Health Products For People & Pets

Natural Hyperthyroidism Treatments For Cats

Hyperthyroidism occurs more commonly in cats than in dogs; and more specifically, it occurs in cats that are in the middle to senior years.

This endocrine disease creates an overproduction of the thyroxin hormone, which in turn, wreaks havoc on a cat's body. Hyperthyroidism is simply the thyroid not working at its optimal level and it can lead to a multitude of various health problems as it can affect nearly every organ and cell within a cat's body. With all of these different health problems, there are also many different symptoms too. This can make it hard for the veterinarian to diagnosis a case of Hyperthyroidism accurately. However, there are a few telltale signs and symptoms that are most commonly seen in Feline Hyperthyroidism. 

Signs To Watch Out For:
Experiencing diarrhea
Experiencing vomiting
Loss of weight
Being continually thirsty
Hyperactivity
Lethargy (often cats will experience lethargy right after being hyperactive)
Displaying anxiety and/or nervousness
Being irritable
Displaying Restlessness (Your cat may appear to be pacing around the room and may just not be able to settle down for any extended period of time)
Having a heart rate that is elevated (Your cat may have a heart rate that is faster than normal, and the beats may also be stronger than normal too)
Rapid breathing
Undergoing a change in the color and texture of the fur and coat (Some unlucky cats will develop an coat that continually looks disheveled and dull) 
Nails that are thicker than normal

If any of the above signs and symptoms are displayed in your cat, you will need to make an appointment to see your vet as soon as possible. Only a qualified veterinarian can accurately diagnose whether your cat's thyroid is creating too much thyroxin, leading to Hyperthyroidism. 

Causes of Hyperthyroidism in Cats 

We've already discussed that Hyperthyroidism is created by a cat's thyroid gland producing way more thyroxin hormone than it naturally needs. Although this overproduction is usually caused through a cat's natural aging process, in some cats a growth can appear on their thyroid glands that can be the main culprit in over-producing thyroxin, leading to Hyperthyroidism.  

Even though your cat will not die from Hyperthyroidism directly, being that it is an endocrine disease, it will diminish your cat's overall quality of life. Your cat's heart, kidneys and liver can all be affected by Hyperthyroidism. In addition, it can also cause a drastic weight loss and hypertension.

 There are a few scientific studies that conclude that cats that are given a diet consisting mostly of liver, giblet and fish flavored wet or canned cat food, are at a considerably higher risk for Hyperthyroidism.

There are only two distinct breeds of cats that are less inclined to developing Hyperthyroidism:  Himalayan cats and Siamese cats.  

Natural Treatment Choices 

After your vet has confirmed that your cat does indeed have Hyperthyroidism, he or she will create a treatment plan with your cat's specific needs in mind. Usually such a plan may include surgery, medication and possibly even radioactive iodine therapy. Be cautioned: such treatment can be quite costly! Plus, some of the medication that is prescribed these days can have adverse side effects in some cats, so you will need to monitor your cat's daily activities more closely than usual.

 In addition to your vet's treatment plan, you can also include more holistic and natural treatment options. These options are more inclined to help increase your cat's quality of life so that they can be happy, active and free of discomfort. An added plus, is that nearly every natural treatment solution does not contain any harmful side effects.  

Herbal remedies are the perfect holistic treatment alternative as they can give your cat a reprieve from the many different types of symptoms that Hyperthyroidism causes. In spite of this, you should always carefully read the labels of any homeopathic remedy intended to treat a cat's Hyperthyroidism prior to purchasing it. The perfect herbal remedy should include the following proven ingredients:

Gotu Kola - To naturally strengthen and boost your cat's immune system.

Bladderwack - A type of Sea Kelp that is excellent for managing your cat's overactive thyroid. Plus, since it is a seaweed, Bladderwack is a wonderful source of natural iodine.

Bugleweed -To help control your cat's thyroid-stimulating hormones, although it can also be used to help reduce your cat's irritability, restlessness and anxiety.

Hawthorn - To protecting your cat's cardiovascular functions by being a heart and vascular heart tonic.

Your cat can continue to live a happy and comfortable life, even with a Hyperthyroidism diagnosis, with the addition of holistic homeopathic treatments, a proper nutritional diet and good exercise.       

Related Products:
      Resthyro for Cat Hyperthyroidism

Protecting Your Pets Kidneys In The Summer Heat

The daily temperatures are slowly starting to rise all across North America, bringing with them abundant sunshine, blooms in flower and heavenly cool breezes. Yes, ‘dog days of summer’ is surely here!        

This is the time when you will most notice that your cat and dog will display a bout of energy that is quickly followed by a longer bout of sleeping in the shade or in a cool spot inside the house so that they can have a reprieve from the heat. However, should your pet display this behavior a bit more often than usual, then your cat or dog may have kidney disease.  

But what is Kidney Disease? 

Kidney disease most commonly consists of kidney failure and/or kidney stones. Of the two, kidney failure is the most fatal. This is not to say, of course, that kidney stones are not as important. In fact, kidney stones should be treated immediately as they can lead to further damage to your pet’s kidneys that can then create kidney failure.  

Kidney stones are very tiny mineral deposits that build up on top of each other. When there is too many of them, they can act as a wall and will block and/or irritate your pet’s delicate urinary tract. This irritation can cause the urinary tract to become inflamed and infected. Thankfully, it is far easier to diagnose kidney stones than it is to diagnose kidney failure. Kidney failure can be extremely life threatening to your cat or dog and it usually gradually develops at a slow pace over a few months. Unfortunately, this usually means that by the time you’ve truly noticed any of the signs and symptoms of kidney failure that your pet is exhibiting, and taken your pet to the veterinarian for treatment, it may be harder for your pet to make a full recovery. The earlier that kidney failure is diagnosed, the better the prognosis will be.  

Protecting your Pet’s Kidneys 

Kidneys that are considerably unhealthy are often victims of kidney disease and it is no wonder that kidney disease is one of the leading causes of death among dogs and cats alike.  

Your pet’s kidneys need to function at an optimal level so as to rid their body of any harsh toxins and chemicals. Whenever the kidneys stop performing properly, all of those toxins will start to pile up and it will be near impossible for them to be excreted out of your cat or dog’s body through their urine. This will then create kidney stones and can lead to death.  

Some pet owners who usually provide their pets with a home cooked meal, dislike being in the kitchen during the summer heat and so will instead resort to giving their pets more dry kibble or poor quality canned food. But dry kibble is rather unappetizing and dogs and cats will also suffer under the summer heat. Their appetite and thirst will usually decrease. Consuming a mostly dry food diet, along with a decreased water intake, can quickly create kidney issues in dogs and cats. This occurs because your pet is essentially dehydrated, which results in less urination. The less opportunities that your pet’s body has of ridding itself of the harmful toxins, the more chances these toxins have of piling up.  

Veterinarians treat more cases of bladder infections and urinary tract infections in dogs and cats during the summer months than during any other season. When not treated immediately, these infections can create detrimental damage.  

Symptoms of Kidney Disease 

Although it may seem a daunting task to attempt to discern between typical summertime behavior in your pets, and symptoms of kidney disease, there are a few signs and symptoms that are easily recognizable:
A decrease in appetite
A loss of weight
Either a decrease in, or an increase, in your pet’s urination
Blood that is evident in your pet’s urine
Apparent discomfort or pain whenever your pet attempts to urinate
Urinary tract infections that never seem to heal up properly

Treating Kidney Disease 

If you recognize any of these signs and symptoms in your pet, please schedule an appointment with your veterinarian immediately so that they can offer an accurate diagnosis. The vet will run a few tests such as urine sample tests, ultrasounds and even x-rays.

 Once a diagnosis has been made, the vet will typically prescribe a course of antibiotics for your pet to take on a daily basis for a certain period of time. If your cat or dog has a severe case of kidney stones, then usually the only way to treat them is to remove them via surgery. If your pet’s issues are far more serious, then your vet may suggest the use of intravenous fluids, dialysis, and in extreme cases, kidney transplants.  

You can do your part to prevent kidney disease in your pets this summer by making sure that they have continual access to fresh, clean and cool water to help them stay hydrated all day long, and provide them with a nutrient-rich diet. 

Homeopathic remedies can also be given to your dog or cat to help support their kidneys. Such herbal ingredients to look out for include:

Gravel Root - To act as a purifying and restorative agent that targets your pet’s genitourinary organs.

Marshmallow - An anti-inflammatory herb to ward off bacterial infections, as well as to help relax irritated tissues.

Wild Hydrangea – To reduce the development of urinary calculi. In addition, Wild Hydrangea also works like a urinary antiseptic and also soothes your pet’s irritated tissues.

Related Products: 
Tripsy for Dog Kidney Disease and Cat Kidney Disease

April Is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month

The month of April has the most pet holidays for the entire year! One of favorites occurs all month long and is the National Pet First Aid Awareness Month. Here's how you and your animal companion can partake:

Take a First Aid Class

Most Red Cross associations in larger metropolitan areas host a Pet First Aid Class once a month. To locate one in your area you can log on to www.redcross.org/en/takeaclass and enter in your zip code to find the closest class to you.

Update your Pet's ID

This year National Pet First Aid Awareness month is joined with National Pet ID Week. Running from 18 April to 24 April, this is a great time to purchase a brand new collar for your cat or dog. Check to see that all of your dog's tags, such as their Rabies and city license, are current. You should also update your contact information that is held on file at your vet's office. Or, if your pet has a microchip, you will also need to update your contact information with the company that monitors your pet's microchip. Another good idea is to have your pet's microchip scanned by your vet to make sure that it is still readable.

Create a First Aid Kit

Just as you should have a first aid kit for the people in your household, so too should you have a pet first aid kit. You can purchase a ready-made kit at various online stores and in-person at larger pet stores. However, you can also make your own pet first aid kit. Make sure that you at least have the following items:

Antiseptic ointment
Hydrocortisone ointment
Antihistamine spray for insect bites and stings
Small stainless steel bowl to mix in solutions to bathe wounds
Cotton balls or cotton buds
Sterile dressing pads
Liquid bandage made specifically for pets
Self-adhesive bandage
A small flashlight and batteries
Latex gloves
Scissors and Tweezers
Eyewash and Eyedroppers
Syringe plunger to better administer liquid medicine
Glucose powder and salt to mix together to create a rehydrating fluid. (You can mix 1 tablespoon of glucose with 1 teaspoon of salt in a liter of water.)
An Elizabethan collar
A Tick Key
A towel and a hand cloth
An ice pack that is marked with your pet's name
You can also purchase an holistic pet first aid kit that contains natural and organic ingredients to help treat your pet's emergencies

Visit the Vet

This is the perfect time to have a health checkup with your vet. It is advised that all dogs and cats see a veterinarian at least once every 12 months, and at least once every 6 months if they are less than 2 years of age, considered to be a 'Senior', or have a known illness or other health condition. Another reason to take your pet to the vet is if they are showing any unusual signs or symptoms, such as:

Loss of weight and/or appetite
Abrupt increase or decrease in urination
Blood in the urine
Pain or discomfort when urinating

These are all symptoms that your cat or dog may have kidney stones. Kidney stones are very small crystalized mineral deposits that build upon themselves and that can cause irritation to your pet's urinary tract, which can then create an unpleasant urinary tract infection.

Most kidney stones can be treated at home through the use of certain herbal ingredients, such as:

Marshmallow, an anti-inflammatory herb to ward off bacterial infections and to soothe your pet's irritated tissues.

Wild Hydrangea, a urinary antiseptic to decrease the formation of urinary calculi, and to also soothe irritated tissues.

Gravel Root, to purify and restore your pet's genitourinary organs.

Related Products:
First Aid Kit - Dogs and Cats

Three Toothsome Tips for Canine Dental Health

Everyone knows “doggie breath” can be quite unpleasant. But few realize its presence can indicate an actual disease … sadly, it’s one that affects the vast majority of dogs over the age of three. While it may prove offensive to you, it might actually be painful for your pup, and could lead to other more dangerous health issues, too. Fortunately, there is something you can do to help your furry companion! In her latest veterinary-health post, Dr. Jane provides pet parents a brief, three-point review of doggie dental health.

You may be groaning inwardly at another post on canine periodontal disease, but the doggone truth is, many of us pet parents could stand to freshen up on the topic. That’s not a guess, it’s a fact: 17 out of 20 dogs over the age of three have some level of periodontal disease that needs treatment. One of the most common canine diseases, it’s also one of the most easily prevented. Dental disease not only “stinks” at the source, it’s also known to negatively impact the health of the whole body. It’s not a stretch to say that to have true wellness, your dog’s teeth and gums need to be as healthy as possible. I know all of you are busy, so I’ll briefly cover the three most salient points to remember when it comes to canine dental care. You might want to take notes, or simply print this out for reference, as there will be an oral exam. At least, I certainly hope so!

1. Dental Disease Can Be Painful, Even Deadly
I’m sure all of you know that dental disease causes “doggie breath”, but you may not be aware that chronic inflammation can cause pain, lead to infections, and serves as a precursor to much more serious issues. For instance, severe periodontal disease is significantly correlated with increased risk of heart disease, such as infected heart valves (Glickman et al., 2009). Chronically inflamed and infected gums also increase the risk for kidney disease, limiting the amount of toxins they can purify from the blood (Glickman et al., 2011). I’d ask that you keep in mind that inflamed and infected gums are just as painful for dogs as they are for humans, potentially lowering your companion animal’s quality of life. The bottom line is, a healthier mouth makes for a happier dog!

2. For Dental Disease, There is No Magic Bullet
Even though periodontal disease is all-too-common, many veterinary researchers are still baffled by its causes, and therefore, the best method for prevention. We do know that plaque-forming bacteria play a role. A recent study (Riggio et al., 2011) showed a wide diversity of canine oral flora, both in health and disease states, including previously undiscovered species of bacteria!

Not knowing exactly what’s going on makes it especially difficult to find a cure, but that hasn’t stopped big companies from trying. In 2006, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer introduced a vaccine for periodontal disease, aimed at targeting three specific bacteria associated with periodontitis (including Porphyromonas denticanis, P. gulae, and P. salivosa). Following the release of the vaccine, Pfizer Animal Health conducted a 4-year review to determine the true effectiveness of the vaccine. Not surprising to me, there was no demonstrable reduction in the progression of periodontal disease, and the company discontinued this product in April of 2011. As a holistic veterinarian, I don’t usually put much faith in vaccines, other than core vaccinations.

Simply put, when it comes to periodontal disease, there are no magic bullets.

3. An Ounce of Prevention is Your Best Bet
Recent studies indicate that treatment of canine periodontal disease may not resolve the attendant inflammation, which means negative repercusions may continue for some time (Rawlinson et al., 2011). The only dependable method is to try and prevent onset of the disease in the first place. I can’t stress this enough … for the most part, periodontal disease is preventable! I strongly encourage you to make canine dental care a top priority at an early age. Your efforts will be rewarded, as proper dental can improve your dog’s chances of long-term health.

The most effective way to prevent gum disease is to brush your dog’s teeth on a regular basis. Don’t worry if you don’t know how – simply watch this Dr. Sarah video to learn the proper technique. In addition to routine brushing, a sound, wholesome diet provides a great foundation for health, and feeding your dog Life’s Abundance Gourmet Dental Treats will provide additional nutrients to help support healthy teeth and bones. Our Dental Treats also feature a variety of whole grains, added calcium, extra phosphorous and even a dash of parsley to help freshen breath.

If your pup already has tartar build-up and evidence of gum disease, do not despair! Make an appointment today to have her teeth cleaned and any infections treated. Soon, she’ll be back on the road to wellness.

Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place for companion animals.

Dr. Jane Bicks

References
Riggio MP, Lennon A, Taylor DJ, Bennett D. Molecular identification of bacteria associated with canine periodontal disease. Vet Microbiol. 2011 Jun 2;150(3-4):394-400. Epub 2011 Mar 10.

Rawlinson JE, Goldstein RE, Reiter AM, Attwater DZ, Harvey CE. Association of periodontal disease with systemic health indices in dogs and the systemic response to treatment of periodontal disease. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011 Mar 1;238(5):601-9.

Glickman LT, Glickman NW, Moore GE, Lund EM, Lantz GC, Pressler BM. Association between chronic azotemic kidney disease and the severity of periodontal disease in dogs. Prev Vet Med. 2011 May 1;99(2-4):193-200. Epub 2011 Feb 23.

Glickman LT, Glickman NW, Moore GE, Goldstein GS, Lewis HB. Evaluation of the risk of endocarditis and other cardiovascular events on the basis of the severity of periodontal disease in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009 Feb 15;234(4):486-94.

Beard G, Emily P, Milligan & Williams C: American Animal Hospital Association, Veterinary Dentistry, Course I, 1989.

Talking About Ticks

Dr. Sarah’s back with a brand new episode of Pet Talk to discuss one of nature’s nasty little creatures, ticks, revealing how you and your companion animals can deal with these blood-sucking menaces. Unfortunately, tick populations have blossomed in recent years, a bane to almost anyone who enjoys the great outdoors. And, with tick season about to begin, you need to know how to protect – and defend – against these disease-carrying critters. Dr. Sarah shares her best tips and dispels common myths about how to handle one of nature’s nuisances. Watch this video now

When Puppy Breath Goes Bad…

One of the most adorable things about a new puppy is getting a whiff of their puppy breath. That unmistakable scent that envelopes your face as your new puppy gives you tiny little kisses on your cheeks and simultaneously melts your heart.

Fast forward a few years and your puppy is now a big strong, happy dog. But there is something else that is strong…his breath…and you’re not happy about that!

Bad Breath Explained

Bad breath is often a sign of periodontal disease, such as gingivitis, and effects 85% of dogs and cats that are over 2 years of age. This disease is caused by plaque accumulating on your pet’s teeth. Plaque is made up of leftover food, saliva, bacteria and white blood cells. If this plaque is not immediately removed, it will begin to harden. Once hard, the plaque will then become tartar. Too many layers of tartar in your pet’s mouth can cause swollen and sensitive gums and gingivitis. Once this occurs, your pet will have a serious case of periodontal disease.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gingival tissues in your pet’s mouth that is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria. This is most commonly seen as red or bleeding gums at the base of the teeth. This bacterial growth emits endotoxins that work to tear down gum tissues, thereby causing swelling and redness. If not caught early on, it can lead to more serious dental issues in the future.

Dental Health Month

February is Dental Health Month – the perfect time to get your pet’s oral health under control. You should schedule a visit with your veterinarian so that your pet’s teeth can be professionally cleaned. At the very least, a veterinarian should inspect your pet’s mouth and teeth to make sure that there aren’t any problems that you need to be aware of.

Most veterinarians offer special discounted prices for dental cleaning and dental checkups for cats and dogs during February Pet Dental Month. Check with your vet to see what specials they have going on this month.

At-Home Dental Care

After your pet’s teeth have been properly checked out by your vet, you should begin a dental care regime at home.

A good dental regime should include regular teeth brushing and giving your pet food and treats that have been specifically created to help minimize plaque and tartar buildup. Start by learning how to properly brush your pet’s teeth:

1. Help your pet become accustomed to a tooth brush prior to brushing their teeth. Let them sniff it and play with it a bit first. When holding your pet, do not hold them too tight as this will upset them greatly. For smaller pets, simply holding them in your lap may be your best bet. Keep the brushing sessions short, sweet and to the point with lots of praise.

2. If you have a dog you can help them become accustomed to their teeth and gums being cleaned by first dipping your finger into beef bouillon and rubbing your soaked finger lightly over their gums and teeth. If you have a cat, you can dip your finger into tuna water. Again, make sure this session is kept short and sweet with lots of praise.

3. You can then wrap a piece of gauze over your finger and lightly scrub your pet’s teeth in tiny circles.

4. Once your pet is used to you sticking your fingers in their mouth and rubbing their teeth and gums, you can then use a very soft toothbrush. You can purchase such a brush from most veterinary offices and specialty pet stores. Do not use human toothpaste as it can cause your pet to have a very upset stomach. Instead, purchase specially-made pet toothpaste.

Another option to treat your pet’s dental health at home, is to give them a herbal mouth wash to remove plaque and tartar buildup – and bring back that puppy breath. One to look out for should include:

White Oak Bark – This has astringent and antilithic properties. The included saponins help to reduce serum cholesterol levels.
Plantain Leaves – Although this ingredient is also a natural astringent, it acts as an emollient, demulcent and as an antibacterial agent.
Neem bark – This ingredient is a powerful blood purifier and detoxifier. It also has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties.

It is very important to nip any dental problems in the bud now, before they escalate. If they do, dental disease can negatively effect your pet’s overall health by wreaking havoc on your pet’s lungs, kidneys and heart. Poor dental care can also lead to diabetes, stroke, or even kidney disease. Your pet’s life can be greatly diminished if proper care of their dental health is not made a top priority.

Related Products:
Mouth Drops for Dog Bad Breath and Cat Bad Breath

How To Tell If Your Dog Or Cat Has Hemangiosarcoma (Heart Cancer)

What better expression of unconditional love than the love you share with your cat and dog? Your pet will always be by your side offering you support, friendship, loyalty, devotion, and lots of hugs and kisses. Your one true friend!

