Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Everything a Dog Owner Needs to Know About Natural Healthcare

Vets of alternative medicine know that the main element to self-healing in any species of animal is an effective defense system. The defense mechanism shields a dog and other species of animals from anything from viruses to cancer cells. The majority of us are able to understand the merits regarding utilizing natural remedies ourselves in order to provide a tough disease fighting mechanism, however, when it concerns the health care of our canine friends, herbal treatments are usually overlooked.

A lot of health conditions that affect human beings and also pets, tend to be tied to an issue with immune health. Certainly, a fragile immune system is a key factor when it comes to bringing about health issues. Many long term conditions which include cancer, liver disease, kidney problems, allergies, diabetes as well as others which are often seen in human beings along with pets have an immune basis. Poisons within the environment, harmful pesticides, exceedingly utilized antibiotics, too little exercising, along with unhealthy dietary habits, undeniably deteriorate the pet's disease fighting mechanism. As a consequence of this toxicity, your canine's immune system becomes overactive and ultimately starts to combat its very own bodily organs, overreacting to things which usually would not be viewed as a threat. This is why you'll begin to notice auto immune illnesses like canine diabetes, allergies and hypothyroidism. Diabetes could require a remedy for diabetes in canines. On the flip side, in the event the immunity mechanism happens to be underactive with respect to the pet, it's possible you'll soon notice viral infections, cancer or parasites.

When a pet owner happens to spot infections, skin disorders, and the like, a great many vets will likely recommend antibiotics. But unfortunately vets understand that this particular antibiotic medication doesn't address the cause of the affliction, it only treats its symptoms. That does not always mean that antibiotic medications aren't valuable for particular cases. Sometimes using an antibiotic might be necessary to prevent infections from spreading. However, it must be stressed that antibiotic medication does not target the underlying cause of the health concern that happens to be an immune system that's weak and out of whack. Reviving the balance and rebuilding this defensive system cannot be reached utilizing antibiotics.

For a lot of family dogs, herbal supplements may very well offer them the additional boost that they will need if they are going to revitalize or sustain a stable system of defense. Herbal treatments are often excellent solutions relating to issues which are generally not as critical for the most part, for example, constipation in dogs, dog diarrhea and vomiting. Even though all these health problems might perhaps be signs connected with a more critical ailment, dog diarrhea treatments, for example, can surely help any family pet to feel better as the main cause is being taken care of. The same is true with respect to a dog constipation remedy.

Senior canines could most certainly take advantage of holistic alternatives. As a canine gets older, their joints and bone tissue are likely to start to deteriorate which makes it uncomfortable to jump and run. This explains why issues like canine arthritis pain and dog hip dysplasia typically cause problems for pets as they age and can frequently result in obesity attributable to lack of physical exercise. There are actually arthritis medicines that really help by providing relief from any physical pain in addition to offering bone health support. This is also true when considering treatments for hip dysplasia. In the event a gain in weight has become a concern, herbal remedies work by maintaining a healthy and well balanced metabolism level and it will perform better yet when taken in conjunction with a wholesome dog food. In a similiar way as with man, old dogs can start to have problems with their hearing plus their sight might decline too. Pink eye treatments have been found to provide vision healing qualities which could help cases of pink eye for even the much younger pets.

Of course, the ideal is to allow for natural overall health support all throughout the pet's entire life. However, even if your pet is very healthy, begin to give the animal natural supplements which work to naturally stabilize and support his system of defense. If you're presently providing treatment for a pre-existing concern or maybe are already treating your pet through the use of antibiotics, it is crucial for you to help the animal re-establish what could have been damaged or lost. All natural canine treatments allow for strengthening of your beloved pet's defenses at its deepest point that enables the internal system to begin restoring itself.

Learn more about natural dog health and the safest and most effective natural treatments available by visiting the Internet's best source of herbal and homeopathic remedies for dogs at NaturalDogRemedies.org.

Here's an informative video that outlines using natural remedies for dog health.



You can find more videos on specific health conditions that commonly affect dogs and how natural remedies work to provide relief for those conditions by clicking here.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Dog Allergy to Food

It's only recently been learned that dogs, much like people, can suffer from allergies to a certain food or foods that are in a particular food class. Food allergy in dogs is among the five more commonly found kinds of dog allergies, and though the dog is frequently born with the illness, a dog allergy to food can take place anytime during the dog's lifetime.

Find Fast, Natural Relief for a Dog Allergy to Food!

The Symptoms and Causes of a Dog Allergy to Food

Your dog will often have reactions to the various sorts of foods they get. Quite often, the reaction is just indigestion that may effectuate diarrhea and vomiting. An allergy to food is not the same as that however, instead of merely suffering from a tummy ache, it'll trigger itchiness in canines besides the previously stated symptoms of a dog allergy to food: swelling, dog vomiting and diarrhea. An animal's scratching and itching could cause flaky skin, eczema, hot spots and quite possibly fur loss. In a few animals, additional signs of food allergies can involve losing weight, restlessness and perhaps hostility.

