A Natural Look To Dog Health
With more and more people turning to holistic health remedies for themselves it is no surprise that they are seeking the same for their canine confidants. People love their dogs and want them to live the best lives possible and are seeking treatments once reserved for people only. Holistic dog care aims to treat the whole animal rather than merely a set of symptoms and includes homeopathic remedies, acupuncture and nutritional therapy.
Homeopathic remedies are becoming more popular in pets and people and are the opposite of traditional Veterinary care which relies on chemical-based medicines. Homeopathic treatment requires administration of heavily diluted and distilled doses of certain substances such as wolf’s bane, oysters, cinchona plants and other natural ingredients to boost the immune system. An overall health history is taken and a homeopathic Veterinarian creates a plan of specific dosages to treat the whole animal, not merely the symptoms of one condition. Remedies are also created from diseased fecal matter, blood and tissue samples. The diluted doses of these materials often contain none of the original material upon dosage. While some owners swear by homeopathic remedies for their dogs, the FDA has not approved these methods for Veterinary use. Clinical trails have proved inconclusive for this method of holistic care; however, it continues to increase in popularity.
Another popular holistic treatment for dogs is acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient medical treatment practiced for over 5,000 years beginning in the Stone Age in China with fish bones used as needles. Acupuncture was once popular in the United States; however, it slipped into obscurity with the wide spread use of antibiotics in the 1940s. The majority of modern Veterinary text books now contain information on acupuncture. Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into certain pressure points within the body in effort to relieve pain by increasing the flow of energy within the whole body. Acupuncture is used in the treatment of a variety of canine health problems including respiratory conditions, dermatological, gastrointestinal and immune-mediated disorders. While westerners find it hard to explain; there is irrefutable proof supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture in people as well as dogs. Whether you choose to use it in conjunction with regular Veterinary care, as exclusive treatment or as a last ditch efforts when other methods have failed; it is a valid and respected treatment method amongst Veterinarians and their owners.
Perhaps the most popular holistic treatment for dogs includes nutritional therapy. Nutrition experts suggest that the modern Western diet is responsible for many of the diseases and illnesses in modern society. Nutritional therapy in dogs suggests a return to a macrobiotic diet and a departure from commercially processed dog foods. The earliest recorded use of a macrobiotic diet was found in the writings of Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine. Macrobiotic type diets for dogs include a combination of 1/3 each of brown rice, lean meat and vegetables. Therapists also suggest feeding the proper combination of vitamins, antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids. These natural diets are thought to prevent some of the diseases caused by over processed commercial dog foods including hypertension, heart disease and skin disorders. These diets are time consuming to prepare, but many owners are making the leap in reaction to wide spread pet food recalls caused by toxic materials found in dozens of popular dog food brands.
Other popular holistic methods gaining popularity include hypnotherapy and massage. When deciding on a course of treatment, make sure to get several opinions and consider all of your options. While some of these methods are not proven effective; others are and should be considered as valid courses of treatment. While it is easy to point out the shortcomings of medicine based treatment, dogs are living longer lives than ever because of them.
A natural article from Discount-Pet-Mall who provide pet gates and raised pet feeders
Dog Health Improved by Natural Food
Natural food for dogs is not artificial coloring dyes, not meat byproducts, sugar or corn syrup, and other common filler commercial dog food ingredients. Read the label of your favorite wet or canned dog food and see what ingredients are listed, and in what order. The items are listed by the amount contained in the food.
Moisture is usually number one at approximately 78% or more. So three quarters of what you are buying is water. Some type of animal by products is next, that could mean animal hair, gristle, hoofs, feathers, etc. Next up are the minuscule items like actual meat, vegetables, or rice. They also use artificial flavorings and sugar to make the food taste good.
You might also notice that many commercial brands make note that they adhere to the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials). This is an organization that is a private advisory board. Well, guess what? AFFCO has no enforcement authority, no input as to quality, and does no testing. In short, they are worthless and have no impact on the quality of the pet food industry at all.