But what happens when your pet’s heart breaks? When it’s ravaged by cancer?

Hemangiosarcoma

The term ‘Hemangiosarcoma’ is defined as ‘hemangio’ referring to blood vessels, and ‘sarcoma’ to a malignant cancer that stems from the connective tissues of your pet’s body. Therefore, hemangiosarcoma is a tumor that usually begins in the blood vessels surrounding your pet’s heart. This tumor may either originate in your pet’s heart, or it may have metastasized to the heart from other organs or areas of your pet’s body.

Unfortunately, in most cases, this tumor will not be diagnosed until difficulties arise. Since it stems from within the blood vessels, once it has reached an unmaintainable size, it will rupture causing internal bleeding and possibly death. The ability of the heart to function properly will also be jeopardized depending on the size of the tumor. The flow of blood in and out of the heart may be come congested or reduced, which can lead to an irregular heart rhythm. The heart may also become filled with fluid that creates undue pressure on the heart and its functionality.

Heart Cancer Signs

Sadly, just like us, pets can contract cancer as well. And that cancer can also affect their hearts too. In fact, more than 50% of cats and dogs over the age of 10 years, die every year due to cancer. So if your pet is 10 years or older, then you should keep an eye out for any of the following tell-tale signs of heart cancer.
Irregular heart rhythm
Pale or white gums
Abdominal swelling that may be adding on pressure on the heart
Fluid accumulation in the chest area
Difficult breathing
Fainting spells
Loss of consciousness
Regular exercise becomes too difficult to do
No coordination
Lethargy or no interest in playing
Enlargement of the liver
Depression
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Oncology Testing

If any of the above signs are evident in your cat or dog, or if there are other worrying symptoms, immediately schedule a visit with your veterinarian. You may be referred to a veterinary oncologist instead. Regardless, it is through specialized oncology testing that a proper diagnosis of heart cancer, or hermagiosarcoma will be determined. This testing is necessary as it will help in creating a specialized treatment plan for your cat or dog.

Once you arrive at the vet appointment, you will need to give the vet a very thorough history of your pet’s health. Remember to be as detailed as possible as this history will help provide clues to the veterinarian to determine the actual cause of illness and if there are any other organs possibly involved and distressed. Things to include in this history report will be when the symptoms started being evident, any changes in your pet’s behavior, your pet’s previous health history, any other times your pet was sick, and whether your pet has been involved in any traumatic accidents recently.

Other factors that will be considered are your pet’s age and breed. Heart cancer is more commonly found in medium to large size dog breeds, like Golden Retrievers, Boxers and German shepherds. There is no breed disposition in cats.

Treatment for Broken Hearts

Obviously, the most common treatment for a broken heart, is extra tender loving care! Sadly, heart cancer is usually fatal and while your veterinarian may prescribe a variety of treatment protocols, including draining the excess fluid away from your pet’s heart, he or she may simply prescribe a pain management protocol to be followed at home, along with a prescription diet that has been created for pet cancer patients.

If you wish to offer your cat or dog the best chance of beating the cancer and/or living a longer, happier life, you can look into alternative, holistic treatment options. One of the best is homeopathy which utilizes certain types of herbs and flowers to treat the symptoms of cancer in pets. However, not all homeopathic treatments are made the same, so be sure that one or more of the following ingredients are included:

Slippery Elm – This herb offers a calming, protecting and lubricating demulcent effect on the digestive tract. It helps to lubricate the digestive tract which helps to remove any waste and toxins that may be present. Plus, it also has astringent properties that helps to reduce inflammation commonly found in the throat, which helps making eating and swallowing much easier for your pet.

Chinese Rhubarb – This will help to purify your pet’s digestive system and alleviate your pet’s indigestion. It will also help in calming down any vomiting that may occur if your pet has a chemotherapy or radiation therapy session as part of their cancer treatment protocol.

Sheep’s Sorrel – This herb will help to prevent any internal bleeding from occurring.

Burdock – This will help to maintain a healthy liver, and will also help to heal any wounds that your pet may have.

Related Products:
ES Clear - Dog Cancer Support and Cat Cancer Support

Naturally Treating Chronic Diarrhea in Pets

Our pets can experience two basic types of diarrhea, namely, acute diarrhea and chronic diarrhea. Diarrhea is the term used to describe any abnormal feces that is considerably softer than usual, or feces that results in anything other than normal feces output, such as stools that are very soft, watery, or that have abnormal coloring or harsh odor.

Chronic Diarrhea

Chronic Diarrhea specifically refers to diarrhea that has one or more of the following symptoms:

Watery stools
Soft-Formed Stools
Mucus coated stools
Blood coated stools
A normal stool that is then followed by a softer stool
Persistent diarrhea that continues for a while
Your pet's chronic diarrhea can occur off and on, with one or two good days that are then followed by a few bad days
Some dogs will act and appear very sick during the worst bouts of chronic diarrhea, while some other dogs may actually act and appear quite normal during this time
As the chronic diarrhea continues, dogs and cats will lose weight, develop a coarser coat, act lethargic, and may even be appear depressed
Diarrhea that is long-standing can become a severely debilitating condition. Over the course of the Chronic Diarrhea, your cat or dog's body will begin to lose valuable nutrients due to mal-digestion, and will also become depleted of proper immune system functions. In addition, since approximately 25% of your pet's detoxification system resides in their intestinal lining, their body will become filled with toxic waste during a bout of Chronic Diarrhea.

Through the 'un'natural course of Chronic Diarrhea, your pet's body will slowly start to lose its ability to repair and heal itself. There are also secondary disorders that most often develop in pets with Chronic Diarrhea that worsen with time and can degrade your pet's prognosis. Due to the persistent damage that occurs to the rest of your pet's body, there are not enough immune function and metabolic products that can work together to heal and repair their intestines. As a result, a cycle of deterioration begins to form that can be extremely hard to reverse.

Causes of Chronic Diarrhea

There are many different causes of Chronic Diarrhea:
Intestinal parasites, such as whipworms, roundworms and coccidia
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Bacteria such as Giardia or Clostridium
Secondary infections
Food Allergies or food insensitivities
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Habitual ingestion of foods and inedible objects such as rocks, shells and sticks
Liver Disease
Thyroid Disease
Kidney Disease
Dysbiosis (a moderately permanent variation from a normal intestinal microbial flora to an abnormal fungal, bacterial, or protozoal population)
Conventional Treatment of Chronic Diarrhea

Unfortunately, most conventional veterinary medicine typically fails to heal Chronic Diarrhea in cats and dogs. The first thing that a vet will prescribe for your pet is for them to be only fed foods that are considered "hypoallergenic diets". These diets are usually incredibly bland and boring, but are also very easy for your cat or dog to digest.

Cats and dogs that have relatively healthy digestive systems are able to indulge in a large variety of foods, including raw diets, without experiencing any diarrhea. Therefore, pets that have to be fed a special diet or other special foods to avoid them experiencing diarrhea, are not truly healthy. It is not a good idea to ignore your pet's symptoms by simply feeding them hypoallergenic or bland and boring diets. Rather, have your pet properly diagnosed to find out the reason for their Chronic Diarrhea.

Feeding a bland or hypoallergenic diet may indeed help your pet for a while, but their little bodies need more complex nutrients in order for them to have optimal health.

The next step in conventional veterinary medical treatment is to use multiple courses of antibiotics, which are often prescribed alongside immune suppressive drugs, such as corticosteroids. Unfortunately, most cases that are treated in such a manner are only palliated, and not cured, and over time your pet's condition may worsen. This is a terrific example where holistic therapies and herbal remedies can help effectively treat your cat or dog's Chronic Diarrhea.

Holistic Treatment of Chronic Diarrhea

When you begin to search for a holistic treatment option for your pet's Chronic Diarrhea, you should seriously consider the use of specific herbal remedies. More specifically, look for remedies that contain the following ingredients:

Thyme - This wonderful herb will actually help to improve your pet's digestion; while also calming any spasms that your pet may experience.
Ginger - Antipyretic properties are abundantly found in Ginger and these will help to prevent your cat or dog from experiencing diarrhea and vomiting. Plus, it also stimulates proper blood circulation and may reduce any level of pain that your pet may be experiencing.
Chamomile - Chamomile has amazing anti-inflammatory properties that help to boost your pet's immune system. In addition, Chamomile also has a calming effect on your pet too.
Chinese Peony - Chinese Peony also aids in relaxing the spasms that are associated with Chronic Diarrhea, and calms inflammation as well.
Mullein - Mullein functions as a mucilaginous, to lubricate and calm your pet's tissues.

Related Products:
Plantaeris for Dog Diarrhea and Cat Diarrhea

Green Herbs for Health: Milk Thistle

March 17, is celebrated around the world at St. Patrick's Day - a day filled with greenery! Everyone dons their favorite outfits in varying shades of green and lets their Irish side come out to play! Most often, adults will flock to their local bar for a 'green beer' to celebrate this Irish holiday. Sadly, some people will drink a wee bit too much and may cause damage to their liver.

But liver damage can also be found in cats and dogs too! Although cats and dogs do not (and should NEVER) drink alcohol, their liver can become diseased by one or more of the following factors:

Hepatitis, which is inflammation of your pet's liver.
Hepatic Lipidosis
Diabetes
Cushing's Disease
Hyperthyroidism
Heartworms can lead to liver failure by blocking the flow of blood to your pet's liver.
Anemia
Infections
Cancer
Toxins
Trauma
Bile

Drugs - Some veterinary prescribed medications prescribed to treat other ailments may also lead to liver disease in pets that are sensitive; and in those that have been exposed to the drugs for long periods of time. For example, Labrador Retrievers are often prescribed Rimadyl for their arthritis; other common medications that can lead to liver disease include Ketaconazole which is an anti-fungal medication, heartworm treatments, de-worming medications, glucocorticoids, Phenobarbital, and even Tylenol. If your cat or dog has been prescribed any of these medicines, then you should request your vet to conduct timely routine tests to watch out for liver disease.
Milk Thistle Aid

Milk Thistle is a plant that comes from the Daisy family and is so named because of the sap that lies inside its leaves. However, it is actually the seeds of this green plant that is helpful for the liver. An extract is then made using the seeds and is safe for both humans and animals to consume.

This extract can help to repair damaged cells, while simultaneously preventing and protecting healthy cells from being damaged. This makes Milk Thistle great for cats that do have healthy livers by protecting their livers from any future damage from other medicines, like aspirin, which can be very bad for a cat's liver.

However, Milk Thistle supplements that are manufactured for human consumption are not necessarily safe for pets to consume. If you want to give your dog or cat Milk Thistle then you should purchase one that is created especially for pets.

Milk Thistle can be found in tincture form that is very easy to administer to your cat or dog. Milk Thistle works extremely well because it comprises an assortment of active ingredients that are actually referred to simply as Silymarin. These unique elements work in partnership to help maintain the overall wellbeing of your cat or dog's liver. This is done by hunting for all of the destructive free radicals and then eliminating them before they even have had a chance to wreak havoc on your pet's liver. Milk Thistle maintains the strength of your pet's liver's membranes, while also protecting their liver from harmful toxins.

Symptoms of Liver Disease

Some of the more common symptoms of liver disease in dogs and cats are:
Weight Loss
Decreased Appetite
Increased Water Consumption
Increased Urination
Diarrhea
Constipation
Vomitting
Pain in their Stomach
Swollen Stomach
Swollen Liver
Fatigue
Changes In Behavior
Light Colored Stool

If your cat or dog is showing any of these symptoms, you should immediately bring him or her to the vet. Likewise, your pet should receive a regular checkup every 6 months to a year, to check for liver disease, even if they are not showing any symptoms.

Related Products:
Milk Thistle for Dog Liver Disease and Cat Liver Disease

Can You Get Pink Eye From Your Pet?

Yes....and No.

Pink Eye, or Conjunctivitis, has a few different forms. Only one of those forms is highly contagious: the Bacterial form. The bacterial form can be carried by both people and pets. Bacterial Pink Eye can be spread through contact from dog to dog, cat to dog, human to dog and also from insect to dog.

So if your pet has the bacterial form of Pink Eye, then yes, you can get Pink Eye from your pet. If your pet has been diagnosed with the bacterial form, then you should try to avoid touching your pet's eye with your bare hands and always practice proper hygiene.

Conversely, should your child come home from school with a case of Pink Eye, you should ensure that your child does not interact with your pet until the Pink Eye has cleared up.

Strains of Pink Eye

However, there are also other strains and forms of Pink Eye that pets can contract.
The viral strain of Pink Eye is completely airborne. It occurs more commonly during the drier winter months when the air is more humid.
Foreign bodies in your pet's eye can also lead to Pink Eye. This can be a small leaf, bark or even an insect. If such a foreign body is not removed immediately, then will start to irritate your pet's eye. This irritation will eventually lead to Pink Eye. As soon as you notice that your pet's eye is red and irritated, quickly rinse out the eye with water or special pet-friendly eye wash.
Pink Eye can also be caused by an injury or scratch on or near your pet's eye. If you consider how rough some dogs and cats play with each other, it is not hard to see how easily one pet can accidently scratch the eye of another pet.
During the spring and summer months allergens are high in the air causing cats and dogs to be more susceptible to them. Allergic reactions to pollen, grass and house dust can also lead to Pink Eye in pets. Allergic reactions to something in your pet's environment can create a sinus irritation and inflammation of the eye's mucus membranes. In such a case, you should first try to find out what the allergen is, and then eliminate it from your pet's environment, before you attempt to clear up their Pink Eye.

Symptoms of Pink Eye in Pets:
The whites of your pet's eyes will take on a pinkish hue
A discharge will be evident from your pet's eye
The tissues surrounding your pet's eye will begin to swell up, causing your pet to look like they have rather puffy eyes
Some cats and dogs may have difficulty in blinking their eyes normally
If the Pink Eye is pretty bad, your pet's eye may even swell shut

Treating Pink Eye in Pets:

Your pet's eye and the surrounding area is extremely delicate and sensitive. Therefore when treating Pink Eye in your pet you should always use utmost caution to avoid any further injury or damage. One of the best ways to treat Pink Eye is through the use of herbal remedies. However, given the delicate nature of your pet's eyes, such remedies should be used only once a proper diagnosis has been made by a qualified veterinarian.

Before resorting to a herbal remedy, you should first make quite sure that your pet's eye and the area around the eye is completely clean and free of any dirt. To this end it is best to use a warm and soft wash cloth and gently wipe your pet's eye to remove any debris, foreign bodies or any discharge that is occurring.

You can try dislodging foreign bodies by gently flushing out your pet's eye with lukewarm water. If this doesn't work then you should immediately take your pet to a veterinarian for medical help.

If your pet has Pink Eye that is caused by an allergen, or if the Pink Eye is present in its viral or bacterial form, you can treat it at home using certain homeopathic remedies. The best herbs to use for treating Pink Eye in pets include:

Eyebright. Just as its name suggests, Eyebright will help to brighten up your pet's eyes by removing any bacteria and reducing any inflammation around the eye area.

Chamomile. Not only will Chamomile help to reduce the redness and the inflammation, but it is also a great herb to boost up your pet's immune system.

Goldenseal. Another anti-inflammatory herb.

Rosemary. This wonderful herb works as an antiseptic to help speed up your pet's healing process.

By treating your pet's Pink Eye as quickly as possible, you will be able to decrease the chances of you, or other members of your family, contracting the Pink Eye from your pet.

Related Products: Eye Easy for Dog Pink Eye & Cat Pink Eye

Time to Get Your Pet Screened for Cancer

So you and your pet have survived the first few weeks of the new year. Congratulations...and here's hoping that the rest of the year brings more happiness and prosperity to you and yours!

One way to make sure that your pet has a wonderful life this year is to take them into your vet's office to be screened for cancer. While you're at it, you should consider having yourself screened as well. Cancer has been increasingly on the raise over the last few years and the only true cure is early detection. So even if you and your pet feel and act fine, have yourselves screened anyway, just in case there's something hiding that you are not aware of.

If your pet is still a puppy or kitten under the age of 2 years, then having a veterinary checkup once a year will usually suffice. But if your pet is over the age of 2, then it is suggested that you take him or her to visit the vet at least twice per year. During these checkups your vet should conduct a chemistry panel, complete blood work, and a urinalysis. If not, you should request them to be done. You should also request that an X-ray be taken of your pet's thoracic region - this is the area between their neck and their diaphragm.

Between these vet visits, you should spend some time every month checking over your pet's body. This is easily done during a grooming or petting session. This will give you an opportunity to run your hands along your pet's spine, stomach, and legs to feel for any abnormalities or unusual formations. If you should find any, immediately report it to your veterinarian. This simple once-over only takes a few minutes and could save your pet's life in the long run.

Signs That Your Pet May Have Cancer

Cancer causes the death of more than 50% of cats and dogs older than ten years. Therefore, it is essential to know the signs of cancer so that your pet can get the treatment they deserve.
Bumps and lumps that you can see or feel through your pet's skin
Sores that seem to get worse and do not heal properly
A rash or other type of skin irritation that seems to also get worse and refuses to heal
Any bleeding or discharge anywhere on your pet's body
Loss of appetite for more than one day
Loss of weight even though your pet is eating normally and has not had a change in their appetite
Discomfort or pain whenever your pet swallows or chews their food
Lethargy
Foul odor emitting from your pet

Treating Your Pet's Cancer At Home

Should your pet ever receive a veterinary diagnosis of cancer, your vet will immediately create a treatment plan. This plan could involve chemotherapy or radiation therapy sessions, medication and/or surgery. However, there are also alternative treatments options that you can do for your pet at home, such as acupuncture and homeopathy.

Homeopathy works on treating the underlying symptoms of cancer; whereas veterinary medicine usually only treats the effects of cancer in pets. Homeopathy is the administration of herbs, flowers, roots, spices and essential oils that have been chosen for their own unique and specific healing properties. Such remedies are usually given in the form of either a tincture, tablet, tea or cream. Utilizing certain types of herbs and essential oils can have a wonderfully positive effect on both the health and the overall disposition of your cat or dog.

Before choosing a homeopathic treatment, you should first understand which herbs work best to treat the symptoms of cancer. A few good ones to know are:

Burdock. This herb will quickly help to heal your pet's wounds. It also helps in maintaining a healthy liver.

Chinese Rhubarb. This herb will help by cleaning out your pet's overworked digestive system, thereby alleviating any indigestion and soothing any vomiting episodes that can sometimes occur after a chemotherapy or radiation therapy session.

Sheep's Sorrel. This herb will help to heal and prevent any internal bleeding.

Slippery Elm. This herb will reduce inflammation in your pet's digestive system and mouth by coating it. This will then make swallowing, chewing and digesting food much easier on your cat or dog.

Related Products: ES Clear for Dog Cancer Support & Cat Cancer Support

What Are Hot Spots And What Causes Hot Spots?

Hot spots (also refered to as acute moist dermatitis) are a common skin condition found in dogs and cats with long hair or thick, dense undercoats. Hot spots are characterized by moist, raw, circular-shaped lesions which are inflamed. They are painful and usually found on the head, along the chest and over the hip area.

Your pet will bite, lick and scratch the lesion causing further inflammation and irritation of the skin. The lesions usually appear suddenly and increase dramatically in size. Dog breeds such as St. Bernards, Golden retrievers and younger dogs are predisposed to acute moist dermatitis.

The common symptoms and signs include:

• Itchiness
• Scratching
• Biting
• Redness
• Scabs or lesions
• Licking the affected area

What Causes Hot Spots?

Dog and cat hot spots are often caused by allergies, flea bites, mosquito bites, ear infections, poor grooming, injury, cut or wound as well as degenerative joint and anal gland disease. Sometimes, boredom, loneliness, stress and anxiety may also cause animals to scratch and bite themselves resulting in hot spots. If left untreated these lesions can become infected and spread to other areas of the skin.

Diagnosing Hot Spots

The diagnosis of hot spots is based on the symptoms presented, thorough physical examination and a review of your pet’s medical history. Certain diagnostic tests such as a microscopic examination of deep skin scrapings will be taken to rule out other disorders and confirm the diagnosis.

Help for Hot Spots

Treatment involves treating the underlying cause and drying the area of the hot spot. Your vet will clip the hair around the lesion to allow air to flow through and then clean the affected area with a non-irritating solution followed with an application of cream or ointment to promote healing.

Depending on your pet’s levels of sensitivity, this procedure may have to be done under sedation. More severe episodes of hot spots will be treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or painkillers. To prevent your pet from scratching the affected area an Elizabethan collar may be placed around his neck or socks put on the hind feet.

Natural Remedies

Natural and holistic remedies are beneficial for both humans and animals. They are a gentle and safe alternative for breeds of all ages, and also support overall health and wellbeing. Homeopathic ingredients including Arum triph, Viola tri, Comocladia, Chamomilla and Cina provide symptomatic relief for itchiness, scratching, redness and burning and restores the skin and coat back to health.

