, Pet health, cat health, pet allergies 

Natural Cures For Allergy Ears In Dogs And Cats

Many dog ear infections and cat ear infections can be traced to allergies. If your pet has an ear infection which is usually characterized by head shaking, scratching or rubbing ears, discharge from ears, bad smelling or tender, red ears here are some natural cures you can try from New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats by Amy D. Shojai and Prevention for Pets:

Clean the ears with vinegar - If your pet’s ears are filled with brownish-pink wax, there is a good chance that allergies have triggered a yeast infection. You can clear up yeast infections by cleaning the ears thoroughly. Vets often recommend white vinegar because it remove dirt and debris and helps restore a healthful chemical balance in the ears, says Anne Lampru, D.V.M. a holistic vet in Tampa, Florida. Pour a small amount of white vinegar into the ear canal, massage the area, then gently wipe the inside of the ear with a cotton ball. Do this once a day until the ear is better.

Reduce inflammation with vitamin C – The adrenal glands produce a natural steroid that can help reduce inflammation when ears get infected. Gvining pets vitamin C can help the adrenal glands work more efficiently. Cats and dogs weighing under 15 pounds can take between 100 and 250 milligrams a day, and larger dogs can take 250 to 500 milligrams two or three times a day, says Dr. Basko. Vitamin C can cause diarrhea, so you may have to cut back the dose until you find an amount that your pet will tolerate.

Eliminate toxins with a healthful diet - Giving your pet a healthful, homemade diet or high quality commercial dog food or high quality commercial cat food that doesn’t contain additives or preservatives can vastly reduce the amount of wax that the ears produce, while also helping the immune system work well.

Air out the ears - Increasing air irculation inside the ears can control the growth of bacteria, yeast, and fungi, say Dr. Lampru. Periodically trimming or plucking hair inside the ears will allow more air to get inside.

Ofcourse the best thing would be to prevent the dog ear infection or cat ear infection in the first place and there actually is a natural herbal product available. Natural care for pets has been increasing in popularity and companies are responding with products. PetAlive Ear Dr. for Ear Infections and Ear Mites.

Ear Dr. is great at preventing and healing ear infections. Ear Dr. keeps ear canals clear and free of blockages and helps maintain health and harmony in the middle ear structures. Additionally PetAlive Ear Dr. soothes and conditions ear passages to prevent common itching and scratching. Ear Dr. also helps maintain a normal balance of flora in the ear canal thus preventing infection.

PetAlive Ear Dr. contains a blend of natural, herbal ingredients in a medicinal olive oil base, all specially selected to support the health of the skin and structures inside the ear.

Native Remedies’ products are created using our Full Spectrum Approach (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 to guarantee you products of the highest quality, safety and effectiveness, all backed by our One Year Unconditional Money Back Guarantee.

Native Remedy products contain no animal products, gluten, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, are suitable for lacto-vegetarians and are not tested on animals. Individual ingredients are well-researched and are natural, safe and effective.

[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]

Tags: all natural pet allergy treatments, dog ear infection, dog ear infections, dog ear yeast infection, ear infection remedy, ear infection remedy for dogs, ear mites dog natural, ear mites in dogs, natural cures for allergy ears in dogs