The accepted ratio of protein, fat, and carbohydrates is minimum 23% for protein, 20% fat, and 40% or more carbohydrates. When you read your commercial can food labels, most are less than 7% crude protein (meat by products which produce little actual protein since it can’t be properly digested – it just passes through), 7% fat, and maybe 9% carbohydrates.
There are two problems, the quality of the food and low levels of nutrition, plus all the toxins and contaminants. Some of the higher quality foods have removed all the by products and offer a much higher level of nutrients. But they still don’t even come close the recommended levels of the basics. But they are much healthier and you can also provide some additional supplements (like raw meat, fish, and vegetables) to bring up the nutrients to an acceptable level.
Just like in humans, your dog is what he/she eats. The more natural food and fewer toxins, the more healthy your dog will be and the less time you will spend at the vet. I’ve seen many dogs who were listless, suffering from many small ailments, coat dull, and barely able to get around miraculously recover and act like a young dog again when their diets were changed to natural and healthy food.
A good comparison would be if you ate Twinkies, moon pies, and hot dogs every day for food. Yes, they taste good but there’s little nutritional value in the way of protein, vitamins, and other necessary foods. You would start gaining weight and exhibiting the same common health problems that many dogs do with low nutrition foods.
Problems like allergies, skin disorders, mouth and gum problems, and bladder problems all can be eliminated by switching to all natural food ingredients with out additives. The difference is cost is considerable until you look at the over all health costs. One trip to the vet is going to be $75. If you feed your dog a can of $.50 dog food every day, to go natural can cost around $1.00 a can. That’s only an extra $30 bucks a month for the good stuff and with no trips to the vet, will probably be cheaper in the long run.
Your dog will live longer and be much more healthy for a relatively small amount of money well spent. The quality of life for your pet will be increased dramatically. Dog health is directly related to their diet, just like us.
Preventing Dog Health Issues the Natural Way
Preventing dog health issues is easy if you know how to follow simple, practical steps. In this articles, you’ll learn what you need to do to ensure that your delightfully faithful, furry friend has a long and happy life.
Most pet owners don’t think about how to prevent dog diseases, so you are way ahead of the curve. As with children, we are the stewards of our pets and it’s our job to make informed decisions for them that will support health, vitality and longevity. Just as we make lifestyle choices to boost our immunity, we need to do the same for our pets. It’s the best way that we can show we care: by looking out for their best interests.
Preventing dog health issues requires feeding your dog a nutrient-rich diet. This is why it is best to avoid commercial kibble because it is often made from byproducts, cheap grains that can cause intestinal and urinary issues, fillers, dyes, chemicals and preservatives. Just as you wouldn’t feed yourself a junk food diet if you wanted to be proactive about your health, you shouldn’t give your dog junk food kibble. At your local pet store, health food store and even grocery store, you should be able to find organic kibble that is made with real protein, nutritious carbs and healthy oils. Although this kibble will be more expensive, it will last longer because your dog won’t need to eat so much to get the nutrients that his body needs.
Next, make sure your dog is properly hydrated at all times. Your dog should always have access to a bowl of fresh, clean water. You do not need to buy bottled water, but you should use a tap filter to get rid of chemicals in the water.
Third, exercise is an important part of a dog’s daily routine and a great way to prevent dog diseases because exercise detoxifies the lymph system and rids the body of the effects of stress. Exercising by walking together, running or throwing a frisbee in the park is also a great bonding activity for you and your dog. Your dog loves more than anything just to be with you, while taking in the smells, sights and sounds of the world.
Finally, an essential component of any preventative program is a natural supplement. Since even organic kibble doesn’t provide pets with all the nutrients they need, give your pet a daily vitamin that has antioxidants and herbs that are proven to boost immunity and fight off disease, the effects of stress and aging. A supplement that contains Echinacea (which detoxifies the lymph), Mistletoe (fights off disease) and Indian Ginseng (promotes energy and vitality) is the best way of preventing dog health issues known today. Of course you’ll want to make sure that you are also following the steps outlined above.
So there you have it: a great way to return your dog’s loyalty and affection: prevent dog disease by giving your pet a healthy diet, lots of water, exercise and a daily supplement designed to boost immunity and promote health, vitality and a good long life.