Tips to prevent hot spots

There are a number of ways to prevent episodes of hot spots on dogs and cats and these include:

• Feed your pet an all natural diet without preservatives, additives or colorants
• Keep your pet well groomed by ensuring that his hair is clipped or shaved short, especially during summer
• Brush dogs with thick coats daily
• Bathe your pet regularly with a medicated shampoo
• Apply a flea repellent regularly on your pet to ward off fleas and ticks
• Avoid exposing your pet to irritants such as pollen, smoke, household detergents, fertilizer or pesticides
• Clean your home thoroughly by vacuuming carpets and dusting furniture to ease both you and your pet’s respiratory allergies
• Keep your pet’s living clean by disinfecting regularly
• If your pet is prone to hot spots around the ears, clean the ears regularly and if near the anal glands , express anal glands
• Always provide fresh, clean water to cleanse the body’s system and avoid dehydration
• Detox your pet regularly to get rid of unwanted toxins

 

 

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Improving Your Pet's Liver Health

Your pet's liver is one of the most important organs in your pet's body, if not the most important. The liver is also the largest organ as well, and it is responsible for supplying the necessary nutrients to your pet's body, fighting off diseases, encouraging growth and providing energy.

In fact, almost every bodily function or process is influenced one way or another by your pet's liver. Unfortunately, since nearly all of the liver's functions are shared by other organs in your pet's body, it can make obtaining a proper diagnosis very hard if your pet ever falls ill.

Types of Liver Disease

There are quite a few diseases that can harm your pet's liver, such as:
Infectious Canine Hepatitis
Cancer
Active Hepatitis
Hepatic Lipidosis
Diabetes
Cushing's Disease
Hyperthyroidism
Heartworms
Anemia
Infections
Trauma
Bile
Toxins
Drugs
The most common illness is Hepatitis, which is a word generally given to describe any type of inflammation that is found on the liver. The inflammation can be caused by a variety of problems. Another commonly found cause of liver disease in pets, especially dogs, are Heartworms, which can cause liver failure by obstructing blood flow to your dog's liver.

Another common cause of liver disease in cats and dogs are drugs. Namely prescription medications that are given to your pet by their veterinarian for other health issues that are not related to the liver at all.  If your cat or dog has an overly sensitive system, their liver can be negatively affected by certain veterinary medications. This can occur in pets who have had a long-term exposure to certain drugs as well. Such drugs include heartworm medications, de-worming medications, glucocorticoids, Phenobarbital, Tylenol, Rimadyl and Ketaconazole. If your cat or dog is taking any of these medications, please be sure to insist that your pet's veterinarian administers regularly scheduled tests to keep an eye out for diminishing liver health or liver disease or failure.

Cats and dogs can contract cancer in their livers just as humans can. Although cancer of the liver can be considered to be a single cancer type, it can metastasize extremely fast owing to the vast amounts of blood that flows from the liver. This blood flow can easily spread the cancer to other parts and organs of your pet's body quickly.

As a matter of fact, nearly one quarter of the blood that is pumped by your pet's heart, reaches to their liver. This blood is then processed by the liver and sent back out again into your pet's blood stream.

Sadly, by the time a proper diagnosis is made, liver disease is generally well established. In spite of this, unlike any other major bodily organ in your pet, the liver has the remarkable ability to reproduce itself or regenerate itself. However, in order to do so your pet's liver will require additional support.

Improving the Liver

One of the major tasks of the liver is aiding with proper metabolism. This not only includes metabolizing the food that you feed your cat or dog, but also with metabolizing bile, drugs, medications and other toxins. This metabolization is extremely essential for detoxification.

Due to the closeness of the gall bladder to the liver, bile is easily passed from the gall bladder into the liver, where it is also metabolized. This process enables fats to be properly absorbed, excess drugs and toxins to be eliminated and red blood cells to be re-distributed into your pet's blood stream. Bile also converts nutrients and fat-soluble vitamins, such as Vitamins A, D, E and K, for the liver to metabolize.

In order for your pet's liver to function properly, encourage better metabolization, to ward off diseases and strengthen the liver's natural healing abilities, it will need a little help on your part.

The best way to help your pet's liver is provide your pet with a daily supplement of Milk Thistle. This is also suggested to be used by people as well for a variety of liver health issues.

Milk Thistle is considered to be a nourishing herbal energizer for the liver and is easily tolerated by both pets and people alike. The reason that Milk Thistle works so well is because it contains an assortment of active ingredients referred to as Silymarin. These special elements work together to help preserve the wellbeing of your pet's liver. They do this by seeking out all of the destructive free radicals and eliminate them before they even have had a chance to wreak havoc on your pet's liver. Milk Thistle sustains the strength of your pet's liver's membranes, while at the same time it also protects the liver from harmful toxins.

Symptoms of Liver Disease

A few of the most common symptoms of liver disease in dogs and cats are:
Decreased Appetite
Loss of Weight
Fatigue
Light Colored Stool
Changes In Behavior
Abdominal Pain
Gastrointestinal issues (diarrhea, constipation and/or vomiting)
Swollen Liver or Belly
Increased Urination
Drinking More Water
Remember to always have your veterinarian give your cat or dog a regular checkup for liver disease. 
 
Related Products: Milk Thistle for Dog Liver Disease & Cat Liver Disease

Tips for Your Pet's Thanksgiving Diet

Next week is Thanksgiving - a wonderful day to spend around the dinner table with family and friends. With all that we have to be thankful for, the companionship of our furry family members should not be forgotten. In thanks for their unconditional love, we owe it to our cats and dogs to keep their happiness and health in mind at all times. With all the excitement around Thanksgiving, the wellbeing of our pets can sometimes slip our minds. Here are a few tips to ensure your pet's health and happiness on Thanksgiving day:

Uncooked Turkey

Never leave an uncooked turkey unattended on your kitchen counter. The turkey may just magically learn to fly right into your dog's mouth, or it may be nibbled on by a creature whose nibble marks closely resemble those of your cat. The raw turkey meat can contain harmful bacteria that can make your cat or dog sick as...well as sick as a dog.

Dem Bones

Turkey bones can also pose a lethal hazard to your cat and dog. Your pet could easily choke on them. They could also splinter and break while your pet is chowing down. Remember that broken turkey bones can and do tear and get stuck in the throat and other parts of a pet's gastrointestinal tract as the bones work their way through the pet's body.

Turkey Dogs

Most likely your dog has taken up watch duty in front of your oven ever since you put that big delicious looking turkey in to cook. I'll bet they will even tell you when it's done before the timer even goes off! But should you feed your dog or cat some of that great smelling turkey on Thanksgiving?

The answer to this question is both yes and no. Yes, because a little bit of turkey will not hurt most cats and dogs. And the Trytophan may actually help them remain calm during all the Thanksgiving day excitement.
But the reality is that most dogs will receive more than just a 'little bit of turkey'. This is mostly due to over-caring guests who slip Fido and Fluffy a few pieces of turkey under the dining room table. If you have ten guests and each one gives your pet a piece of turkey, you can wind up with a very sick cat or dog.

For a cat or dog that weighs about 15lbs or less, eating one slice of turkey is the equivalent to an adult human eating half a turkey all by themselves. Keep this mind and politely ask your guests not to feed your pets any table scraps - plus this will also discourage your pets from learning to beg at the table.

Therefore eating too much turkey can create a very upset stomach in both cats and dogs. A very obvious sign that your pet has had too much is if they start to have diarrhea. This is the body's natural attempt to rid itself of harmful contaminants as quickly as possible. Although this natural process is somewhat necessary, it can still ruin a perfectly good Thanksgiving. Since prevention is sometimes better than a cure, have a bottle of Plantaeris on hand, just in case. This natural anti-diarrheal is formulated particularly for your pet's sensitive system. It works fast to regulate your pet's intestinal functions.

White Meat or Dark?

If you are going to feed your cat or dog turkey on Thanksgiving day, its best to feed them white turkey meat. This is because dark turkey meat, and the skin of the turkey for that matter, is very rich and fatty. This means that it is much harder for your pet's sensitive system to properly digest and can cause diarrhea and vomiting. In some severe cases, it can also lead to pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas and can be quite lethal in pets. Small dogs and cats, such as Mini Schnauzers, are especially susceptible to having pancreatitis. The main function of the pancreas is to produce good digestive enzymes. But when the pancreas becomes irritated, the regular production and discharge of these digestive enzymes is disturbed. Furthermore, when the digestive enzymes are created but there is no food to actually digest, these enzymes will then begin to digest your pet's body tissue instead. This process places further stress on the pancreas. Your pet's prognosis will be determined by how well he or she responds to the inflammation and how soon they can receive treatment.

Common symptoms of pancreatitis include:
Vomiting
Abdominal Pain
Lethargy
Loss of Appetite
Fever
Diarrhea

If you have reason to believe that your pet has had more than their fair share of turkey and is exhibiting any of the above signs, you should immediately contact an emergency veterinarian. You can also start your pet on a few doses of Plantaeris as well, until you see the vet.

Turkey Treats

A great way to include your dog into your Thanksgiving day festivities is to give them their own turkey treat. You can make one yourself by stuffing a Kong toy with white turkey meat and small pieces of his or her favorite kibble. This should keep your dog busy while you enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with your guests.

Clean Up

After the turkey has been served and your guests have all left with full belly's, be sure to clean up your kitchen and dining table properly. Make sure to throw away all the wrappings from the turkey and other dinner ingredients such as string, tin foil, etc. These are all potential choking hazards for your pet. When throwing away wrappings, tin foil or leftovers in the garbage, whether in the trash can in your kitchen or the garbage can outside, make sure that the lid is on securely. This will help prevent your pet from getting in to the trash, and will also help prevent stray cats, dogs and other wild critters from getting into your garbage outside.

Related Products: Plantaeris for Dog Diarrhea & Cat Diarrhea

Home Remedies for Pets with Kidney Disease

Cats and dogs today are just as prone to having kidney disease as humans are. If your pet has been diagnosed with this disease you will need to treat it effectively from the start as timing is very important. If caught early enough the chances of your pet recovering fully is quite high. However, your poor cat or dog may already be suffering from kidney disease and you may not even be aware of it. If you really want to keep your pet happy and healthy, remember that prevention is usually a much better cure and providing your pet with the proper supplements and a good diet may be all that is necessary to prevent them from every having kidney disease or kidney failure.

Kidney disease is typically caused by either bacterial and viral infections or as a result of an accident and shock or it can also simply be a sign of old age in your cat or dog.

Diagnosing Kidney Disease

Cats and dogs typically experience one of two types of kidney disease: acute and chronic which usually show themselves as kidney failure and kidney stones. Even though kidney stones are usually less serious, they still need to be treated as soon as possible to alleviate the pain and discomfort that your pet will be experiencing. Kidney stones are actually tiny mineral deposits that crystalize, building up on themselves and irritating your pet's urinary tract. This irritation can lead to urinary tract infections. The good news is that for the most part kidney stones are easily treated not just with medications that your veterinarian may prescribe but also by using simple herbal remedies that you can give your pet at home.

On the other hand, kidney failure is a much more serious disease that has to be treated by a veterinarian immediately. The bad news with kidney failure is that it is a slow developing disease that takes its time to be evident in your cat or dog's body. Therefore regular veterinary checkups are very important in order to catch any kidney disease and kidney failure before it is too late.

Home Remedies

Regardless of whether your cat or dog has kidney stones or kidney disease, there are many different types of home remedies that you can utilize to help your pet get better quickly, such as homeopathic treatments. Most of these treatments can be done alongside conventional treatment and medications that your vet will most likely prescribe.

One of the main advantages of treating kidney disease with a homeopathic treatment is that such treatment has been proven to not only be effective in improving the overall function of the kidneys but also to provide support to your pet's urinary system without having any type of harsh side effects.

When looking at herbs to use in a homeopathic treatment for your pet, look for herbs such as:

Marshmallow, which is an anti-inflammatory herb that will help drive away bacterial infections. This herb will also soothe your pet's irritated tissues.

Oregon grape, which contains alkaloids, such as berberine, berbamine, and hydrastine, resins and tannins. This ingredient will also help to maintain your pet's immune system.

Wild Hydrangea, which works as a urinary antiseptic, and also to lessen the creation of urinary calculi.

Gravel Root, which works as a blood purifier and invigorating herb that works on your pet's genitourinary organs.

If you are going to use any of the abovementioned herbs either fresh or dried, it is best to administer them in a herbal tea form or tisane. To make a tisane you would use one teaspoon of the chosen herb and add at least 150ml of rapidly boiling water over the herb, and then leave it to permeate for a few minutes. This can be given to your pet up to four dropper-full's four times per day.

Change your Pet's Diet

No matter what type of kidney disease your pet has, changing their diet may help in making a huge improvement in your pet's health. If possible, switch your pet's food to one that is all-natural or at the very least switch to a commercial food that offers high quality essential nutrients, minerals and vitamins. Check to make sure that the sodium and phosphorus levels are at a low number. Feed your pet a few small meals throughout the day so as to reduce any drain on your pet's kidneys. In addition, please make sure that your pet has access to water that is fresh and clean at all times and try to encourage your pet to drink regularly.
 
Related Products: Tripsy for Dog Kidney Disease & Cat Kidney Disease

Your Pet Has Been Diagnosed With Cancer. Now What?

Receiving a diagnosis of cancer can be quite debilitating to hear. Your first reaction will most likely be one of denial and shock. Never in a million years would you expect your pet to have cancer - a predominately human-only disease. However cats and dogs can and do get many different forms of cancer, ranging from skin cancer that is treatable to cancerous tumors that are lethal. Once you have gotten over your first reaction you will need to work with your veterinarian to establish a treatment plan that is not only affordable but that will also treat your pet's particular cancer symptoms. In this regard, it is always a good idea to have at least a basic understanding of cancer in pets.

What is Cancer?

Cancer is simply a type of disease that occurs as a result of the uncontrolled and useless growth of cells within your pet's body. Your veterinarian may use words such as 'malignancy' or 'neoplasia'. These are alternative terms to the word 'cancer'.

Unlike other types of common pet illnesses, cancer is not considered to be a single disease as it can originate from any bodily tissue. Because of this there are many different varieties of cancer; with some of cancers actually spreading out to other areas and organs within a pet's body which are usually situated quite far from the initial location of the cancer. This usually happens whenever a cancer cell enters into a pet's lymph or blood vessels and is then carried on to other organs within the body.

Dogs and cats that have been diagnosed with this type of cancer are said to have malignant cancer. It is not the cancer itself, but the actual wide spreading of the cancer that actually creates the most problems. Once such a cancer has actually spread, it is said to have metastasized. There are quite a few types of cancers that do not have the capability to metastasize; instead they may produce plenty of damage as a result of their growth and infiltration into local surrounding tissues.

If your pet has been diagnosed with a cancer that is not invasive and has not metastasized, it is deemed to be benign. However, the term 'tumor' is a common word that is used for cancer regardless of whether it is malignant (meaning a lethal cancer) or benign (meaning a non-lethal cancer).

At this point your regular veterinarian may refer your cat or dog to a veterinary oncologist. Oncology is the study of cancer and cancer related medicines and treatments.

The Oncology Work-Up

During your initial visit to the veterinary oncologist, the extent of your pet's cancer or tumor will be determined. This evaluation will help in determining your cat or dog's prognosis and in devising a proper treatment plan.

In order to make such a determination, various tests will need to be performed on your pet by the veterinary oncologist. Such tests may include:

Blood tests, such as determining your pet's blood count and conducting a complete chemistry profile
Urinalysis
Radiographs (X-rays)
Tissue Aspirate
Biopsy
Ultrasounds
Nuclear Scans
CT/MRI scans
Dye Contrast Study
Bone Marrow Aspirate
Lymph Node Aspirate
Endoscopic Tests
Immunologic Tests

All of these tests are sometimes referred to as 'tumor staging' and may have to be repeated again from time to time to keep up with the changing nature of your pet's particular type of cancer.

Once all the tests have been concluded the veterinarian will be able to suggest a treatment plan that may include one or more of the following:

Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation Therapy
Immunotherapy

If your cat or dog has a tumor that has metastasized significantly then this cancer may not be curable and a treatment plan will include elements designed to help relieve any pain and discomfort that your pet may be experiencing so as to help prolong their life comfortably.

It is best to keep in mind that medicine is not an exact science and finding the right treatment plan can be time consuming and done on more of a trial and error basis. Therefore having plenty of patience and hope is vitally important.

Self-Treating Your Pet

Depending on the nature of your pet's cancer and the treatment plan prescribed by your vet, you may have to administer medications to your pet at home. Remember to always abide by your vet's specific instructions and immediately report any abnormalities or changes in your pet's health to your vet.

However, there are additional treatments that you can provide to your pet at home in order to keep them happy and comfortable regardless of the type and stage of cancer that they may have. One of the best treatments is homeopathy. The use of certain herbs and essential oils can have a dramatically positive effect on the health of a cat or dog with cancer.

When selecting such an holistic treatment, keep an eye out for one or more of the following ingredients:
Slippery Elm, to  help coat your pet's mouth and digestive system to reduce inflammation, to help your pet swallow and digest their food more easily.

Burdock, to help heal your pet's wounds quickly and maintain a healthy liver.

Sheep's Sorrel, to help prevent internal bleeding.

Chinese Rhubarb, to cleanse out your pet's digestive system. This is great because not only does Chinese Rhubarb help alleviate your pet's indigestion but also soothes the subsequent vomiting that sometimes occurs after your pet has had a chemotherapy or radiation therapy session.

Related Products: ES Clear for Dog Cancer Support & Cat Cancer Support

Symptoms Of Conjunctivitis In Pets

Conjunctivitis is a very common eye infection that is experienced by both cats and dogs, as well as humans.  It is also referred to as Pink Eye or by some people as even Red Eye. While conjunctivitis is an eye infection that can reoccur at any time in a pet's life, it usually begins during the summer and spring moths.

One of the most characteristic signs of conjunctivitis is of course a Pink or Red eye. The infection can either be in one eye or it can spread to infect both eyes at the same time. Accompanying this Pink or Red Eye is usually an eye discharge. Although Conjunctivitis will not cause your cat or dog any intense pain, if left untreated some forms of conjunctivitis can lead to permanent damage in your pet's eye, such as blindness.

Causes of Conjunctivitis in Pets

Remember, if your cat or dog's eye appears to be overly red (rather than just pink), and your pet is also squinting and keeping their eye closed for long periods of time, the infection may be more than mere conjunctivitis. In this situation your cat or dog may actually have a case of glaucoma, uveitis or keratitis. Emergency veterinary treatment should be sought if any of these conditions are expected.

However, if your pet's eye infection is spread over both of their eyes, you should consider whether or not your pet may actually have a seasonal allergy or a systemic disease such as typically seen with canine distemper. But if the infection is predominantly in only one of your pet's eyes, then it may be caused by a foreign matter, such as a piece of pet hair, that is irritating the eye. In this case, the foreign matter can usually be easily removed.

With conjunctivitis, the accompanying discharge will be termed as either serous (clear), mucoid (mucus-like), or purulent (pus-like).

Types of Conjunctivitis

The most widespread type of conjunctivitis that is found in cats and dogs is called keratoconjunctivitis sicca. It is easily recognizable by a sinewy, mucus like discharge. It is caused by dry eye or a lack of proper tear volume.

There are, however, other types of conjunctivitis in cats and dogs:

Serous Conjunctivitis
This is a relatively mild condition where the membranes of the eye appear to be swollen and pink. The accompanying discharge is serous (clear) and very watery too. Wind, dust and other types of allergens and physical irritants are the major cause of serous conjunctivitis. Also known as Allergic Conjunctivitis, your cat or dog will certainly experience not only an itchy eye but the area surrounding the eye will also be itchy and red too. You will notice that your cat or dog will be rubbing his or her face quite a lot in order to relieve themselves. 

Follicular Conjunctivitis
This type of conjunctivitis is also known as mucoid conjunctivitis. This type of eye infection occurs when follicles, or the tiny mucous glands that are present beneath the nictitating membrane respond to an irritation within the eye itself by creating a coarse surface that will further irritate your pet's eye to produce a mucoid discharge.  Even once an irritant has been found and removed, the follicles in your pet's eye may still cause an issue and continue to irritate the eye as a whole.

Purulent Conjunctivitis
This type of conjunctivitis starts out as a form of serous conjunctivitis. However, once it becomes an infection, the conjunctivitis becomes purulent. The main causes of this type of conjunctivitis is either the Staphylococcus bacteria or the Streptococcus bacteria, which cause the conjunctiva to become swollen and red. The discharge that is excreted will be a mixture of pus and mucus and the rather thick secretions will crust over your pet's eyelids.

Treating Conjunctivitis

One of the best treatments for conjunctivitis in pets is to use a warm compress over your pet's eye. This will help open up the eye by dissolving any crusty secretions. To make a warm compress simply run a washcloth over warm water. Once it is completely saturated you should wring it out so that it is not dripping water. Then fold the washcloth in half and place it gently over your pets eye for a few minutes. You can repeat this as often as necessary throughout the day as this will help to alleviate any discomfort that your cat or dog may be experiencing.

