Natural Pet Health

How do I know if my pet has worms?

Cats: A number of intestinal Parasites will produce no visible symptoms in your cat at all - or at least not at first. Other Parasites such as the Tapeworm will usually be visible in your cat’s feces and in the hair or on the skin around his anus.

Other symptoms of worms in cats may include:

* Vomiting
* Persistent dry cough
* Swollen abdomen
* Anemia
* Diarrhea
* Persistent scratching around the anus
* Weight loss
* Eating a great deal without putting on weight
* Breathing problems
* Bad Breath

Dogs: In many cases you may not even know that your dog has worms without having a sample of his feces analyzed. Certain intestinal Parasites such as Tapeworm however are usually clearly visible either clinging to the skin or hair around the dog’s anus or in a fresh feces.

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Functions of the liver, gallbladder and Pancreas

The liver, the gallbladder and the Pancreas are all crucially involved in the digestive process. The liver stores Vitamins A, D, E and K and produces bile, which is essential in the breakdown of fats.

It is also responsible for eliminating and detoxifying the poisons that enter the blood stream. These include medications, processed and unhealthy food and the various toxins your pet is exposed to on a daily basis.

The gallbladder stores the bile which is produced by the liver and releases it during Digestion. The Pancreas not only produces pancreatic juice which contains digestive enzymes that help in the breaking down of food, it also plays a vital role in controlling the level of sugar in the bloodstream by secreting two important hormones, insulin and glucagon

What are the symptoms of an unhealthy liver, gall bladder or pancreas?

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What is Kennel Cough and what are the symptoms?

Kennel Cough is a highly contagious upper Respiratory Infection that often affects animals that are kept in a confined space such as boarding kennels, dog shows or veterinary hospitals.

Symptoms include a persistent dry hacking cough or bouts of deep harsh coughing often followed by gagging, which may produce a foamy mucus.

What is the conventional treatment?

Mild cases may improve without treatment. Conventional treatment of Kennel Cough often involves antibiotics which tend to relieve the animal’s symptoms fairly quickly, but also have a general weakening effect on their Immune System, which can cause further problems, especially in the long-term.

Vaccinations to prevent kennel cough are also often recommended. But research indicates that frequent Vaccination or over-Vaccination may unnecessarily Stress a pet’s Immune System.

How can Natural Remedies help?

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What are the symptoms of muscle and joint conditions?

Dogs:

* Overall Stiffness especially after rest
* Whimpering when getting up
* Difficulty climbing stairs or climbing in and out of car
* Reluctance to exercise
* Lameness
* Unusual movements (for that particular animal)
* Disjointed or wobbly gait
* Swelling and tenderness in limb or spine
* Shying away from being stroked along their back
* Thickening of the Joints of the affected limb
* Favoring the use of one limb more than another
* Irritability

Cats:

* Overall Stiffness especially after rest
* Crying when getting up
* Crying when being picked up
* Difficulty climbing stairs
* Reluctance to exercise
* Lameness
* Unusual movements (for that particular animal)
* Disjointed or wobbly gait
* Swelling and tenderness in limb or spine
* Shying away from being stroked along their back
* Thickening of the joints of the affected limb
* Favoring the use of one limb more than another
* Irritability

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The kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood and removing toxins in an animals system. Kidney damage may result from several sources, but the Aging process is probably the most common reason for this disease. No cure is available but many things can be done to help the pet live a more comfortable life.

The best way to express the reason for kidney failure/disease in an Aging pet is that the kidney cells just begin to wear out. Cells are lost throughout the pets life on a gradual basis. As the pet ages and these cells are lost the neighboring cells must work twice as hard to compensate for the loss. As a result, kidney disease may be present long before any visible signs are shown.

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Adapted from The Veterinarians’ Guide to Natural Remedies for Dogs, by Martin Zucker.

“I believe acupuncture is the number one method for arhritis. Number two is Homeopathy. … Years ago I learned about a special Arthritis diet…many animals improve on this diet alone.” A. Greig Howie, DVM

Simple Solution:

The Antiarthritis Diet

Ingredients

2 cups brown rice
2 cups barley (pearls)
1 cup lentils
2 cups carrots
1 cup celery
1/2 cup parsley
2 cups spinach
2 cups lamb or beef hearts
2 Garlic Cloves
8 to 12 cups water

Combine ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil and then simmer covered for 1 1/4 hours. Stir every fifteen minutes. Add more water as needed.

Veterinarians Guide to Natural Remedies for Dogs : Safe and Effective Alternative Treatments and Healing Techniques from the Nations Top Holistic Veterinarians

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What is flatulence and what causes it?

Having a pet with flatulence problems can be very embarrassing - not to mention inconvenient, irritating and rather frustrating. But when you think about it, your pet is not having such a great time either.

Flatulence is generally caused by a build-up of gas in the stomach or intestines, which is often a result of undigested fermenting food. Some animals are simply unable to digest certain types of food while others have particular food sensitivities.

Often animals simply gulp air with their food, which then emerges as Intestinal Gas. Whatever the cause, the animal usually feels very uncomfortable. Flatulence is often accompanied by Bloating, abdominal pain, belching and wind.

What is Flatulence Preventer?

PetAlive Flatulence Preventer combines selected herbal and homeopathic ingredients to effectively relieve the symptoms of flatulence, gas, Bloating and Abdominal Cramps.

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For all pet owners, regular monitoring and “examinations” of your pet will give you a better idea of the animal’s overall health and prove as good “quality” time for both you and your pet. Also, this may help you catch a problem in the early phases and certainly before it becomes life threatening.

The list of things you can do during this time could be long but below we’ve taken the time to list a few of the most basic and easy to read signs of being “off color”. In addition to the usual, these steps may help you in deciding your pet’s actual state of health.

CHECK YOUR PET FOR:

1) Build up in the tooth area. Also Bad Breath- which may suggest Gingivitis or other tooth/gum problems.

2) Clean ears. Is there wax build up, ticks, mites or other Parasites inside? Is a bad odor present?

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What are some of the most common heart and circulation conditions in pets?

* Heart Murmur
* High cholesterol
* High blood pressure
* Thickening of the heart muscle
* Heart Failure
* Irregular pulse
* Anemia

What symptoms should we look out for

* Tiring more easily than normal
* Low pitched deep cough
* Labored breathing
* Coughing during the night or after exercise
* Fluid retention in the legs and abdomen
* Bluish look to the tongue and gums
* Excessive weight loss

What is the conventional treatment?

Conventional treatment usually involves medication including diuretics which are used to control the sodium and water retention that accompanies Heart Failure; vasodilators which are used to lower blood pressure and digoxin and related drugs which help the heart beat more efficiently

What are the alternatives?

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Depression and grieving in pets

Depression and grieving in pets may take many different forms - from the obviously sad and lethargic animal to the pet who manifests illness and behavioral problems associated with Depression.

Animals form very deep attachments to their owners and to each other. It is therefore not surprising when they show signs of grief and depression if their owner or a companion pet die.

Some animals experience Separation Anxiety when their owners go away for a vacation, or sometimes even when they leave them for a short time. Separation Anxiety, can result in depression or, more commonly (especially in dogs), in destructive behavior such as Digging, Chewing or scratching.

Pets are also very attuned to their owner’s emotional state. If you are feeling Depressed or grief-stricken, this may, in turn, impact your pet. Certain breeds of pets also tend to worry and fret more than others. They may be at particular risk of developing chronic depression.

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