PET HEALING:

The same healing techniques that are used on humans can and do work well on pets or any living thing (ie. plants).  In addition, there are several things I have found helpful with my own four legged critters, or have heard about from friends, clients, veterinarians, books, and magazines.  I would like to share this information with you now with the understanding, like when working with people, that you always test for your pet the way you do for yourself, never change medications without Dr's supervision, never start a supplement at full dosage or without knowing if it will interfere with prescribed or OTC drugs, and watch carefully for any changes in behavior, health, etc.

The biggest single factor in our pet's health, just like with ours is diet.  We cannot escape the old saying that we are what we eat.  Dogs and cats are carnivores, which means they are meat eaters.  When seen living in the wild, they eat very few grains or vegetables and certainly no preservatives, additives, or colorings.  Several research studies have shown that feeding a raw or natural diet has significant effects on the health and longevity of pets. 

I consider the following when choosing my pet's food:

1. There can be NO added preservatives (vitamin E is an exception), flavorings, artificial colors, sugars, or sweeteners.
2. The first ingredients need to be labeled as whole meat sources (ie. poultry, fish, venison, bison, or lamb).
3. The terms "animal fat", "by-products", "meat protein" usually mean that the food is of inferior quality and possibly of uncertain origin (in other words, it often means "scraps").
4. I prefer the grains to be whole grains (ie  rice, preferably brown, instead of rice flour).   
5. All food must pass surrogate muscle testing for each individual pet.  This may mean testing each individual ingredient.
6. All food must pass the smell and taste test.  I don't know about you but I don't eat food that doesn't smell or taste good to me.
7. Supplement with fresh meat that you eat, preferably organic.

Foods to avoid include (for dogs):

1. chocolate
2. grapes/raisins
3. artificial sweeteners
4. onions
5. macadamia nuts
6. peanuts tend to be heavily treated with chemicals, so I only feed organic as a treat or in treats
7. Avoid corn and wheat when dealing with inflammation or arthritic type conditions because they tend to cause heat in the joints

When dealing with any dis-ease or older dog, supplementing the natural diet with a probiotic and enzymes can be very effective.  The digestive system is often overburdened with the junk we need or want to feed them or compromised in sick and geriatric dogs. 

1. Supplementing with probiotics can be as easy as feeding 1 Tbs of organic yogurt 4-5 times per week.  I prefer Stoneyfield Farms whole milk organic.
2. Wobenzym N (found in most health food stores) seems to be an excellent product for an all around enzyme supplement.   Again, I start with the lowest dose and add more every  3-4 days until I see no adverse reactions and improvement in symptoms.  Muscle test for dosage and ask you vet for guidance.

Other tips I have found helpful or have heard about:

• Avoid pesticides such as flea products, lawn chemicals, bug sprays, etc.  Use all natural products when possible.  Miracle II soap works great as a flea shampoo.
• Avoid chemicals (ie. cleaners, floor cleaners, fragrances, paints, etc) and replace with non-toxic, environmentally friendly safe products.
• Find a holistic vet before you need one.
• Discuss current vaccination thought with a holistic veterinarian and do your own research to weigh the benefits vs. risk before vaccinating.  After a few vaccines, your dog may only need a blood test to determine if it is still effective.
• Eliminate main causes of stress (under-activity or over-activity...find the balance).
• Coconut oil seems to help a lot of people and dogs with a lot of ailments including, thyroid, weight gain, dry or itchy skin, heart problems, etc.  As long as it tests fine, I say give it a try.
• Cottage cheese (fed daily) seems to help some cancer symptoms and may keep it from metastasizing.
• Ester C can be a good supplement for immune system difficulties.
• Many herbal supplements can be given at the same dosage as for humans, however, always test and check with a knowledgeable veterinarian before administering.
• Due to the sensitivity of the canine nose, aromatherapy products are very diluted and available for pet use only.
• Always test the product for yourself as well as your pet.  You are the one administering it and will inevitably come in contact with it.

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