veterinary homeopaths

veterinary homeopaths

Veterinary Homeopaths

(I list veterinary homeopaths first – but I also include the far more prevalent “plain old” homeopaths, as many will also treat animals)

http://www.acadvethom.org/refcover.htm

Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy – List of its members around the world (i.e., mostly in the U.S., a few Canadian, and hardly any anywhere else)

http://www.vetnat.com/Links/veterinary_list.html

Vetnat International – A few Canadian veterinary homeopaths

http://bahvs.com/vetmfhom.htm

British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons – Members in the U.K.

http://www.homoeopathie.at/vet/vetfta.htm

Osterreichische Gesellschaft fur veterinarmedizinische Homoopathie – Veterinarian homeopaths in Austria

http://www.homeopatiaveterinaria.com

veterinários_homeopatas.htm Associacao Medico Veterinaria Homeopatica Brasileira – Brazilian veterinary homeopaths

http://www.altvetmed.com/iavh.html

A list of veterinary homeopathic organizations in almost 20 countries worldwide… in case the directories aren’t enough Homeopathy Home – U.S. organizations that maintain online lists/databases of practitioners; other organizations that may be useful in directing one to a nearby homeopath

http://www.homeopathyhome.com/directory/uk/ organisations.shtml

Homeopathy Home – U.K. organizations as above

http://www.homeopathyhome.com/directory/world_addresses.shtml

Homeopathy Home – homeopathy organizations in around 40 other countries around the world, little and big

http://homeopathy-cures.com/referral.htm

A list of classical homeopaths in the U.S. and Canada who are personally recommended by homeopath Steve Waldstein Individual homeopathic practitioners accessible via the web: (Information gleaned from a discussion list is one thing. When your pet needs help now, there is a homeopath at hand, even if you live in the wilderness…)

http://homeopathy-international.com/homeopat/p1.html

Geir Marcussen is a Norwegian man, a classically trained homeopath who consults via e-mail anywhere in the world. He has been involved in a few Internet discussion forums and now participates in several segments of his own (very useful) classical homeopathy-centered forum called On-line Homeopathic Consulting,

http://pub73.ezboard.com/bhomeopathy

geirmarcussenmnnh… This includes the “Veterinary” forum. (And please consider making donations for expert help freely given. In fact, there are 3 valuable private forums for donors interested in furthering their homeopathic education.). He has extensive experience working both in person and remotely with animal and human cases. (You can see some testimonials from clients on his website.) Geir’s professional training also included a number of other natural treatment modalities (see his website for the list) – his discussion forum advice, for instance, sometimes includes chiropractic “things to be checked”… Altogether a great deal, I think.

Email him at getm@eunet.no

See also the Holistic Veterinarians page

Online diagnostic aids/long-distance advice: (Use these for gaining clues in educated self-treating – or to ask for suggestions from forum participants…)

http://www.homeoint.org/cgi-bin/forums/Ultimate.cgi

Homéopathie International bulletin board, “Veterinary Homeopathy” forum. (Geir Marcussen latterly participated here as “GM” before starting his own forum.) Archived topics/threads are highly instructional. (See the forums “Case Discussions” and “Clinical Cases” for a very useful education in how homeopaths work. There are also forums conducted in Portuguese, German, Spanish, and Italian… and the site’s “home language”, French.)

http://www.homeopathyhome.com/cgi-bin/bb/ultimatebb.cgi

Homeopathy Home bulletin board, “Pets and Animals” forum – Participants include one or more homeopaths experienced in treating animals; reading through the archived topics/threads is highly educational… or post a query of your own. (Geir Marcussen used to participate here as well, also as “GM” – but disapproves of the over-popular approach to homeopathy that holds sway.)

http://pub73.ezboard.com/bhomeopathy

geirmarcussenmnnh Geir Marcussen’s “On-line Homeopathic Consulting” forum – Includes a “Veterinary” segment, and educational sections for financial supporters of the forum; multiple homeopaths contribute.

http://www.vetnat.com/Virtual_Clinic/virtual_clinic.html

Vetnat International – For cats, dogs, or birds… An interactive script that makes correlations between various ailments and the combination remedies the company sells. Certification programs for homeopaths: (In case you’re interested for yourself…)

http://homeopathic.org./Certifi.htm

National Center for Homeopathy – descriptions of 4 U.S. certification organizations and the certifications boards of the 3 states that bother

Holistic Veterinarians

Holistic Veterinarians

Holistic Veterinarians

Holistic veterinarians accessible via the web: (For when you can’t get to one near you)

Dr Neal Weiner, Pet Care Naturally

Dr. Neal K. Weiner has been practicing traditional veterinary medicine at the Lewiston Animal Clinic in Lewiston, California since 1987. His Clinical interests are in practicing both traditional and holistic medicine. With emphasis on greater health and well being for his patients, Dr.Weiner’s approach encompasses many different disciplines including Chiropractic, Muscle Testing, Raw Meat Diets, and Animal Communication. Dr. Weiner believes that prevention and correction of imbalances is the way to maintain optimal health for both ourselves and our pets. PHONE: (503) 242-0911 FAX: (503) 242-0195

Dr Kathleen Carson, Holistic Vet Consult

Dr. Kathleen Carson does phone/email consultations – for information, not diagnosis or prescription: “acupuncture, Bach Flower Remedies, nutritional advice, and some herbs and homeopathic remedies in addition to the more conventional modalities”.

Dr.Gloria Dodd, Holistic Vet Pet Care/

Dr. Gloria Dodd is an exceptionally experienced holistic veterinarian who has delved widely and deeply into the varied field of energetic medicine in particular. Her website is a fabulous and fascinating learning resource – I highly recommend that you peruse her site (you’ll learn things there that you very well may not learn anywhere else). Topics on her site include music, acupressure, electromagnetics and radiation, homeopathy, heavy metal poisoning, Nosodes. Oh, and her Tip of the Month is well worth going back for regularly! She has developed many outstanding products, including an extensive line of homeopathic remedies. And though she’s withdrawn from private practice to pursue other aspects of veterinary (and other) healing, she does take on some long-distance consultative cases each year.

Dr Anna Maria Scholey, Pet Synergy

Dr. Anna Maria Scholey does phone/email consultations: “natural pet care, flower remedies, nutrition, dietary supplements and homeopathy”.

Dr Stephen Blake, The Pet Whisperer

Dr Stephen Blake is located in San Diego, CA and his new office phone number is 858-484-7342. Office hours are 9 to 4PM Pacific Time Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Dr Blake is certified by the Homeopathic Veterinary Academy as a Homeopathic Veterinarian and as a Veterinary Acupuncturist by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. Dr Blake mainly use Aromatherapy, Classical Homeopathy, Bach Flowers, massage, acupuncture and nutrition to care for his patients.

Animal Healing Center

At Animal Healing Center the focus is on a holistic approach to animal health, with an emphasis on natural remedies and healthy diets as opposed to traditional pharmaceutical-based reactive treatments. Led by Dr. Larry Siegler, their veterinarians are professionally trained in many alternative approaches to pet health care, as well as in traditional veterinary medicine. The treatments utilized include: Chinese and Western Herbs, Accupuncture, Homeopathy, Flower Essences, Healthy Diet Consulation (inluding raw food),Natural Supplements. Animal Healing Center offers phone consultations to treat acute or chronic conditions or to offer general advice on holistic animal health care. The price is $75 per half hour, with a half hour minimum for the first conultation and a 15 minute minimum for subsequent calls. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, please call them at 425-885-5400.

Dr Judy Stolz,Desert Animal Wellness Center

Dr. Judy Stolz DVM, ND has her practice in Casa Grande, AZ. Dr Stolz has been a doctor of veterinary medicine since 1985, and a naturopathic physician since 1996. She is a graduate of Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine and the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.

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Dr. Ihor Basko provides high quality, caring, holistic veterinarian services and healing acupuncture services on the Islands of Kauai and Oahu. Dr. Basko also provides guidance to pet owners world-wide for preventing disease and supporting the well-being of their pets through his web site, telephone consultations and a weekly radio show

American Holistic Veterinary Medicine Association

HOMEOPATHIC VETERINARIANS

Diffusing Essential Oils

Diffusing Essential Oils

Diffusing Essential Oils For Pets Diffusion of essential oils into the air of an enclosed space (such as a house, kennel or aviary) is popularly called aromatherapy. That’s because the highly aromatic, sweet-smelling molecules of the essential oils are literally breathed into the body, at which point they trigger numerous immune boosting, healing,relaxation or stimulation responses depending upon the specific oils being inhaled. Dr. Valnet points out that whether applied directly, or inhaled, essentials oils have virtually the same therapeutic impact on the body. Dr. Gary Young points out that the body’s response time to inhalation of essential oils can be as quick as one to three seconds! This is why, for many people and the treating of household pets, inhalation is the preferred method of use of the essential oils. Inhalation of essential oil enter the bloodstream via the lungs,( The lungs govern the immune system) and they are also metabolized in the liver Moreover, when oils are diffused in a home,kennel or aviary, they purify the air itself by removing toxins, metallic particles and other harmful microscopic debris. They also increase the atmospheric oxygen of the air, and boost levels of beneficial ozone and negative ions which, dramatically inhibit the growth and reproduction of airborne pathogens. Further, as the odorous molecules drift to the various surfaces of each room (ie., ceilings, floors, walls, tiling etc.), they rapidly kill virtually all pathogenic bacteria, rifles, molds and fungi they come into contact with. And lastly, they completely destroy odors from mold, cigarettes, and more. Essential oils can be diffused into the air in a number of ways. During summer months when you have a fan or air conditioner running, one of the simplest ways to diffuse is to put a few drops of your favorite oil onto a tissue and secure the tissue next to the air vent or the fan cage so that the air blows across it. The blowing air then circulates the aromatic molecules of the essential oil throughout your house or kennel, and your pets (and yourself)breathe them in as you go about your normal daily activities. Some find a favorite method of diffusing, (if only because of its simplicity and being inexpensive) is to take a 4 oz. or 6 oz. “mister” or spray bottle such as you’d use to mist house plants. Fill the mister with distilled or spring water, add 15 or 20 drops of essential oil, shake well, and then walk through your home and/or kennel briefly “misting” each room or area with the solution as you go.

Cold Air Diffusion

Perhaps the most popular and effective method of diffusing oils is to buy a product called a Cold Air Diffuser, which sprays an ultra-fine mist of the essential oil of your choice into the air. The millions of misted particles sprayed from a diffuser are so fine they can hang in the air of your space (home, etc.) literally for hours, spreading from room to room via the normal air circulation that occurs as you walk through your house and/or kennel.

*** NOTE: Always use cold diffusion.

NEVER HEAT ESSENTIAL OILS.

Heat will alter the chemistry, rendering them therapeutically useless. When essential oils are diffused, the molecules are broken up into micro-fine mist particles. These mist particles stay suspended in the air for long periods of time. Not only does this reduce bacteria, mold and odors in the air, but these micro-mist particles also benefit those who inhale them. Diffused oils don’t just mask odors; they actually alter the structure of the molecules that create odors – rendering them harmless! They also increase the available oxygen in the room and produce negative ions. Research at Weber State University shows that diffusing essential oils destroys airborne micro-organisms. Diffusing is so effective that many hospitals in England and France diffuse essential oils daily to keep incidences of drug-resistant bacteria low and to keep the air free from micro-organisms. Research also shows that cold-air diffusing certain oils may: Reduce bacteria, fungus, mold, and unpleasant odors. Relax the mind and body, relieve tension, and clear the mind. Improve concentration, alertness, and mental clarity. Dispel odors. With all these benefits, it makes sense to start using a diffuser today. With the threat of super bugs growing ever more resistant to vaccines and antibiotics, our pets becoming infected as well as us humans, diffusing essential oils makes more and more sense. It simply is the ultimate home health care defense against life-threatening organisms.

Click Here to read how Therapeutic grade essential oils are being shown through recent research to act as a natural antibiotics. With all of the news about MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) incidents increasing, here�s some food for thought about the alternatives offered by nature since the garden of Eden days.

