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Holistic Care for Dogs and Cats
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NOTICE/DISCLAIMER: I am not a
veterinarian and I do not offer medical advice to others. The following
is not intended and should not be viewed as a substitute for appropriate
veterinary care. Any information provided herein comes from my personal
experiences and from various companies, health care professionals and
individuals who have researched and/or dealt with the health issues included
in this Health Care section. Such information is not intended to provide
care suggestions for all medical issues, but rather to provide suggestions
for holistic care which can support the immune system, address certain
ailments, illnesses and parasitic infections, and provide dogs and cats with
the nutritional resources necessary to maintain optimal health. Please use
what feels intuitively appropriate to you, and consult with your allopathic,
holistic or homeopathic veterinarian for proper diagnoses of medical issues
before proceeding with the suggestions contained herein.
Feedback and comments are welcome and
appreciated. If you have assisted a dog or cat in recovering optimal health
through the use of holistic care, please contact me at
kat@katberard.com if you’re
interested in sharing your story on my website for the benefit of others.
Thank you.
Holistic Care
Holistic care means that
each part (body, mind and spirit) of an animal or human is treated as
important as the whole. Holistic care can
include, but is not limited to, any of the
following: natural diets, herbal and other supplements, homeopathic
remedies, flower essences, essential oil therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic,
energy work (such as chakra rebalancing, aura repair, removal of traumas
retained in and damage to the etheric bodies, etc.), body work (craniosacral
therapy, myofascia release, massage, TTouch, etc.); and many other
supportive techniques and modalities. Including holistic care in your
animal companion’s health care regimen allows for the most natural and
least-invasive approach possible to optimal health. See this website for a
good overview:
http://www.dnai.com/~dogslife/overview/petagrees.html. There are
many other websites which offer information and advice on this topic (search
under “holistic care for animals” and related search strings). A chart
which contrasts allopathy with homeopathy can be found at
http://home.att.net/~Olenev/articles2.htm.
Dr. Pitcairn's
Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
(http://www.drpitcairn.com/)
is, in my opinion, one of the best
books available about natural care for dogs and cats. It includes
information and instructions for a raw or cooked diet (he includes recipes
for diets and treats), use of basic herbs, supplements, homeopathy, flower
essences, essential oils and other items; treatment suggestions for common
medical conditions and caring for a sick animal; vaccination issues; and
much more. Every dog and cat lover should have a copy. You will
find it listed on my Resources-Media-Books and
Tapes page.
See also the introduction to holistic care by
the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association at
http://www.altvetmed.com/intro.html.
See
the Health Care-Articles page for information
regarding my paper, "Holistic Care Suggestions for Dogs and
Cats".
If you or your animal companion has a chronic
or life threatening illness, do not focus on the time prognosis you may have
been given by your M.D. or vet (i.e., 3-4 months, 2 years, etc.). All
living beings have a life path, a purpose for being here, and the illnesses
and diseases we experience offer valuable lessons in so many ways. Perhaps
an illness teaches us to: have more compassion for others, and to open our
hearts to love; address negativity, pessimism, anger, depression, or other
emotions that we hold within our cells and being that keep our vibrational
essence at a lower rate (which some believe will eventually result in
illness if not addressed and released); find new ways (such as holistic
care, alternative healing modalities, and positive affirmations) to address
these health issues and take better care of ourselves and our animal
companions; or for many other reasons. I cannot emphasize enough how
important it is to focus on and affirm life, not death. Do not add
negative energy to a being's health crisis by thinking and holding a
timeline for their or your departure. Release that energy, trust that
there is a higher purpose to the situation, and be positive about the things
you do to address it.
Most important: don't "hover" over an ill
person or animal, but do trust your instincts/intuition when you sense that
something is not right, or something seems different/worse. Do not ignore
your intuition about health issues . . . have them evaluated by your vet or
M.D., and take appropriate steps to address the findings. Then extend
to the animal (or yourself) freedom from your excessive fears and worries.
I do understand how difficult, even painful, it can be to watch someone we
love struggle with an illness. The very best gift you can offer them
or yourself is to live in the moment and enjoy each day, find the joy and
the silver lining, and be supportive in a positive, not fearful, manner.
Make the most of what you have, don't focus on what seems to be lacking or
how unfair or sad a situation is. Do those things you've been putting
off that bring you or your animal companion joy and happiness. Let go
of that which no longer serves your highest good.
No matter how grim or dim or hopeless the
situation appears, the path and the outcome is always effected for the
highest and best good of the being. I have experienced a number of
crises and tragedies in my life. As difficult as they were to deal with, I
can honestly say that when all was said and done, I always landed in a
better place, and am stronger for having had the experience. Look
for and be open to miracles. They happen on a regular basis -- I can
attest to that.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Animal Wellness Magazine is one I highly
recommend. It covers many holistic care topics as well as animal
communication, and includes a Holistic Guide of practitioners and products.
Columnists and Contributing Writers include Sharon Callahan, John Geary,
Melissa Hart, Martin Goldstein, DVM, Shawn Messonnier, DVM, Stella Shepard
and Gregory Tilford. I am listed in their Holistic Guide, and will be
submitting articles from time to time. You can subscribe to Animal
Wellness Magazine by clicking on this icon:
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Animal Wellness Magazine
is the only magazine produced in North America devoted to natural &
holistic health for animals. It features celebrity covers & people who are
using their influence to help animals, articles on natural healing and
nutrition, advice from leading animal experts & holistic veterinarians,
coping with pet loss, alerts to endangered species, a holistic animal
store and much much more.
Click on
https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/suboffer.htm
to order. Very important: enter partner
code "1056" where prompted so that a portion of your
subscription price can be donated to non-profit rescue organizations.