Another option to treat conjunctivitis is to use a herbal formula that contains ingredients known to relieve the symptoms of conjunctivitis in cats and dogs. Such ingredients to look out for are:
Eyebright, which is a herb given its name because it helps to brighten up dreary eyes by fighting off bacteria and reducing inflammation.

Chamomile, which is wonderful in helping to reduce inflammation and to boost up your pet's immune system.

Rosemary, which has shown to speed up the healing process of conjunctivitis.

If your pet's symptoms worsen, or if new symptoms appear, then a visit to a veterinarian is highly recommended. 
 
Related Products: Eye Easy for Dog Conjunctivitis & Cat Conjunctivitis

Symptoms Your Dog Or Cat May Have Diabetes

Is too much couch time to blame for the upswing in the number of pets diagnosed with diabetes? According to a study in the Veterinary Journal, in cats, the disease is in fact linked to obesity, but in canines, the connection is not well-established.

Similar to humans, animals have difficulty regulating their own blood sugar due to insufficient insulin production, the hormone responsible for lowering blood glucose.  Left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health conditions such as blindness, muscle weakness, malnutrition and dehydration and can even lead to coma and death.

Luckily, just like in humans, early detection and proper monitoring has decreased the number of pet fatalities for both cats and dogs.

Symptoms of diabetes

• Excessive thirst and increased water consumption
• Increased urination
• Sudden weight loss or gain
• Marked increase or decrease in appetite
• Weakness of the rear legs
• General lethargy
• Poor condition of the skin and coat
• Vomiting
• Dehydration
• Increased susceptibility to bacterial infection
• Decrease in vision
• Liver disease

Natural help for diabetes

A healthy diet is an essential part of managing your pet’s diabetes. Dogs are often best suited with a low-fat, moderate-carb, and high-fiber diet, while cats are best with a low-carbohydrate diet, which reduces the amount of insulin needed to keep blood-sugar levels stable. Regular exercise is also very important for your diabetic pet.

Take your diabetic pet for regular check-ups and monitor his or her blood sugar closely, as changes in the condition means that treatment may need to be altered.

Natural herbal and homeopathic remedies can be used either alone or combined with conventional treatments to help manage your pet’s diabetes. Chromium picolinate, Goat’s rue, Trigonella foenum have been shown to be highly successful in helping maintain blood-sugar levels while minimizing the risks of insulin resistance.

Bilberry, which promotes eye health, and Astragalus, which boosts vitality and promotes a healthy immune system, both can help counter the symptoms of diabetes.

GlucoEnsure™ Helps keep blood sugar & insulin levels within normal range

Keep Your Meds Away From Pets!

Most people know that chocolate and grapes are dangerous for pets to eat, but over-the-counter and prescription human medications actually top the list of top toxins for pets, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Last year, pills that were dropped or left unattended on countertops and tables caused more illnesses in pets in United States than any other toxin, with ibuprofen, acetaminophen, antidepressants and ADHD medicine topping the list.

Symptoms to watch for

When an animal ingests human medication, the most common signs may include:

• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Abnormal behavior
• Seizures
• Refusing food

If you notice any of the above symptoms, call your vet or emergency animal clinic immediately.

Preventative measures

The next time you take any medicine, be sure to properly close the container and store it securely in a top cupboard or locked shelf away from curious pets. Be sure to warn others in your household about the dangers of medications and pets and have them follow the same precautions.

In addition, take special safeguards whenever handling insecticides, rodenticides, people food (particularly chocolate), veterinary meds, household toxins (such as cleaning supplies, laundry detergent), plants, herbicides as well as outdoor toxins (such as antifreeze and fertilizers), all which are also included in the ASPCA’s list. 

DetoxPlus™ Promotes system detoxification to eliminate harmful wastes and toxins

How To Help Your Dog Or Cat Avoid Pet Heart Disease

Just like humans, cats and dogs are liable for heart disease too. Sadly, heart disease can lead to heart attacks, which are the leading cause of pet mortality. Is it therefore important to understand how your pet's heart works, what you can do to keep it healthy, and how you can help take care of your pet's heart for many years to come.

Types of Heart Disease

There are two distinctive types of heart disease that your cat or dog may have: congenital or acquired. Acquired simply refers to infections and injuries to your pet's heart, as well as the effects of old age. Other forms of heart disease stem from the degeneration of your pet's heart valves, as well as inflammation and even heartworm. Congenital heart disease refers to heart defects that were present at the birth of your cat or dog, and cardiomyopathy, heart murmurs and even enlarged hearts which can also lead to heart disease.  Most pre-existing heart conditions are found in large breed dogs, although both cats and dogs are equally susceptible. The best way to prevent heart disease in your pet is to make sure that you have them tested at a young age.

Symptoms of Heart Disease in Pets

Unless you are already aware that your cat or dog has a congenital heart disease, you may not know what symptoms to keep an eye out for. The most commonly seen signs and symptoms of heart disease in cats and dogs are:

Panting, wheezing or difficulty breathing
Breathlessness or sharp intakes of breath
Loss of appetite
Lethargy or drowsiness
If your cat or dog exhibits any of these symptoms you should immediately take them to a veterinarian for an examination.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart Disease in Pets

Your veterinarian will initially conduct a few tests, take a blood sample and may even insist on doing an X-ray or ECG in order to rule out any tumors or other issues that could be harming our pet's heart.  After your vet has diagnosed heart disease in your pet, they will most likely also prescribe medication such as an anti-arrhythmic drug which will help maintain a steady heart beat. Another common treatment is medication for heartworm. Unfortunately, such veterinary medications and treatments are quite expensive.

Alternative Treatments

There are a few alternative treatment options that you can consider once your cat or dog has been diagnosed with heart disease. Firstly, consider changing their diet to one that is more balanced and nutritious. Next you should schedule some time every day in which you can walk or play with your pet to encourage exercise. Thirdly, you may want to think about natural treatments such as herbal tonics that contain specific ingredients to help overcome your pet's heart disease. There are quite a few herbs that have been proven to help support your pet's blood pressure and boost their immune system to fight off heart disease as well.

When you look into a herbal tonic for your pet, you should carefully consider the ingredients in each one. Look for one or more of the following ingredients so as to give your pet a fighting chance to overcome their heart disease:

Lady's Slipper: This soothing tonic affects your pet's nervous system, as well as helping manage their heart palpitations.

Balm of Gilead: Your pet's flow of blood is supported with the intake of Balm of Gilead, whilst proper circulation of their blood is also maintained.

Hawthorne Berries: These berries will help control your pet's heart rate, blood pressure, and coronary flow.
Hops: Not only does Hops help to relax your cat or dog, but it also aids by supporting good heart action as well as capillary circulation.

 
Related Products: Hearty Heart for Dog Heart Disease & Cat Heart Disease

Natural Support for Pets with Cancer

The ratio of cancer in pets has steadily been on the rise over the past few years. This is due to multiple reasons; most commonly environmental issues. You most probably already know about a friend or neighbor's cat or dog that has been diagnosed with some form of cancer. Or perhaps it is your own beloved pet that has cancer.

If your cat or dog has been diagnosed with cancer by your veterinarian, it is important to remain as positive as possible. Most often your vet's diagnosis will initially mean that your pet will have to undergo various treatments and surgeries that can be extremely expensive. Regardless of what type of cancer your pet has, your vet will most likely place him or her on a pet cancer medication, such as Palladia, almost immediately. A good number of pets who utilize these medications will have a good quality of life.

However, if you would much rather that your cat or dog have an excellent quality of life, you should take a serious look into more holistic options for treating your pet's cancer. Most pet owners do not realize just how many different types of holistic treatment options are available to the pets that have cancer. The best part about utilizing a holistic treatment plan is that you are helping your pet avoid harsh chemicals and painful chemotherapy and radiation therapy sessions, because a holistic treatment plan will actually help reduce the amount of chemotherapy sessions that your pet will need as well as reduce the overall amount of chemically laden medications that they are prescribed.

A few of the more common holistic treatment alternatives include acupuncture, acupressure, Reiki, and homeopathy. These are all increasing in popularity due to their overall effectiveness in treatment of cancer in pets. You can ask your vet for a recommendation to a holistic pet health practitioner or obtain a referral from friends or neighbors. Doing an online search may also yield quite a few results of practitioners in your area that have experience treating dogs and cats that have been diagnosed with cancer.

Adding in homeopathic remedies to your pet's treatment plan is also a wonderful way to help boost your pet's immune system so that he or she can have a better chance of fighting off the cancer. Such remedies also have the added benefit of increasing your pet's overall outlook on life, lifting their depression and lethargy, and increasing their energy levels as well. But the best benefit of all is that a homeopathic remedy can be used in conjunction with just about every type of traditional cancer treatment or medication that is prescribed by a veterinarian or veterinary oncologist.

Locating such remedies is not too difficult either as there are many website on the Internet today that tout the many benefits of cancer-busting homeopathic remedies. Whilst most of these sites will rave about the benefits, be wary of those that claim that their product will actually cure your cat or dog's cancer. While most of these homeopathic remedies will have different ingredients there are very specific ingredients that you should keep a look out for that will help your pet, such as:

Sheep's sorrel has an astringent property that helps with internal bleeding, specifically in your pet's stomach.  It is also a great supply of both vitamins and minerals

Slippery elm makes available certain substances that will coat your pet's mouth as well as the remainder of their entire digestive system. By doing so, inflammation within your pet's digestive system is minimized. This will help your pet to be able to more easily, and painlessly, swallow their food.

Burdock is great for helping a pet's wound heal quickly. It is also valuable in preserving a healthy liver in your pet.

Chinese rhubarb is another herb that you should consider as it works by cleansing out a pet's digestive system.

Through such cleansing, this herb also helps by soothing the indigestion and ensuing vomiting that occurs after a pet has undergone a cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

No matter which treatment option you choose for your cat or dog, make sure that they are as comfortable and as happy as possible. With the right combination of treatment options, both traditional and holistic, many pets have been able to live long, happy lives, whilst others have even been able to beat their cancer on their own with the help of their owners love and care.

Related Products: ES Clear - Dog Cancer Support & Cat Cancer Support

Naturally Treating Acute Diarrhea in Pets

Dogs and cats generally suffer from two different types of diarrhea, namely, acute diarrhea and chronic diarrhea. Diarrhea is the name given to any abnormal feces that is much softer that it usually appears, or results in anything other than normal feces output, such as watery stools, soft stools, and stools with abnormal coloring and odor.

Acute Diarrhea

In cases of acute diarrhea, most pet owners will worry and rush their pet into the nearest veterinary clinic.  This can not only be expensive, but can also be detrimental to your pet's overall health, specifically if antibiotics are prescribed. Typically acute diarrhea will start suddenly and may last a day to up to a week or two. Almost every case of acute diarrhea can be treated at home.

Acute diarrhea is most commonly caused by your pet ingesting harsh items. Dogs and cats are both very inquisitive creatures and will always want to taste test new things in their environment, whether or not those things are digestible or indigestible. Inevitably, the majority of these things will not agree with your pet's stomach and diarrhea will ensue.

The acute diarrhea is simply your pet's body's response to rid itself of the foreign and harmful substance that it has ingested. The diarrhea actually acts as a purging agent. Acute diarrhea should not be seen or treated as a disease, because it is simply a natural bodily function. For the most part, you may not notice any other signs or symptoms of illness during a course of acute diarrhea in your cat or dog.

Acute diarrhea will occur as part of a natural healing process within your pet's body to not only rid itself of the harmful toxins ingested, but to also heal itself as well. Regardless of the type of toxin or item that has been ingested, your pet's body's healing process should always be fully supported as best as possible. The use of prescription medications or over the counter human drugs should never be utilized to cure acute diarrhea in cats and dogs.

Treatment Options for Acute Diarrhea

Since we now know that acute diarrhea is a natural healing response in both cats and dogs, we need to learn how best to treat it at home in a way that is naturally supportive to our pet's sensitive system.

If your pet is showing no other signs of illness and is still playing and eating well, here are a few suggestions to follow to treat their acute diarrhea at home:

Reduce the amount of food that you are feeding your pet by at least half.

Prepare meals for your pet that are bland.

A bland meal can include:
1/3 meat. Use meats that have been cooked or boiled. Cooked chicken is very low in fat and so is a good choice to use. Boiled hamburger meat can also be used provided that all the fat has been removed first.
Rice, or cooked oatmeal, should make up 2/3 of the meal and should be mixed with a bit of cottage cheese.
1 - 3 tablespoons of yogurt per meal.
A good probiotic.
2 - 4 tablespoons of boiled Sweet Potato.
Do not include any type of oil or fats to the meal.

These meals should be continually fed to your pet for a few days after their acute diarrhea stops.

Provide your pet with a good nutritional supplement that is designed to aid in alleviating acute diarrhea. A good one to choose should have at least two or more of the following ingredients:

Chamomile which is an anti-inflammatory that has a calming effect on your pet. Chamomile also helps to boost your pet's immune system.

Myrrh which acts as a stimulant, carminative and antiseptic, to help alleviate spasms, inflammation and digestive discomfort experienced by your pet.

Ginger which has an antipyretic property that works to avoid vomiting and diarrhea in cats and dogs. It also promotes good circulation and reduces pain.

Thyme which will help improve digestion and reduce the occurrence of spasms.

When To See A Veterinarian

You should take your pet to the vet if any of the following are evident:
Lethargy
Abdominal Pain or Bloating
Fever
Continual Vomiting
Dehydration
Acting very ill
Blood in the stool
Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week

 
Related Products: Plantaeris for Dog Diarrhea & Cat Diarrhea

Symptoms Of Liver Disease In Pets

Just like you, your pet has many organs in their body. However the most important of all of them is the liver. In fact, the liver has quite a few important functions:

By absorbing and utilizing nutrients, the liver provides your pet with the energy they need.
The liver aides in proper drug metabolism. Not only does the liver help your pet to metabolize the food that they eat, but it also helps in metabolizing any medication and drugs that they consume. This is very important for detoxification.

The liver aides in bile metabolism. Due to the closeness of the gall bladder to the liver, bile can easily be passed into the liver, thereby quickly eliminating harmful chemicals and drugs; whilst also absorbing essential fats and aiding in the re-circulation of your pet's red blood cells.

The liver continually works to fight off diseases.

The liver helps your pet's blood clot faster too.

If your pet does have liver disease, then it is quite likely that bleeding will occur. With the help of Vitamin K, the liver can help the blood clot faster to avoid a huge loss of blood. This blood can then be re-circulated through your pet's body to help with making new blood.

The liver also helps your puppy or kitten to grow healthily into adulthood.

Understanding these functions, it is no wonder that the liver is the largest organ in your pet's body! Due to its size, almost every other organ and bodily function within your pet's body is affected in some way by their liver.

Unfortunately, this can make diagnosing liver disease in your pet quite hard as there are so many other ailments and diseases that can affect their other organs first. However, liver disease is one of the most commonly reported diseases in both cats and dogs.

A Few Causes of Liver Disease

There are quite a few common pet illnesses that can cause liver disease, namely:

Hepatitis, which is inflammation of your pet's liver.
Hepatic Lipidosis
Diabetes
Cushing's Disease
Hyperthyroidism
Heartworms can lead to liver failure by blocking the flow of blood to your pet's liver.
Anemia
Infections
Cancer
Toxins
Trauma
Bile
Drugs - There a few medications that are prescribed to pets to treat various other ailments that can also lead to liver disease in sensitive pets and in those that have been exposed to the drugs for overly long periods of time. For example, Labrador Retrievers are often prescribed Rimadyl for their arthritis; other common medications that can lead to liver disease include Ketaconazole which is an anti fungal medication, heartworm treatments, de-worming medications, glucocorticoids, Phenobarbital, and even Tylenol. If your pet is on any of these medications, it is important you request your vet to conduct timely routine tests to watch for liver disease.

Signs and Symptoms of Liver Disease

This is a list of the most common signs and symptoms of liver disease. Even if your cat or dog only exhibits ONE of these signs, please take him or her to the veterinarian immediately.

Anorexia or loss of appetite. This is the most commonly exhibited symptom. Any changes in your pet's eating habits should be discussed with your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Jaundice, otherwise called icterus. This is a major symptom of liver disease and is evident by the yellowing of your pet's skin, gums and eyes. This occurs due to the biliary pigments accumulating in your pet's body because the liver is unable to properly process them. You should immediately take your pet to a veterinarian as soon you notice any pale, white or visible tissues taking on a yellowish color.

Lethargy and/or depression. Pets with liver disease will no longer have the energy to sustain playtime and will show a disinterest in their favorite toys.

Abdominal and gastrointestinal upsets such as diarrhea, constipation and vomiting, along with abdominal pain and/or a swollen liver.

Swollen belly. Otherwise referred to as ascites, this occurs when fluid is accumulated in your pet's belly owing to circulation changes within their abdomen.

Light or grey colored feces. In a healthy pet, the bile pigments provide the feces with their typical brown coloring. However, in pets with liver disease, the liver does not process the bile properly and so their feces will not reflect the normal coloring.

Orange colored urine. Again, due to the liver being unable to effectively process your pet's bile, large amounts of bilirubin are excreted into their urine, causing an orange hue.

Bleeding problems may occur due to the liver being unable to assist with blood clotting.

Neurological issues such as seizures, changes in behavior, pacing back and forth or circling.

Weight loss.

Increased urination and water consumption.

High blood pressure.

Due to the huge reserve capacity of your pet's liver, it may be some time before you really notice any of these symptoms. In most cases, the abovementioned signs are not visible until two-thirds of your pet's liver has been damaged.

Treatment Options

Immediately take your pet to a see a veterinarian if any of the above signs are evident. However, your pet should also have regular checkups as well. Your vet may prescribe therapy such as medication. One of the best ways to help your pet at home is to supplement their nutrition by giving them Milk Thistle.

This is a natural substance that will help keep your pet's liver as healthy as possible. Milk Thistle contains Silymarin which works to destroy any harmful free radicals before they damage the liver. Your pet's liver has the innate ability to reproduce itself over time, thereby resuming normal functions. However, this will only happen if the liver is provided with the proper support that is found in Milk Thistle.

Related Products: Milk Thistle for Dog Liver Disease & Cat Liver Disease

Does Your Dog Or Cat Have Hot Spots? Here Is How To Relieve Hot Spots Naturally

What are Hot Spots?

Hot spots (also refered to as acute moist dermatitis) are a common skin condition found in dogs and cats with long hair or thick, dense undercoats. Hot spots are characterized by moist, raw, circular-shaped lesions which are inflamed. They are painful and usually found on the head, along the chest and over the hip area.

Your pet will bite, lick and scratch the lesion causing further inflammation and irritation of the skin. The lesions usually appear suddenly and increase dramatically in size. Dog breeds such as St. Bernards, Golden retrievers and younger dogs are predisposed to acute moist dermatitis.

The common symptoms and signs include:

• Itchiness
• Scratching
• Biting
• Redness
• Scabs or lesions
• Licking the affected area

 

What Causes Hot Spots?

Dog and cat hot spots are often caused by allergies, flea bites, mosquito bites, ear infections, poor grooming, injury, cut or wound as well as degenerative joint and anal gland disease. Sometimes, boredom, loneliness, stress and anxiety may also cause animals to scratch and bite themselves resulting in hot spots. If left untreated these lesions can become infected and spread to other areas of the skin.

Diagnosing Hot Spots

Diagnosing Hot Spots

The diagnosis of hot spots is based on the symptoms presented, thorough physical examination and a review of your pet’s medical history. Certain diagnostic tests such as a microscopic examination of deep skin scrapings will be taken to rule out other disorders and confirm the diagnosis.

Help for Hot Spots

Treatment involves treating the underlying cause and drying the area of the hot spot. Your vet will clip the hair around the lesion to allow air to flow through and then clean the affected area with a non-irritating solution followed with an application of cream or ointment to promote healing.

Depending on your pet’s levels of sensitivity, this procedure may have to be done under sedation. More severe episodes of hot spots will be treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or painkillers. To prevent your pet from scratching the affected area an Elizabethan collar may be placed around his neck or socks put on the hind feet.

Natural Remedies

Natural and holistic remedies are beneficial for both humans and animals. They are a gentle and safe alternative for breeds of all ages, and also support overall health and wellbeing. Homeopathic ingredients including Arum triph, Viola tri, Comocladia, Chamomilla and Cina provide symptomatic relief for itchiness, scratching, redness and burning and restores the skin and coat back to health.

Tips to prevent hot spots

There are a number of ways to prevent episodes of hot spots on dogs and cats and these include:

• Feed your pet an all natural diet without preservatives, additives or colorants
• Keep your pet well groomed by ensuring that his hair is clipped or shaved short, especially during summer
• Brush dogs with thick coats daily
• Bathe your pet regularly with a medicated shampoo
• Apply a flea repellent regularly on your pet to ward off fleas and ticks
• Avoid exposing your pet to irritants such as pollen, smoke, household detergents, fertilizer or pesticides
• Clean your home thoroughly by vacuuming carpets and dusting furniture to ease both you and your pet’s respiratory allergies
• Keep your pet’s living clean by disinfecting regularly
• If your pet is prone to hot spots around the ears, clean the ears regularly and if near the anal glands , express anal glands
• Always provide fresh, clean water to cleanse the body’s system and avoid dehydration
• Detox your pet regularly to get rid of unwanted toxins

Related Products

Allergy Itch Ease:

Homeopathic remedy relieves skin allergies and itch

 

Skin and Coat Tonic:

Promotes healthy skin and shiny, glossy coats

How To Ease Your Pet's Stress During Thunderstorms

Pets can be just as affected by thunder and lightning storms as humans can be. While pet owners whose animals remain strangely detached throughout such an episode might feel very blessed, those sensitive pets that become frightened, scared or paralyzed with fear, usually turn to their owners for support when they themselves cannot cope or understand the distress.