While diffusing essential oils will not stop an animal or even a person from being infected outside of the home, it does create an infectious free zone of air within the home you can use to protect your loved ones. Breathing air diffused with essential oils attacks any virus or bacteria lining the respiratory tract which may have been inhaled outside of the infectious free zone. It also keeps the infection from spreading to other family members Diffusing oils into a room with a sick pet or human family member with a cold or flu can actually cut their downtime by half or more! According to the experts, recovery can be accelerated by as much as 70%! And regular diffusion of essential oils can practically eliminate the normal change-of-season bouts with colds or flu. According to Dr.Valnet, “Many essences (e.g. cinnamon, pine, thyme, lemon) have marked effects on influenza, and human patients that have been treated with these essences seem to get through the winter without trouble.” By way of personal experience with these amazing essential oils, we have found them to offer much in the way of additional therapeutic benefits, going way beyond their powerful immune boosting and anti-microbial properties. For example, simply letting my dogs smell the essential oil of lavender right out of the bottle can almost instantly relax them and I have been able to knock out a stubborn sinus headache within 60 to 90 seconds inhaling the lavender and some peppermint. Smelling the essential oil of eucalyptus for just several minutes helps to open clogged nasal passages and clear up sinus congestion like magic. And smelling the essential oil of peppermint for several minutes will usually completely eliminate acid indigestion and heartburn. We have also personally discovered that the essential oils of birch or helichrysum will often completely alleviate knee and joint pains when applied directly to the painful area on the dog(or yourself). I have even applied these oils to my husband’s back (he is a chronic pain patient after many back operations) and they have helped when he is in so much pain that even his prescribed pain meds are not helping. That’s because both of these oils have chemical constituents that are anti-inflammatory and analgesic, in addition to their oxygenating, immune-boosting and anti-microbial properties! Other essential oils, such as rose, lavender, Frankincense and ylang ylang can be rubbed into the area of the back and pelvic area, up and down the spine, just before bedtime if you suffer from insomnia or have a restless dog that does not want to “wind down”. Diffuse them near your bird if it anxious, stressed or phobic. Their amazing calming and relaxing effects practically guarantee a sound nights sleep. And again, you and your pets receive these benefits on top of all of the other powerful anti-pathogenic, immune-boosting, cell-nourishing, body oxygenating and health-enhancing properties of the oils! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Aroma’s effect on the brain The Japanese have a long tradition of using aroma, and they have much respect for it. In 1985 research into the mind-altering effects of essential oils was started in Japan by Dr Shizuo Torii who, by measuring brain waves, showed that some aromas can have a stimulating effect and some can have a relaxing effect. Japan’s third largest construction company, the Shimizu Corporate, has specialist engineers who incorporate aroma systems into the new ‘intelligent’ building which use aroma to improve efficiency and relieve stress. In one bank, designed by the company, lavender or rosemary are diffused into the customer areas, while lemon or eucalyptus are used to keep workers alert at their VDUs. Commercial diffuser systems are capable of pumping different aromas into the atmosphere at different times of the day, to relax or stimulate as required. Another Japanese construction company, Kajima Corporation, blend appropriate fragrances which are diffused into different areas of the building, taking into consideration the time of day and the male-female ratio of any one department. While lavender and rose combination created a calming, stress-relieving and blood-pressure reducing effect for general purposes, the after- lunch drowsiness is combated by fragrance of lemon and jasmine, which have a refreshing and reviving effect. Many combinations of aroma are possible and the effects appear similar on our pets as they do on us! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * What Are the Most Effective Oils to Diffuse? Lemon Melaleuca alternifolia Eucalyptus globulus Ravensara Lavender Rosewood And blends, such as: Purification Citrus Fresh Thieves ImmuPower Peace & Calming Other essential oils can be diffused for different effects. For example, frankincense and lavender can soothe and calm. The blend, ‘Peace & Calming’ can help settle down an excited puppy or bird with anxiety. Joy, along with Peace & Calming, or lavender are often used for their calming and emotionally balancing effects. Purification, lemon or Thieves blend purify the air and neutralize mildew, cigarette smoke, synthetic fragrances and kill airborne bacteria and viruses.

CAUTION:

Cats are known to be deficient in their ability to eliminate compounds through hepatic glucuronidation (they lack enzyme glucuronyl tranferases). Glucuronidation is an important detoxification mechanism present in most animals except cats. Lack of this important detoxification mechanism in cats may result in slower elimination and thus build up of the toxic metabolites in the body causing toxicity problems. When diffusing oils specifically for your cat, try not to use excessive amounts of essential oil, and choose oils which have lower volatility’s as far as possible. In addition, ensure good air circulation especially during the diffusion process, so that local concentrations of essential oil vapour are not built up in non-airchanged areas inhabited by the cat. Make sure cat can get to ‘undiffused’ air at any time if possible, and only diffuse in an individual room if cat does not have access i.e. make it a multi-room location. Toxicology studies show that the feline liver usually needs 48 hours to process and excrete ‘terpenes’, thus allow 48 hours between end of last diffusion and starting another to avoid repeated exposure by inhalation. ************************************************************** Young Living’s Essential Oil Diffuser gives you the benefit of diffusing essential oils throughout your home, office or kennel. Diffusing is a simple and effective way to use essential oils. With Young Living’s innovative air pump, oils are dispersed in a micro-fine vapor, allowing them to remain suspended in the air for extended periods of time. The diffuser disperses the oils without heating them so they retain their therapeutic benefits. When inhaled, the oils are easily absorbed through the lungs. Depending on the oil used, diffusing can cleanse the air of odor, remove airborne toxins, calm overactive or stressed pets, and support respiration. Complete Diffuser Set: Essential Oil Diffuser – Bronze Order Code #3660 Essential Oil Diffuser – Green Order Code #3662 Essential Oil Diffuser – Silver Order Code #3661 Customer Price: $131.25 Preferred Customer Price: $115.50 Wholesale: $99.75 Orders can be placed securely through this web site,by becoming a “Free” member

Click HERE to be a member of Young Living

Use Referral and Sponsor # 719671

DISCLAIMER: The only oils I use and refer to (and use personally)in ALL my posts, tips and articles is Young Living Essential Oils. I DO NOT use any others and would not state what I do in our posts and articles about any other brands. Buyer Beware!

To order any of the items above you can dial 800-763-9963 Use the Referral/Sponsor # 719671 number, or sign up as a member and order online.

If you need help ordering or becoming an member, email me & I’ll be glad to help you.   

Below are some research references documenting the therapeutic properties of essential oils Carson CF, et al. “Antimicrobial activity of the major components of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia.” J Appl Bacteriol. 1995;78(3):264-9. Compendium of Olfactory Research. Edited by Avery N. Gilbert. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing, Benencia F, et al. “Antiviral activity of sandalwood oil against herpes simplex viruses-1 and -2.” Phytomedicine. 1999;6(2):119-23 Bernardis LL, et al. “The lateral hypothalamic area revisited: ingestive behavior.” Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 20(2):189-287 (1996). Bilgrami KS, et al. “Inhibition of aflatoxin production & growth of Aspergillus flavus by eugenol & onion & garlic extracts.” Indian J Med Res. 1992;96:171-5. Bradshaw RH, et al. “Effects of lavender straw on stress and travel sickness in pigs.” J Altern Complement Med. 1998;4(3):271-5. Brodal A., “Neurological Anatomy in Relation to Clinical Medicine”. New York: Oxford University Press, 1981.

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Dog Vaccinations

Dog Vaccinations


Vaccinations, To Vaccinate or Not To Vaccinate.
by Dr Jeannie Thomason

The purpose of this article is to explain why some Natural Rearing/holistic dog breeders don’t give any vaccines, including puppy shots, to their dogs. If you are unfamiliar with holistic or naturopathic medicine, most of this article may not be very meaningful to you. In fact, you might even decide that anyone who doesn’t give vaccines to their puppies is insane. That’s fine. Don’t do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable! They are your puppies and their care is in your hands.

My intention here is to give you food for thought and hopefully inspire you to research this out for yourself.

In general, Breeders give vaccinations to their puppies in order to protect them from diseases. They do this out of love and concern. They do it because they believe that the dangers of these diseases outweigh the risks of the vaccinations or more usually because they have never really questioned the practice in the first place. More breeders and pet owners are questioning vaccinations and vaccination protocols these days with all the information available about the dangers of over vaccinating our pets. They really just want to make sure their puppies won’t get parvo or distemper or anything else they can prevent, and also want to avoid harming them by giving vaccines too soon or too often or in any way that will damage their puppy. They want to be sure that the puppy will be safe from disease, and they want to immunize their puppy. They just want to find a safe way to do it. There is a growing number of pet owners and professional caregivers who are experiencing some negative and even, often dangerous, life-threatening repercussions, from the vaccination-immunization serum that they are having veterinarians inject into their pets. A little background on me: I am a Veterinary Naturopath and have worked in the animal care industry and specifically the veterinary field for many years (Tech, Assistant & Front Office). I have spent a good amount of time in the last 18 years, studying the issue of vaccinations. I have personally seen many situations where the perfectly healthy puppy is brought in at 6-8 weeks of age for his first vaccines. The vet always warns that the pup may run a slight fever and/or lose his appetite and not have much energy for a day or so. Then the puppy is scheduled to return in 2 to 3 weeks for more vaccines. At that time he may spike another fever or maybe a day of diarrhea. Then he is returned again in another 2 or 3 weeks for more vaccines. By now he may start to itch a bit or have digestive problems. Often by the time the puppy is 6 months old he has several problems going on. He often has chronic loose stools, itches, (but there are no fleas), licks its feet excessively, fails to thrive, has changes in behavior, etc. Thus begins the first stages of chronic illness brought on by the vaccines. When a perfectly healthy puppy is given viruses that cause illness, the animal is going to manifest illness-related symptoms. This healthy individual will be required to maintain a low-level stimulation of a state of distemper, a low level state of parvo, rabies, and so on. As long as the animal is in a low level state of illness, it is not in a high level state of health. In other words, vaccines are supposed to provide protection by keeping the body in a diseased state of health. Often the animal will not manifest the illness it is vaccinated for, at least not in its acute form, but it will manifest in other conditions. Usually these are chronic conditions and inherited weaknesses such as: any auto-immune disease such as lupus, auto-immune hemolytic anemia cardiomyopathies; fibrosarcomas, mast cell tumors, thyroid tumors, etc.; inflammatory bowel disease, dermatological conditions, warts, lipomas, poor hair coats, IBS, periodontal disease, thyroid disease, and the list goes on and on. A team at Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine conducted several studies to determine if vaccines can cause changes in the immune system of dogs that might lead to life-threatening immune-mediated diseases. They obviously conducted this research because concern already existed. It was sponsored by the Haywood Foundation which itself was looking for evidence that such changes in the human immune system might also be vaccine induced. It found the evidence.

“Effects of Vaccination on the Endocrine and Immune Systems of Dogs, Phase II”, Purdue University, November 1,1999, at: http://www.homestead.com/vonhapsburg/haywardstudyonvaccines.html

Also see www.vet.purdue.edu/epi/gdhstudy.htm

PLEASE, read the article “Science of Vaccine Damage” HERE

Change in Protocols Finally and thankfully, Veterinary Schools are changing their vaccination protocols – Recent editions of the Senior Dogs Project’s newsletter have reported on the ever-broadening trend of eliminating vaccinations for adult dogs all together (except for rabies, where required by state law). We have now had a report that all 27 veterinary schools in North America are in the process of changing their protocols for vaccinating dogs and cats.

Here, in a nutshell, are the new guidelines under consideration: “Dogs and cats immune systems mature fully at 6 months. If a modified live virus (MLV) vaccine is given after 6 months of age, it produces immunity, which is good for the life of the pet (i.e., canine distemper, parvo, feline distemper). If another MLV vaccine is given a year later, the antibodies from the first vaccine neutralize the antigens of the second vaccine and there is little or no effect. The titer is not ‘boosted’ nor are more memory cells induced.

“Not only are annual boosters for parvo and distemper unnecessary, they actually subject the pet to highly potential risks of allergic reactions and immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. There is no scientific documentation to back up label claims for annual administration of Modified Live Virus vaccines. Puppies receive antibodies through their mother’s milk. This natural protection can last 8-14 weeks. Puppies and kittens should NOT be vaccinated at LESS than 8 weeks. Maternal immunity will neutralize the vaccine and little protection (0-38%) will be produced. Vaccination at 6 weeks will, however, delay the timing of the first highly effective vaccine. Vaccinations given 2 weeks apart suppress rather than stimulate the immune system. A series of vaccinations is given starting at 8 weeks and given 3-4 weeks apart up to 16 weeks of age. Another vaccination given sometime after 6 months of age (usually at 1 year 4 months) will provide lifetime” immunity.” srdogs.com (http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/news.apr.may.3.html)

“Homeopathic veterinarians and other holistic practitioners have maintained for some time that vaccinations do more harm than they provide benefits. Vaccinations represent a major assault on the body’s immune system. Attentuated organisms or chemically killed viruses or bacteria are injected directly into the blood stream, an unnatural route of infection. This profound insult, avoiding the body’s first line of defenses, and flooding the system with millions of organisms or viral particles, stresses the immune system in a way not of natures design. This insult causes irregularities and abnormalities in the immune system which then manifests as chronic diseases in animals.” Dr Charles E Loops DVM

“We see a lot of epilepsy/seizures, often after a rabies vaccination. Or dogs or cats can become aggressive for several days. Frequently, you’ll see urinary tract infections in cats, often within three months after their [annual] vaccination. If you step back, open your mind and heart, you’ll start to see patterns of illness post-vaccination.” Dee Blanco, D.V.M (http://www.thewholedog.org/id62.html)

“Routine vaccination has adverse side-effects, either short or long term. With vaccines that are repeated year after year, the frequency and severity of these side-effects in our pets has increased dramatically. Most of the problems involve the immune system. After all, the immune system is what vaccines are designed to stimulate. But they do so in a very unnatural way that can overwhelm and confuse the immune system.” Donna Starita Mehan DVM We worry about the research that shows that vaccinated dogs have antibodies against THEIR OWN CELLS, while a control group of un-vaccinated dogs does not. (Larry T. Glickman, DVM, “Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Vaccination,” Advances in Veterinary Medicine, Vol. 41, 2001) Many of us question the very act of immunization its self. We question the effect of injecting a disease into our dogs, thus putting a virus directly into the bloodstream that normally enters only through the mouth, respiratory system, etc., thus bypassing the entire primary immune response that occurs in the mucous membranes. We worry about the effect on the immune system of an animal, to inject them with a disease that has been changed and modified so it cannot cause symptoms; symptoms are, after all, the way a body “discharges” the disruptive forces of a disease in the first place. Vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, running noses, increased urination, rashes and the sweat of a fever, all of these discharges are the body’s way of moving the disease out of the body. What If They Get Sick?