Laura Ramirez is a passionate researcher of products that help restore health and vitality to pets and people and keep their immune system strong for prevention. To learn more about her findings, go to www.pet-health-supplements.com.
She is also the author of the award-winning parenting book, Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting which teaches parents how to raise children to lead productive and meaningful lives.
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The Natural Principles of Dog Health
The natural principles state the fact that a good diet will keep the dog’s health in a normal state; the entire body will tend towards this state of god health. Every pet will be more prone to healing if that is the case; for instance, the proper Cat Food is able to help the kitten resist when being sick and healing will be promoted too. The correct conditions of the pet’s body should be put in their place in order to maintain the state of health. A balanced diet means that the pet has to eliminate all the wastes and he has to digest all the necessary nutrients. But many pets are not likely to enjoy this type of balanced diet. Therefore, every owner should be aware of the fact that his pet’s intake can exceed his output. This is the main reason why a diet is not to be considered as a balanced one even if its appearance is positive.
The regular excess can come from constant over feeding and incorrect proportion when it comes to the supplements that are being used in the pet’s food. For instance, the Cat Food can have too much fat inclusion or proteins thus leading to an obvious unbalance that can result in sickness. The Dog Health has to be promoted by a chemical-free diet and the natural elements should be added too. The unbalanced diet can lead to a decreased output and this aspect is very harmful because the pet’s body will be filled with toxins that may accumulate in time. The owner should also pay attention to the amount of exercise that his pet is exposed to; insufficient exercise can also lead to an increased unbalance and weight gain. The fats will accumulate thus making the entire body work at a lower level.
The pet’s home should also be taken into account; actually, the environment is very important when it comes to prompting your pet’s health. For instance, a warm environment is able to reduce the entire amount of energy that is usually needed in order to maintain the proper body temperature. Even the main organs of elimination will become less efficient. Every puppy owner should be very careful about the Dog Health because this period is a critical one; he will become very anxious in order to find whether his puppy is receiving the necessary vitamins and minerals in order to enjoy a healthy development and growth.
The main purpose of the pet’s diet is to provide the dog with all the necessary nutrients that are required in order for the pet to grow and remain active. Every dog and Cat Food will contain the proper mixture of nutrients and each of these nutrients will have its own role when it comes to ensuring the proper digestion and nutrition. The correct amounts of supplements are highly important in order not to disturb the natural cycle of digestion. As the puppy grows into adulthood, he will have other needs; his requirements will change and the owner has the responsibility of ensuring the proper diet that is fit for this stage of life.
But proper nutrition is likely to start even before the puppy was born because the parents have to be fed with quality food in order to have healthy puppies. Special nutrients and supplements are to be added to the pregnant bitch’s diet in order for the puppies to have a stronger constitution. A proper diet will make the puppies healthier and more resistant to possible diseases. Even the environment should be emotionally satisfying in order for the bitch to produce resistant puppies. The bitch that is living in a stable environment will produce puppies that will be well-adjusted when compared with puppies that were born in a restricted and caged environment.
The puppy’s initial nourishment will be highly related to his mother; any deficiencies that have affected the bitch’s life will be passed to her puppies. Prolonged periods of time that have been characterized by nutritional lacks will influence the puppies’ state of health. The last third of the pregnancy time is the most important. The puppy’s weight is likely to develop in this period too and the efficient flow of vitamins and minerals is to be assured in order for all the nutrients to be transferred to the puppy’s body. Nutrition in this third period is very important mainly because it will become highly beneficial in the first weeks after the puppy was born; the bitch’s stomach capacity will be reduced during this period of time and she has to deal with the constant demand to eat in order to feed her puppies. The proper diet is to be ensured in order to enable the bitch to produce the necessary milk that will support the development and growth of her puppies. During this period, the only nutrition will come from the mother’s milk and the owner has to learn how to wean the puppies in order to give them dog food. This transfer should be done in a gradual manner in order not to disturb the natural development of the puppies.
Dog Health should be considered in a holistic manner because the natural diet will make the difference in case of dog food or Cat Food.