Do you consider your pet a part of the family? I sure do. I am not only concerned with what I put in my children’s body, but what goes in my dog’s body, as well. Would you serve you kids the leftover parts from a butcher shop, give them pesticides or chemicals to ingest? Many times we don’t even consider what we are actually feeding our pets. Just because it is labeled for pets, does not mean it is actually GOOD or healthy for them.
I know so much about holistic pet care because I am not only a naturopathic doctor, but our family breeds Weimaraners. The health of our dogs is of utmost importance to us, so we use only natural foods and therapies for our dog and puppies. Our dogs are healthy, vibrant and full of life. I strongly believe that your pet’s health and lifespan are directly affected by what you put into their bodies.
It is important to be informed about your options in pet care in order to make the best decisions for your pet’s health and well-being. I believe that “standard” care is causing more harm than good, so in this article I will cover natural remedy therapies and alternative pet care. Most animal diseases and problems can be both avoided and treated naturally.
Finding a Holistic Vet
A typical veterinary office is similar to a regular doctor’s office, which essentially practices “Western Medicine” on animals. Drugs, antibiotics and pesticides are their “medicines” of choice to treat only the symptoms and do nothing to correct the underlying problem of your pet.
The first and most important thing to do for the health of your pet is to find a holistic vet in your area. Even if it is a bit of a drive, the natural treatments for your animals are well worth it, especially when it comes to more serious diseases like cancer. I was lucky enough to find a fantastic holistic vet nearby who has taught me much of what I know today about holistic pet care. She changed our dog’s life after having a bad experience with a standard vet.
You can find a holistic vet in your area by going to the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association website here:
http://www.holisticvetlist.com/#search
The Vaccination Myth
If you take your dog or cat to a standard vet, the first thing they are going to want to do is get them “up to date” on their vaccinations. However, holistic veterinarians and myself believe that these yearly vaccines can assault your pet’s immune system, bombarding them with a whole host of potential problems and diseases. Holistic veterinarians state, and science has proven, that most vaccines are completely unnecessary.
Dr. Ronald Shultz, a Veterinary Immunologist and professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, pioneered the vaccine schedule that most holistic vets follow today. He backs his recommendations with over 25 years worth of vaccine research. Dr. Shultz states that most vaccines given after a dog’s first year have little or no value and don’t offer adequate protection.. These unneeded vaccines can cause many adverse side-effects. Dr. Shultz’s research shows, that if your puppy gets vaccinated at 12 weeks with a booster 4 to 6 weeks later, then he/she is likely immune for life!
The Holistic Vaccine Protocol
According to Dr. Shultz’s Research, there are only 3 vaccines that are necessary for your dog.
Recommended Vaccines for Every Dog
Distemper- Hepatitis
- Parvovirus
The holistic vaccination schedule recommends your dogs first vaccinations of distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus be given between 12-14 weeks with a booster of each given 4 weeks later. Most likely no other vaccinations will be needed for the life of your dog. However, a titer can be used later to test your dog’s antibodies to see if additional boosters are necessary.
I also recommend giving your dog the homeopathic, Thuja, to counteract the vaccines side-effects. Give them a 30C dose of two pellets 30 minutes before and after the vaccination. Follow that with 2 pellets twice a day for the following 3 days. This will help detoxify your dogs system from the potential dangerous ingredients and their side-effects.
Your Pet Is Already Vaccinated, Now What?
If you already have a pet that has been vaccinated several times, you are probably wondering what you should do now. Most likely, they have all the necessary antibodies for those diseases. If it makes you or your vet more comfortable, you can have your pet’s blood titered to make sure. Most vaccines, including the rabies vaccine, will keep your pet immune for at least 8 years.
The Rabies Secret
Most holistic veterinarians believe the rabies vaccine is one of the most harmful vaccines to a dog’s system. However, it is required by law. The rabies vaccine is available in both one and three year doses.
Here is a little helpful secret. The 3-year vaccine is not any stronger and is the exact same dosage as the one-year. Choosing the 3 year rabies vaccine will not only save you money, but will save your dog from the dangers of being overly vaccinated.
Treating Pet Problems Naturally
Even if you feed your dog or cat natural food and avoid over vaccinating, they can still develop health problems with age, or simply because of a genetic disposition. I have seen our dog overcome her genetic health predispositions with just a few supplements. If you are fed up with conventional pet care therapies not working, then this is for you. Just like our bodies, an animal’s body is designed to heal itself. Natural supplements help facilitate that healing.
Immune System and Allergies
Our dog’s breed, like many dogs and cats, is prone to allergies. When your pet has allergies, it is an immune issue. The best way to combat it is not with anti-histamines, but with a good immune booster. There are several amazing immune boosters for pets. My favorites include:...
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Welcome, dear reader! Once again I will attempt to distract your attention away from the “white noise” of such current topics as solar flares, global warming, politics and hate crimes to something that can melt even the coldest heart — pets!
Each year they “up the ante” and this season, kittens took to the field at halftime. They even had potbelly pigs as cheerleaders! People lit up Facebook and Tweeted with abandon as the announcer asked the question, “America, who do you think should be this years MVP (Most Valuable Puppy)?”
Bone meal
Hunting is natural behavior in cats. I have a cat that brings birds, chipmunks and mice to my front door to show how much she “loves” me. In fact, last summer somehow I let my cat in and she had a live bird. It was my turn to “hunt” the bird – and get it out of my house!
I spend a good amount of time thinking about what to feed myself. I want to eat naturally, healthy nutrient-dense food so my body can heal itself. I also want my cat to have healthy hip joints, strong teeth and shiny teeth – don’t you want the same for your pet?
The travel season is approaching and most of us wish Fido or Fluffy could come along on our vacation. Besides, kennels can get expensive! Traveling with your pet can be safe, if you take the proper precautions, says Robert L. Ridgway, DVM.
For more than 20 years, HALO has been known for their holistic pet products of uncompromising quality. With nutrition being the #1 important factor in the quality of a pet’s life, HALO offers quality food, treats, supplements, and grooming supplies to help maintain animal health.
Supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin are often used in cats and dogs, and appear to work very well in support of joint health. Joint supplements help promote better mobility for pets with hip & joint problems.
We humans are intrinsically resistant to change and fearful of the unknown. The anxiety we feel when we begin to change or venture into the unknown is actually our protective mechanism, and it can cause us—at least initially—to misinterpret or fail to recognize what is, in fact, a true core desire.
Cheer up. Stop worrying. Don’t work so hard. That may be some of the worst advice you could give someone who intends to live a long life, a new study suggests.
“Some of the minutiae of what people think will help us lead long, healthy lives, such as worrying about the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the foods we eat, actually are red herrings, distracting us from the major pathways,” Friedman said. “When we recognize the long-term healthy and unhealthy patterns in ourselves, we can begin to maximize the healthy patterns.”
David Kekich (Living Healthy to 120: Anti-Aging Breakthroughs) is President/CEO of Maximum Life Foundation that focuses on aging research, a 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to curing aging-related diseases. For more information, visit: www.MaxLife.org. David contributes to our column Living Healthy to 120: Anti-Aging Breakthroughs. MaxLife is helping to make the anti-aging dream a reality with cutting edge Bio-Engineering research and products.