I think the “missing piece” of a lot of people’s comfort with not vaccinating is that they are not prepared for their dog or cat to actually get a disease for which a vaccine exists. This is a big step/ a true leap of faith! for many.

Many will dismiss that fear and say if you only feed species approparite diet or if use this particular herb or this supplement or homeopathy or if you get a puppy from a Natural Rearing Breeder or light candles in the field at the full moon, etc. then your pet won’t ever get sick. Well…

DON’T BELIEVE IT! This is not always the case.

You need to be aware and I want to be perfectly clear here, DISEASE CAN AND OFTEN DOES HAPPEN! Healthy, multi-generation, un-vaccinated, naturally raised dogs can and sometimes do get infectious diseases. However, with a natural diet, lessened exposure to toxic chemicals and keeping the immune system in peak, healthy condition, does greatly increase the chances of your pet not getting a disease and if it should, will most likely have an immune system that can fight off the disease on its own in a short period of time with a little naturopathic/holistic support. I have seen while working at veterinary clinics that the majority of cases of Parvo are actually in puppies that HAVE been vaccinated. The majority of them died even with support/treatment. In the few cases I witnessed first hand of puppies that were not vaccinated and contracted Parvo, they all healed and lived with minimal support and treatment; their immune systems were better equipped to fight and win. Okay, that said, what do you think the immune system does with a virus that sets up in its cells but causes no acute symptoms? Those suppressed acute symptoms become chronic disease. And chronic disease is deeper and more serious than an acute disease. If ones comfort zone is dependent on some kind of guarantee, or use of a substitute product like nosodes or colloidal silver, which will guarantee that their puppies won’t get parvo or distemper, then I sincerely believe they are not ready to not vaccinate.

If, however, you are truly committed to principles of natural rearing, believe the facts that there is no guarantee of protection via vaccination, you have easy access to a truly excellent animal naturopath or holistic vet, (preferably with classical homeopath knowledge) and have the financial and emotional resources to deal with a sick puppy (and with the inevitable guilt you will feel if a puppy comes down with something for which you could have vaccinated them), if you understand the nature of acute disease and the risks of suppression, then you are ready to consider this step.

Be Prepared I have studied and continue to study natural healing and am well educated in animal physiology. I do not give my own dogs anything containing chemicals such as flea prevention, heart worm pills, commercial dog food, etc. Nor do I use any household chemicals in my home or garden.

I feed them a diet as close to what they would eat in the wild as possible. I supplement them with probiotics, enzymes and omega 3 fatty acids as well as occasional vitamins, trace minerals and immune boosting products such as Colostrum.

I keep a medicine chest full of supplies including: lactated ringers, IV sets, essential oils, colloidal silver, Parvaid, activated charcoal, Colostrum, homeopathic remedies, Fastrack gel, Nosodes,etc. From working as a licensed vet tech with veterinarians for many years and now as a veterinary naturopath, I have seen and assisted in the treatment and care of puppies and dogs with Parvo, Distemper, etc. I have seen far more healed and cured then I have seen die. If treated right away and properly it usually does not end in death.

It has been my personal observation that healthy animals who recover from an acute disease with holistic and/or homeopathic treatment bounce back very fast and very clean, while animals who have had their symptoms suppressed with drugs usually have very lingering convalescences and most of the time, suffer from chronic problems later on. I have also seen and experienced first hand that healthy un-vaccinated animals have a vigor and disease resistance that is quite awesome, and which until you’ve really seen multiple generations of un-vaccinated, un-suppressed animals, you might not believe yourself.

There is an argument to be made, although not everyone will be willing or even ready to hear it, and many will even disagree violently with it, that immunizing your puppy against parvo or distemper or other diseases, no matter how wisely and moderately and scientifically you do it, isn’t such a good thing after all. There is so much information available now about the immune system, disease, the real dangers of vaccinating and especially “over vaccinating” our pets out there to study.

So in the end, we each need to make our own decisions on this issue. I try to share information with those who are questioning vaccination and recommend they do their own research so that they might be better able to come up with a more rational and safer vaccine program (instead of what most vets and vaccine manufactures recommend). This does not mean I am recommending vaccinations or that I am telling you what I think you should do. Everyone has the right to decide for himself or herself, just as I have.

Is this path right for you? I don’t know. But don’t make this decision lightly, or without a full understanding of the historical and theoretical basis for the decision. Read. Question. Educate yourself. Then decide.

Good luck and blessings to you and your puppies on your journey.

While this subject is wide spread on the internet, here are just a few sites for you to look at while doing your research:

Articles, Audios & Videos on the Dangers of Vaccines

Vaccinosis 3 part series)
Death By Vaccinosis
Dr. Richard Pitcairn Discusses Chronic Disease Caused By Vaccines
Vaccinations
What about Vaccines? Copyright 2003 -2012 This article is the sole property of Dr.Jeanette (Jeannie) Thomason and The Whole Dog. It cannot be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the expressed written consent of the author.

Natural Heartworm Prevention

Natural Heartworm Prevention

Natural Heartworm Prevention

and treatment 

The cause of heartworms is mosquitoes. Mosquitoes carry these parasites that enter the bloodstream as larvae and migrate to the heart. Six months after reaching the heart, the larvae turn into adults, and that’s when problems begin. Full-grown heartworms may eventually fill the heart, blocking flow of blood to the lungs and doing damage to the heart. Often, by the time you see symptoms, they’ve already done some damage to the heart. What the average pet owner is not aware of, is just how perfect the conditions have to be for a dog to get heartworms in the first place:

The heartworm

has 5 separate larval stages referred to simply as L1, L2, L3, and so on. It also has two separate cycles which have to be combined to makeup the lifecycle of the heartworm. Only one cycle takes place in a mosquito and the other inside a dog.

The mosquito becomes infested when it bites a dog which is already harboring L1 (MICROFILARIAE). *This can only happen if the dog is also harboring the L5, which is the adult, male and female heartworm as the Microfilariae are their offspring. These Microfilariae can live for up two years in the dogs blood but must be taken up by a mosquito in order to develop any further. If they are not taken up by a mosquito to further develop, they will simply die of old age.

Once the mosquito is infested, the larva must then go through two stages of development or molts L2, and L3, before they can infect another dog. This, mosquito, stage takes anywhere from two weeks to several months depending on the weather. The warmer the weather the faster the development. The importance of temperature:

While the larva are developing within the mosquito, the temperature MUST remain above 57 degrees Fahrenheit at all times, day and night. If at any time during the mosquito stage the temperature drops below 57 degrees F, the development is halted and it must start all over again. It is only the L3 larva which are capable of infesting your dog.

So, now let’s say that a mosquito has bitten an infested dog and the temperature has remained above 57 F for a minimum of 14 days since that bite and the mosquito bites your dog. Still your dog is not infested because the L3 larva are deposited in a tiny droplet of mosquito saliva adjacent to the bite not actually injected into your dog as many would have us believe.

Providing the humidity and temperature are such that the droplet does not evaporate, the L3 larva must then swim through the droplet of saliva and into the mosquito bite, thereby entering your dogs system. Once inside your dog the L3 larva must spend the next two weeks or so developing into the L4 larva. During this period of time the larva is living in the skin, not the blood of the newly infested dog. The L4 will continue to live and develop in the skin for the next three or four months where it will finally develop into the L5 stage. Once it makes this development into the L5 it then leaves the skin and enters the circulatory system. The L5 or young adult then migrates to the heart and pulmonary arteries. Once there it will mate approximately 5 to 7 months after entering the dog’s body. That is of course assuming that the dog has been infested with both male and female larva. This mating produces the Microfilariae.

Prevention

is by far the most important part of medicine. As you all know by now, I am convinced that having a very strong immune system is of the utmost importance to your dog. I believe that a strong healthy dog will throw off parasites and illness all on its own. With that said, dogs that are not at their peak of health should be first started with a good diet, I recommend a raw, species appropriate diet first and foremost. At the very least a home cooked diet, supplementation and general remedies for a period of time to strengthen their immune system. Then, the wonderful, natural treatment effects will kick in! If your dog has been diagnosed with heartworm, it is imperative that you improve his or her immune system as stated above and don’t cheat your dog out of perfect health.

Dr Jeffery Levy, feels as I do about the importance of treating the dog, not the heartworm.(emphasis is mine)

“The objective of treating a dog with heartworm should NOT be to get rid of the heartworm. You’re not treating the heartworm, you’re treating the dog… It makes a lot more sense to measure the treatment by looking at the dog’s quality of life. So, he is positive for heartworm. The fact is, heartworms have been around forever and dogs and heartworms have been coexisting for all eternity. It’s actually a relatively recent phenomenon that dogs are dying from heartworm. Heartworm is not, by any means, the death penalty it’s made out to be. The dogs that die from heartwom are the dogs that are being vaccinated, fed processed pet food and are being treated with suppressive drugs for every little thing that comes along”.” Did you catch that? This is so vitally important to note. Please re-read that last sentence above again. I (as well as other veterinary naturopaths and many holistic vets) maintain that, “Allopathic medicine is based on fear – fear of disease, fear of pathogens, fear of death. It’s fear-based medicine. Allopathic/fear based medicine has been the approach that’s been used to get people to use heartworm preventives. It is not to say that heartworms don’t exist, obviously, they do. The very same fear-based approach is used as the main basis of vaccinations and for a lot of things. Disease, illness and symptoms come from within. A relatively healthy animal will not be susceptible to those things. So the ultimate answer is not to prevent heartworm (or distemper or parvo or whatever), by some artificial means, but rather to work on improving and maintaining good health. To the degree that you can improve your dog’s level of health, disease of any kind becomes less threatening.”

(See my articles on the immune system)Here

NOW, realize this, a dog must be essentially healthy in order to resist succumbing to heartworm (or its treatments). This statement is more than just an idle observation, it is the principle that ensures the survival of wild canines, who (think about this now…) suffer far greater exposure to heartworm-carrying mosquitoes then our domestic pets; however, they succumb in far lesser numbers than our domestic dogs! Dr. William Falconer, a veterinarian with a homeopathic practice in Austin, Texas states: “The heartworm has been out there forever as far as we know, but we don’t read reports of wolves and coyotes being wiped out by heartworm, and yet domestic dogs are falling prey to it.” Interesting point, don’t you think?

So why are our pets/domesticated dogs falling prey to heartworms? Surely they are healthier then the wild canines, with all our feeding of “scientifically balanced”, processed foods and vaccinating them to prevent them from getting all the nasty and sometimes fatal diseases right? … WRONG!

We are vaccinating our dogs way too much and way too often, we are feeding them poor nutrition to say the least, and we are using chemical pesticides to kill their fleas, ticks and any internal parasites they may have. All of these things combine to weaken their immune systems, and their immunity is the only thing that can save them. On the other hand, foxes, coyotes, and wolves go un-vaccinated, eat only raw meat, bones, and a very few herbs and/or berries when there is no meat available. These wild canines are never exposed to the dozens of toxic chemicals we use to kill fleas, ticks and even heartworm on our dogs and in our homes. Interesting that some coyotes and foxes have been found through research, to be able to “fight off” heartworm infestations and some others become host to the parasite however, in small enough numbers that the heartworms don’t threaten their hosts’ lives. Dr Jeffery Levy again thinks as I do and states: “Thanks in large part to the scare tactics of many veterinarians in promoting (so called) preventive drugs, many people believe that contracting heartworms is the equivalent of a death sentence for their dogs. This is not true.” Dr Levy concluded as I and many other have from this; that it is not the heartworms that caused disease, but the other factors that damaged the dogs’ health/immune system to the point that they could no longer compensate for an otherwise tolerable parasite load. “It is not really that different from the common intestinal roundworms, in that most dogs do not show any symptoms. Only a dog whose health is compromised is unable to tolerate a few worms. Furthermore, a truly healthy dog would not be susceptible to either type of worm in the first place. It seems to me that the real problem is that allopathic attitudes have instilled in many of us a fear of disease, fear of pathogens and parasites, fear of rabies, as if these are evil and malicious entities just waiting to lay waste to a naive and unprotected public.” Whichever end of the scale holistic veterinarians and veterinary naturopaths, place themselves on, we all agree about the first step toward heartworm prevention and treatment: A dog must be essentially healthy in order to resist succumbing to heartworm (or its treatments). This is more than an idle observation, it is the principle that ensures the survival of wild canines, who suffer far greater exposure to heartworm-carrying mosquitoes but succumb from the parasites in far lesser numbers than domestic dogs. Parasites were never intended to kill their hosts. It and when they do, then you can be assured that something is very out of balance. A parasite’s whole evolutionary thrust is to continue to live/survive its life cycle; if it kills its host, then there is a dead end. The fact that our dogs are dying of this disease in greater and greater numbers indicates loudly that something is way out of whack!