Fear of thunderstorms (as well as other loud noises such as fireworks and gunshots), is called noise phobia. Learning to recognize the signs of noise phobia in your pet will help your pet feel less traumatized. Some of the first signs of distress to look out for may be whining/barking, panting and/or restlessness. You may find that you pet is locked against your frame or trying to bolt for protection somewhere else (scrabbling at doors or cupboards is common).

It is important to remember that every pet is different and it is about learning what works for him/her. The first thing to do is limit the noise – thus limiting the phobia. Close curtains to limit the flashes of bright light. Turn on the television or radio loudly to mask the claps of thunder. Try to act normally and not to fuss too much. Reassurance is important, however, it is calm reassurance that is key. Pets can feel when we are nervous or frightened and this will only reinforce their own anxieties. This includes giving soothing noises or stroking as a way of reassuring our pet. However, this will only positively reinforce that there is indeed something to be scared about. By ignoring the storm and carrying on with normal activities, your pet will begin to understand that the storm is no big deal.

Massaging or brushing your pet in long and even strokes can also be very calming for them. If your pet has a favorite game or treat try to involve him or her with this during a storm. Practicing this during future storms will eventually help them to view storms in a more positive way.

You may also want to try crating your dog or cat. If you normally crate your dog when you’re home this may be an effective way in keeping him/her calm during the storm. A blanket draped over the crate will also help to muffle the terrifying noise. However, if you don’t normally crate your pet, then this method could make things worse. To practice crating him/her, try doing this when you’re home for nap times.

Prevention of stress and support during a storm

Desensitizing your pet to noises can also prove effective. By slowly exposing your pet to different loud noises, and making sure that something good always follows, can help to reduce your pet’s noise sensitivity. There are storm audio tapes available that are very effective in introducing your pet to the noise. By starting at very low volume, you can work your way louder while teaching your dog to ignore the sound at the same time.

For more severe pet reactions, an animal behaviorist may need to get involved. Natural remedies are also wonderfully effective yet perfectly safe in helping to calm pets during a storm.

PetCalm™ Homeopathic remedy soothes fear and nervousness during stressful situations and everyday disturbances

The Three Causes of Cushing's Disease in Pets

One of the most troublesome diagnosis's that a pet can receive from a veterinarian is that of having Cushing's disease. The majority of cat and dog owners are unaware of the disease and do not know what signs to keep a look out for. So usually by the time their pet has been diagnosed, the disease has already had plenty of time to wreak havoc.

Cushing's disease is a disease of a pet's adrenal glands in which the actual amount of glucocorticoids that are secreted by a pet's adrenal glands, slowly escalates on a daily basis. This increased amount of glucocorticoids can lead to a plethora of medical complications in both cats and dogs, although it is more common in middle aged and mature dogs than it is in cats. Generally speaking, Cushing's disease in pets can present itself in two main ways:

Pituitary Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism

The first is called Pituitary Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism and is the most common form of Cushing's disease. This is a microscopic pituitary tumor that is usually benign. The tumor overproduces ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone); which then causes an overproduction of cortisol by the cat or dog's adrenal glands. In a healthy dog, the pituitary will normally stop releasing ACTH once it has noticed the high cortisol levels in the animal's blood stream.  The majority of these tumors are only 3mm or smaller in diameter. Most pets that have pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism will have very big adrenal glands, due to the fact that they are working overtime to produce all of the excess cortisol. Approximately 85% of all Cushing's disease cases are pituitary dependent.

Adrenal-Based Hyperadrenocorticism

The second type of Cushing's disease is called Adrenal-Based Hyperadrenocorticism. This occurs when there is a tumor within the adrenal glands that is responsible for producing excess cortisol. Whilst half of all Adrenal-based hyperadrenocorticism cases are actually benign, the other half are malignant and may spread out to the pet's liver and lungs. Unlike the large adrenal glands in pituitary dependent Cushing's disease cases, pets with adrenal-based hyperadrenocorticism tend to have one overly large adrenal gland and one extremely small adrenal gland.

Iatrogenic Hyperadrenocorticism

However, there is also a third form of Cushing's disease: Iatrogenic Hyperadrenocorticism, or 'veterinary-induced hyperadrenocorticism'. This is usually caused by an overmedication of corticosteroids, such as glucocorticoids to treat a pet's allergies. These medications act similar to an adrenal tumor by essentially inundating a pet's body with surplus corticosteroids. Whilst the pituitary glands and the adrenal glands will attempt to counter the excess corticosteroids by prohibiting the natural production of cortisol and ACTH, if there is too much corticosteroids that are manually presented into the blood stream, such as by way of veterinary medication for other pet ailments like Prednisone, then the cat or dog will start to exhibit signs of Cushing's disease. The good news with this type of Cushing's disease is that it is totally reversible. Your veterinarian will begin to taper your pet's steroid doses in an attempt to eventually wean them off of it altogether. This type of Cushing's disease will cause your cat or dog to have atrophied adrenal glands that are relatively small.

Symptoms of Cushing's Disease

Regardless of the type of Cushing's that your pet has, the signs and symptoms that they will exhibit will be the same:
Excessive Thirst
Excessive Appetite
Excessive Shedding
Excessive Urination
Excessive Panting
Sudden Weight Gain
Swollen Abdomen
Lethargy and Muscle Weakness

Be sure to take your cat or dog to see a qualified Veterinarian as soon as you notice any of the above symptoms. The sooner that your pet can receive a proper diagnosis, the sooner a good treatment plan can be established. If left untreated, Cushing's disease can lead to obesity, heart disease, diabetes and eventually death.

Treatment Options for Cushing's Disease

Once a diagnosis has been made, your veterinarian will immediately prescribe one of the four major medical treatment options currently on the market for Cushing's disease in pets. For the most part these medications are used to decrease the overall amount of cortisol that your pet's body actually produces. If, however, your pet has adrenal-based Cushing's then your veterinarian will have to surgically remove the tumor from the adrenal gland.

Nonetheless, the only way to truly treat Cushing's disease is to actually treat the individual symptoms. The best way to do this is through the use of homeopathy, which works by introducing various beneficial herbs and flowers into the pet's body. Although each herb or flower is powerful in its own right, combined together in the right combination can lead to remarkable results in cats and dogs with Cushing's disease. Look for a homeopathic tincture that includes at least the following three ingredients, if not more:

Dandelion - To help reinforce proper liver function, adrenal gland function and good digestion by creating a healthy appetite.

Borage - To assist your pet's endocrine system functions through the use of its naturally occurring precursors of adrenal gland hormones.  Borage also acts a detoxification agent, whilst also supporting your pet's adrenal cortex.

Eleutherococus Senticosus - To help preserve the adrenal glands normal hormonal functions; as well as to support your pet's immune system.
 
 
Related Products: Supraglan for Dog Cushings Disease & Cat Cushings Disease

Prevent Kidney Disease in Your Pets This Summer

Across North America summer has finally arrived with her beautiful blue sky and wonderful flowers springing up everywhere...and her heat. They don't call it the 'dog days of summer' for nothing! During the summertime you will most likely find that your cat or dog will have bouts of energy followed by bouts of sleeping curled up in the shade to escape the heat.

Whilst this may seem like perfectly acceptable behavior for your cat or dog given the season, it may also be a sign of kidney issues, such as kidney disease.

What is Kidney Disease?

Kidney stones and kidney failure are two of the main forms of kidney disease commonly experienced in both cats and dogs, with kidney failure being the direst. Kidney stones should not be neglected and should also be treated right away. Kidney stones are small deposits that eventually build up upon each other and can either block or otherwise aggravate a cat or dog's urinary tract, leading it to be inflamed and infected. Kidney stones are much easier to diagnosis than kidney failure. Kidney failure is much more serious than kidney stones and can also be life threatening for your pet. In most cases, kidney failure will develop slowly over time so that by the time you've actually taken full note of your pet's symptoms, it may be too late to really give them a good shot at a full recovery.

Preventing Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is usually the result of an unhealthy kidney and is one of the leading causes of death in both cats and dogs. Your pet's life depends on the proper functioning of their kidneys to remove harmful toxins from within their body. When the kidneys stop functioning as they should, all of those toxins begin to amass and it will become harder and harder for them to be passed out of your pet's body by way of their urine, which then results in kidney stones and possibly death.

During the summer months, pet owners usually find that it is too hot to feed their pets a cooked meal or that they are too hot and bothered themselves to open up a can of premium wet cat or dog food or to fix the raw diet that their pet has become accustomed to eating during the cooler months, to feed their hungry pets. So, they simply resort to topping off their pet's dry food instead. Let's be honest - dry kibble is boring and unappetizing no matter how you serve it! The heat of the summer will reduce your pet's appetite and thirst. They too become too lazy to drink and eat at the rate they did during the winter and spring.

This all dry food diet, coupled with a lower water consumption is what can lead to kidney issues in both cats and dogs. This is because your pet is actually somewhat dehydrated and this results in less urinating; and the less chance that your pet's body has of eliminating the toxins, the more these toxins actually accumulate. Summer is also usually when veterinarians are called in to treat urinary tract infections and bladder infections in cats and dogs. If not treated properly, these infections can eventually spread to the kidneys, causing even more trouble.

Symptoms of Kidney Disease

Whilst it can be somewhat hard to distinguish between the normal signs of summertime living from the symptoms of kidney disease, there are a few obvious indicators that you should keep an eye out for:

Loss of appetite and weight
Decrease in urination
Excessive urination
Blood in the urine
Obvious pain or discomfort during urination
Frequent urinary tract infections
Treating Kidney Disease

If any of the above symptoms are evident in your cat or dog, you should immediately take them in to see a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis. Such a diagnosis will be made after a series of urine and blood tests are performed. If the vet suspects kidney stones then an ultrasound or an x-ray will be done as well. Most commonly prescribed is a course of antibiotics or, in the case of kidney stones, surgery to remove the stones. If your pet's situation is more serious, dialysis, intravenous fluid treatments, and even kidney transplants may become necessary.

However, most of these issues can be avoided by simply ensuring your pet's summertime health. Make sure that your cat and dog have access to clean, fresh water at all times to help them keep hydrated. Feed them a more nutritious and well-rounded meal, other than just plain old dry kibble. You should also look into giving your pet a supplement to help optimize their kidneys functions. Such supplementation should include herbal ingredients such as:

Wild Hydrangea: This acts as a urinary antiseptic, and soothes irritated tissues. It also works to lessen the formation of urinary calculi.

Gravel Root: This herb is considered to be a purifying and restorative herb that specifically works on your pet's genitourinary organs.

Marshmallow: This is an anti-inflammatory herb that helps fight off bacterial infections, whilst also soothing your pet's irritated tissues.

Related Products: Tripsy for Dog Kidney Disease & Cat Kidney Disease

Does Your Dog Or Cat Have Cancer? Holistic Treatments For Pets With Cancer

Even though you diligently take great care of your cat or dog, they may still succumb to cancer. This is because the rate of cancer in pets has been steadily on the rise over the past ten years. This is mostly due to changes in our environment, such as additional toxins in the water and additives in our pet's food.

Once a proper diagnosis has been made by your veterinarian, they will usually construct a treatment plan that is tailored specifically for your pet's needs. Traditional treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and medications such as Palladia, will most often be prescribed. Unfortunately, most of these treatments can be very costly.

Holistic Treatment Options

If you want to avoid these expenses or if you have already tried traditional treatments for your pet's cancer before and they have not worked as well as you and your vet hoped, you should take a serious look at holistic treatments options for pet cancer. Such treatments will not help treat the symptoms of pet cancer, but will also help to improve your pet's quality of life. When considering such holistic treatment options, you may find that the choices can be a bit overwhelming. The majority of cat and dog owners are quite unaware that there are numerous holistic treatment options available for treating cancer in pets, such as:

Homeopathy
Acupressure
Acupuncture
Reiki
Pet Massage
Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements
Specific Diets for pets with cancer

As the rate of cancer in pets increases, so too does the popularity of holistic treatment options, but this is mostly due to their efficiency in treating the symptoms of the cancer. As most of these holistic treatments can be done alongside traditional treatments such as drugs and chemotherapy, when you elect to choose one or more holistic treatment plans for your pet's cancer, you will be helping your pet to avoid painful radiation therapy sessions and chemotherapy sessions, as well as avoiding ingesting harsh chemicals too. This is because the holistic treatments will essentially reduce the total amount of radiation and chemotherapy sessions that your cat or dog will need. The use of such treatments will also decrease the total dosage of the chemically laden medications that your veterinarian prescribes. 

Getting Started

If you are interested in a holistic treatment option for your cat or dog, the best way to get started is to ask your current veterinarian for a recommendation to an holistic pet health practitioner or naturopathic vet. You can also ask for a referral from your family, friends or neighbors whose pets have been treated holistically for cancer. In addition, there are many wonderful online forums that are dedicated to discussing treatment plans for cats and dogs that have cancer. Talking with other owners of pets with cancer can be quite therapeuticas well.

Doing an online search will also yield many holistic treatment results, such as vitamins and herbal supplements. In fact, there are numerous herbal formulas on the internet market today that offer a 'cure-all' for pet cancer. Be very wary of these formulas and the companies that produce them. There is no known cure for cancer in pets, however each symptom of the cancer can be treated and cured individually. There are also very specific herbal ingredients that you should keep an eye out for when selecting an herbal holistic treatment plan for your pet, such as:

Burdock, which is wonderful to help heal your pet's wounds quickly. It is also promotes a healthy liver too.

Chinese Rhubarb, which works wonders by cleansing out your pet's digestive system. This is great because not only does Chinese Rhubarb help alleviate your pet's indigestion but also soothes the subsequent vomiting that sometimes occurs after your cat or dog has had a chemotherapy or radiation therapy session.

Sheep's Sorrel, which is an astringent that helps prevent internal bleeding that may occur in your pet's stomach.  In addition, this herb also offers up a ton of vitamins and minerals.

Slippery Elm, which will help to coat your cat or dog's mouth and their complete digestive system to help minimize inflammation. This will, in turn, help your pet to easily and painlessly swallow their food.

Most assuredly, providing your cat or dog with homeopathic remedies as part of their overall cancer treatment plan, will not only boost your pet's immune system to help them fight off the cancer faster, but they will also help to increase your pet's quality of life by easing their lethargy and depression and increasing their energy levels.
 
Related Products: ES Clear for Dog Cancer & Cat Cancer

Symptoms of Pet Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism occurs in cats and dogs just as it does in human beings: it simply stops working as it normally should. Even though veterinarians agree that hyperthyroidism is more common in middle-aged to senior cats, it can affect dogs as well.

Hyperthyroidism is an endocrine disease that creates an overproduction of the thyroxin hormone. The existence of this hormone in such large amounts can wreak total havoc on a pet's body and will be the cause of many different health problems because it will affect every organ and cell. Unfortunately, these differing health problems will lead to differing symptoms that can make an actual diagnosis quite hard to pinpoint. It is therefore imperative to learn about the signs and symptoms of pet hyperthyroidism:

Weight Loss - Even though your pet may exhibit a rather ravenous appetite, if they are still losing weight and becoming noticeably thinner, then it is high time that you take them to see a veterinarian for a diagnosis.

Vomiting and Diarrhea - Oftentimes cats and dogs that have hyperthyroidism will have such a voracious hunger that they will eat too fast and will subsequently need to eliminate their food as quickly as possible.

Excessive Thirst.

Hyperactivity.

Lethargy - Some pets will be lethargic right after a bout of hyperactivity.

Nervousness.

Irritability.

Restlessness - Your cat or dog may have a hard time of lying still.

Elevated heart rate - Not only will your pet's heart beat faster, but it may also emit stronger beats that are easily felt by simply placing your hand upon your pet's chest.

Rapid breathing.

Changes in fur and coat - Some pets will begin to develop a coat that maintains an unkempt appearance and will become quite dull looking as well.

Thickened nails.

If you notice any, or all, of the above symptoms in your cat or dog, then it is high time to visit your veterinarian. Only your veterinarian can determine whether or not your pet's thyroid is producing too much thyroxin.

Causes of Hyperthyroidism in Pets

As mentioned previously, hyperthyroidism in pets is caused by the overproduction of the thyroxin hormone by a pet's thyroid gland. This is usually caused through a pet's normal aging process; although in a some cases it is caused by growths that are found on a pet's thyroid glands. Although your cat or dog will not die from hyperthyroidism, this endocrine disease will dramatically reduce their overall quality of life. Hyperthyroidism can cause damage to a pet's liver, kidneys and heart, as well as hypertension and excessive and unhealthy weight loss.

Hyperthyroidism typically occurs in middle-aged to senior cats and dogs. There has been some evidence that cats who are fed giblet, liver and fish flavored canned cat food, are actually at a much higher risk for acquiring hyperthyroidism. Siamese cats and Himalayan cats have shown a decreased propensity to developing hyperthyroidism than other cat breeds.

Treatment Options for Pet Hyperthyroidism

Your vet will most likely prescribe a treatment plan that will include traditional treatment options such as medication, surgery and radioactive iodine therapy. All of these can cost a pretty penny. You will need to keep a very close eye on your pet as the veterinary medication can cause harmful side effects.

Many pet owners today are electing to utilize more natural treatments for their pet's hyperthyroidism. Whist this is mostly due to the cost involved, it is also because most natural treatment methods do not have any adverse side effects, such as in the case of homeopathy and herbal supplements. Herbal remedies are a wonderful treatment alternative because they provide your cat or dog with relief from the many symptoms of hyperthyroidism that haunts them. Before you go out and purchase the first homeopathic remedy that states it will treat your pet's hyperthyroidism, make sure to read the label carefully. A great remedy should include the following ingredients:

Bugleweed, which is an herb that helps to regulate your cat or dog's thyroid-stimulating hormones; plus, it is also great for calming your pet's irritability and easing their tension.

Bladderwack, which is actually a type of Sea Kelp. It is useful in controlling your pet's overactive thyroid. Being a seaweed, Bladderwack is also a terrific source of natural iodine.

Gotu Kola, which naturally strengthens and supports your pet's immune system.

Hawthorn, a vascular and heart tonic that is great in preserving your pet's proper cardiovascular functions.

You can help your cat or dog to lead an extraordinary life despite their hyperthyroidism by providing them with the proper nutritional and herbal supplements, as well as a good diet and exercise regime.

Related Products: Resthyro for Dog Hyperthyroidism & Cat Hyperthyroidism

Is It Safe to Feed My Pet Food From the Table?

How many times have you given into your pet’s longing eyes, drooling mouth, or persistent paw tapping your leg the last time you were enjoying your dinner? While it’s hard to resist a begging pet, you should think twice before giving table scraps to your dog or cat – some foods can lead to digestive upset or even be toxic!

According to the ASPCA, some very common foods can be harmful to your pet:

• Chocolate—You should never share this treat with your pets, as cocoa beans contain the chemical theobromine, which is toxic to dogs.
• Grapes—This yummy fruit has been linked to cases of acute kidney failure in pets.
• Fatty foods—Fats are tough for a dog to digest and can overtax the pancreas, increasing the risk of potentially fatal pancreatitis.
• Nuts—Nuts contain high levels of phosphorus, which has been linked to the formation of bladder stones. Macadamia nuts are especially harmful.
• Onions—Studies have shown that onions as well as onion powder can lead to hemolytic anemia in dogs.
• Artificial sweeteners—Within just 30 minutes of consuming large amounts of these synthetic sugars, signs of toxicity can become apparent and immediate veterinary treatment is necessary.
• Turkey skin—The consumption of turkey skin has been linked to acute pancreatic.

While not deadly, there are also some foods you should avoid feeding your pet to minimize unpleasant side effects like diarrhea and excess gas.

Avoid feeding your pet cauliflower or eggs, which are both notorious for causing flatulence in pets. Also, avoid giving your kitten or cat milk. While cats can tolerate small quantities of milk, the sugars in it will likely cause stomach troubles such as cramps, gas, and diarrhea, as most adult cats are actually likely to be lactose-intolerant, as production of the enzyme needed to digest milk slows with age.

Digestive Support™ Promotes system detoxification to eliminate harmful wastes and toxins

How to Avoid Pet Heart Disease

Just like humans, cats and dogs are liable for heart disease too. Sadly, heart disease can lead to heart attacks, which are the leading cause of pet mortality. Is it therefore important to understand how your pet's heart works, what you can do to keep it healthy, and how you can help take care of your pet's heart for many years to come.