In a canine coping with an allergy to food, the immune system will overreact to a specific substance that it usually ignores producing an allergic reaction. Food allergies in canines are ordinarilly caused by proteins from dairy foods, sugars and wheat as a direct result of eating scraps from the table. While proteins are the likely trigger of an animal's food allergy, any sort of food or ingredient can cause an allergic reaction.

How to Identify a Dog Allergy to Food

Only a few short years ago, an elimination diet was the only method available to figure out if a dog was suffering from a food allergy. The canine was served hypoallergenic dog food that did not contain any constituents found in the previous diet for about 2 to 3 months. Nowadays, the diagnosis can be implemented by a veterinarian utilizing a simple dog allergy test that involves testing run on a bit of blood obtained from the canine.

Remedies for a Dog Allergy to Food

The only cure for a food allergy is by staying away from the food or food substance that is the root of the food allergy. The most sensible type of food for canines suffering with allergies to food is hypoallergenic dog food having all-natural ingredients. Hypoallergenic dog food can be fed to a canine for the remainder of his life with no worry of your pet's allergy recurring.

Because of the canine scratching and itching, you may need to attend to dog skin care also. The vet will likely suggest purchasing skin lotion and antihistamines. Since using antihistamines for canine allergies could possibly produce bad side effects, a holistic remedy for a dog allergy to food is preferable. There are many herbal and homeopathic forms of treatment being offered that have been shown by canine owners to offer excellent results.

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Thursday, August 18, 2011

Why Dogs Itch

The health-related expression frequently mentioned by veterinarians for extreme dog itching is pruritus. Scratching in canines generally is not cause to worry, however, if it gets to be excessive it may possibly be a sign pointing to a more critical problem. There are a few distinct skin disorders in dogs that can perhaps be the reason why dog itch. If a dog's scratching is causing the development of further skin problems such as swelling and reddening of the skin, skin abrasions and fur loss, or you notice the dog biting or licking at his or her paws, then the animal should certainly be sent to a veterinary clinic for diagnosis as these are all signs and symptoms of a far more serious skin disorder. If allowed to go untreated, the canine's itching and scratching may perhaps cause skin infections. While any breed of canine can develop pruritus, Poodles, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels and Westies tend to have a greater rate of incidences than other canine breeds.

The Reasons Why Dogs Itch

Scratching in canines materializes due to a chemical response that happens at or directly underneath the surface of the skin. In cases where it's extreme, it is generally a sign that the canine is contending with one of a number of skin problems of a far more serious nature.

Extreme itching might be a sign of these skin conditions in canines:
  • Flea bite dermatitis is the most common source of allergies in dogs. As a flea bites an animal, it deposits a modest amount of saliva underneath the skin causing a chemical response that leads to scratching in canines.
  • Inhalant allergies are the second most typical source of itchiness in dogs. This allergy is like asthma and hay fever in people. When the canine breathes in substances such as molds, pollen and dust, it incites an allergic reaction in the immune system of the dog. This kind of allergy could also lead to breathing conditions in addition to being the reason why dogs itch.
  • Yet another kind of allergy that is less common but could cause itchy skin in dogs is a food allergy. Food allergies are triggered by the animal ingesting food or a food constituent that it is sensitive to.
  • We can also include scabies in our list of skin disorders in dogs that can be a possible reason why dogs itch. Dog scabies, clinically known as sarcoptic mange, is caused by a mite tunneling right below the skin of the dog. The mite feeds on material on or just under the animal's skin creating uncontrollable and incessant scratching.
  • Yeast and bacteria infections can also be causing an animal's itching episodes. Infections are normally brought on by open sores and wounds that are not suitably being cleaned. Mites in the ears commonly produce this kind of skin problem in pets.
Identifying Skin Conditions in Dogs

Finding out the reason why dogs itch has generally turned out to be quite a challenge for most veterinarians and pet owners. To locate the cause of the problem, a number of examinations and treatments could possibly need to be run and diagnosis could take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months. Based on the animal's physical signs and health-related history, a veterinarian will perform a series of lab exams that frequently involve the taking of blood samples, scrapings of the skin, taking culture samples and performing a skin biopsy.

How to Treat Itching and Scratching in Dogs

Even when the rudimentary source of a canine's itching and scratching is still unknown, there are formulas available to heal the dog's skin and stop the scratching. Your vet might possibly suggest using antihistamines, shampoos, skin creams or perhaps even immunotherapy in less severe instances. In even more extreme cases, he might recommend treatment utilizing steroids. Steroids have been known to cause harmful side effects such as excessive urination, shortness of breath and excessive thirst, and prolonged use may perhaps lead to the emergence of diabetes or Cushing's disease, so if you do decide to try them, do so with extreme care. Most dogs might possibly need lifetime treatment for their skin condition.