Given the wild canine’s innate efficiency in dealing with heartworm, virtually all veterinary naturopaths and holistic practitioners, recommend utilizing as many aspects of the wild canine’s lifestyle as is practical for domestic dogs, including, most importantly, a natural diet of raw meat and bones, minimal vaccination, and severely curtailed exposure to flea/tick -killing pesticides. Just STOP using them! There are many alternative, healthy ways of preventing and even killing pests but again, a healthy immune system is the key.

Animals with healthy, balanced immune systems are not in need of any specific preventives because their very lifestyle is their preventative!

Heartworm Prevention

As stated above, the best prevention is a healthy lifestyle with the elimination of over vaccinating and chemicals as well as raw meaty bone diet. I get emails and questions from people quite often, wanting to know if they only give one heartgard chew every few months instead of monthly if that would be safer… Or, if there is a “safe” heartworm pesticide they can give their dog in the mean time while they are working on getting their dog (and/or cat) on a more healthy way of life. The following is for you:

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 65% of adverse drug reactions and 48% of all reported deaths resulting from drug reactions are caused by heartworm preventatives. The potential side effects of Ivermectin (the active ingredient in Heartgard) include liver problems, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, depression, lethargy, skin eruptions, seizures, tremors, paralysis, autoimmune disorders, thyroid problems, fever, weakness, dizziness, coughing, nose bleeds, difficulty breathing, pneumonia, irritability, sudden aggressive behavior, nerve damage, fertility problems, and sudden death. Other chemical heartworm preventatives have many of the same side effects.

These drugs weaken your pet’s immune system which recognizes the chemicals as poison. The body works hard to eliminate the toxins and major organs, like the liver and kidneys, are taxed. For this reason, the pet’s body is not able to handle contact with the normal bacterial or viral substances in our world, so it gets sick more easily. Part of the veterinary industry has acknowledged these dangers. These “alternative vets” are open to natural, safe and effective alternatives. Many of these vets believe that the long-term use of heartworm prevention drugs are a link in the chain of diseases such as arthritis, liver and kidney diseases, skin allergies, and many types of cancers.

Please, understand, when your dog is on Heartworm pills or chews (all pesticides), mosquitoes will still be attracted to your dog and will still bite them. The key is to get the blood of your pet in a healthy enough condition that the mosquitoes won’t want it. Healthy dogs actually have a bitter tasting blood to parasites. Un-healthy dog’s blood is more attractive them and may taste sweet to them.

For those of you just changing your pet over to a natural lifestyle and are looking for a natural prevention in addition to nutrition and minimal vaccinating, there are some Natural Heartworm Prevention Programs

Mosquitoes are a parasite. Many herbs and essential oils have anti-parasitic properties that will discourage not only mosquitoes, but fleas and ticks as well. 

Herbs such as Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), Clove Flower Buds (Eugenia caryophyllata), Garlic (Allium sativum),Spearmint Herb (Mentha spicata), Turmeric Root (Curcuma longa), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), and Wormwood (Artemisia annua) are examples of what can be used to formulate an effective preventative and are used by some as part of a treatment program for pets already heavily infested.

Were you aware that dogs and cats have their own way of protecting themselves from mosquitoes? They instinctively will avoid the hot, muggy places where mosquitoes congregate and spend time in the cool, dry areas. You may also notice them roll in the dust or even mud to remove moisture from the skin and change their scent to be less attractive to mosquitoes.

Again, I stress, prevention of any dis-ease comes from proper, species appropriate nutrition. With proper carnivore nutrition, they will develop and maintain a strong immune system. It is pretty rare for worms to kill dogs. They will die eventually when their environment is not conducive to their own life and perpetuation. However, remember if your dog has a low immune system, the parasites they may be host to are more likely to reproduce and take over with infestation.

Proper nutrition is the foundation for thriving health. Proper nutrition for a carnivore is raw meat, bones and organs. While a home cooked diet is better then kibble or canned, processed foods, it is still lacking in the live enzymes, amino acids, etc. needed for perfect health. If you are interested in learning how to feed your dog a raw diet and just beginning your homework and research, please consider using a freeze dried or dehydrated raw diet in the mean time. At the very least, feed them a diet layered with dehydrated raw containg NO grains or potatoes so they are getting SOME live, vital nutrients.

There are several great Natural Preventative Programs out there. However, PLEASE Remember, the key is to keep your dogs healthy with a strong immune system; not to rely on herbs or other modalities while still feeding junk food, vaccinating and using chemicals on your pets.

If you live in a region with a large mosquito population and/or your dog has been on a not so perfect, kibble diet and regularly vaccinated until now, you may want to use an herbal/botanical approach which can be used with the support and supervision of a veterinary naturopath or qualified holistic veterinarian.

Since the best way to prevent heartworms is clearly having the dogs immune system in tip top shape, I do want to share two products that science has proven work to improve the immune system:

Transfer Factors (found in Bovine Colostrum) and Humic extracts, specifically Fulvic acids.

Colostrum contains tiny fragments of molecules, possibly DNA fragments, that somehow remain functional. These fragments seem to be energized with some unknown mysterious power of self-replicating communication.

Interestingly, in many ways the scientific studies on the mysteries and mechanisms of fulvic acid parallel exactly the studies on Colostrum and transfer factors. So far as we know, no other scientists have actually put the two together. Scientists working with fulvic acid know that it also is an ultramicroscopic substance that has a most unique messaging relay system that is activated when it comes into contact with living organisms. Just like transfer factors in colostrum, fulvic acid sensitizes cells, passing on unique information related to immunity. It also has been shown to assist in activating protection and defense mechanisms that are able to be passed on and remain with the organism for life, even with just one contact.

www.fulvic.com

As a preventative,many people are using Vital HF which is a Humic Acid/Fulvic Acid product.

There are Essential Oils that when in their pure, therapeutic form (such as Young Living Essential Oils) that are wonderful mosquito deterrents for both pets and people!

I personally make up and use a mist/spray made of 1 cup of distilled water with 10 drops of geranium OR 4 drops each of lemongrass, grapefruit and peppermint. Shake before spraying. I use this on myself as well as the dogs as a great mosquito and bug repellant when I am out in the garden in the evening. Nice and safe with no worries of toxic chemicals on the skin.

Another great mosquito repellant spray made with essential oils is as follows: 20 drops of each of the following oils per 10oz of distilled water: Purification Peppermint Orange

Mix them with 10 oz of distilled water, shake and spray the pet down every time it goes outside. If it stays outside all the time, then it is suggested using Purification “neat” along the spine and on the ears 2 – 3 times a day. (This will also help deter flies)

There a many essential oils that make very effective and safe insect deterrents. You may want to try some different combinations for yourself and dogs to see what works best for you.

Again, PLEASE NOTE! ONLY Young Living Essential Oils are recommended or used by the Whole Dog as we know these oils to be 100% pure, organic and therapeutic grade.

So in a nutshell, keeping your pet parasite free, whether it’s heartworms or other parasites, requires good whole nutrition which means a raw or home cooked diet or at the very least and natural source supplements.

If you haven’t read *what’s in pet food*, please do.

I do not recommend people take their dogs off their heartworm medications unless they agree to do so with their holistic vet or veterinary naturopath’s supervision. Find a veterinary naturopath or alternative or holistic veterinarian to work with you through a consultation

Copyright 2011 This article is the sole property of Jeanette (Jeannie) Thomason and The Whole Dog. It cannot be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the expressed written consent of the author.

Dogs Are Carnivores

Dogs Are Carnivores

Dogs Are Carnivores
By Dr Jeanette (Jeannie) Thomason

Photos courtesy of National Geographic and Astrid Beutler, Thuringia in Germany

I feel this bears repeating these days as so many people are treating their dogs like they are humans. I too love my dogs with all my heart and just like they are my children however, we need to remember they are not humans. Nor do they think like humans nor eat like humans . God created dogs to be carnivores to help keep nature in balance.

The assumption that dogs are omnivores remains to be proven, whereas the truth about dogs being natural carnivores is very well-supported by the evidence available to us.

Let’s start in the mouth. Like humans, dogs have two sets of teeth in their lives. The 28 baby teeth erupt through the gums between the third and sixth weeks of age. Puppy molars. Puppy teeth begin to shed and be replaced by permanent adult teeth at about four months of age. Although there is some variation in breeds, most adult dogs have 42 teeth, with the premolars coming last, at about six or seven months of age.

As you look into your dog’s mouth, notice those huge impressive teeth (or tiny needle sharp teeth). These are designed for grabbing, ripping, tearing, shredding, and shearing meat (Feldhamer, G.A. 1999. Mammology: Adaptation, Diversity, and Ecology. McGraw-Hill. pg 258.). They are not equipped with large flat molars for grinding up plant matter. Their molars are pointed and situated in a scissors bite (along with the rest of their teeth) that powerfully disposes of meat, bone, and hide. Carnivores are equipped with a peculiar set of teeth that includes the presence of carnassial teeth: the fourth upper premolar and first lower molar. Hence, dogs do not chew, they are designed to bite, rip, shred, scissor/crush and swallow.

Canine teeth or as some people call them, Fangs are for grabbing and puncturing, incisors for nibbling, premolars for tearing, and molars for crushing (not chewing or masticating) bone — although our sweet, cuddly family dog may appear to be far more civilized than his wild relatives, he still has the same equipment for eating, grooming, greeting, and defense as his wild relatives. Four premolars line each side of the upper and lower jaws in back of the canines. These are the shearing teeth, used to rip great hunks of flesh from prey animals. Although our pets no longer hunt for survival, our dogs can still eat in the manner of wolves – by grabbing the meat with the premolars and ripping it off the bone.

The top jaw has two molars on each side, and the bottom jaw has three. These are the crushing teeth, used by wolves to crack medium sized bones like caribou or deer.

Their jaws hinge open widely, allowing them to gulp large chunks of meat and bone. The skull and jaw design of a carnivore is a deep and C-shaped mandibular fossa which prevents lateral movement of the jaw (lateral movement is necessary for eating plant matter). Yes, I emphasize the “gulp”. Dogs do not “chew” their food. In the wild, resources are scarce, Carnivores are designed to be able to gorge and fast for this very purpose; as they are hard wired for this no amount of thinking “he knows he gets fed twice a day” etc. will change the dog’s perspective. He may crunch down once or twice but the fact remains that he is just not designed to “chew” his food. Many people new to raw feeding freak out that their dog might swallow the meat and/or bones whole. YES, they will pretty much do that. They will tear large chunks of meat off the bone and then if the bone is smaller such as a chicken or turkey bone, they will crush the bone by chomping down once or twice and swallow. God designed the dog’s stomach acids to be much stronger than ours and they are designed for digesting large lumps of meat and even good size pieces of RAW bone.

However much, we humans have done to tinker with and change the dog’s body design (resulting in varying sizes and conformations), we have done nothing to change the internal anatomy and physiology of our carnivorous canines. “Dogs have the internal anatomy and physiology of a carnivore” (Feldhamer, G.A. 1999. Mammology: Adaptation, Diversity, and Ecology. McGraw-Hill. pg 260.). They have a highly elastic stomach designed to hold large quantities of meat, bone, organs, and hide. Their stomachs are simple, with an undeveloped caecum (Feldhamer, G.A. 1999. Mammology: Adaptation, Diversity, and Ecology. McGraw-Hill. pg 260.).

They have a relatively short foregut and a short, smooth, unsacculated colon. This means food passes through quickly. Vegetable and plant matter, however, needs time to sit and ferment. This equates to requiring longer, sacculated colons, larger and longer small intestines, and occasionally the presence of a caecum. Dogs have none of these, but have the shorter foregut and hindgut consistent with carnivorous animals. This explains why plant matter comes out the same way it came in; there was no time for it to be broken down and digested (among other things). Some educated People know this; this is why they tell you that vegetables and grains have to be pre-processed for your dog to get anything out of them. But even then, feeding vegetables and grains to a carnivorous animal is a highly questionable practice.

