Friday, May 14, 2010

Fighting Dog Halitosis

Article courtesy of Native Remedies
by D. Braun

Just about every dog I have come across has had bad breath. Sometimes it is mildly offensive while other times I want to run away screaming! It is no wonder that dogs have this problem since they cannot brush their teeth on a daily basis like we do. You might notice that your dog has bad breath only in certain circumstances like after they eat or right after they have woken up. Or, your dog might have bad breath all the time.

There are many things that can cause dogs to have bad breath. If they have tooth decay or disease in their gums then no doubt their breath will be terrible and this should be addressed right away. Many medications can lead to the mouth drying out and this is a big welcome committee for halitosis (bad breath). Bacteria growth in both the digestive system and mouth is probably the biggest cause for bad breath. Other causes include: viruses, too much protein in the diet, tonsillitis, liver problems, constipation, diabetes, gastrointestinal issues, respiratory disease, digestion problems and viral infections.

You might brush your dog’s teeth on a daily or weekly basis and notice that it is still not helping like you would want it to. This is not only tiring and time consuming but with our busy schedules is something that would be nice to avoid altogether. You might have also tried some of the prescription medications that are geared toward knocking out bad breath. These tend to work well but have quite a few unwanted side effects.

There are some herbs available that are good at knocking out bad breath at the source. Cleavers, Apium graveolens and Foeniculum officinale can be used to detoxify and clean your dog’s body and improve their breath a great deal.

There are other things you can do to help keep bad breath at bay. Make sure your pet drinks plenty of clean water every day. Be sure that their diet is good and does not contain too much protein. There are commercial pet foods available that are balanced to help fight gum disease. Do not give your dog any sugar because this is terrible for their teeth and overall health. Add some rice to their food because it will help them digest their food better. Make sure that there is a chew toy available to them at all times since they are great at keeping their teeth clean.

If you decide to brush their teeth, make sure that you begin when they are still a puppy. Cover your finger with a piece gauze and pull the lip back. Brush in little circles while going back and forth along the gumline. Make sure that you use a natural toothpaste that is especially formulated for pets.

Natural products for your pet's health are available from Pet Alive, a branch of Native Remedies. Visit the site to learn more about how you can protect your pets' health and ensure that they live long and healthy lives. Click-here NOW!

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Do herbal and homeopathic remedies work on pets?

Article courtesy of Native Remedies

"In the wild, animals instinctively seek out healing herbs to help them when they are ill or undernourished. In fact, Asclepius, the ancient Greek god of medicine, respected dogs very highly for their ability to seek out and eat medicinal herbs in the wild. This ability is shared by other animals, including cats. We are coming to realize that nature often has the answers - but animals have always known this! Natural medicine can help your pet just as it can help you. While there is always a place for conventional veterinary medicine, natural medicine can compliment conventional veterinary care and in many cases do just as well. I have applied the same care and research that have gone into our Native Remedies range for adults and children to the development of pet-friendly, safe and effective natural remedies for animals. As always, all remedies are formulated to the highest therapeutic standards and manufactured under strict pharmaceutical conditions for your peace of mind and the well being of your pets. " Michele Carelse, Clinical Psychologist.

"When a veterinary surgeon practices the use of homeopathic medicine and is asked why he does so, he may give one of several answers. The simple answer would be that the results are good, an emphatic answer would be that homeopathic treatment has no unpleasant or dangerous side effects, while still achieving successful results.

The PetAlive Homeopathic range has been formulated with this knowledge and is specifically designed to treat your pet in a holistic and natural manner."

Dr. Glenn Ferguson
M-Tech Homeopathy
Doctor of Chinese Medicine

Natural products for your pet's health are available from Pet Alive, a branch of Native Remedies. Visit the site to learn more about how you can protect your pets' health and ensure that they live long and healthy lives. Click-here NOW!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

5 Steps to Take When Your Dog is Urinating Frequently

Boy, did I learn a valuable lesson. Once I had to rush my dog to the pet hospital and he practically died. He had a urinary tract infection and I didn’t notice the symptoms until the last minute. Thankfully, my veterinarian was able to save him but it was definitely a wake-up call. Now I focus on preventive treatment and am aware of the signs of infection so it doesn’t spiral out of control again. Here are 5 steps you should take when you notice your dog urinating frequently.

1. First, have a look at all of the symptoms. Is your dog straining to urinate? Is your dog urinating excessively or are there only drops coming out at a time? A urinary blockage could cause your dog to stop urinating completely so it’s important get him treated if that’s the case because it could mean life or death. If the only symptom you notice is frequent urination, treatment at home with plenty of fresh, filtered water, unprocessed food, and homeopathy will probably be enough to fight off the infection.

2. If you notice your dog urinating frequently, take him to the vet. Your vet will do tests and examinations to figure out the underlying cause of the problem. In severe cases, medication or a surgical procedure may be necessary to correct the problem.

3. If you see your dog urinating excessively, a urinary tract infection is most likely the cause. Most mainstream veterinarians prescribe antibiotics in this situation. However, antibiotics are known to actually aggravate the symptoms of dog UTI and cause other harmful side effects. In many cases, dietary control and homeopathic treatment are enough to get rid of a UTI.