Types of Heart Disease

There are two distinctive types of heart disease that your cat or dog may have: congenital or acquired. Acquired simply refers to infections and injuries to your pet's heart, as well as the effects of old age. Other forms of heart disease stem from the degeneration of your pet's heart valves, as well as inflammation and even heartworm. Congenital heart disease refers to heart defects that were present at the birth of your cat or dog, and cardiomyopathy, heart murmurs and even enlarged hearts which can also lead to heart disease.  Most pre-existing heart conditions are found in large breed dogs, although both cats and dogs are equally susceptible. The best way to prevent heart disease in your pet is to make sure that you have them tested at a young age.

Symptoms of Heart Disease in Pets

Unless you are already aware that your cat or dog has a congenital heart disease, you may not know what symptoms to keep an eye out for. The most commonly seen signs and symptoms of heart disease in cats and dogs are: 
Panting, wheezing or difficulty breathing
Breathlessness or sharp intakes of breath
Loss of appetite
Lethargy or drowsiness
If your cat or dog exhibits any of these symptoms you should immediately take them to a veterinarian for an examination.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart Disease in Pets

Your veterinarian will initially conduct a few tests, take a blood sample and may even insist on doing an X-ray or ECG in order to rule out any tumors or other issues that could be harming our pet's heart.  After your vet has diagnosed heart disease in your pet, they will most likely also prescribe medication such as an anti-arrhythmic drug which will help maintain a steady heart beat. Another common treatment is medication for heartworm. Unfortunately, such veterinary medications and treatments are quite expensive.

Alternative Treatments

There are a few alternative treatment options that you can consider once your cat or dog has been diagnosed with heart disease. Firstly, consider changing their diet to one that is more balanced and nutritious. Next you should schedule some time every day in which you can walk or play with your pet to encourage exercise. Thirdly, you may want to think about natural treatments such as herbal tonics that contain specific ingredients to help overcome your pet's heart disease. There are quite a few herbs that have been proven to help support your pet's blood pressure and boost their immune system to fight off heart disease as well.

When you look into a herbal tonic for your pet, you should carefully consider the ingredients in each one. Look for one or more of the following ingredients so as to give your pet a fighting chance to overcome their heart disease:

Lady's Slipper: This soothing tonic affects your pet's nervous system, as well as helping manage their heart palpitations.

Balm of Gilead: Your pet's flow of blood is supported with the intake of Balm of Gilead, whilst proper circulation of their blood is also maintained.

Hawthorne Berries: These berries will help control your pet's heart rate, blood pressure, and coronary flow.

Hops: Not only does Hops help to relax your cat or dog, but it also aids by supporting good heart action as well as capillary circulation.

Related Products: Hearty Heart for Dog Heart Disease & Cat Heart Disease

Signs Of Liver Disease In Dogs & Cats

One of the most important and one of the largest, organs in your pet's body is their liver. This organ has the very vital function of fighting off disease, providing your cat or dog with enough energy through the use of nutrients, and also in helping your puppy or kitten grow to maturity.

Since the liver is so large, just about every other organ or bodily function is affected one way or another by the liver. So when your cat or dog has liver disease, it can be extremely difficult to ascertain a correct diagnose. Unfortunately, one of the most commonly reported ailments in cats and dogs is, in fact, liver disease.

However, due to the great reserve capacity of your pet's liver, it will take a while before any negative effects are noticeable in your cat or dog. Generally speaking, such effects are not evident until at least two-thirds or more of the liver has been negatively affected.

Signs of Liver Disease in Pets

If the liver disease does progress to this stage without being diagnosed during a routine checkup, there are a few warning signs that your cat or dog will display. Whilst some of these are warning signs are common for other illnesses, such as weight loss and a loss of appetite, there are a handful that are quite specific to liver disease in pets. Amongst these are increased urination and an increased thirst. Other obvious symptoms are lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. Another symptom that is commonplace with liver disease in pets is a swollen abdomen. This occurs due to a buildup of excess fluid in your pet's stomach.

A major symptom of liver disease, however, is jaundice. This is evident with yellowing of your cat or dog's eyes, skin, and gums. If your pet has signs of jaundice you should immediately take them to see a veterinarian.

Causes of Liver Disease

A few of the more common illnesses that can lead to liver disease include liver cancer, hepatitis and hepatic lipidosis. Hepatitis generally refers to an inflammation of your pet's liver. One of the core functions of the liver is to help with your pet's metabolism, not only of metabolizing the food that they eat, but also with metabolizing medications. Your pet's liver is also responsible for helping with the clotting of your pet's blood. If their liver does become diseased or infected, bleeding is likely to occur. There are also quite a few diseases that can lead to liver disease, such as diabetes, Cushing's disease and hypothyroidism.

Other causes of liver disease in cats and dogs are bacteria, bile, drugs and toxins, anemia and trauma. In addition, heartworms can cause liver disease and eventually liver failure in pets by blocking the flow of blood to your pet's liver. In addition, there are a few medications that are often prescribed to help pets which can cause damage to your pet's liver, such as Rimadyl which is prescribed for arthritis in Labrador Retrievers, heartworm treatments, worming medications and even Tylenol exposure. If your cat or dog is using any of these types of medications, it is very important to insist that your veterinarian routinely check your pet's liver for any signs of liver disease.

Treatment Options

If your beloved cat or dog has been diagnosed by your veterinarian as having liver disease, they will most likely prescribe medication. However, there is also a very natural medicine that you can give to both cats and dogs with liver disease at home: Milk Thistle.

Milk Thistle can be found in tincture form and is easy to administer to your cat or dog. Silymarin is a collection of active ingredients, found in Milk Thistle, that work together to help preserve the overall health of your pet's liver. Silymarin destroys harmful free radicals in your pet's body before they have a chance of damaging your pet's liver.

Your pet's liver has the ability to reproduce itself, thereby returning to its normal functions, but only if it is properly supported from the get-go. Milk Thistle is a wonderful aid to use to achieve this in your cat or dog.

Related Products: Milk Thistle for Dog Liver Disease & Cat Liver Disease

Tips For Settling Stomachs & Supporting Digestion For Dogs & Cats

While your pet may initiate certain behaviors regarding eating habits and exercise, through the evolution of domestication, many of these normal processes fall under the influence of our hands. Therefore, making just a few tweaks in routine may greatly benefit your pet’s overall health and well-being. 

• Do not change diet suddenly, but slowly introduce fresh, raw and unprocessed food into your pet's daily diet, while reducing commercial foods and foods with little nutritious value.

• Keep diet varied and interesting, but watch out for foods that your pet may be allergic to.

• Regular exercise helps to build up a healthy appetite and gets all organs in the body functioning well. It also helps to relieve stress and contributes to a healthy, happy pet!

• Animals need time outdoors where they can naturally seek out herbs that will help them maintain the health of their digestive system. All carnivorous animals, including dogs and cats, will naturally induce vomiting from time to time as a cleansing process to get rid of excess bile, mucus and other impurities. They do this by eating plants which will induce purging. This is healthy and animals should not be reprimanded for it!

• Add green sprouts to your pet's food every day. This is an easy way to improve digestion and supply much-needed vitamins, amino acids, and trace elements.

• Consult a holistic veterinarian for advice about the health problems associated with routine vaccination and regular antibiotic use.

• For animals that suffer from constipation, ensure adequate roughage in the diet.

 

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Related Products:

 

Digestive Support™ - Herbal digestive tonic supports healthy digestion in pets

RuniPoo Relief™ - Supports healthy digestion and bowel functioning

Flatulence Preventer™ - Promote digestive health and reduce common gas and unpleasant smells

Natural Moves for Pets ™ - For regular bowels and digestive system

Natural Cure For Diabetes In Dogs & Cats

Diabetes in pets results when the pancreas does not produce an adequate amount of insulin. The sugar in the body builds up in the blood rather than in the tissues. Sugar provides energy if it is properly metabolized. If not, the energy wanes and your pet will become lethargic.

As with diabetes in humans, the disease can affect the liver, heart and kidneys. Your pet will be subject to more infections, slow healing of minor cuts, blindness and cataracts.

Diabetes is more common in female cats and dogs, as well as in those pets that are overweight, middle-aged or senior. If your cat or dog does not consume a healthy diet, is overweight, has had cortisone treatments in the recent past or if the parents have a history of diabetes, your pet will also have a predisposition to the disease.

Signs and Symptoms
Increased thirst
Frequent urination
Increased lethargy
Weakness
Your pet may exhibit signs of abdominal pain
Cataracts (the eyes will have a cloudy gray look rather than clear)
Diagnosis

If your pet exhibits any of the above symptoms, you should consult with your veterinarian. The vet can make the proper diagnosis by checking the amount of sugar in the blood and urine.

Treatment

Feed your cat or dog in small frequent meals rather than only one or two meals per day
Diet should be high in fiber and the more complex carbohydrates
Increase exercise if your cat or dog is overweight
Your vet may prescribe insulin injections

Natural Remedies

There are excellent herbal combinations that can help improve your pet's health. They can be the perfect supplement to the traditional treatment prescribed by your veterinarian. Finding the one that can be taken by your cat or dog over a long-term period is preferable. By reading reviews and seeking the proper ingredients you may be able in increase your pet's overall health.

Herbs that can help your pet with diabetes
Jambolin: the oils and seeds combine to be helpful in managing diabetes in general and glycosuria (sugar in the urine) without negative effects.
Devil's club: balances the metabolism and glandular system
Funugreek: this bitter herb supports digestion and soothes tissues while managing the levels of blood sugar.
Gymnema: this acid will bind to the sugar receptors and temporarily block the absorption of sugar.
Goat's Rue: this is a mucilaginous, tonic herb that is bitter and will guard the liver and help to manage blood sugar levels.
Oregon grape: will aid in producing healthier pancreatic tissue.
Blueberry: this is a urinary antiseptic and also helps with blood sugar levels.
Dandelion: helps promote liver function and support to your pet's kidneys. It also assists with inflammation and swelling.
Astragalus: this is a sweet herb. It will stimulate the immune and urinary symptoms and will also help with sugar levels.

A great combination of these herbs can be found in Mellit. This blend of herbs comes in a glycerin based liquid that can easily be administered to your cat or dog without worrying about any adverse side effects. You may find that your pet has renewed energy and their thirst has returned to a normal level. By combining the proper herbs and the proper diet to help your pet drop some weight, you will have a happier and healthier buddy to share your life with for years to come.
 
Related Products: Mellit for Dog Diabetes & Cat Diabetes

Treating Dog & Cat Kidney Disease The Natural Way

When your pet gets ill you will want to do everything you can to try to treat them and hopefully, cure them. You will want to have their problems diagnosed as soon as possible and then find the right type of treatment that suits both you and your pet. Kidney disease is quite common in domestic animals and if your pet is experiencing this form of illness, treating it correctly is very important. Your pet might be suffering from kidney disease and you won't even know about it so it is vital that you have regular checkups at the vets.

What is Kidney disease?

There are two main types of kidney disease in pets and these are kidney stones and kidney failure. Although kidney stones are the less serious of the two it still needs to be treated straight away. These stones are actual deposits that build up and irritate the urinary tract causing it to become irritated and infected. This can be treated easily and with many types of herbal remedies that you can use at home, you will see a vast improvement in your pet and they will be happier. Kidney failure is far more serious and needs to be treated as soon as you can. Many times, it will creep up slowly and by the time you know, it may be too late.

Diagnosis and treatments

Taking your pet to the vet for routine checkups can help you to detect any illnesses early on and you may be able to treat even serious kidney failure. Your vet will be able to diagnose what is wrong with your pet and how serious it is. They will then be able to advise on the best possible treatments available to help your pet in treating the problem as well as help them to better deal with their distress.  Often the vet will recommend a change of diet to reduce the sodium levels in your pet. You should also look at natural alternatives that have been proven to help with kidney disease.

Natural treatments and remedies

There are many different supplements that are on offer which claim to help with kidney disease in pets and you should research them well to determine which ones will actually help your pet's specific needs. There are certain natural products and herbs that have been proven to help and these should be in the supplements that you want to give to your pet.  These types of treatments are 100% safe and since they are very effective, you have nothing to lose by trying to treat your pet the natural way.

Ingredients to help

Vitamin B is very good for your pet and will help to restore some of their natural vitamins that they might be losing.
Stone root has been proven to be very effective and has a very natural anti-inflammatory effect that can help to relieve your pet's pain and discomfort.

Gravel root is another herb that can help your pet by cleansing and restoring the organs to the original state.
There are several different ingredients that can help your pet and if in doubt, you should ask a natural herbal expert who will know exactly what you need. With love and the right treatment, your pet has a good chance of surviving kidney disease.

Related Products: Tripsy for Dog Kidney Disease & Cat Kidney Disease

Pet Diarrhea - The Holiday's May Be Over But Dogs & Cats Can Still Have Diarrhea

 
There aren't a lot of things that can cause turmoil in your holiday as much as a bad case of diarrhea in your cat or dog. Often the cause can be dietary changes. It is possible that the "treats" you feed your pet to include them in the holiday festivities can cause stomach upset and significant diarrhea. There are other causes however, as well as a few simple and effective holistic treatment options.

Causes

Diarrhea can be caused by something as simple as a change in diet. It can be a change from their regular diet or the addition of holiday treats to their normal diet. The best solution may be to change your pet back to their regular diet and refrain from treats that abound during the holiday season.

It can also be caused by garbage investigation by your curious pet. If this is the case, the cure may be the same.
If you learn that your pet has ingested something toxic, get him to the vet immediately.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

It isn't difficult to determine that your pet has diarrhea. The presence of frequent stools that may be filled with mucus or some blood is the definitive sign. You may also notice some signs of dehydration. This can be checked by gently pinching the skin on the back of the neck. If the skin remains upright for a few seconds, your pet may be dehydrated and you should make every attempt to increase their fluid intake. Simple dietary restrictions may be all that is necessary to ease the problem.

Natural treatment

Naturopathic veterinarians have studied the causes and treatment of diarrhea in pets. If normal restrictions do not ease the condition, you may need to do a search for holistic products that contain some or all of the following ingredients.

Barberry has shown some effect on sedation and immune support.
Mullein soothes and assists in the lubrication of tissues due to its mucilaginous nature.
Bayberry contains the necessary gums, resins and tannins that help protect from bacteria.
Myrrh is a stimulant and antiseptic. It aids in easing inflammation, spasms and other discomforts of the digestive tract.
Thyme relaxes spasms and aids digestion
Chamomile has lactones and volatile oils that have remarkable anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps with the immune system.
Chinese Peony relaxes spasms and manages inflammatory processes.
Ginger is an antipyretic (helps avoid fever) that will stimulate circulation and manage pain.
Oregon grape has several of the same acidic features of barberry.

All of these things in a glycerin-based product with a long shelf life may be all that is needed to relieve your pet of diarrhea. These products have few if any side effects but have not been tested on pregnant pets and should therefore not be used in pets that are lactating or pregnant.

Several sites can help you choose the right product for your pet, but one of the best is a product called Plantaeris, which has many positive reviews. It is always advisable to consult with your vet for severe cases of diarrhea that have caused dehydration. In some cases, intravenous therapy may be needed to replace fluids.

Feline Plantaeris for Cat Diarrhea

Canine Plantaeris for Dog Diarrhea

Symptoms of Cushing's Disease in Pets

Cushing's disease is one of the most problematic diseases that your dog or cat can succumb too. Yet most pet owners do not know the signs and symptoms of Cushing's disease and so are not aware that their darling pet may have it until it is almost too late.

So what exactly is Cushing's disease? It is a condition in which there is an increase in the amount of glucocorticoids that are secreted by a dog or cat's adrenal glands. Usually affecting pets who have hit their middle and senior years, Cushing's disease manifests itself in two distinct ways. The first is pituitary dependant and is caused by the overproduction of a hormone called ACTH. This overproduction then leads to the overproduction of cortisol by the pet's adrenal glands. The second way in which Cushing's disease manifests is through tumors. Approximately 15 percent of all Cushing's disease cases are caused by an adrenal tumor, whilst 85 percent are caused by a tumor in the pet's pituitary gland.

Symptoms of Cushing's disease:

Increased drinking
Increased appetite
Increased urination
Weight gain
Swollen abdomen
Thinning hair
Muscle weakness
Hyperpigmentation of  your pet's skin
Skull-like resemblance of your pet's head
Lethargy and overall lack of energy
Excessive panting
Uninterested in playing with owner or other family members

If left untreated, Cushing's disease can cause calcified skin bumps and pet obesity. Your dog or cat may also be subject to excessive infections and illnesses due to a weaker immune system. Heart disease, diabetes and nervous system issues can also ensue if left untreated.

Veterinary Treatment

Upon a diagnosis of Cushing's disease, your veterinarian will most likely prescribe a medication that will work to decrease the quantity of cortisol. Most of these drugs have been approved by the FDA for treatment of Cushing's Disease in cats and dogs. However, none of them offer a complete cure.

If the Cushing's disease has manifested via a tumor in the adrenal gland, then surgery will most likely be conducted to remove the tumor. However, if the Cushing's disease is based in the pituitary then, sadly, there is no surgical option.

Supportive Treatment

In all situations, supportive treatment options should be sought as quickly as possible as these can help prolong the quality of your pet's life. One such treatment option is the use of natural remedies that work by normalizing your pet's adrenal glands' production of cortisol; whilst other natural treatments work by detoxifying your pet.  When looking for the best natural remedy, keep an eye out for the following herbal ingredients:

Dandelion: Proper liver function, kidney function, and digestion are all supported with Dandelion. It also promotes a healthy appetite and proper adrenal gland functioning.

Eleutherococus Senticosus: This helps by maintaining normal ACTH and cortisone actions, as well as supporting your pet's immune system.

Licorice: This acts as an anti-inflammatory, supporting your pet's immune system. Licorice also contains glycyrrhizin, a compound much like corticosteroids, that supports the adrenal system of pets.

With the proper diagnosis and care, Cushing's disease can certainly be treated so that your dog or cat can live a happy and healthy life.

Recommended Products:

 

Canine Supraglan for Dog Cushings Disease

Feline Supraglan for cat adrenal glands dysfunction

Is Your Dog Or Cat At Risk For A Heart Attack?

Most pet owners are not aware that their beloved cat or dog can suffer a heart attack just like humans.  In fact, heart attacks in pets are the primary cause of mortality in those that have already been diagnosed with heart disease. When you consider the large number of assorted heart ailments that are common amongst pets, especially dogs, and take into account all the different possible contributing factors, it is easy to understand why heart attacks are the number 1 pet killer.

Even so, a heart attack in dog or cat is not the same as a heart attack in a human. With a human heart attack the flow of blood is stopped very quickly which prevents any blood from flowing into the heart, killing heart cells and leading to a myocardial infarction - aka a heart attack. Pet heart attacks manifest differently.

Pet Heart Disease

Almost all heart attacks in pets are a direct result of a pre-existing heart condition, such as cardiomyopathy, heart murmurs and congenital heart defects. Such conditions are commonly found in large breed dogs; although both cats and dogs can be screened for any of these conditions earlier in their life.

Heart attacks are also the result of heart ailments such as the degeneration of the pet's heart valves, inflammation and heart worm.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack

There are distinct signs and symptoms that a pet owner should be aware of, in order to acquire quick veterinary care for the pet in case of a heart attack:

Difficulty breathing
Sharp intakes of breath
Quickly occurring drowsiness
Pain in their front legs - evident by their inability to walk
Oftentimes a pet who is about to have a heart attack will rock back and forth on its legs, stretching out its neck in an attempt to rid themselves of the pain in their chest
Collapsing or falling down and not being able to get up again.
Diagnosis and Treatment

Immediately take your pet to the veterinary clinic as soon as you believe they are having a heart attack. Your vet will be able to take an X-ray or ECG to look for any tumors or other issues with your pet's heart. Next, your vet will give your dog or cat prescription medication, such as anti-arrhythmic drugs which help maintain a steady heart beat. The next most popular treatment is medication for heartworm. These treatments can all be very expensive.

However, you can help take care of your pet's heart at home by using herbal formulas that contain a select amount of very specific herbs. There are many herbal tonics that are on the market today that all claim to be able to improve your pet's heart health. The best products will be ones that contain the following ingredients:
Balm of Gilead: Blood flow is supported whilst proper circulation is maintained with the help of this herb.
Hops: This aids by supporting good heart action as well as capillary circulation. It also works by helping to keep your pet relaxed and worry-free.

Hawthorne Berries: Blood pressure, coronary flow and your pet's heart rate are all regulated with the use Hawthorne Berries.

Dogs that are most susceptible to heart attacks are Great Danes, Dobermans, Boxers and Sheep dogs and can affect them at any age; male cats who are between the ages of five and seven years are more prone to heart disease.

Recommended Products:

  

Feline Hearty Heart for Cat Heart Disease

Canine Hearty Heart for Dog Heart Disease

Natural Treatment For Demodectic Mange In Dogs

Demodectic mange also known as demodex, demodicosis, or red mange is caused by an over population of demodectic mites. There are a number of different species of this type of parasitic mite, and they usually live in the hair follicles of our pets.