“Dogs do NOT normally produce the necessary enzymes in their saliva (amylase, for example) to start the break-down process of carbohydrates and starches; amylase in saliva is something omnivorous and herbivorous animals possess, but not carnivorous animals. This places the burden entirely on the pancreas, forcing it to produce large amounts of amylase to deal with the starch, cellulose, and carbohydrates in plant matter. The carnivore’s pancreas does not secrete cellulase to split the cellulose into glucose molecules, nor have dogs become efficient at digesting and assimilating and utilizing plant material as a source of high quality protein. Herbivores do those sorts of things”

Canine and Feline Nutrition Case, Carey and Hirakawa Published by Mosby, 1995 Experts agree that wolves only eat the stomach contents of their prey when the prey is quite small and it gets consumed as a result of eating the entire animal (like a rabbit for example). L. David Mech, is considered the world’s top wolf biologist. In his book, Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation (2003) he and other contributing experts compiled over 300 years of research and observations of the wild canine. An excerpt from this informative work clearly portrays the natural, instinctive eating behavior of the carnivore. “Wolves usually tear into the body cavity of large prey… and consume the larger internal organs, such as lungs, heart, and liver. The larger rumen/intestines [one of the main stomach chambers] is usually punctured during removal and its contents shaken out or spilled. The vegetation in the intestinal tract is of no interest to the wolves, but the stomach lining and intestinal wall are consumed, and their contents further strewn about the kill site.” [description added] The Kerwood Wildlife Education center (Hunting and Meals pages) describes the eating habits of the wolf as: “The wolf’s diet consists mostly of muscle meat and fatty tissue from various animals. Heart, lung, liver, and other internal organs are eaten. Bones are crushed to get to the marrow, and bone fragments are eaten as well.” The only part consistently ignored is the stomach its self and its contents. Although some vegetable matter is taken separately, particularly berries, Canis Lupis doesn’t seem to digest them very well.” Thus, feeding dogs as though they were humans (omnivores) taxes the pancreas and places extra strain on it, as it must work harder for the dog to digest the starchy, carbohydrate-filled food instead of just producing the normal amounts of the enzymes needed to digest proteins and fats (which, when fed raw, begin to “self-digest” when the cells are crushed through crushing and tearing and their enzymes are released). Our dogs do not have the kinds of friendly bacteria that break down cellulose and starch for them. As a result, most of the nutrients contained in plant matter?even pre-processed plant matter are unavailable to dogs. This is why dog food manufacturers have to add such high amounts of synthetic vitamins and minerals (the fact that cooking destroys all the vitamins and minerals and thus creates the need for supplementation aside) to their dog foods. o compensate for this, the manufacturer must add a higher concentration of vitamins and minerals than the dog actually needs. The result of feeding dogs a highly processed, grain-based food is a suppressed immune system and the under-production of the enzymes necessary to thoroughly digest raw meaty bones

(Lonsdale, T. 2001. Raw Meaty Bones).

Dogs are so much like wolves physiologically that they are frequently used in wolf studies as a physiological model for wolf body processes (Mech, L.D. 2003. Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation). Additionally, dogs and wolves share 99.8% of their mitochondrial DNA (

Wayne, R.K. Molecular Evolution of the Dog Family). br>This next quote is from Robert K. Wayne, Ph.D., and his discussion on canine genetics (taken from www.fiu.edu/~milesk/Genetics.html). “The domestic dog is an extremely close relative of the gray wolf, differing from it by at most 0.2% of mDNA sequence…”

Dogs have recently been reclassified as Canis lupus familiaris by the Smithsonian Institute (Wayne, R.K. “What is a Wolfdog?”(www.fiu.edu/~milesk/Genetics.html), placing it in the same species as the gray wolf, Canis lupus. The dog is, by all scientific standards and by evolutionary history, a domesticated wolf

(Feldhamer, G.A. 1999. Mammology: Adaptation, Diversity, and Ecology. McGraw-Hill. pg 472.). Those who insist dogs did not descend from wolves must disprove the litany of scientific evidence that concludes wolves are the ancestors of dogs. And, as we have already established, the wolf is a carnivore. Since a dog’s internal physiology does not differ from a wolf, dogs have the same physiological and nutritional needs as those carnivorous predators, which, remember, “need to ingest all the major parts of their herbivorous prey, except the plants in the digestive system” to “grow and maintain their own bodies” (Mech, L.D. 2003. Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation.). Some people are under the impression that the bacteria in raw meat may hurt the dog. IF your dog has an imunocompromised system or some underlying health problem then the bacteria may cause a problem and should be introduced slowly and carefully. Sadly, Raw diets have also been blamed for causing things like pancreatitis and kidney disease, when in reality the underlying disease was already there and is was simply brought to light by the change in diet and detoxing or going through a healing crisis. Dogs are surprisingly well-equipped to deal with bacteria. Their saliva has antibacterial properties; it contains lysozyme, an enzyme that destroys harmful bacteria. Their short digestive tract is designed to push through food and bacteria quickly without giving bacteria time to colonize. The extremely acidic environment in the gut is also a good bacteria colonization deterrent. People often point to the fact that dogs shed salmonella in their feces, (but, then again, even kibble-fed dogs do this as well!) without showing any ill effects as proof that the dog is infected with salmonella. In reality, all this proves is that the dog has effectively passed the salmonella through its system with no problems. Yes, the dog can act as a salmonella carrier, but the solution is simple – do not eat dog poop and wash your hands after picking up after your dog. As mentioned above, even kibble-fed (processed commercial diets) dogs can and do regularly shed salmonella and other bacteria. Most of the documented cases of severe bacterial septicemia are from kibble-fed animals or animals suffering from reactions to vaccines. Commercial pet foods have been pulled off shelves more than once because of bacteria AND molds that produce a deadly toxin. The solution? Use common sense. Clean up well and wash your hands. And think about your dog ? this is an animal that can lick itself, lick other dogs, eat a variety of disgusting rotting things, and ingest its own feces or those of other animals with no ill effects. The dog, plain and simple, can handle greater bacterial loads than we can. Let’s face it, a healthy dog will not suffer from bacterial infections or bacterial septicemia. it is just common sense. A dog suffering from “salmonella poisoning” is obviously not healthy, especially when compared to a dog that ate the same food with the same salmonella load but is perfectly healthy and unaffected. The first dog has suffered a ‘breakdown’ in its health that allowed the bacteria to become a problem; if one is talking in homeopathic medicine terminology, this is simply one more symptom that shows the dog is suffering from chronic disease.

I believe that it is the kibble, not the raw meat, that causes bacterial problems. Kibble in the pet’s intestine not only irritates the lining of the bowels but also provides the perfect warm, wet environment with plenty of undigested sugars and starches as food for bacteria. This is why thousands of processed food-fed animals suffer from a condition called Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, or SIBO (Lonsdale, T. 2001. Raw Meaty Bones. pg 85). Raw meaty bones, however, create a very inhospitable environment for bacteria, as RMBs are easily digestible and have no carbohydrates, starches, or sugars to feed the bacteria.

What about Cooked diets?

“There are several aspects of cooked diets that pose problems”. Tom Lonsdale deals with this in depth in Chapter 4 of his book. I highly recommend you read, “Raw Meaty Bones”.

Okay, now to the effects of heat. If you burn your finger, what happens? The skin tissue dies. Overly apply heat to food and the nutrients are progressively killed/destroyed. First of all, the act of cooking alters the proteins, vitamins, fats, and minerals in a food. This alteration can make some nutrients more readily available and others less available. Cooking can alter fats to the point of being toxic and carcinogenic. (The American Society for Nutritional Sciences. April 2004. Meat Consumption Patterns and Preparation, Genetic Variants of Metabolic Enzymes, and Their Association with Rectal Cancer in Men and Women. Journal of Nutrition. 134: 776-784.), and cooked proteins can be altered to the point where they cause allergic reactions whereas raw proteins do not. (Clark, W.R. 1995. Hypersensitivity and Allergy, in At War Within: The double edged sword of immunity, Oxford University Press, New York. pg 88.).

If an animal has an “allergy” to chicken or beef, it may very often be cooked chicken or beef and not the raw form.

Cooking denatures protein. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, denaturation is a modification of the molecular structure of protein by heat or by an acid, an alkali, or ultraviolet radiation that destroys or diminishes its original properties and biological activity. Denaturation alters protein and makes it unusable or less usable. According to Britannica, protein molecules are readily altered by heat: Unlike simple organic molecules, the physical and chemical properties of protein are markedly altered when the substance is just boiled in water. Further: All of the agents able to cause denaturat-ion are able to break the secondary bonds that hold the chains in place. Once these weak bonds are broken, the molecule falls into a disorganized tangle devoid of biological function. Again, according to Britannica the most significant effect of protein denaturation is the loss of the its biological function. For example, enzymes lose their catalytic powers and hemoglobin loses its capacity to carry oxygen. The changes that accompany denaturation have been shown to result from destruction of the specific pattern in which the amino acid chains are folded in the native protein. In Britannica is the acknowledgement that “cooking destroys protein to make it practically useless” There are two ways to denature the proteins: chemically using digestive enzymes, or through the use of heat. Via heat, the body does not have the recombinant ability to utilize damaged denatured protein components (amino acids) and rebuild them once again into viable protein molecules. Some Physiologists claim that cooking and digestion are virtually the same: that cooking is a form of predigestion where heat is used to hydrolyze nutrients that would otherwise be hydrolyzed at body temperature through digestion. This due to the enormous heat exposure during cooking, that denatures the protein molecule past a point of being bioactive, however, body heat is too low to effect the protein molecule so adversely. When proteins are subjected to high heat during cooking, enzyme resistant linkages are formed between the amino acid chains. The body cannot separate these amino acids. What the body cannot use, it must eliminate. Cooked proteins become a source of toxicity: dead organic waste material acted upon and elaborated by bacterial flora. When wholesome protein foods are eaten raw, the body makes maximum use of all amino acids without the accompanying toxins of cooked food. It should be well understood and recognized in scientific literature that heat breaks down vitamins, amino acids and produces undesirable cross-linkages in proteins, particularly in meat. At 110 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 43 degrees Centigrade) two of the 8 essential amino acids, tryptophan and lysine, are destroyed. When food is cooked above 117 degrees F for three minutes or longer, the following deleterious changes begin, and progressively cause increased nutritional damage as higher temperatures are applied over prolonged periods of time: *proteins coagulate *high temperatures denature protein molecular structure, leading to deficiency of some essential amino acids *carbohydrates caramelize *overly heated fats generate numerous carcinogens including acrolein, nitrosamines, hydrocarbons, and benzopyrene (one of the most potent cancer-causing agents known) *natural fibers break down, cellulose is completely changed from its natural condition: it loses its ability to sweep the alimentary canal clean * 30% to 50% of vitamins and minerals are destroyed *100% of enzymes are damaged, the body?s enzyme potential is depleted which drains energy needed to maintain and repair tissue and organ systems, thereby shortening the life span. Dr. Kouchakoff of Switzerland conducted over 300 detailed experiments, which pinpointed the pathogenic nature of cooked and processed foods. Food heated to temperatures of just 120 to 190 degrees F (a range usually relegated to warming rather than cooking which, nevertheless destroys all enzymes), causes leukocytosis in the body. Leukocytosis is a term applied to an abnormally high white corpuscle count.

Second, cooked food lacks all the benefits of raw food. Cooked food is deficient in vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, because the very act of cooking destroys or alters much of them (exceptions to this are things like lightly steamed broccoli or tomatoes, but these are not appropriate foods for carnivores!). This decreases the bioavailability of these valuable chemicals and makes them less available to the animal. This is why these things have to be added back into cooked diets or processed pet foods This is why a variety of supplements need to be added and why a variety of species inappropriate items are utilized as ingredients in these meals!

Vitamins and minerals can be added back into cooked food, but finding the appropriate balance is incredibly difficult if not impossible. Synthetic vitamins and minerals do not always exhibit the same chirality (three dimensional structure) that the natural forms had, which means their efficiency and use to the body are substantially decreased. This is compensated by over-supplementation, which then results in the inhibited uptake of other necessary vitamins and minerals. For example, excess inorganic calcium reduces the availability of iron, copper, iodine, and zinc.

(Lonsdale, T. 2001. Raw Meaty Bones. pg 88).

If you are feeding a cooked, home-made diet, how can you be sure that your pet’s needs are being sufficiently met if the very act of cooking destroys much of what is beneficial to your pet? Essentially, once you cook your pet’s food you have destroyed the amino acids, and other important nutrients and are now left to guessing which vitamins or minerals have been destroyed, which means you would have to know how much was present in the food in the first place, and how much supplementation your pet now needs. Then you run into another problem: no one really knows what our pets REALLY need and use in terms of vitamins and minerals. We only know what amounts are too much and what amounts are too little OVER A SIX-MONTH PERIOD, not over a period of years. Additionally, how can we be sure that researchers have discovered all the nutrients in raw food that are necessary for our pets? This still is an on-going process (such as Eukanuba adding DHA to their foods; DHA is naturally found in raw prey, so any dog or canid eating raw prey has been receiving appropriate levels of DHA). Feeding cooked food also causes pets to miss out on these ‘unknown’ nutrients, whereas raw food contains them in appropriate amounts. Some try to compensate for vitamin and mineral deficiencies without resorting to supplements and ignorantly add vegetables, grains, and dairy products to their carnivores’ diets. Complex recipes are developed that create a wide range of foods for the dog (or cat) that must be cooked, steamed, blended, etc. in order for the dog to receive proper nutrition. Our carnivores once again have an omnivorous diet forced upon them in order to help them obtain all the appropriate nutrition that could simply be had by feeding a variety of raw meaty bones and organ meats. Simplicity and perfection are traded for complexity and imperfection. Raw food, however, has the perfect balance of vitamins and minerals if fed as a part of a prey-model diet (i.e. a whole rabbit)

(Lonsdale, T. 2001. Raw Meaty Bones. Chapter 4.)

Raw food also has unaltered proteins and nutrients, and the bio availability of these nutrients is very high. And raw food, particularly whole carcasses and raw meaty bones provide the NECESSARY teeth-cleaning effects that are lacking in any cooked diet. Periodontal disease-causing bacteria are scraped away at each feeding, whereas a cooked food-fed dog has that bacteria remaining, which are then coated over by a sticky plaque resulting from the cooked grains, vegetables, and meat proteins.