4. Take aggressive action when you notice your dog urinating frequently. Give your dog plenty of filtered water to drink. Bathe him frequently so bacteria don’t have a chance to flourish in his genital area. Give him only raw, unprocessed, or homemade food. Commercial foods are laden with artificial ingredients like preservatives and colorings and they can alter the pH of your dog’s urine so they should be avoided.

5. Administering a homeopathic remedy is hands down the biggest step you can take to help your dog achieve permanent recovery when you notice your dog urinating excessively. Homeopathic remedies restore balance at a cellular level and help maintain a healthy bladder, a healthy flow of urine, and a strong immune system that is capable of fighting off infections. Homeopathic treatments are better than any medication because they are completely free of side effects, they are affordable, and they can both treat and prevent UTI.

So there you have it. The next time you see your dog urinating frequently, follow these 5 simple steps. By doing so you can help your dog achieve a fast recovery and avoid complications. Remember that natural, preventive treatment is the most effective but you have to use it on a regular basis. Rather than just treating the problem when symptoms arise, prevent it from becoming an issue altogether with homeopathic treatment and lifestyle change.

Natural products for your pet's health are available from Pet Alive, a branch of Native Remedies. Visit the site to learn more about how you can protect your pets' health and ensure that they live long and healthy lives. Click-here NOW!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Dogs Get Arthritis Too

Article courtesy of Native Remedies
by D. Braun

Arthritis is a disease that continues to get worse as your pet ages and the affected joints become inflamed. The cartilage in the joint is slowly destroyed by everyday wear and tear and once it gets to a certain point, the body begins to help further the destruction.

Many times you cannot even tell if your pet has arthritis. Other times you will be able to hear creaking in their joints or see the inflammation.

There are many things that can cause arthritis in cats or dogs including injury, infections and certain diseases. Some breeds such as bulldogs and dachshunds are more prone to arthritis due to their body and bone structure.

When you take your dog or cat to the vet they will need to know about any history they have had with injuries. They will ask questions about how mobile your pet is and if you have noticed any creaking or cracking sounds when they stand up. They will probably take X-rays and maybe even blood tests to help them give an accurate diagnosis.

There are many things you can do to help prevent arthritis in your pet with one of the most important being their diet. An organic diet that is full of vitamins and minerals is the foundation of keeping your beloved dog or cat healthy and pain-free.

Also be sure to take your pet out for some light exercise everyday to ensure their joints stay strong and their muscles and tendons retain flexibility. A game of chase the mouse will often help cats with arthritis. Your dog might not want to go with you for a walk if they already have arthritis but you should encourage them to come along. A light walk will help to improve the circulation of blood through the joints and ultimately ease the discomfort your dog is experiencing. It will also help to cleanse them of the inflammation-causing substances that build up in their joints.

If your pet has already been diagnosed with arthritis then there are several herbs and homeopathic remedies which can be helpful in managing arthritis and its associated discomfort. Glucosamine, lecithin, harpagophytum procumbens, natrium sulfate, arthrospira platenis, natrium phosphoricum and calcium fluoride can all be helpful to your cat or dog.

The importance of keeping your pet’s weight controlled cannot be overstated. A pet that is overweight will be more likely to get arthritis because of the extra work their joints have to do in order to simply support the added fat. If your pet already has arthritis, the added weight will make it a lot more painful for him/her to move around.

Natural products for your pet's health are available from Pet Alive, a branch of Native Remedies. Visit the site to learn more about how you can protect your pets' health and ensure that they live long and healthy lives. Click-here NOW!

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Walking An “Alpha Dog”: 5 Tips for Walking Dominant Dogs

Article courtesy of Native Remedies
by B. Chancey

Lately I have been trying to take more walks with my six month old puppy Atticus; every time he sees me getting the leash he gets so excited. After several minutes of hyperactivity, he sits patiently while I put the leash on him. I have been trying some techniques with him while we walk such as, teaching him to walk only on my right side, not to walk ahead of me, and keeping a steady pace.

A couple days ago while going for our morning walk, Atticus wasn’t listening to my commands, and I felt as though I was forcing him to walk properly. I crouched down to pet him and to try to understand why he was acting this way; he squirmed his way out of his collar and bolted down the street. Like a mad woman, I ran after my 55 pound dog with his tongue sticking out and flapping in the wind almost to say “catch me if you can”.

Finally after repeatedly calling his name and telling him to sit, I managed to put the collar and leash back on him, and we returned home. Thank goodness no one was around to see me talking to Atticus the whole way home saying things such as “what in the world were you thinking” and “why would you do that?”.

Turns out my training tactics were wrong. I have been giving him complete freedom during our morning strolls and this led to his dominate behavior. After researching numerous sites on “Dog Walking Training Techniques”, I learned that I needed to act more like the leader, be more confident and stop my “alpha dog” in his tracks.

5 Tips on How to Walk a Dog

1. Make your dog come to you when it’s time to put on its leash.

2. Always be one step in front of your dog when beginning the walk .

3. The collar should be far up the neck and the lead should be relaxed.

4. If you pass a barking dog or other distraction keep moving forward. If your dog is distracted tug on the lead to direct the attention back to the walk at hand.

5. The dog should not sniff the ground or relieve itself where it pleases; a dog should concentrate on following its handler while walking. The dog needs to see you are leading it, it is not leading you.

Natural products for your pet's health are available from Pet Alive, a branch of Native Remedies. Visit the site to learn more about how you can protect your pets' health and ensure that they live long and healthy lives. Click-here NOW!