HERBAL REMEDIES

Natural pet health strategies

by Brooke Wagenheim

    When people embrace natural healing techniques and holistic living for themselves, they tend to want the best for their animals too. There is tremendous interest in adopting good curative and maintenance practices for cats and dogs. There are many alternative disciplines available and used on animals in this country. Some treatments include chiropractic therapy, acupuncture, herbal, nutrition, shiatsu, reiki, contact reflex analysis, and homeopathy.
    The happiness and health of your pet depends on many factors. There is little doubt that our pets grieve and experience joy, creating the conditions of their central controlling life force, or energy. This life force keeps the animal in balance, protecting it from external pathogens and allowing it to heal. Just like people, when an animal gets old, sick, injured, vaccinated or stressed out, its life force is depleted and becomes unbalanced. Repeated vaccinations, medications, commercial food by-products, preservatives and chemicals take their toll on our furry friends. Very subtle changes in your pet’s behavior such as increased thirst, discharge from the eyes, or dull-looking fur might not be noticed right away. But these could be signs of underlying imbalance or a chronic disease.

Good pet food

    The Pet Food Institute says, “40 percent of all pet food is meat by-products and offal (waste).” One would think that the other 60 percent would have to be better than that, but the Pet Food Institute goes on to say that, “the other 60 percent is grain and soy meal not used for human consumption.” It is not fit for human consumption because of foreign odors, fecal matter and urine from the swept-up remnants of slaughterhouse floors and rendering plants which combine dead animals (some having cancer and tuberculosis) with old roadkill, mucous, pus, hair, blood, rust, lead, debris and germs—all cooked up and slapped into a can for that almighty dollar.
    The labels on most commercial pet foods state that the food contains all the nutrients your animal needs. Scientists state that enzymes are absolutely essential for every biochemical function of the body. Yet enzymes occur in no single commercial pet food. Enzymes occur in raw foods. Even when something that should be in commercial pet foods is in the foods, it might not be in the correct biochemical form.
    For instance, the long list of minerals some boxed or canned foods contain may look impressive—it may even have the proper ratio of copper to zinc, a sophisticated balancing not even done in some multivitamins for human beings. However, the minerals in commercial pet food are extremely likely to be unchelated minerals, which tend to pass through the body without ever being used. Chelated minerals are necessary for the body to absorb nutrients. The reason for this lack of minerals in pet food is simple; the unnatural forms of minerals are a lot cheaper. Dogs and cats in the wild usually did not become crippled or blind or deaf, or cultivate heart disease and arthritis from the disorders that most vets today consider “inevitable.” Dogs and cats today who are raised on natural diets prescribed by nutritional veterinarians seldom become crippled or blind or deaf from the disorders that have become “normal” since the commercial pet food industry began building its empire more than half a century ago.
    If you must feed a commercial diet, look for one that is “all natural” and does not contain Ethoxyquin or BHT as a preservative. Look at the quality of the ingredients and the palatability. Price should be a minor consideration. These diets will cost more, but you will use less and the improvement you see in your animal will be worth it. You may also benefit from less medical problems and less veterinary bills. I buy food from the co-op or Solid Gold Pet Supplies right here in South Minneapolis.

Alternative treatments

    Homeopathy is the treatment of disease with minute quantities of substances to trigger the body’s intelligence to fight that disease on its own. Homeopathic physicians have discovered over the centuries that the body can recognize microscopic amounts of different materials. These materials or remedies are matched to the symptoms and can have remarkable effects. True homeopathy is a very pure science and is practiced on animals by trained veterinarians. It is one of the most powerful of the alternative therapies and has successfully treated everything from fears to cancer. It also affects the body’s vital force and helps balance and adjust it.
    In Chinese acupuncture, specific points throughout the body are stimulated or sedated to produce a local or generalized effect. These points are treated with needles, massage, heat and even lasers. The choice of points depends on the meridians that need to be calmed or stimulated to balance the body’s energy and promote healing. Modern scientists have studied acupuncture and feel that it causes the release of hormones, cortisone, natural painkillers, endorphins and many other substances that account for its incredible effects. Acupuncture also stimulates the local tissues to respond and the blood supply to increase. It is nice to have a “conventional” explanation to help understand how acupuncture may work, but it is important to remember that traditional acupuncture deals with energy and balance.
    Chiropractic medicine offers increased flexibility and performance. It can help treat a variety of conditions now commonly treated with drugs and surgery. The chiropractic field deals with the relationship between the spinal column and the nervous system and the crucial role of this relationship to the maintenance of overall health. Maintenance of range of motion is essential for balanced biomechanical functioning of the body. When a joint can no longer move through its full range of motion, spinal flexibility and mobility, as well as performance, are adversely affected.
    Herbal therapy is probably one of the better-known alternative therapies. We all are familiar with the benefits or reputation of some herbs. Chamomile in tea is calming, garlic can help fight colds, eucalyptus eases a stuffy nose. These are just some of myriad herbal treatments that have been passed down from the ancient healers. Herbs can affect an animal’s body in many ways, but should be used cautiously and with the advice of someone familiar with both their good and bad effects, and with plenty of research.

Books:
Reigning Cats & Dogs: Good Nutrition Healthy Happy Animals - Pat McKay

Give Your Dog a Bone - Dr. Ian Bilinghurst

The New Natural Cat: A Complete Guide for Finicky Owners - Anitra Frazier, Norma Eckroate

Natural Cat Care: A Complete Guide to Holistic Health Care for Cats - Celeste Yarnal, Ph.D.

Natural Dog Care: A Complete Guide to Holistic Health Care for Dogs - Celeste Yarnal, Ph.D

Natural Health for Dogs and Cats - Dr. Richard and Susan Pitcairn

Homeopathy for Dogs and Cats - Don Hamilton

The Holistic Puppy - Diane Stein

The Encyclopedia of Holistic Pet Care - C.J. Pouitin

Web sites/Internet sources:

www.solidgoldhealth.com/default.asp   specializing in non-allergenic products with no chemical preservatives or GMO’s. Right here in South Minneapolis.

www.listservice.net/wellpet/  a major holistic pet care site with plenty of information.

www.critterhaven.org/critterchat/feedingnat.htm   about feeding naturally.

Namaste
Brooke Wagenheim