According to the textbook Nutritional Value of Food Processing, 3rd Edition, (by Karmas, Harris, published by Van Nostrand Reinhold) which is written for food chemists in the industrial processed food industry: changes that occur during processing either result in nutrient loss or destruction. Heat processing has a detrimental effect on nutrients since thermal degradation of nutrients can and does occur. Reduction in nutrient content depends on the severity of the thermal processing. Protein molecules under ideal eating and digestive conditions are broken down into amino acids by gastric enzymes. Every protein molecule in the body is synthesized from these amino acids. Protein consumed IS NOT used as protein: it is first recycled or broken down into its constituent amino acids AND THEN used to build protein molecules the body needs.

There are 23 different amino acids. These link together in different combinations in extremely long chains to create protein molecules, In school, we were told it is like individual rail cars form a train. The amino group gives each amino acid its specific identifying characteristic that differentiates it from the others. Excessive heat sloughs off or decapitates the amino group. Without this amino group, the amino acid is rendered useless and is toxic.

I am often berated for recommending a raw diet as being best for our carnivorous pets but after all my research and feeding my own pets this way for many years now, I can not help but believe that our pet dogs (and cats) were meant to eat RAW meat and bones and if all healthy carnivores were fed such that they would be much healthier in the long run. They would Thrive! Not just survive….

You may also want to read Dogs – The Omnivore Carnivore Question

For more information on cooked food versus raw food diets for our dogs, please check out the articles below:

The Pottenger Cat Experiments

Pottenger’s Cats – A Study In Nutrition
Cooked Vs. Raw Foods For Pets I also highly recommend Carissa Kuehn’s web site:

Rawfed.com/myths

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References: Prof. Dr. Sir John Whitman Ray B.A., ND., D.Sc., NMD., CT. MT.. CI, Cert. Pers., PhD., B.C Dip N, MD. (M.A.), Dr. Ac, FFIM., Dp. IM., F.WA I .M., RM., B.E.I.N.Z., S.N.T.R., N Z. Char. NMP, N P A Dr. Francis M. Pottenger Jr. MD Dr. Kouchakoff of Switzerland Dr. Weston A. Price Dr Tom Lonsdale Carissa Kuehn

Meat/NR & BARF Suppliers
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*DISCLAIMER The information contained on this web site is intended as education/information only. It is not intended to replace your veterinarian. Please use your good judgement.


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Kidney Disease In Cats

Kidney Disease In Cats

Feline Chronic Interstitial Nephritis
By: Dwayne Hubbard, V.N.D.

Kidney disease is a common problem of feline old age and is often cited as the second leading cause of deaths in cats. Chronic interstitial nephritis, a progressive destruction of the tiny blood filtering units of the kidneys, is encountered in cats of all species and is somewhat insidious in nature. It often remains undetected because of the tremendous capacity of the cat’s kidneys to compensate for loss of tissue until deterioration is well advanced. As long as one third of the kidney is still functional, there are usually no obvious signs of sickness. Beyond this point, illness will develop with symptoms of excessive thirst, frequent urination and loss of weight becoming evident. By the time kidney deterioration is diagnosed by clinical test, function is severely limited and the disease is usually well advanced and progressing to eventual failure, with only 25 – 30% of the kidney still functional. Treatment at this stage must be radical and is sometimes time-consuming, especially initially. Having said this, there is still hope for renal failure cases, so don’t give up on your feline until you have read all the facts and options. Elderly cats with kidney failure can be brought from a state of debilitating illness to one of relative normality if appropriate treatment is administered. Although this normality is delicate and treatment may need to be continued for the remainder of the cat’s life, this small 5% improvement can make all the difference. To understand how natural care can both treat and prevent renal failure, it may be useful to take a look at the role of the kidneys in the cat’s body and the causes of renal deterioration. Kidney Function Physiologically, the kidneys are primarily involved in maintaining a constant and healthy internal environment in the body. The kidney is the organ of homeostasis or balance. It serves many functions in your cat’s body. One important kidney function is the regulation of the body’s water content. Its role, above excreting excess fluid, is one of conservation (of water) as much of the fluid that passes through the kidney is reabsorbed. The kidneys are also responsible for separating wastes and poisons in the blood from useful substances. Your feline’s kidneys filter hundreds of liters of blood on a daily basis. The electrolyte balance of the body is also regulated by the kidneys which excrete excess amounts. Another important role is maintaining the acid/alkaline balance of the blood. Finally, the kidneys assist in the production of the hormone rennin which is involved in the regulation of blood pressure. At a holistic level, we see the role of the kidneys as one of regulating and transmuting the both physical and nonphysical energies flowing through the body, removing impurities and recycling only that which is harmonious. We recognize the tremendous amount of work our cats’ kidneys are called upon to perform on a daily basis, in response to both the internal and external environment. The Cause of Feline Kidney Disease There is no single explanation for renal disease. However the majority of nephritic problems are now understood to be autoimmune disorders, which means that the destructive process in the kidney is taking place due to circulating antigens and antibodies. These are thought to develop in response to an external or internal factor affecting the cat’s body. Destruction of the nephron is always preceded by acute inflammation. The trigger that causes the destructive antibody/antigen process could be any one of a number of factors. Low-grade infection, dietary deficiency / excess, environmental or ingested toxins, heredity or nervous stress may be involved. Whatever the cause, with natural medicine, we know that this destructive process can be slowed, halted or even reversed in some cases. We can also prevent the onset of this disease through correct natural care and therapy. Common Early Warning Signs In the early stages of renal disease, there may also be occasional periods of low energy, depression, lack of appetite and nausea or vomiting that lasts a few days at a time. Greasy fur and dandruff are sometimes present. Diarrhea, constipation, dehydration, bad breath, inflammation of the mouth or mouth ulcers may also occur. Later, increased thirst, frequent urination of large quantities of pale or colorless urine and weight loss may be evident. These symptoms can also be associated with other diseases so it is important to seek a full diagnosis from your veterinarian. Further signs which may indicate renal deterioration include your feline drinking water on a daily basis (if not on a dry food diet) and repeated attacks of bladder inflammation. Skin eruptions often precede kidney failure. It is important to note these early signs and to take appropriate therapeutic and preventative action.

Sadly, antibiotics, corticosteroids and pH controlled diets do not slow down kidney disease. They only mask the symptoms.

Prevention 1) Be observant – detect warning signs early and seek professional diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause. Annual veterinary check-ups are important. 2) Pay attention to your feline’s diet. Avoid feeding dry foods (which contain only 20 – 30% moisture) and foods containing harmful chemical additives and preservatives. These foods increase the work your cat’s kidneys must perform. 3) Feed a pure, natural, raw, whole food diet for your feline at an early age. If your cat is accustomed to eating vegetables and grains when young, it will be much easier to reduce the protein content of the diet as they get older. 4) Create a non-toxic and stress-free environment for your feline friends. Cats are greatly affected by chemicals in the environment such as household sprays, cleaners, pesticides, cigarette smoke etc and absorb these into their bodies through the skin, lungs and paw pads. 5) Ensure that your feline’s friend’s environment is filled with tranquility, harmony and happiness. Felines are also extremely sensitive to environmental and psychic stresses such as noise, chaos, moving house, bullying by other animals, family arguments and other non-supportive emotions. The kidney reflex centre of your feline’s body is the apprehension/anxiety centre of the mind. This centre is associated with the will to live, the fight or flight response and the ability to cope with various life stresses, biochemical, nervous and environmental. Like children, felines easily absorb an atmosphere of anxiety, anger, confusion and depressed feelings and over a long period of time, this can be draining on their health. Always provide your feline friends with their own ‘peaceful haven’ or special part of the house where they can rest, undisturbed and renew their inner strength and vitality. 6) Prepare your felines well in advance for any events which are going to be stressful for them. Communicating with your cat, using flower essences and extra vitamins B and C can help minimize such stressful events as moving house, going to the vet, cattery etc. Treatment The aim of natural medicine in chronic interstitial nephritis is to reduce the load on the kidneys and to strengthen and optimize remaining function through diet, herbal and homoeopathic medicine, nutrients, hydration and mental/emotional healing. In addition to home treatment, I suggest you follow the advice of your veterinarian and holistic animal practitioner. While each feline must be treated as an individual, the following is a précis of natural care. Diet: In renal disease, the diet must be low in protein, phosphorus and sodium, yet the protein must be of high quality. A low residual diet is mandatory (i.e. one which produces as little waste, metabolic and toxic, as possible). Avoid the overuse of beef and organ meats, chemicals and preservatives and replace the diet with lacto-proteins such as eggs, ricotta cheese, chicken, turkey, fish, rabbit and a little lean heart. A suitable diet is low in ash, containing only 24% high quality protein with an abundance of raw, *pureed vegetables and well-cooked pureed grain. enriched white rice, pureed barley flakes (cooked).

*

NOTE: The Cat’s Meow does not recommend the use of grains and/or vegetables in a carnivores diet. However, if you are going to use them, cooking and/or pureeing does help break down the cellulose and enzymes so they are a little easier for your cat to digest.

The diet must be supplemented with an adequate supply of nutrients, especially the water-soluble vitamins B and C which are quickly lost through frequent drinking and copious urination. The following recipe meets the above requirements, containing about 25% good quality proteins. It supplies adequate amounts of the water-soluble vitamins B complex and C and supplies also vitamin A which is good for the kidneys. The recipe makes a 5 day supply of meals. Feline Kidney Diet 1½ cups of ground or diced meat (raw or very lightly steamed fish, lamb, chicken, turkey, lean heart etc) 4 cups of cooked white rice, or pureed barley flakes 4 organic raw egg yolks 2 tablespoons Omega Pet (combined oils) or Fish Oils 1 cup of pureed raw vegetable such as carrot, zucchini, alfalfa 5,000 i. u. vitamin A (or 2 tsp. Cod Liver oil) from health shop (not required if using Omega Pet oil) 2 tsp. Animate Supplement powder or 4 crushed Orachel Multi-Vitamin tablets 50 mg. B-complex liquid or tablets crushed from health shop Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, including the ground or powdered supplements. Freeze or refrigerate in portions and thaw as needed. Remember to warm gently before serving. To each meal, add ½ tablet/capsule of mixed digestive enzymes, and if required, flavor with a few drops of tamari soy sauce, preservative-free baby food, chicken broth, a teaspoon of tuna (or any other healthful food your cat finds delicious). Once a week, add a 500 I.U. of vitamin E. In addition to the diet, it is important to provide filtered or spring water at all times. You can also offer your feline friend warm chicken or fish broth once or twice a day. This is particularly useful as ‘crisis therapy’ when your cat friend is refusing to eat. Home Made Broth To make a meat or fish broth, take ½ cup minced meat, chicken, turkey or fish. Add 2 cups of pure water and some flavoring (such as a few drops of tamari sauce) and blend well. Add pureed vegetable and a sprinkle of vitamin/mineral powder. Make sure you arm before serving. Home made broth can be stored in the freezer and thawed as needed. If your feline friend is in an advanced stage of kidney disease and is not eating well, the following hints may prove useful: Warm oatmeal or barley porridge with a little yoghurt can supply energy. Green barley powder in the meal is excellent if your cat friend likes it (just a pinch is sufficient). It is nutritious, cleansing and will generally improve appetite. Bee Pollen or pure honey with a little slippery elm powder supplies all the nutrients required to sustain life if your cat friend is weak and will not eat. Feed three or four small meals daily rather than several large ones. Herbal Medicine The aim of herbal medicine is to produce a tonic, demulcent (soothing), antiinflammatory and gentle diuretic effect on kidney tissue. Corn silk, Marshmallow and Clivers are often used in combination. Barberry, Buchu, Pellitory and Parsley are also sometimes used. Alfalfa herb is a general tonic for the kidneys and will improve digestion. Dandelion leaf and root will improve both liver and kidney function. Burdock Root,a powerful alterative and blood purifier can both tonify kidney tissue and detoxify the body of poisons. Although there are very few herbs which have a regenerating effect on renal tissue, both Astragalus and Indian Kidney tea appear promising. Always consult an experienced animal herbalist/holistic practitioner in kidney disease. Felines can only tolerate minute doses of herbal medicines and some herbs useful for humans will have a different effect in feline medicine. Generally, for cats, I find it safer to prepare the herbs in potency or as a tea rather than in tincture form. Clinical Nutrition: Vitamin and mineral therapy for nephritis is also beneficial. The mineral Zinc improves immune function and accelerates healing. Along with Vitamin E, it is a scar tissue preventative. Vitamin B complex, especially B6, is important for both nerve and renal function. Vitamin C is an all-round healer, providing a buffer for stress, reducing inflammation and boosting immunity.As Vitamin C plays an important role in the formation of collagen, it is important in any rebuilding process. Magnesium (which is plentiful in green vegetables and green powders) and Potassium are important nerve nutrients. A feline kidney patient is often susceptible to low potassium levels in the body, so this mineral is frequently included. Micro doses of colloidal, biochemic or homoeopathic tissue salts may also be appropriate. Sodium Sulphate or Sodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride and Calcium Phosphate are often prescribed. Homoeopathy An experienced animal homoeopath will select the correct constitutional remedy for your feline. Renal failure relates to the tubercular miasm and hence Calc. Phos. may be appropriate. Natrum Mur can help the cat who appears hot, thirsty and prefers to be alone. Sepia is selected for the cat with nausea, vomiting and poor appetite. Pulsatilla is a constitutional remedy for the mild, gentle cat that shows no signs of thirst. Berberis is often used in renal problems which are accompanied by hepatic symptoms. Obviously, in a crisis, you would seek assistance from your veterinarian as soon as possible. However, symptoms of uremia and toxicity may be assisted by a few doses of Carbo Veg and Nux Vomica, until veterinary help is available. Another first aid remedy for uremia, especially where there is restlessness, great distress, thirst or even kidney fits or convulsions is Arsenicum Album. These remedies are all contained in the Natural Animal Help (first aid) Kit. In a crisis situation they may save a life until veterinary help is obtained. Bach Flower Essences Flower essences can relieve distress, release stress, heal emotions and raise the spirits. Select the essences which are appropriate for your individual feline friend. I find that Scleranthus is a good general ‘renal’ tonic. Many cats respond well to Water Violet which releases inner tension. Hornbeam gives strength and Olive is useful where there is exhaustion. Wild Rose can boost immunity and stimulate healing. Gorse will often increase enthusiasm for life and food and ease depression. Aspen helps where there are vague fears Crab Apple will encourage physical and emotional detoxification. An individual flower essence combination can be prepared for your cat by any naturopath or health store. These remedies are totally safe and benevolent with no side-effects. Crisis Care In renal disease, a crisis occurs when the kidney is no longer able to effectively filter the by-products of metabolism and poisons build up in the bloodstream. At this point, your cat will be feeling very sick and will refuse food. There may also be vomiting as your feline’s body tries to eliminate the poisons. An inability to regulate fluids may cause dehydration and constipation. The first aid remedies may be useful in a crisis situation, but at this stage, your cat needs to get to your veterinary hospital promptly. Your vet will use I.V. fluids to hydrate your cat and restore some form of normality. Once your cat returns home, with the danger period over, you can implement the new diet and additional therapy with the assistance of a holistic veterinarian or naturopathic animal practitioner. In addition to flower essences, herbal and homoeopathic care, subcutaneous hydration can be easily learned and safely given at home, to improve your feline’s condition. Your veterinarian can show you how to do this procedure and can also supply the equipment needed. Subcutaneous Hydration Subcutaneous hydration will alleviate the dehydration that occurs in the later stages of renal disease. Basically, it involves the administration of fluids through the skin. Ilearned of subcutaneous hydration several years ago through Anitra Frazier’s wonderful book, The New Natural Cat. Since then, I have found it invaluable advice to pass on to guardians of cats with renal problems. It is a simple home therapy procedure that can, says Anitra, “add weeks, months and often years to a cat’s life. Nothing will so dramatically improve the health, comfort and well-being of a dehydrated cat as subcutaneous hydration.” A subcutaneous fluids set up is similar to i.v. fluid administration except that the (warmed) saline solution is gently dribbled underneath the skin by means of a small needle. Once your veterinarian has shown you how to do it, the process can be safely done at home. It takes about 5 minutes to complete and is as simple as giving an insulin injection. For the hydration you will require a fluid bag with a tube and small needle (size 18 or 20). Once your feline friend is comfortably positioned on a warm, fluffy towel, the needle is gently inserted under his skin and the warm fluid gently dribbles in for a few minutes. Cats happily accept this therapy and feel very much better afterwards! Initially, hydration may need to be carried out on a daily basis but after your cat’s health improves, it can usually be reduced to several times a week only. Anitra, who runs the Feline Health Spa, a haven for sick cats in New York City, cites a beautiful story of one of her patients, a 15 year old cat called Suzie. Suzie arrived at her clinic in the terminal stage of kidney disease and was anorexic, constipated, stiff in the joints, dehydrated and very weak. After putting Suzie on the kidney diet and administering s.c. fluids daily, Suzie perked up and took over as hostess of her place. At the time she wrote the book, Suzie was 19 years old, still on the kidney diet, receiving home fluids weekly and “feeling fine”. Summary Chronic interstitial nephritis is not always a death sentence. With an appropriate diet, supplementation, natural medicines and regular hydration therapy, felines may choose to continue to live a relatively normal life for many years.