These mites are almost always transmitted from mother to young in the first few weeks of life, and generally live in harmony on your pet without causing any problems. However, when something such as malnutrition, a weakened immune system, or intense stress disrupts this natural balance, these mites can reproduce rapidly and become out of control.

Because the mites that cause demodectic mange live in the hair follicles of dogs, hair loss is usually the first noticed symptom. Hair loss typically begins on the head area, often starting around the eyes and muzzle. Other symptoms include crusty, red skin that may look moist in appearance, and in some cases, the affected areas can become sensitive and itchy and may even crack and ooze.

Demodectic mange ranges from mild, to very serious and if left untreated, it can actually be fatal. In serious cases hair loss can spread over vast areas of the body, lymph nodes can become swollen, the skin can become inflamed and painful and secondary infections can quickly develop. Some dogs become very ill and may develop symptoms such as a fever, lethargy and lose of appetite.

What Causes Demodectic Mange?

One of the things that need to be stressed is that demodectic mange is not caused by unhygienic living conditions or environmental contamination. It is also not contagious as most pets already have demodectic mites.

Demodectic mange is caused by poor immune system functioning and is most common in canine puppies with under-developed immune systems or older pets with suppressed immune systems. Corticosteroids or other immune-suppressing drugs have also been implicated as a possible cause for demodectic mange as well as other types of mange caused by demodex mites.

Diagnosing Demodectic Mange

If you suspect that your pet may have demodectic mange then a veterinary examination is necessary. As the mites are too small to be seen with the naked eye, a skin scraping or biopsy is often done before an accurate diagnosis can be made.

The cause for the weakened immune system may also be explored, especially in older pets where mange is often a sign that an immune-compromising condition is at hand. Your vet may test for illnesses such as Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, cancer, and heartworm disease in dogs, or Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) in cats.

Help for Demodectic Mange

In many cases, the underlying cause of the immune suppression or deficiency must be treated in conjunction with the treatment for mange. Conventional treatments of mange usually take the form of chemical based lotions, dips and shampoos.

Many of these treatments contain chemicals such as benzoyl peroxide, amitraz and ivermectin, however, it must be noted that these chemicals can be very harsh and cause a number of unwanted side-effects. In cases where demodectic mange is severe or generalized over large areas of the body, antibiotics are often prescribed to guard against serious infection. Antibiotics should not be used unless necessary as they tend to weaken the immune system.

Natural Remedies

Many pet owners are turning to natural and safer products to treat their pets, and it is good to know that there are natural alternatives available. There are a number of natural herbal and homeopathic ingredients which can help to treat demodectic mange without the risk of side-effects.

One popular herbal ingredient used with great success is Garlic which acts as a natural deterrent for fleas, mites and other parasites. It also contains natural antibiotic properties which can help guard against infections after a mite infestation. Wormwood is also very beneficial when treating pets for mites and has been used for centuries as a natural pesticide and insect repellant.

Herbs such as Neem and Lemongrass have also shown excellent natural repellant properties, and both have the ability to treat skin irritations and support healthy skin. Lastly, Niaoli has become a sought after herb for its antiseptic, clearing and cleansing properties. This powerful herb also acts as a tissue stimulant and is often used to clean wounds, skin irritations and promote healing.

There are also a number of herbal ingredients to boost the immune system and encourage healthy immune functioning. One such example is Echinacea purpurea which is well known for its excellent immune functioning properties and for its antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties. Milk Thistle is also beneficial for boosting the immune system as well as helping to restore optimal liver functioning.

Tips for demodectic mange

• Demodectic mange cannot survive without a host and therefore can only survive on your pet. It is therefore not necessary to treat bedding or kennel area of infected dogs.
• Keep your dog in good health. A balanced diet, adequate exercise, vaccinations and regular visits to the vet will help keep your pet in good health and may go a long way in preventing immune-related conditions.
• Feed your pet a high quality balanced diet that contains all the necessary nutrients for a strong, healthy immune system.
• Omega-3 fatty acids can be given as a supplement to help boost the immune system as and encourage skin health.
• Do not let any skin conditions get out of control. Conditions such as mange can spread quickly and can become serious if not treated swiftly.
• Avoid giving your dog harsh pharmaceutical drugs whenever you can. Drugs such as Cortisone and frequent use of antibiotics suppress the immune system and can contribute to conditions such as demodectic mange.

 

Get more info on PetAlive Manage Mites Shampoo - Cleansing herbal shampoo promotes healthy skin in dogs

Get more info on PetAlive Manage Mites Spray - Cleansing skin spray promotes healthy skin in dogs

What to Do if Your Pet has Pink Eye & How To Treat It Naturally

Many of us have experienced pink eye in our lifetime either firsthand, or through someone we know. When you awaken, you experience the crusted-over feeling in your eyes and if left untreated, it can cause blindness.

Just like humans, your pet can also end up with a case of pink eye. The disease, which is known as conjunctivitis, may cause your pet's eyes to change color in the white portion of their eye. In many cases the eye may appear like it is bloodshot and a deep red. Unlike an irritant in the eye, the pink eye will remain there for more than several days.

Symptoms of Pink Eye:

* Eye becomes pink with surrounding eye tissues swelling
* Discharge from the eye
* Eye swollen shut in more extreme cases

When you first notice that your pet's eye is turning pink, be sure you quickly check the tissue around the eye. While a mild case can result in slight swelling, a more severe case can cause your pet's eyes to swell shut and prevent blinking and opening. When this occurs, treatment can potentially become more difficult. Before you diagnose this problem, ensure nothing has become stuck in the eye that has caused this problem.

What to Do if Your Pet has Pink Eye

If you find that your pet has pink eye, be sure that you use caution when handling the eye area. Pink eye bacteria tend to be very contagious, so always wash your hands after you have treated your pet.

Typically, you will find that a number of treatment options include some very common ingredients. When selecting a natural solution for your pet, be sure that it contains these important items:

Chamomile - This ingredient is designed to help ease the inflammation that your pet is experiencing. It also contains items that are essential for your pet's immune system as well, offering a complete wellness experience.

Eyebright - This herb has been shown to fight bacteria and assist in reducing inflammation.

Goldenseal - This natural element contains things that are known as alkaloids. These alkaloids have been shown to produce anti-inflammatory results in animals.

Rosemary - We find that this herb offers antiseptic properties that can be linked to the healing process for a pink eye infection.

When attempting to administer the eye drops to your pet, be patient with them. When an animal is in pain, it quickly becomes frightened and concerned.  As a pet owner, you should be gentle with your beloved pet and give them the affection that they need. Once they are willing to let you look at their eye, gentle place a couple of drops into it and pet them affectionately.

Generally, it is a wise decision to begin treatment on your pet as soon as you notice the first signs of infection. This can help to reduce the discomfort that they feel and get them back to their old selves. This is after all what you would like to see for them.

Feline Eye Easy for Cat Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Canine Eye Easy for Dog Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Controlling Common Conditions in Aging Pets

by A Grano of Native Remedies

While we’d all love to turn back the clock and have our pets puppies and kittens again (fully potty-trained, of course!), unfortunately, they too must deal with the same aging process that we experience. However, there are common conditions that you can help control by implementing preventative health care measures.

In addition, addressing slight problems right away can lead to reduced costs in long-term care, as many diseases are potentially preventable. As diseases advance, the cost of treatment also increases. Therefore, early detection and regular maintenance can go a long way to building a strong foundation for your pet’s health.

Arthritis

Signs to watch for: A decline in energy levels, stiffness, and/or difficulty rising.

Why it’s important: Pain can decrease your pet’s mobility as well as cause changes in conduct—leading to potential uncharacteristic “snappy” behavior. Thus, managing your pet’s pain levels is very important not only for their comfort, but your safety (and those around you).

What you can do: Regular exercise is essential for keeping joints flexible and muscles and ligaments strong, and also helps prevent weight problems (which can further aggravate arthritis). Regular moderate exercise rather than sudden bouts of activity will also help to keep joints in good shape.

Feed your pet a diet high in essential nutrients and low in processed foods, additives and sugar. Nutrition is a key element in the promotion of healthy joints and muscles – as well as for promoting the integrity of the entire skeletal system.

As part of a holistic approach to treating your pet, natural remedies can help to support a healthy immune system, encourage systemic cleansing (important for healthy joints and muscles), support strength in the skeletal system and generally support the overall health of your animal. Natural remedies have been used for hundreds of years in traditional medicine to support joint and muscle health and to keep joints moving as they should.

Other components of a holistic approach, especially in relation to the joints and skeletal system, include aromatherapy, acupuncture and chiropractic – all of which lend themselves well to maintaining pet health.

Oral Health Problems

Signs to watch for: Persistent bad breath, bleeding gums, and a dark yellow or brown substance build-up on teeth.

Why it’s important: Conditions such as liver, kidney, heart inflammation and infection are many times triggered by poor dental hygiene and periodontal disease. That being said, dental disease is one of the most common forms of disease in pets.

Maintaining your pet’s dental health is a very important part of caring for your pet. Calculus is the brown build-up of plaque found extending downwards on the tooth from the gum line. Calculus is a haven for bacteria which can have serious consequences for your pet’s general health. These bacteria can not only cause abscesses and tooth loss but can have further effects – even resulting in organ damage as the bacteria are carried from the mouth through the bloodstream.

Dogs and cats make much fuller use of their teeth than humans do – using them in ways we usually use our hands. It stands to reason, therefore, that maintaining canine and feline dental health is essential to their well-being.

More than half of all pets suffer from gum disease, calculus and dental problems. The numbers are slightly higher in dogs, where it is estimated that by age three, 80% of dogs develop symptoms of oral disease. In cats, 70% develop dental problems by their third year of life.

What you can do: The best thing you can do for your dog or cat’s dental health is to embark on a prevention program and look out for your pet’s teeth and gums before it’s too late.

Regular inspection of the teeth is also a good idea to establish your pet’s level of dental health. Normal teeth in pets are shiny white all the way to the line of the gum. Any deposits or build up of a dark yellow or brown substance on the teeth, especially near the gum line, indicates a problem with calculus.

Chewing on hard food generally cleanses the teeth of calculus, especially the tips of the teeth. However, be aware that the gum line is slightly indented and can harbor the calculus-causing bacteria for months on end without being affected by your pet’s eating. The gums should appear a healthy pink color and there should be a clear delineation between gums and teeth.

In addition, natural and herbal ingredients can be very beneficial in promoting general dental health in pets, including Silica and Calc. fluoride. While Silica is naturally occurring in the body and is also frequently prescribed for gum health, Calc. fluoride is found in the enamel of teeth and bone surfaces and is excellent for maintaining the health and integrity of teeth.

Cataracts or glaucoma

Signs to watch for: Cloudy eyes, lack of interest in toys or other stimuli, and/or disorientation – such as bumping into furniture – are all signs that your pet’s vision needs attention.

What you can do: Like humans, vision declines with age, but you can help by keeping items your pet uses frequently (water and food bowls, toys, litterbox) and furniture in the same place. Regular exercise, a healthy diet and lots of fresh water will help to support your pet’s immune system and therefore also maintain eye health. Keep your pet’s eyes and surrounding areas clean and free of debris and provide shady areas to prevent harsh sun damaging the eyes.

Natural remedies can also provide great support for general eye and visual health in dogs and cats.

Hypothyroidism

Signs to watch for: Fluctuations in weight and/or decreased appetite.

Why it’s important: Since the thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) which have a number of functions in the body– including maintaining your pet’s metabolic rate– improper functioning of the thyroid gland may have an impact on a range of other body functions such as digestion, body weight, heart rate, reproductive functioning, energy levels and even skin and coat health.

Maintaining balance of thyroid hormones and of the pituitary gland which regulates them is therefore important for the overall systemic health of your dog or cat.

What you can do: From a holistic approach, it makes sense that regular exercise and a balanced diet are important in maintaining systemic as well as thyroid health. Iodine is a mineral that is crucial to the functioning of the thyroid gland and it is therefore important that your pet’s diet include iodine or an iodine supplement – also found in kelp extracts. Apart from the beneficial effect on thyroid functioning, kelp is also used as a metabolic tonic to avoid excess weight.

Certain herbs are also known to support the health of the thyroid. As animals react well to supplementation with herbal remedies, these can also play an important role in supporting your pet’s thyroid functioning. Herbal remedies can be equally effective in maintaining skin and coat health, digestive functioning and maintaining a healthy body weight.

Kidney disease or bladder problems

Signs to watch for: An increase in accidents, weight loss, and/or decreased appetite.

Why it’s important: The kidneys have a number of very important life-sustaining functions. These include excretion, fluid conservation, and endocrine processes. The kidneys filter waste products from the bloodstream, so that they may be excreted from the body in the urine.

They kidneys act as natural ‘filters’ of the body, filtering out nutrients from ingested food and liquids and leaving waste to be excreted. Animals cannot function properly if their systems are not ‘clean’ of toxins. The kidneys also produce hormones, including erythropoietin, which stimulates the bone marrow to produce new red blood cells.

What you can do: There are a number of things that we can do for our pets to prolong the healthy functioning of the kidneys. Make sure that your pet always has access to fresh, clean water. Make sure that dogs have the opportunity to urinate often and cats have access to a clean litter tray, so that they do not have to hold the urine in for unnecessarily long periods of time.

Feed your pet a natural diet low in salt, phosphorous and relatively low in protein. As your pet gets older, regular check ups at the vet are advised so that progress of the kidneys can be monitored. Our pets are exposed to a variety of toxins that are particularly harmful to the kidneys.

Many herbs contain properties to support kidney health, such as Burdock, which is widely known as a systemic cleanser and blood purifier.  It is also has the ability to maintain balance in body fluid levels and can help the kidneys to maintain their natural action of flushing out toxins, and while helping to maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range.

Other Points to Consider

As preventative care is so important, consider additional protection for your pet in the form of pet health insurance. By taking your pet to the vet for annual check-ups and giving at-home exams for physical and behavioral changes on a regular basis, you can stay on top of all health conditions. Become knowledgeable of genetic conditions specific to your pet’s breed to help recognize potential problems later on.

And just like humans, following a general plan for overall wellness, including good nutrition and exercise, can greatly help your pet lead a long, healthy life!

Energy Tonic^™ promotes healthy energy levels and vitality for dogs and cats of all ages, including aging pets.

NOTE: If your pet exhibits the following symptoms, consult a veterinarian: vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal discharge from the nose, eyes or other body openings, uncontrolled accidents,  unusual behavior such as aggressiveness or extreme lethargy, or respiration changes. Some symptoms that resemble normal aging may be indicative of a more serious health condition.

Natural Arthritis Support for Your Pet

Arthritis is a common health complaint in older pets. While many prescription arthritis medications are available, many people prefer to use less invasive methods to help their pets.

Some of these include making changes in the home to improve access for the sick animal; others involve natural supplements and diet changes. Some people even advocate massage therapy and acupuncture to help ease suffering of afflicted animals.

Making Life Easier for Your Arthritic Pet

Arthritis makes it difficult for your pet to move around. To make life easier, keep everything it needs on the main floor, so your pet won’t have to climb any stairs. Try to eliminate slick or slippery surfaces. Make sure your pet has a comfortable bed that will support joints.

Cold temperatures and drafts can worsen arthritis. Keep your pet and your home warm. Reduce drafts by keeping windows and doors closed and by changing out your insulation.

Exercise and Diet for Arthritis

Exercise is an important part of keeping your pet healthy. Any extra weight will only add pressure to the joints, so weight management is key for pets with arthritis.

Regular exercise is a good way to keep your pet at a healthy weight. Exercise also strengthens the muscles, making them better able to support aching joints. Frequent activity keeps the joints from becoming too stiff and can help keep your pet limber. However, be careful not to do too much. Exercise that is too strenuous can do more harm than good by causing more damage to the joints.

Feeding your pet a good diet is also essential. While it helps with issues of weight control, a balanced diet will also give your pet’s body what it needs to heal naturally and keep energy levels up.

Supplements for Pet Arthritis

Some veterinarians also recommend nutritional supplements for pets with arthritis. Glucosamine and chondroitin are especially popular for treating osteoarthritis.

Glucosamine is one of the main components of cartilage. The theory holds that extra glucosamine makes it easier for the chondrocytes (cartilage-forming cells in the joint) to make more cartilage. Chondroitin augments this process, as well as inhibiting certain enzymes believed to be involved in the destruction of cartilage.

Some researchers believe that giving your pet a supplement of glucosamine and chondroitin can not only halt the progression of osteoarthritis, but actually reverse the damage that has already been done. In order to keep the condition from returning, a life-long regimen of these supplements is required. Fortunately, they have very few side effects, but still, you should always consult with your veterinarian before giving your pet any supplements.

Arthritis and Complementary Healing Methods

Massage therapy can be very beneficial to arthritic pets. However, it must be performed correctly so as not to cause pain or permanent damage. Ask your veterinarian about proper techniques, or take your pet to a licensed animal massage therapist.

Some evidence indicates that acupuncture may be beneficial to arthritic pets. If you decide to explore this option, make sure the acupuncturist has experience working with animals.

Arthro-Ionx™ All-Natural Pet Arthritis Formula

Holistic Help for Your Pet with Cushing's Disease

Cushing's disease is a disease of the adrenal gland. It usually occurs in middle aged to older pets and can manifest itself in many different ways. Some of the most common symptoms are an increase in thirst which naturally leads to an increase in urination. Your pet's appetite will be increased and your pet will not have a lot of energy. Although lack of energy is expected in some older dogs, when it is accompanied by some of the other symptoms, you should be on alert and call your veterinarian.

You dog or cat may have an excessive amount of panting. Their skin will also become quite fragile and they may even lose their hair. Skin infections become common as well. You will also notice the abdomen increasing in size.

There are two different types of the disease. One is adrenal dependent and one is pituitary dependent. The chain of events leading to the manifestation of the disease is the over production of ACTH by the pituitary, which leads to the over production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. The other process which is adrenal based, is tumors of the adrenal gland.

Veterinarians have long used medications to help in the treatment of Cushing's. Medications that will decrease the amount of cortisol and supportive treatments have been about all that can be done. The only cure is removal of the tumors of the adrenal gland. If, however it is pituitary based, there is no surgical option that can be used.

There are several drugs that have been approved by the FDA for treatment of Cushing's. None of them are cures, just medications that will allow your pet to lead a fairly normal but shorter life.

It is also possible to relieve the symptoms by stopping the administration of prednisone. Since Cushing's is directly linked to the overproduction or ingestion of steroids, by stopping the drug, the disease may well subside without further treatment. Only your vet can be sure. If however you know that you have been giving your dog steroids for a prolonged period of time, it may be time to consult your vet and make the suggestion if they don't.

There are several insecticides that can contribute to the syndrome as well. Mitotane and Trilostane are just two of them. If you are using these products in your home and within reach of your pet, it would probably be very beneficial to stop their use. By checking things before you use them, many of the common maladies can be avoided. If it is not safe for pets, don't use it. A new smell will draw your inquisitive friend to it, no problem.

The advent of holistic or natural treatments for humans and pets has led to research that has been found to be very helpful in the treatment of Cushing's. A search on the internet will lead you to several different possibilities.

When choosing a natural treatment option for your pet's Cushing's Disease treatment plan, look for ingredients such as the following:

Borage: This herb contains natural precursors of adrenal glands hormones which supports your pet's endocrine system functions. Borage also aids in detoxification, as well as supporting the adrenal cortex.

Licorice: This contains glycyrrhizin, which is a compound that is similar to corticosteroids, and also supports the adrenal system of pets. However, licorice also acts as an anti-inflammatory that supports the immune system as well.

Dandelion: Many people do not realize how nutritious Dandelion really is! It not only supports liver function, but also proper digestion and a healthy appetite too.

Recommended products:
Supraglan for Dog Cushings Disease 

Supraglan for Cat Adrenal Glands Dysfunction

Natural Remedy For Dog Diabetes

Dia-IonX™ is a liquid-based, proprietary homeopathic/oligotherapeutic complex that you simply add to your pet’s daily water dish. Dia-IonX™ is invisible in water and fast-acting in your pet’s body, so your pet can effortlessly enjoy support for normal blood sugar and vitality.

Relieve diabetes symptoms including dry mouth, fatigue, indigestion, and increased thirst, appetite, urination & constipation

Help support normal blood sugar balance in your pet

Promote your pet’s healthy blood circulation, eyes, kidneys & nerves

Enhance your pet’s quality of life during diabetes management

Work safely & naturally, with no negative side effects*

Dia-IonX™ is Veterinarian-Recommended
for Natural Diabetes Management in Dogs

Dia-IonX™ is a superior pet care product for your dog because it is safe, effective, and available now. Discover why more veterinarians choose Dia-IonX™ for canine diabetes management . . .

 Dr Charlene Wilson, DVM

• Homeopathic ingredients are accepted by the FDA to safely and immediately provide temporary relief of diabetes symptoms, including dry mouth, increased thirst or appetite, fatigue, indigestion, increased urination and constipation
• Organic oligotherapeutic base provides non-alcohol, non-irritating medicine delivery directly to your dog’s cells for superior diabetes symptom relief and blood sugar balance support
• Bio-available liquid formula is easy to administer to any dog, for immediate and effective absorption in the body
• Daily support formula helps maintain your dog’s optimal quality of life during diabetes management
• All-natural formula delivers daily support with NO negative side effects, guaranteed or your money back!

