Omega-3 Supplements for Dogs

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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.


Causes of Itchy Skin – My Dog Has Allergies

November 4, 2009 by gatorhost · 1 Comment
Filed under: pet allergies 

Symptoms of Cat Allergies

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. According Dr. John Heinerman writing in his book Natural Pet Cures > says most vets concur that there are basically three reasons for this trend: poor diet (quality of food), vaccinations (multiple vaccinations) and inbreeding (cosmetic breeding practices).

Dog’s allergic reaction is different from cats. Dogs have a general itchiness of skin and rash or sores. Dog’s will allergies will have redness (inflammation) in ears, toes, and genitals. Gastrointestinal disturbance is common also (gas).

Cats also have skin problems but they more frequently have bladder inflammation and digestive upset. Cats may display no symptoms at all except erratic behavior caused by their discomfort such as fidgeting, licking and biting themselves.

To discover natural cures for pet allergies see our post Home Remedies for Dog Skin Allergies and Cat Allergies

[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]


Home Remedies for Dog Skin Allergies and Cat Allergies

November 4, 2009 by admin · 2 Comments
Filed under: pet 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]


Canine Food Allergies and Cat Food Allergies

May 28, 2009 by Jodi · 1 Comment
Filed under: pet allergies 

Cat Food Allergies and Dog Food Allergies Remedies

According to holistic vets writing in book, New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats by Amy Shojai and the editors of Prevention for Pets, “the best ways to stop food allergies is to identify the problem ingredient and avoid it in the future. Veterinarians also recommend trying to make the immune system more “accepting” so that it doesn’t react to harmless substances.

There is an excellent natural product called PetAlive Immunity & Liver Support which will help strengthen your pet’s immune system. This product can be used for both dogs and cats. Here is what some users of the product had to say:

Thank you for such wonderful products! I wish I had known about them sooner. I started giving my 13 year old cocker Immunity & Liver Support capsules for about 2 months. He seems to have a spring in his step now when walking …I can’t thank you enough!

Patti, MI, USA

I’ve been giving my 5-year-old pug Immunity and Liver Support, along with C-Caps, for 6 months. After only a few days, I noticed a new vitality and energy… it was like I had a puppy again. Her overall health improved immensely. Recently, I ran out of these products. Thinking I had another bottle of each in the cabinet, I did not order again in time to not miss some doses. I wasn’t too worried as she is doing so wonderfully, but I quickly ordered again. PetAlive.com is so quick and responsive; I had the refills in just a few days. Beans went without her supplements for about 5 days. Two days after starting her regular dosage again, she was perkier and more full of energy. I am convinced that Immunity and Liver Support is doing wonders in keeping her healthy and happy. I recommend your site and your products to every one. With all the toxins in our air, water and environment, even if your pet does not suffer from any disease or condition, I believe Immunity and Liver Support can do wonders to keep your precious family member healthy and full of energy throughout a long, happy life. Thank you PetAlive.com!

Camille, PA, USA

To get more information about this product, please click on the ad below

Here are some other possible solutions to pet food allergies suggested by the vets writing for New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats:

Find the problem ingredient: The only way to find out if your pet has food allergies is to put her on an elimination diet. Give your dog a hypoallergenic food-one that contains ingredients that she has never had before. Also replace regular tap water with distilled water. If her symptoms go away in six to eight weeks, you can be pretty sure that she was allergic to something in her food. Begin reintroducing old foods one at a time. If your pet does not have a reaction (itching and scratching) in three days that food is “safe.”

If you have a cat though you must take special precautions with an elimination diet. Suddenly changing your cat’s diet could cause her to stop eating entirely. That can lead to a serious liver disorder called hepatic lipidosis. Holistic vets recommend gradually replacing some of your cat’s regular food with the new food over a period of several weeks. Keep making the change slowly even if the allergy symptoms continue to appear. It may take several month before all allergens leave your cat’s system.

Shop for natural foods – Some dogs and cats are sensitive to the chemical preservatives, dyes, or artificial flavoring used in commercial pet foods. You may have to keep looking for a food they can eat safely. See our post on Pet Food Additives

Give them raw foods - Vets recommend cooked broccoli and string beans, raw zucchini, raw carrots, alfalfa sprouts, and baby carrots for dog treats.

Try a modified fast – Putting pets on a “modified fast” will help eliminate substances from the body that may be triggering the allergies. One Prevention for Pet’s vet says “give your pet only one tablespoon of raw meat a day, along with pure water. Large pets can fast for three days, while smaller pets, including cats, can go one day. If they seem unhappy about not eating, you can give them some homemade chicken or beef broth.” Be sure to consult your vet before trying this one.

Detoxify with herbs – There are number of herbs that promote healing by clearing your pet’s body of harmful substances and making the body more resistant to food allergens. Holistic vets recommend burdock, dandelion, yellow dock or golden seal. Dandelion is actually the main ingredient in Petalive Immunity & Liver Support.

[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]


Signs of Pet Allergies

May 28, 2009 by Jodi · 4 Comments
Filed under: pet allergies 

Pet Food Allergies

Just like people pet’s can be allergic to certain ingredients in their food. For dogs and cats with food allergies, however, even normal eating can cause problems. According to New Choices in Healing for Dogs and Cats by Amy Shojai and the Editors of Prevention for Pets, “When they eat the wrong food, they may get extremely itchy. Any ingredient may cause allergies, with beef and soy protein being common offenders. Even if your vet puts your pet on a scientifically designed diet, it may take two months or more before the problems go away. In the meantime, she will continue scratching sometimes damaging the skin in the process.”

To help with the itching and scratching consider using a natural product to reduce itching. Native Remedies 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. Check out the following testimonial:

“I can’t tell you how pleased I am with this product. I have a one year old English Toy Spaniel who has been suffering from horrible itchy skin (this breed is apparently prone to skin problems). I tried a “skin balance” remedy offered by one of your competitors, with no results or relief whatsoever. After having Romeo on your Skin and Coat Tonic for about 3 weeks now, the improvement in his skin is about 80% (and hopefully will continue to improve the longer he is on this formula). I also noticed that where his skin was previously hot to the touch, it is now normal and cool, and he is comfortable and relieved. Thanks you for a wonderful product. I will keep him on this forever.
Linda, CA, USA

To find out more about this product click on the ad below:

Here are the common symptoms of food allergies in pets:

- Licking or biting skin or scratching face

- Ears or “armpits” look red and irritated, or the ears contain a gooey discharge.

- Vomiting, diarrhea or gas

- Cat has small scabs around ears or neck

To find out more natural solutions to pet food allergies see our related post Pet Food Allergies

[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]


All Natural Pet Allergy Treatments

January 19, 2009 by admin · 7 Comments
Filed under: pet allergies 

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]


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