Of course, awareness and preventative health care is always the best treatment.

__________________________ Dwayne Hubbard, V.N.D.

www.dwaynehubbard.com

Dr. Dwayne Hubbard is a specialist in the field of natural animal health and is available for personal and telephone consultations. His naturopathic modalities encompass both large and small animals. __________________________

Essential Oils as Flea repellents

Essential Oils as Flea repellents

Essential Oils To Deter Fleas (and other pests) As the warmer weather creeps up, we dog lovers start to worry about those tough, relentless survivors called fleas. Have you ever wondered why some dogs and cats have severe flea problems, while others are hardly bothered by the little pests? Fleas being present on your pet can be an indicator of the animal’s general health. Parasites in general, and fleas in particular, are most attracted to the weak, unhealthy, or very young animal whose immune system is not functioning well. The best flea prevention is to reduce your pet’s susceptibility to fleas by improving his/her health. The biggest key to flea and tick prevention – and to your dog (or cat) having a strong immune system – is proper species appropriate nutrition. A healthy diet of fresh foods (NOT processed kibble or canned foods) will do wonders to keep pests away. The commonly used chemical based products used in over the counter and veterinary prescribed flea and tick collars or spray and even topical drops deterrents have been found to cause breathing problems, tremors, vomiting, skin irritations, permanent nerve damage and in some cases, even death. Some animals will experience hair loss and sores around the neck from flea collars or where the topical drops have been applied, plus the chemical fumes given off by these products can negatively affect you and your family as well. Did you know that your dog’s liver and kidneys are adversely affected by the use of commercial flea products such as frontline and advantage, chemical de-wormers and even heartworm drugs? The toxic chemicals in these products, often result in renal failure (kidney failure)and/or liver damage to the point of the liver no longer being able to filter the blood and then, complete liver failure. Contaminated blood circulating throughout the body day after day will most definitely contribute to other more complicated health issues, such as diabetes and arthritis to name two of the most common long term side effects of using these toxic chemicals. These toxic drugs can also cause severe skin rashes, loss of hair, epileptic seizures, brain damage. The list of adverse side effects amazingly goes on and on. Still people continue to use these drugs because they don’t know there is a better, simpler, less expensive, safer way. There is a safe effective alternative for your dog! You can do it without chemicals! ESSENTIAL OILS Plants produce essential oils as their own survival technique to repel bugs This makes essential oils great insect repellents for animals (and humans, too). Essential oils are all natural, mild and will leave your dog’s coat healthy and vibrant while working at a cellular level to boost the immune system. For centuries, they have been used in a variety of ways to repel fleas, ticks and other biting insects. Essential oils are nature’s own God given repellents. They ward off unwanted hitchhikers. Some of the more common oils that act as flea and insect repellents are: lavender, citronella, cedar ,peppermint, eucalyptus and lemongrass. Lavender A sweet-smelling, all-purpose insect repellent, lavender essential oil performed well in recent studies as both a tick deterrent and a method of preventing tick eggs from hatching. Additionally, Ohio State University recommends it for controlling fleas. A 2007 South African study found that formulas containing diluted lavender at rates of 10 to 20 percent lavender performed well as tick repellents when compared artificial DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) sprays. Citronella Oil of citronella naturally repels insects such as mosquitoes, black flies, fleas and ticks, therefore, preventing bites. Citronella oil is a natural, non-toxic alternative to chemical insect repellents such as DEET , therefore, is usually the preferred choice. A combination of the citronella oil and cedarwood oil also helps to repel mosquitoes. Cedar A wonderfully fragrant oil that provides a pheromone interruption agent that impairs the insects mental capacity and repels them. Peppermint An oil high in menthol – it repels fleas, spiders and even mice. Eucalyptus While better known for its anti bacterial properties it is a great natural pest deterrent as well. Lemongrass Deters fleas and especially tick. According to Ohio State University. Lemongrass oil contains a pleasing citrus scent that is useful in controlling oily scalps and skin conditions, making it suitable for use on dogs with skin conditions in lotion, spray, soap and shampoo formulas.

Please use ONLY therapeutic grade essential oils . I only recommend and personally use Young Living Essential oils and products as the are pure and safe enough to be taken internally – I don’t know of any other essential oils that are as pure.

Essential oil formulations will need to be applied more frequently than synthetic pesticides, but the benefits far outweigh the exposure to harsh chemical smells and toxic side effects. They are great for misting your dog’s legs (and your own) any time that you go out where fleas would be likely to be found.

Horses and flies I often am asked which essential oils repel flies for horses or around barns. Here is list of the oils that work specifically for detering flies:

• Idaho Tansy Essential Oil • Geranium Essential Oil • Sandalwood Essential Oil • Lavender Essential Oil • Rosemary Essential Oil • Lemon Essential Oil

To make a safe, non-toxic fly spray for your horses (or dogs), I use a 32 oz spray bottle and put about 5 to 10 drops of the above oils to spring water or distilled water. Be sure to shake well before applying as water and oil separate very quickly.

Basic instructions for a flea, tick or mosquito spray for dogs:

Up to 10 drops or so of any of the insect repelling oils or combination of the same in a 32 oz spray bottle. Shake well and mist your dog daily. This may also be sprayed on bedding or around doorways and baseboards in your home to keep insects out.

Uses:

* Mist the dog before going to training class and upon returning as well. You won’t pick up fleas from other members of the training class. * Spray the area where you set up your exercise pens and crates at the dog shows. Fleas will choose to go to the neighbors instead. The dogs themselves can be misted when you leave home and again before returning from the show. * Set the squirt bottle near the door, so that you can mist the dog (and your own pants legs) when you take the dog for a walk. No hitchhikers will come home with your or your pet from public places. * If you have a dog with flea allergies, it can get instant relief while you are ridding the environment of fleas. *For dogs that are bothered by flies biting their ears, cover the eyes with your hand and mist the ear area. Flies will stay away and the ears can heal. * Mist your own hair and clothing when outside during mosquito season. The oils set up a very pleasant smelling barrier, so that you (and your party) won’t be bothered by these pesky insects. For longer term control, a few drops may be placed on a cotton flea collar and put around the dog’s neck. Renew the oil whenever the aroma starts to fade. You can also put a few drops of one or more of the oils into the palms of your hands, rub your palms together and apply to the dog?s coat and skin starting at the neck and down the front legs, then down the back to the base of the tail and down the back legs.

Caution: The ONLY essential oils I recommend are Young Living Essential Oils due to their high quality, purity and medicinal/therapeutic value!

To order Young Living Essential Oils, call 800-371-2928 and use the referral and Sponsor number 719671. ******************************************

Please share your testimonies with me. You can Email me at info@thewholedog.org

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Natural Pet Care Products

Natural Pet Care Products

Natural Pet Care Products

A Message From Dr Jeannie: It is because of a deep affection for my own dogs that I have made it the goal at thewholedog.org to provide fellow dog enthusiasts everywhere with only the best high quality, all-natural pet products. I do not offer any products to your dogs that I have not given to my own.

If your dog is already suffering an illness or allergies OR, if you are interested in preventing illness while maximizing your dog’s health but you are confused or overwhelmed at the choices, you may be interested in scheduling a consultation to help you tailor a healthy, holistic diet and lifestyle for your canine companion.

The health of your dogs is a lifetime commitment. Preventing disease before its onset by increasing an animal’s overall wellness with high quality, all natural products is an effective and easy way to show your pet just how much you care.

Immune Boosters

Detox Formulas

Urinary Tract Health

Nutritional Supplements

Arthritis/Joint Supplements

Probiotics

Enzymes

Essential Fatty Acids

Natural Antibiotics

Herbs & Herbal Remedies

Natural Heartworm Preventitive

Natural Wormers

Natural Flea Preventitives/TreatmentDental Care Naturally

Natural Grooming

Essential Oils

Flower Essences

Pet/Family Safe Household Cleaners

IMMUNE BOOSTERS

GREAT LIFE

Beta Glucan Supreme
Helps reduce sickness and helps the elimination of tumors and cancer!(tested in the University of Louiville)

Beta Glucan Supreme is derived from the Reishi, Turkey Tail, Split-Gill, Agaricus Blazei and Shitake mushrooms which studies have shown are superior resources for the most powerful antioxidants available. The mushrooms are grown organically and are minimally processed by a naturally advanced, modern, solid fermentation technology, featuring low temperatures and a supersonic nanotechnology. This assures the maintenance and purity of the antioxidants.

NEW LIFE

New Life Colostrum Plus 2.25 oz. Powder
provides life-supporting immune and growth factors that insure the health and vitality of a newborn. Research has shown that Colostrum has powerful natural immune and growth factors that bring the body to a state of homeostasis — its powerful, vital natural state of health and well being.

FLYING BASSET

Flying Basset Organics Colostrum Dog & Cat Supplement 4 oz Powder
provides life-supporting immune and growth factors that insure the health and vitality of a newborn. Research has shown that Colostrum has powerful natural immune and growth factors that bring the body to a state of homeostasis — its powerful, vital natural state of health and well being.