All of these benefits add up to one thing: the wellness your dog deserves! By adding Dia-IonX™ to your dog’s daily water dish, you can rest assured that your dog is receiving optimal support for diabetes symptom relief, normal blood sugar, and a healthy lifestyle.

Dia-IonX™ Success Stories

“I saw an immediate difference!!”

“I sought advice on the internet about symptoms my Pomeranian was having thinking it was diabetes and saw this site advertised. I have spent money before on supposed “flyers” so I offset the cost versus going to my Vet and that expense. I gave Taz the 30 drops the day I got it and have not looked back. I saw an immediate difference!!

Within 2 days my pet was no longer lethargic and was back to his old self. My faith in this product is such that I ordered the 5 bottles offer that week and will be re-ordering when my present supply runs out. Thanks so much for this wonderful product!!!”

- Duke B, Arizona 07/02/10

“I ordered more today and I’ll keep Tigger on Dia-IonX forever.”

“The vet said my doxie (Tigger) was pre-diabetic. I started noticing signs, weight gain, excessive thirst. I didn’t want to put him on shots every day, so I googled “dog’s diabetes” and found your site. He’s been on the Dia-IonX for three months now and I noticed a big difference. Lost weight, and not as thirsty.

I ran out of the product over a week ago and I noticed he is starting to get thirsty. He has been licking moisture off grass again, which he has not been doing when on Dia-IonX. I am soooo happy with this product, I guess running out taught me a lesson. I ordered more today and I’ll keep Tigger on Dia-IonX forever. Thank you for making this available for pets.”

- Marilyn L, Florida 05/13/10

“The change in her has been nothing short of miraculous!”

“I just wanted to give you an update on Panda. We have now finished the first bottle of Dia-IonX. I have been giving her 1/2 teaspoon twice a day. On Sunday she will have completed the two weeks on that dosage.

The change in her has been nothing short of miraculous! She is almost back to her old self. She will be 11 the end of this month.

She is still drinking more than she should and peeing more than she should. However, it is less than before she went on it. She is also eating very well, has energy, is not sleeping all the time, is going for walks again, not throwing up and is even playing with her toys once in awhile.

In May I am going to take her for another blood test to see how her levels are. I am very pleased with your product.

- Shelia R, Canada 04/12/10

“I am so happy to see the life come back in him.”

“I would like to thank you, my little Mini Pin’s blood sugar has dropped quite a bit since I started him on this. I am so happy to see the life come back in him. He is back to his old self again. Thanks once again for the help no one else could seem to help with.

Since I have been giving him the diabetic formula his water intake is less and also the trips outside.

I am very impressed with this product and so glad I tried it.”

- Tina W, Virginia 03/09/10

Just like humans, dogs can develop diabetes. In fact, diabetes is becoming so common, it is now believed that one of every ten dogs in the world suffers from diabetes. There are two types of diabetes that affect dogs: diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes insipidus is caused by a lack of the hormone that controls water resorption by the kidneys. Diabetes mellitus, the more common of the two types, is caused by a resistance to and lack of insulin similar to the human form of type II diabetes. Both types of diabetes are the result of defects in the hormone production in the body, though diabetes mellitus can be the result of an underactive lifestyle.

Dogs typically get diabetes when they are older, usually between the ages of seven to nine years old. The reproductive hormones place un-spayed female dogs at a higher risk than their male counterparts. Diabetes in dogs is often hereditary; if a dog’s parents had diabetes, it is more likely that their offspring will also develop diabetes. There are some dog breeds that are more susceptible to developing diabetes, such as Golden Retrievers, standard Poodles, miniature Pinschers and many more.

Causes of Diabetes in Dogs

In addition to predispositions to diabetes, dogs may also develop diabetes caused by different diseases. Certain diseases, especially diseases affecting the pancreas, may trigger abnormal production of the hormone insulin in your dog’s body.

Once your dog’s normal insulin process is disrupted, it will be much harder for your dog’s body to manage glucose and blood sugar levels, and your dog’s cells will have to work harder to receive the energy (glucose).

This is the point at which diabetes occurs in the dog and they may suffer from increased urination, excessive thirst, constipation, fatigue, indigestion, and dry mouth. Over time, the symptoms and degeneration of the body caused by diabetes can be life-threatening to dogs.

The use of steroids in your dog may also be a contributing factor to developing diabetes. Steroids are known to affect the normal functions of the pancreas and can lead to under production of insulin. Dogs that are given steroid shots on a regular basis can eventually develop diabetes.

Healthy Lifestyle Tips for Dog with Diabetes

Because obesity in dogs can lead to diabetes just as it can in people, dogs with diabetes need food and exercise that meets their optimal nutrition and activity needs.

Dog food should be chosen based on your dog’s age and physical condition. A ready-made option should be low-fat and low-carb, while providing a high protein and vitamin content. Check that the fiber content is high enough for your diabetic dog. You should avoid dog foods that are mostly carbohydrates and semi-moist dog foods that are usually high in sugar.

When you can, prepare your dog’s meals at home. This can save you money and possibly prevent future vet visits. The main components of a fresh prepared meal for your diabetic dog are:

• Skinless and cooked lean meats
• Par-boiled brown rice
• Mixed vegetables
• Eggs
• Diabetic dog biscuits.

The ideal feeding schedule should be in sync with any medical treatments for the dog. Be careful not to overfeed.

Exercise is a sure fire way to reduce the obesity and diabetes symptoms in dogs; plus it is good for the owner to get exercise too!

Start off easy if your dog hasn’t been exercising much; go for short walks, preferably several times a day. Make sure your dog is properly hydrated before and after the walk, and wait to feed until after the walk, once they your dog has had some water and has stopped panting.

These simple lifestyle changes will greatly improve your diabetes management program and quality of life for your dog. Still, you may find your dog needs daily blood sugar support, as well as relief of irritating diabetes symptoms such as dry mouth, increased thirst or appetite, fatigue, indigestion, increased urination and constipation.

Dia-IonX™ is a homeopathic/oligatherapeutic complex that works with the body to naturally promote healing over time, and can provide fast relief of diabetes symptoms. Dia-IonX™ is a bio-available liquid formula that is easy to administer to your dog without causing stress, and is quickly and effectively absorbed into the body for fast, safe relief.

Start your dog down the path to optimal health through regular exercise, a quality balanced diet and Dia-IonX™, and your dog will be moving toward the healthy lifestyle you both deserve.

Dia-Ionx Pet Diabetes Formula

Help Your Dog Beat The Summer Heat

You probably already know that dog's don't sweat in the same way humans do, the main way they regulate their temperature is by panting and this system works quite effectively until the thermometer starts to climb into the 90s.

After walking on hot concrete your dogs paws can get cracked

bowWOW Butter Balm | 1.7oz Quick relief soothing treatment for dry cracked noses & paws

Dry cracked noses paws and elbows Hot spots, inflammation and redness Raw spots where your dog has been scratching All natural and perfectly safe even if your dog licks it off Shea butter based formula not petroleum based Whether it’s the salt covered streets of the frozen north or the arid tarmac of the southwest, dry cracked noses and paws are a fact of life for dogs around the country. This blissful balm will alleviate the discomfort with creamy Shea Butter and soothing aloe. The smooth balm also provides fast relief for eczema, hot spots and insect bites with good stuff like marshmallow, Indian frankincense, tea tree oil, burdock and comfrey. Don’t worry, if your dog licks it off it’s perfectly safe to ingest. (It's also great for your own dry cuticles, elbows & dry patches!) An ounce of prevention Apply bowWow Butter Balm at the firt sign of redness and distress and the all natural formula will not only lubricate and moisturize but will also provide a water proof barrier to prevent further dryness.

When high temperatures are combined with high humidity it can be doubly dangerous as this reduces evaporation and that's what keeps your dog cool. The combination of heat and humidity is referred to as the heat index; a temperature of 90 degrees coupled with 70 percent humidity creates a heat index of 105 degrees, a very uncomfortable situation for both you and your dog.

Bathing your dog is a great summertime cool off

Comfy Dog Oatmeal Shampoo | 9oz Quick Relief for Dog's with Dry, Itchy Skin and Allergies

Helps RelieveDry itchy or irritated skin Itching due to allergies Flaking and dander Incessant scratching Hot spots and irritation You already know that oatmeal is the go-to ingredient for dry skin, however Comfy Dog sets the standard by using only human grade colloidal oatmeal (oat solids in suspension) rather than the inferior oat extract that some products use. This means faster results and long lasting relief Approved by the FDAColloidal oatmeal is one of the few all natural ingredients that has been approved by the FDA for use in helping dry skin, insect bites and itching caused by allergies. It's used extensivly in human products because of it's power and effectiveness. A complete spectrum of healing The formula also contains botanical extracts of peppermint (an antiseptic agents that also acts as a natural insect repellent) burdock (an anti inflammatory), Indian frankincense (which is is perfect for dogs with sensitive skin) and calendula (used for centuries to heal and soothe irritation). For easy rinsing, the shampoo does not overly lather so it rinses out quickly and easily (soap residue is a common cause of canine itching)

Your dog's body temperature is higher than yours (usually between 100 and 102.5 degrees) but when body temperature climbs above 106 the normal cooling mechanisms become overwhelmed. Like humans, dogs can suffer from heat stroke, heat exhaustion and cramps all of which can be life threatening if not treated immediately.

High risk groups
• Puppies
• Older dogs (7 years and older for large breeds 14 years and older for smaller breeds)
• Overweight dogs
• Brachycephalic (flat faced) dogs such as bulldogs or pugs
• Large double-coated breeds like the chow chow
• Dogs bred for cold climates such as malamutes, huskies, American Eskimos and Newfoundlands

Sunburn
Most people think that because their dog is covered in fur sunburn is not an issue, this is not true, Dogs do not burn as easily as humans do which is a good thing however this means that if your dog does have a sunburn it is no small thing and you should take him to the vet immediately. You will know when your dog is starting to burn by the redness of the skin however the burn does not always appear red and may in fact turn the skin lighter. You can prevent sunburn by limiting your dog’s exposure to the sun, especially during the heat of the day but an even better way is by spraying with Flea the Scene an all natural insect spray which contains a natural sunscreen.

Treating Pet Hyperthyroidism The Natural Way

When your pet has hyperthyroidism, it simply means that their thyroid gland is no longer working as it should. Sometimes, this is caused by normal aging, and other times because of growths found on the thyroid glands. While your pet may not die from this condition, it can drastically lower their quality of life. It causes things like weight loss, hypertension, and potential damage to the kidneys, heart, and liver.

Hyperthyroidism Causes

Usually, hyperthyroidism in dogs and cats occurs in those that are middle-aged or older. Often, if cats are fed fish-flavored canned cat food, or giblet and liver flavored, they are at a higher risk for developing this illness. Himalayan and Siamese cats are at a lower risk for getting this condition than are other breeds. Growths present on the thyroid glands are the main cause for this condition.

Treatment for Hyperthyroidism in Pets

Conventional treatment for hyperthyroidism includes surgery or medication, and sometimes both. It can also be treated with radioactive iodine therapy. The medication can cause serious side effects, and the pet must be monitored very closely. Although this doesn't cure the condition, it does reduce the pet's hormone levels.

Natural Treatments for Hyperthyroidism

Today, more people are deciding to go with natural treatments for hyperthyroidism. People often choose natural methods since they don't have many side effects, and are much less invasive. Also, the use of natural treatments provides relief for many of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. By following the proper diet and exercise program, any natural treatment program should include one or more of the following:

Astragalas: This is a Chinese Remedy for helping to regulate the endocrine system. It is also effective at leveling blood pressure.

Bladderwack: This is sea kelp that is well known for its uses to control an overactive thyroid. It gives a great source of iodine. It is of vast importance to be sure that when sea kelp is used, it has been harvested in an area that is without contamination.

Bugleweed: This herb works to control a pet's Thyroid-stimulating hormones, whilst helping to ease tension and irritability.

Lemon Balm: This remedy helps to effectively manage the thyroid activity or pets, as well as supporting normal digestion.

Glandular therapy: In this method, animal glands that have been ground up are given to pets to make their own glands work more effectively.

Homeopathy: This method has been around for a long time for people and animals can also benefit from it. Small amounts of things that would usually cause symptoms, are given to the patient, and this allows the immune system to develop immunity and get past the illness.

Herbal remedies: Some other commonly used herbs are lycopus, zingiber, and chamomile.

Acupuncture: This is used on pets with hyperthyroidism, since it can target the areas of the body that are causing the problems for the animal.

Often, changing what your animal eats can assist with hyperthyroidism. Giving them natural or raw foods can help greatly with regulating the animal's hormone levels.

Although there is no exact method to prevent hyperthyroidism from occurring in pets, making sure that they eat the right foods, get the right amount of proper exercise, as well as including the use of natural supplements into their daily diet, can all assist in insuring that your pet leads the healthiest life possible.

Recommended products:
Resthyro for Dog Hyperthyroidism

Resthyro for Cat Hyperthyroidism

Warning Signs & Treatment Of Pet Heart Disease

When you own a pet you will want to ensure that they have nothing wrong with their health. Even regular checkups at the veterinarian's office and the best possible care sometimes can't stop harmful things from happening to your pet, such as heart disease.

Heart disease affects a large quantity of cats and dogs and although it is worrying, the technology for treatment options and cures has come such a long way that you should be able to find a suitable treatment for your pet.

Understanding your pet's heart

To fully understand your pet's heart disease you need to learn more regarding their heart. The heart is made up of four chambers. It has one primary function, which is to pump blood around your pet's body; this blood contains nutrients and oxygen which are both essential. If your pet's heart cannot do this correctly then your pet will become ill, and will need to receive immediate veterinary treatment. There are many different types of heart disease that your pet might suffer from and you need to seek veterinary assistance in order to have your pet properly diagnosed.

Types of heart disease

There are two types of heart disease: acquired and congenital. In most cases there are often very natural reasons why your pet may have heart disease. If your senior dog has acquired heart disease then generally it is caused by simple 'wear and tear' and old age. Injury and infection can also cause your pet to get heart disease and although it is better to detect these problems as soon as possible, often it can be too late by the time the symptoms actually appear. With congenital heart disease these would have been detected since birth - your veterinarian would have been able to detect such congenital heart problems during your pet's very first health check-up.

Calling the vet

Often you will not even realize that your pet has heart disease, unless it is congenital of course. There are some symptoms which will indicate that your pet has a problem with their heart:
Difficulty breathing
Loss of appetite
Pale gums
Wheezing
If you think that your pet is suffering with any of these symptoms, it is best that you call your vet as soon as possible. However, in most situations, by the time the vet has diagnosed the problem, the damage may have already been done. With the vast amount of treatments these days your pet can continue to live a perfectly normal lifestyle.

Treatments for your pet

Heart disease is only the underlying condition which can be treated with either medication from your veterinarian or natural, and more holistic, alternatives. More and more pet owners these days are turning to natural treatments for their pet's heart disease; as well as switching to a well balanced diet and including regular exercise for their pet.

Carefully selected herbal products can support your pet's blood pressure and encourage a boost to their natural immune system. There are many herbal products which have been proven to help with the heart and nervous system.

Look for products that contain herbs such as:

Hawthorne berries: This helps by regulating your pet's heart rate, as well as coronary flow and blood pressure

Lady's Slipper: This sedative tonic works on your pet's nervous system and helps manage heart palpitations.

Although heart disease is not curable you can make your pets life comfortable, and in many cases they will live a very long and happy life. Ensure that your dog is fed well and has access to plenty of fresh, clean water to drink. You should also try to minimize potential stressors in your pet's life, although it is essential that you have routine checkups with a veterinarian.

Recommended products:
Hearty Heart for Dog Heart Disease 

Hearty Heart for Cat Heart Disease

Washing Your Dog May Prevent Illness

Stinky Dog Collection

Can you believe that about a third of the body’s cells are dying at any given time and each cell has to eventually be replaced? And there are so many chemicals and toxins in the world today, that our bodies have to work even harder.

Accumulated toxins as well as normal dirt and debris encourage germs and parasites to flourish. They can also lower energy levels by overburdening normal bodily functions. This toxin buildup may not cause any one particular disease but can make a dog more susceptible to infectious diseases and inflammation.

Luckily there are ways we can help our pets. The first is exercise, the second is a day of fasting and the third is regular grooming, which is what we are going to focus on here.

You may wonder why we have to wash our dogs at all. Wolves in the wildlife never get bathed and they seem to do just fine without all of that pampering. The main reason we have to wash our pets is because they were bred to have abnormally long, curly or fine hair which gets really dirty and matted. Certainly dogs will try to self groom with their tongues and paws but with their long coats, they usually can’t do the job alone. Nor should they. Dirt and debris left in the coat is dangerous for two reasons...

1. Your dog will try to clean their fur by licking it. So they will ingest things like lint, flakes of paint, debris from automobiles and even asbestos fibers all of which can cause many internal problems.

2. These same toxins in the fur can cause skin irritations which leads to itchy skin.

Here are a few of solutions:

1. Wash your dog with an all natural shampoo every week or every month depending on the type of dog you have and your lifestyle.

2. Brush your dog daily. Unlike humans who absorb most environmental allergens through their noses and mouths, dogs tend to absorb allergens through the skin. Weekly bathing can prevent itchiness , washing allergens away before they get a chance to penetrate the skin. Also, frequent brushing stimulates skin health by bringing secretions from oil glands onto the skin. It also helps to remove mattes from building up.

3. Give your dog a detoxifier to help eliminate toxins more quickly. Healthy Skin Shiny Coat is an herbal tonic that you give to your dog by mouth. It helps to reroute the toxins to the kidneys and bowels so the skin will be healthier.

So contrary to popular belief washing your dog every week to every month IS good for your dog and the reasons are more than just skin deep

Is Your Dog Always In The Pool, Lake Or Ocean And Has That Wet Dog Smell?

Dry Dog Instant Clean

If your dog is always in the pool, lake or ocean use Dry Dog Instant Clean to get rid of the wet dog smell. It will also help to clean and sanitize!

Testimonials:

Dry Dog Instant Clean is the BEST product that I have ever used on my dog. It IS the one product that I will not leave home without.

My dog goes with me everywhere and I don’t always have the time to bathe or groom her. When my back is hurting and Cookie needs a bath I bring out Dry Dog. Not only does it clean but it has the most delicious scent that lasts for days! No more wet dog smell.

It not only cleanses and deodorizes but it is also safe for her to lick. I couldn’t think of anything better for my dog than a product that is actually safe, smells heavenly, cleans AND you can take it with you.

Thank you so much Happytails, you have made me a happy woman and my dog a happy dog because she hates bathing. I LOVE Dry Dog!

Linda Jimenez,
Simi Valley, CA

She smelled like a new dog

I just got your newsletter, which highlighted the Dry Dog Instant Clean. I wanted to shoot you a quick email to let you know how much I love that product! It has been raining here in Central CA constantly, and the dogs have to be outside when I am at work. When I come home they stink. I told Picker that she smells like a stagnant puddle! However, after just a few spritzes of Dry Dog Instant Clean she smelled like a new dog. I have been using it on all of them, and it has saved my sanity this last week. As a plus, it doesn't make my dogs sneeze like products from other companies have in the past. Thank you for making such a great product!

Tara Flaming Wilson

K-9 Action Dog Training and Boarding

Two weeks and counting

I work for Pete and Mac's and we've just recently started carrying the Happytails line. I just had to write and rave about how much I love the Dry Dog Instant Clean! It really does get rid of the odors instead of covering them up (like the bottle of deodorizer I bought from Petsmart)...my dog has gone 2 weeks without a bath and that's with being in daycare every day and going to the dog park on top of that.

The Dog Smog Remedy is also a life saver since my dog has developed an affinity for cat food...can't say that he enjoys getting it as much as the rest of us appreciate the results, but oh well.

Stephanie Owen
Pete and Mac's Lenexa, KS

I think I'm addicted

As you know, I love the Dry Dog so much, I put it into a Dailycandy round-up of favorite things for puppies. It smells amazing. Period. I don't even think that's a subjective opinion. I think it's fact. I make people smell it all the time. Either in the bottle, or, which is even better, on my dog Rosie P. It's funny, because I don't like kiwis as a general rule--I pick them out of fruit salads. But, in this situation, they rock. I get compliments all the time on how good my dog smells. It's as though they're shocked that dogs could smell this lovely. Also good, my year-old puppy, Rosie P, doesn't seem to mind being sprayed with it at all. She sits patiently and waits 'til she has been spritzed.

I think I'm addicted. I spray her every day when I brush her coat. It's so easy, and it does wonders--basically, you're a few sprays away from having a deliciously odored dog instead of a smelly one. Seems crazy that you wouldn't use it.

Charlotte Druckman
New York, NY

Dry Dog Instant Clean

 Dry Dog Instant Clean, Gallon

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