Natural Pet Health

Question:

Our 9 year old female beagle has been drinking alot more than usual and has had a Urinary Infection this past week. She took antibiotics but is still drinking more than usual. She has also lost weight. She took several steroid shots for allergies this summer and everything I ‘ve read on the internet lead me to believe she may be developing Diabetes. Would your Diabetes formula be safe for her to try?

Shelly

Answer:

Hi Shelly

Thank you for your query. You are to be commended for researching the use of natural alternatives.
Certain symptoms are common in cats and dogs with Diabetes. However these signs may also indicate other diseases or conditions. The best way to determine if your pet has diabetes is to have his Blood Sugar Levels checked by means of a blood test.

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by Jean Hofve, DVM

In 1993, in my senior year of veterinary school, I went to the annual conference of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association. Among the many great speakers, one in particular stood out: Dr. Richard Pitcairn, the world-renowned veterinary homeopath who has trained hundreds of veterinarians in classical Homeopathy. Dr. Pitcairn gave two lectures on vaccines and vaccine-related disease that forever changed the way I would practice veterinary medicine.

Many people don’t realize this, but in addition to being a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Pitcairn has a doctorate in Veterinary Microbiology; his studies emphasized viruses, immunology, and biochemistry. His credentials are impeccable, so his words had great impact. He has had a huge influence on educating both veterinarians and the public on the concept of “vaccinosis. ”

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Birds are very sensitive creatures and can easily get Stressed by changes to their environment. Parties and gatherings, especially around the holidays, can bring lots of noise and Stress into your birds’ environment. Here are a few tips to help Polly feel contented during the chaos:

* Avoid high traffic areas - don’t put your bird “in the line of fire”. This means away from doorways, noisy areas full of guests, and the blaring television, etc.
* Beware strangers bearing Gifts - instruct children not to try to feed your bird any holiday treats which can cause intestinal upset.
* Find a quiet getaway - put your bird in a bedroom or other quiet room and try using a blue or green light bulb in your bedroom lamp. Birds respond well to these calming colors.

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Cats are especially attracted to Christmas trees. Any opportunity to climb and explore something new in the household like a decorated Christmas tree brings fun and adventure to most cats. But a cats’ curiosity can get them in trouble from Chewing on the wrong ‘something’. So just like little children and toddlers, cats and especially kittens, need to be supervised around Christmas trees and decorations.

Never leave a cat (or young child) unsupervised. Many ornaments from foreign countries may be painted with lead based paints. Keep these out of the mouths of cats, puppies, and kids.

Do not encourage cats to play with tinsel. They may chew and swallow pieces that may get stuck in the intestinal tract and will need surgical intervention to remove them-as will pieces of plastic, ornaments, and wire.

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by Annie Berthold-Bond of http://www.care2.com/

I dug deep in my herbal formula books for this recipe out of desperation, given that I live in the epicenter of the tick-generated Lyme Disease epidemic. I tested the Essential Oil that is recommended for ticks, Rose Geranium, by putting a few drops—no more!— on our dogs’ Collars, to see if it would repel ticks. Lo and behold, we went from 20 ticks a day on each dog, to none. The second best Essential Oil for repelling ticks is American Pennyroyal (also called tickweed).

This one is for PEOPLE, not dogs!

* 2 tablespoons vegetable or nut oil (Almond Oil contains sulfur, a repellent in its own right)
* 10 to 25 drops Rose Geranium Essential Oil

Combine the ingredients in a glass jar; shake to blend.

Makes: 2 tablespoons

Shelf Life: 6 months

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Adapted from http://www.animalhearttalk.com/ - Paula Brown

Have a safe place to take your pets

* Don’t wait until a disaster happens before you start thinking about where to go. Have a list of pet-friendly hotels and check their policies on size, number of pets. Ask whether ‘no pet’ policies are waived during emergencies.
* If an evacuation is ordered, call ahead to make a reservation. Ask friends, co-workers or relatives in the area of they would be willing to shelter your animals in case of emergency. Several pets in one household are most comfortable if housed together but be prepared to house them separately.
* Keep a list of boarding facilities and vets in your emergency kit, along with 24 hr contact information. As a last resort, find out if your local shelter or humane society could accommodate your pet in the event of a disaster.