Integrative Therapeutics

Integrative Therapeutics Cellular Forte with IP-6 & Inositol 240 Tablets for Dogs and Cats
Cellular Forté with IP-6 and Inositol provides nutritional support of immune function including healthy cell development and natural killer cell activity. It boosts the natural cellular defenses by increasing levels of inositol phosphates in cells to help strengthen and enhance the immune system

Pet Alive

Immunity & Liver Support
contains a combination of especially selected herbs known for their ability to cleanse and purify the system, improve immune functioning and support liver health. Used as a general tonic or to protect against disease, Immunity and Liver Support capsules are also very effective during convalescence and can help your pet in the recovery phase after illness.

ONLY NATURAL PET

Only Natural Pet Immune Balance Dog & Cat Supplement 90 Capsules
This patented blend of plant-derived sterols and sterolins has been shown in internationally recognized research to help bring overall balance to immune function enhancing an under-active immune system and/or decreasing an overactive one. The sterols are extracted from Pinus Maritima and Pinus Pinaste

Quercenol

Chinese herbal remedy for immune system support, allergies, and liver disorders. This formulation combines some of the best known and most intensively researched antioxidant compounds from nature. Each one is provided in a dosage that is in the range considered effective by modern research efforts. Quercenol also has anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties to help ease allergy symptoms as well as herbs to help cleanse and support the liver and build the immune system.

ZeoLIfe

ZeoLife is a blood purifying, heavy metal eliminating, chemical detoxifying, radiation-reducing, all natural immune-enhancing formula that safely removes poisons from your body while restoring the essential minerals needed for better health, vitality, and longevity. ZeoLife contains quality organic zeolite energetically treated to gather and remove more harmful chemicals and heavy metals safely from your body than any other product ever developed. In addition to heavy metal and chemical detoxifiers, this formula contains monoatomic elements energetically prepared to provide unparalleled protection from geopathic stress and electromagnetic radiations that research shows can harm health and hamper healing.

Pets Alive

DetoxPlus

a 100% herbal remedy specially formulated to prevent the buildup of toxins and to assist in toxin elimination. Used regularly, DetoxPlus will help to improve liver functioning, metabolism, thyroid health and the body’s ability to eliminate toxins, helping to keep your pet in peak health and toxin free.

Animals Apawthecary

Detox Blend Dog & Cat Herbal 1 oz

For longer-term detoxification and stimulating liver function.
SUPPLEMENTS/VITAMINS

GREAT LIFE

eNZYmes Pro + (Powder Form)

This wild Salmon & organic Coconut Oil based. powerful powder supplement is total nutrition. Contains a complete working spectrum of:Multi-Digestive Plant Enzymes, Micro-encapsulated Pre & Probiotics,Active Antioxidants, Active Natural Vitamins, Active Chelated Minerals, Active Herbs,Active Super Green Foods, Contains: full spectrum plant digestive enzymes, prebiotics, probiotics, a full spectrum natural plant vitamins including vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12,D3 and E, Organic Coral Calcium, Colostrum, Barley Sprouts, Spirulina. Schizandra Berries,Reishi and Maitake mushrooms, organic herbs and more!

More Infomation

YOUNG LIVING

NingXia Red

This juice packs in more vital nutrients than any other known substance and is unmatched in its health promoting powers. Researchers have discovered that the wolfberry and Ningxia Red’s other ingredients are a goldmine of highly bioactive polysaccharides and antioxidants, so unique that they are referred to as “master molecules” by virtue of their ability to harness the body’s most important biochemical defense systems. It provides a natural supplementation of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and other nutrients in a whole, complete form.

HEALTHYPETNET

Advanced Daily Supplement with Phytonutrient Power for Dogs
JOINT & ARTHRITIS SUPPLEMENTS

GREAT LIFE

Arthro-Aid 250
With natural sourced MSM, Chondroitin, Glucosamine and more, this supplement provides one-step nutrition for superior joint health and flexibility. Helps relieve joint pain, aids in lubricating joints, anti-inflammatory, calming and helps prevent calcification of soft tissue. (in Lamb flavored chewables).

YOUNG LIVING

Sulfurzyme
The Ultimate support for Muscles, Joints, and Skin! Sulfurzyme combines MSM, a natural form of sulfur found in all living organisms, with Chinese wolfberry, a revolutionary superfood from Inner Mongolia. According to many health professionals, this product has the potential to revolutionize how pets and even people deal with chronic pain, inflammation, and allergies. This supplement provides one-step nutrition for superior immune strength, joint health and stronger bones.

HEALTHYPETNET

Agility (with Glucosamine & MSM)

A holistic multi-action formula that contains glucosamine, MSM, sea mussels, special herbs and fish oils, which support the biochemical functions necessary for healthy bones and joints. An all natural and safe alternative.

VETRI-SCIENCE

Vetri-Science Glyco-Flex Joint Supplement

This comprehensive line of joint support formulas from Vetri-Science featuring glucosamine, green lipped perna mussels, and their patented DMG. Glyco-Flex II also contains MSM and Manganese, and Glyco-Flex III contains these and additional vitamins and antioxidants for maximum effect.

AMERICAN BIOSCIENCES

American Biosciences DGP for Dogs and Cats
DGP provides comprehensive support for healthy joint function and helps maintain nervous system, gastrointestinal, skeletal and immune health. All of which tend to deteriorate with age. DGP is a proprietary blend of natural compounds used in traditional medicine that not only provides comprehensive support for healthy joint function but also helps maintain nervous system, gastrointestinal, skeletal and immune health.

ARK NATURALS

Ark Naturals Sea Mobility Jerky Strips Beef
Sea Mobility Jerky Strips Lamb
Sea “Mobility” provides mobility enhancement and flexibility improvement from the natural power of Sea Cucumber, MSM, and Glucosamine! These are real beef or chicken (USDA) jerky strips, super-powered with nutraceuticals to help maximize joint function when joint mobility is critical for your dog’s lifestyle. Excellent for dogs from puppies to “Seniors”. Great for any dog that can’t swallow a pill or capsule. 9 oz. / approx. 22 strips Back to Top

PROBIOTICS

FASTRACK PROBIOTIC & ENZYME PRODUCTS

Information

Fastrack Canine Microbial Daily Supplement

Fastrack microbial powder contains unique combinations of health-promoting bacteria, yeast, enzymes, vitamins, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and specialized proteins which aid the immune system to protect against disease-causing organisms. Basically, Fastrack® improves your dog’s ability to digest and absorb food.

Fastrack Canine Microbial Gel

Puppies and mature dogs benefit from the gel at weaning, whelping, showing, traveling, and during other periods of stress such as – after immunizations, during antibiotic therapy, post-surgery, and when they have diarrhea. The gel contains specialized proteins which in research conditions have shown effectiveness against parvovirus, E.coli and salmonella.

Canine Digestive Treats (No grains)

Provide your dog a daily treat that contains probiotics, lactic acid-producing bacteria and vitamin E and Chicory Root. Commonly known as a “prebiotic,” the inulin derived from the Chicory Root is a fructooligosaccharide added to accomplish the same purpose as supplementing probiotics. The prebiotic feeds the “good bacteria” and hinders the growth of bad bacteria in the pet’s digestive tract.

ENZYMES
Information on Enzymes

Integrative Therapeutics

Bio-Zyme Bio-Zyme

Bio-Zyme provides the highest potency pancreatic enzyme complex available to help digestion in the lower intestine. While other pancreatin products are often diluted with salt or lactose, Bio-Zyme contains full-strength, undiluted pancreatic extract for optimum natural advantages. (other enzymes include Trypsin, Papain, Bromelain, Amylase, Lipase, Lysozyme and Chymotrypsin

Organic Pet SuperFood

Digestion Powder

100% Organic Powder contains thousands of enzymes that break down food for efficient uptake as well as naturally occuring Vitamins A, B1, B13, C and D and pre-biotics providing a rich nutritional source for good bacteria in the small intestines..

Organic Pet

Organic Pet Superfood DIGESTION

Packed with thousands of natural enzymes, antioxidants and immune-modulating compounds, DIGESTION gives your pet essentials like soluble fiber for improved digestion and enhanced wellness. Our unique blend of powerful organic mushrooms contains naturally occurring B-vitamins to help convert food to energy for everyday activity and fighting disease. And DIGESTION improves digestive efficiency while combating gas, loose stools and bad breath. Give your pet’s diet the support it needs with DIGESTION in every meal. Ingredients: Contains Only: Organic Maitake, Organic Shitake, Organic Lion’s Mane, Organic Beech, Organic Turkey Tail, Organic Poria Coco, Organic Oyster.

Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth

GREAT LIFE

eNZYmes Pro +

This wild Salmon & organic Coconut Oil based. powerful powder supplement is total nutrition. Contains a complete working spectrum of:Multi-Digestive Plant Enzymes, Micro-encapsulated Pre & Probiotics,Active Antioxidants, Active Natural Vitamins, Active Chelated Minerals, Active Herbs,Active Super Green Foods, Contains: full spectrum plant digestive enzymes, prebiotics, probiotics, a full spectrum natural plant vitamins including vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12,D3 and E, Organic Coral Calcium, Colostrum, Barley Sprouts, Spirulina. Schizandra Berries,Reishi and Maitake mushrooms, organic herbs and more

More information Back to Top

Essential Fatty Acids

OMEGA Rx FISH OIL

Omega RX for your dogs health & long life.

Only Natural WILD Alaskan Salmon Oil
This pure oil is made only from wild, non-farmed Alaskan salmon and stabilized with natural antioxidants to maintain its fatty acid content and taste. The important EPA and DHA Omega-3 essential fatty acids are plentiful in salmon oil. And unlike plant-based Omega-3 products (such as flax seed), fish oil is readily processed by the digestive system, resulting in more available essential fatty acids per serving. Back to Top

Herbs & Herbal Remedies

ABOUT HERBS

Pet Alive

PetAlive by Native Remedies, for 100% Natural and Safe Herbal Remedies for Pets.

Animals Apawthecary

Glycerine based herbal, remedies and, supplements for your pets Back to Top
Urinary Tract Health

Cranberry Extract

Cranberry Extract has been proven to be the “magic bullet” needed to treat, prevent, and control the formation of struvite crystals in cats and bladder stones in dogs. These products are all natural and safe.

Tinkle Tonic

An herbal remedy for urinary tract problems. Designed to disinfect, soothe, and protect the urinary tract without irritating the kidneys. Especially useful for cats! An antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, soothing, and tonifying combination of Couchgrass, Echinacea (purpurea), Marshmallow, Dandelion, and Horsetail.

Only Natural Pet Kidney Support Plus

This is a blend of herbal ingredients from both Western and Chinese herbal traditions to help maintain your pet’s optimal kidney health and normal renal functioning . The key factors of the formula help balance urine pH, promote healthy circulation to improve renal blood flow, aid in normal detoxification processes and support the immune system in response to foreign material in the urinary tract and kidneys.

Back to Top
NATURAL DENTAL CARE

PetzLife Oral Care Dental Products

**Product Pick** Animal Wellness Magazine

Extremely easy to use – all-natural ingredients safely remove plaque and tartar, help reverse oral disease, promote healthy gums, whiten teeth and kill the bacteria that causes bad breath. All with NO toothbrush required

Young Living Thieves Mouth Rinse and Dentrome Plus Toothpaste

formulated only pure, natural, safe, and effective ingredients. At the heart of their formulas is a blend of therapeutic-grade essential oils that was tested at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, and found to reduce bacteria, some of which may be responsible for compromising oral hygiene. Moreover, these products contain absolutely no saccharin, no sodium lauryl sulfate, no synthetic chemicals, and no artificial colors

Healthy Pet Net Oral Care Products

For Natural Pet Chews and Bones, please see our: Doggie Delicacies, Treats & Chews page

Back to Top
FLOWER ESSENCES

OXYSILVER™ is a suspension of electrically charged silver atoms ironically prepared and combined with oxygen in a most unique way, that is covalently bonded, to energized oxygen atoms. It is an effective germ killer and exceptional alternative to chemical disinfection wherein toxicity is a concern in places like whelping pens, kennels, bathrooms, kitchens, surgical suites, and hospitals.

SILVER 100 IONIC SILVER COMPLEX

Silver 100 Ionic Silver Complex with Opti-Silver is the state-of-the-art technology for delivering silver ions to the body. It is designed to surpass all other forms of silver in performance, efficiency, purity, consistency and stability. . Highly germicidal and safe!.

Oxy-Doc

Oxy-Doc is a powerful oxidizing substance which can act as a bactericide, viricide and fungicide. Oxy-Doc can be used internally or topically to treat many conditions that otherwise would require prolonged veterinary treatments

Nature’s Herbs for Pets Herbal Biotic for Dogs

An herbal formula known to have anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. It will not upset digestive balance or build up resistance like antibiotics sometimes can. Recommended treatment is for 10-14 days.

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NATURAL HEARTWORM PREVENTIVE/TREATMENT

Parasite Dr. Capsules

a 100% herbal remedy specially formulated for the healthy and effective expulsion of intestinal parasites such as roundworm, heartworm and tape worm. Containing herbs especially chosen for their known anti parasitic, antiseptic and bactericidal properties, Parasite Dr. can help to rid your pet of unhealthy infestations of internal parasites without the unwanted side effects sometimes associated with synthetic parasite medication. As an added bonus, Parasite Dr. also helps to cleanse the system and contains herbs with antifungal properties, thus helping to reduce systemic yeast infections which compromise health and weaken immune functioning.

Pet HW Protect Herbal Formula