Animal Wellness Magazine
is one I highly recommend. It covers many holistic care topics as well as
animal communication, and includes a Holistic Guide of practitioners and
products. Columnists and Contributing Writers include Sharon
Callahan, John Geary, Melissa Hart, Martin Goldstein, DVM, Shawn
Messonnier, DVM, Stella Shepard and Gregory Tilford. I am listed in
their Holistic Guide, and will be submitting articles from time to time.
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Basic Suggestions for
Natural Care
Raw Recreational
Bones: Long rib bones (6-8 inches) with beef attached, and beef
femur bones (4" for smaller dogs, 6-8” for larger dogs and those with
powerful jaws) are the best for keeping dogs’ teeth clean and white, and
their gums healthy. In Texas these can be found at Whole Foods Market and
HEB Central Market, and your grocer may be willing to order the femur bones
for you as well. I purchase large packs of beef ribs and slice them into
separate rib sections. Always supervise your dog while chewing on the rib
bones, as powerfully jawed dogs such as Weimaraners and Rottweilers may be
able to break them. Mine break and eat the pieces of rib bone with no
problem, but again, you should always supervise your dog in this matter. The
femur bones are denser and larger, and I have not had a problem with them.
Know your dog’s capabilities before allowing them to chew unattended.
BONES SHOULD ALWAYS BE FED RAW, NOT COOKED. Cooked bones are brittle and
will easily splinter, and are not digestible. The smoked bones sold by
pet stores can be dangerous: they crumble and are abrasive to the
stomach and intestines (similar to sandpaper). Rawhide chews can cause
intestinal blockages. Use raw beef bones instead.
To avoid diarrhea, which
can occur when feeding the femur bones (due to the richness of the bone
marrow), you can either limit their chewing to no more than 15 minutes the
first time and gradually build up their tolerance level (for dogs who may
have problems digesting fat, remove the marrow first). To remove the marrow,
microwave the bone for no more than 20 seconds to soften the marrow, then
scrape out with a knife and dispose of it. Run hot water through the center
until it’s clean. I give these recreational bones to my dogs outside, so as
not to mess up the carpet. After they’ve cleaned the outer surface, I use a
sharp knife or a green buffer pad to remove any remainder and then they’re
allowed to chew on them in the house. Because the raw bones are naturally
abrasive (but less abrasive than Steri-Bones and similar commercial bone
products), excessive chewing will eventually wear down the dog’s tooth
enamel. Again, supervise your dog’s chewing sessions and limit chewing
sessions as appropriate.
If you think your dog may
give you a hard time when you remove the bone the first few times (i.e.,
limiting their chewing time), then do not let go of the bone when you give
it to them. Hold onto one end, let them chew on the other. Take it
away after 15 seconds. Use appropriate commands to manage their
behavior (off, leave it, whatever). Give one end back to them, let
them chew on it for 30 seconds, take it away again. Pet them on the
neck or top of the head while they're chewing, to teach them that they can
be touched while chewing. Do this if you know your dog's behavior well. If
you are hesitant to offer them a real bone as a treat because you don't
think you can get it away from them if need be, then put them on a leash the
first several times so you have control over their actions. My rescue Weim,
Barney, growled at me the first several times I gave him a bone and then
tried to take it away. So I restarted by hanging onto one end, and slowly
moving to his side so I could pet his neck. Use common sense here -- do not
put your face near theirs, and you may want to keep a hand on their collar
for quick corrections. I do not expect that you will have trouble as I've
described, but it is best to start out on the right foot. Dogs LOVE raw beef
marrow bones, and it is not unreasonable to expect that they will be
reluctant to give them up!
Kongs: What a terrific invention! Kongs are great for stuffing
with food (and if you freeze them, it takes longer for the dog to remove the
filling). A stuffed Kong will keep a dog occupied for a while (give as a
treat or when crating). This may be helpful in reducing separation anxiety
or crate anxiety by keeping them occupied when you first leave the house.
Most destructive acts occur within the first 10-15 minutes of the animal
being left. The “Large" size is appropriate for most medium to large sized
breeds. I’ve found the opening in the Giant size makes it too easy for them
to quickly clean it out. This size is probably best for Great Danes and the
like. Visit the Kong website for recipes and suggestions for use.
http://www.kongcompany.com. These
are much better and healthier than feeding rawhide chews and the like. And
most dogs like to play with them when empty because they bounce and roll in
an erratic pattern. Use a baby bottle brush to clean the inside thoroughly.
Kibbles and Biscuits: For biscuits, a few I recommend are
Mother Hubbard, Bil-Jac, and Purina One, as they’re naturally preserved.
However, because they are a grain product, they are more susceptible to
attracting bugs if not sealed in a foil pouch, or if they’re exposed to
heat. Store whatever you don’t immediately need in the freezer, and keep a
week’s worth in the refrigerator. Or better yet – make your own! There are
many websites which offer treat recipes for dogs and cats. For more
information on kibbles for cats and dogs, and about treats, see the
Kibbles and Treats page.
Natural Grooming
Products: Furfection, Inc. Pamela Madden is the owner of Furfection,
Inc., maker of Furfection Naturals pet grooming products. Her shampoos and
conditioner are sold only through her website, along with other unique items
for pets and their owners. I was especially pleased with the quality of
these natural grooming products for cats and dogs, and Pamela did a ton of
research and worked with a veterinarian to make sure her products were safe,
contained soothing ingredients, and were beneficial to the pet's skin and
coat. She had people use the products and give her feedback before she
offered them to the public, so you know they're pet-safe and owner approved!
Visit www.furfection.com or call
650-625-0607. Read the transcript of my Animal Corner interview of her at
http://www.furfection.com/pages.php?pageid=41.
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