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The condition of the skin and Coat is an indicator of the general health of your pet. Other than specific Skin Conditions like cat Dandruff and feline Acne or serious immune mediated cat and dog Skin Problems, internal health issues also reflect on the skin and Coat of your pet.

Most of these health conditions lead to canine and feline Hair Loss. The situation is more challenging if you have a canine pet since most reeds shed hair naturally to a large extent during certain times of the year. Natural Hair Loss combined with Hair Loss due to ailments can pose a major problem for pet owners. Cleaning floors, carpets and furniture can become a more arduous task than it already is. Vacuum cleaners are the obvious choice for house cleaning but many times it has been noticed that the cat and dog hair do not get completely sucked up by the machine. Some useful tips for removing pet hair can save you time and money.

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Cortisol is often referred to as a ‘Stress hormone’. This is because its secretion by the adrenal glands is related to the Stress factor. In addition it also affects blood pressure, blood sugar and is vital to the immunosuppressive actions of the dog’s body. The synthetic form of cortisol, known as hydrocortisone, is used to treat inflammatory diseases, allergic reactions and to supplement deficiencies of the endogenous cortisol.

Levels of cortisol in the body change according to the need of the body. They also vary according to the day-night cycle - the levels are at their peak early in the morning and lowest about 2 to 3 hours after sleep time. Damages to the pituitary or adrenal glands can disturb the production of the hormone to cause conditions like Cushings disease (hyperadrenocorticism) and Addison’s disease that require immediate attention of the dog owners. These glands are the two endocrinal glands that are vital to endogenous production of cortisol in the body.

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It’s summertime, and the living isn’t always easy for our animal companions. Dogs and cats can suffer from the same problems that humans do—overheating, dehydration and even sunburn — when the mercury rises. By taking these simple precautions, you can keep your animal companions happy and healthy in the hot weather:

* Exercise your dog in the cool of the early morning or evening—never when it’s extremely hot or humid. Take care not to let your dog stand on hot asphalt, as his sensitive Paw Pads can easily burn.

* Provide plenty of shade and cool, clean water for animals kept outdoors. And during the hottest part of the day, please bring your cat or dog inside to rest in a cool part of the house.

* Never leave your animal alone in a vehicle. Overheating can be fatal. Even with the doors open, a parked automobile can become a furnace in no time. Parking in the shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day.

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by Tabitha Alterman, Mother Earth News Associate Editor

Winter is a tough time for us all, but it can be especially hard on pets. Here are a few tips for protecting your pets this winter:

* Keep pets indoors as much as possible during cold weather. Like humans, animals can get frostbite.
* If a dog stays outside for the winter, it is important to provide an insulated home. Line the floor with cedar shavings or straw to ensure warmth. Check water often to make sure it has not frozen.
* If your dog begins to shiver when you’re out for a walk, bring it inside immediately.
* Trim the long hair on the bottom of pets’ feet to prevent ice balls from forming.
* Road salt and other de-icing chemicals are damaging to pets’ paws, and can be hazardous if ingested; wash your pets’ paws after being outdoors. Use sand or a nontoxic alternative to salt when dealing with icy sidewalks.
* Antifreeze is a poison, yet its sweet taste unfortunately attracts curious animals. Always clean any spills thoroughly. Or try a safer alternative, such as antifreeze made with propylene glycol.
* Cats and wildlife seek shelter from warmth by crawling into available covered spaces, including vehicles. Banging on the hood of your car before starting the engine should scare out any stowaways.
* Our smaller friends, such as birds, hamsters and guinea pigs, can be chilled if their cages are kept in drafty areas. Keep cages away from doors and windows in winter.

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