All Natural Dog Itch Remedies

Numerous small animal clinics are currently recommending natural itchy dog remedies as a safe and soothing type of therapy. It is a substitute to taking corticosteroids and other types of drugs that might possibly cause dangerous side effects. There are quite a few safe and effective homeopathic and herbal dog skin formulas that provide pets a lot of needful relief by rejuvenating the canine's hair in addition to soothing and cleansing the dog's skin.

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Thursday, August 11, 2011

Canine Flea Allergies

Flea allergy, otherwise called flea dermatitis, is the most often encountered type of allergy diagnosed in canines and is caused by a flea bite. It's the most common cause of itching in dogs, and it just takes the bite of one sole flea to produce an allergy on your pet's skin. Canine flea allergies may cause your pet to itch for somewhere from a few hours to a number of days and may take up to 3 to 7 days to surface after the initial flea bite.

The Causes of Canine Flea Allergies

Fleas are only found on a dog while they feed. Analogous to the mosquito, fleas will bite the dog and take in blood for nourishment. When a flea does this, they inject a trace quantity of saliva below the dog's skin which can consist of nearly fifteen various allergy causing substances. If the canine is sensitive to one of the allergens that were injected by the flea, it will cause an allergic response that leads to the dog itching. About one half of all canines will come down with flea dermatitis, and although the allergies are more frequently found in adult dogs, pups can also become afflicted with flea dermatitis.

Diagnosing Canine Flea Allergies and Recognizing Its Signs

Dog owners usually don't realize that their beloved pet has fleas because of their really miniscule size and because of how difficult fleas can be to exterminate. Making diagnosis of flea dermatitis particularly arduous is the fact that it just takes one lone flea to induce flea allergies and the symptoms might not be detectable for close to a week later than when the flea bite occurred. There doesn't have to be an infestation of fleas to bring about flea allergies in your pet. The warning signs of canine flea allergies commonly include continuous scratching and itching or chewing on the fur and skin, inflaming of the skin, skin rashes, and skin reddening. Because of the ceaseless scratching and itching, loss of fur over the dog's posterior, primarily in the region commencing in the center along the backbone to the beginning of their tail and also in their back legs region, is also a pretty solid indicator of flea allergies in dogs. A vet can also discover flea allergies in dogs employing modern blood and skin testing to search for specific allergy inducing substances and to eliminate other conditions such as fungal, bacterial and yeast infections.

Flea Treatment Should Begin With a Suitable Flea Extermination Plan

The first phase of a successful kind of flea treatment involves flea control both on the dog as well as in the pet's nearby environment. Even with a flawless flea eradication program setup, it's not out of the ordinary for canine's to still incur an occasional flea bite. Pets which are often outdoors could be an even tougher challenge.

Conventional Medicines and Desensitization Treatments for Canine Flea Allergies

A veterinarian may advise using desensitization as a form of dog allergy treatment. This necessitates giving the animal a shot with limited amounts of flea antigen over a certain time period, maybe even the remainder of the animal's life. This form of treatment is generally a success in roughly 50% of the patients, and might get rather costly in the long run. Antihistamines and traditional treatments, such as cortisone, are also generally administered by the veterinarian to treat flea dermatitis in dogs. These types of treatment can often give relief for flea dermatitis; with that said, it's been evidenced that there are adverse side effects attached to using corticosteroids. In the end, this sort of treatment may be more harmful than beneficial.

Natural Types of Treatment for Canine Flea Allergies

Due to the side effects related to the use of steroids, many of dog owners are now trying herbal cures for flea bite allergies in dogs. There are many all natural ingredients found in these herbal formulas that are both effective and safe. German Chamomile has been used to clean and soothe the skin for many centuries. Some other herbs have also been found to aid in better total skin health and offer soothing and restoration benefits to the skin, and include Witchhazel, Cleavers and Marigold.

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Thursday, August 4, 2011

Canine Flea Control

Fleas are a major worry that every dog owner eventually has to deal with. Anybody who has a pet has probably have faced the overwhelming job of canine flea control, a task that has usually proved to be more difficult than it looks.

Fleas aren't merely a worry because they harass and cause hours of aggravating itching and scratching for the animal, but they can also cause other significant concerns which can include dog flea allergies, tapeworm infestations and in serious occurrences, anemia.

Due to their surprising hardiness, it can be a difficult task to getting rid of fleas on canines. A female might lay more than 2,000 eggs in her lifetime, which means that infection could come about swiftly and the eggs that are laid may subsist for quite a few months in the environment while merely waiting for an appropriate victim. Thus it's imperative to eradicate both the fleas on your dog in addition to the fleas residing in the pet's living space. The perfect areas to search for fleas are sand, rugs, bedding and carpets.

The Best Approaches to Eliminate Fleas

In order to totally eradicate fleas on your pet and in his or her surroundings, it is basic to learn the flea's lifespan. There are four phases that makeup the life span of the flea. Akin to the majority of insects, the fleas commences from the egg stage, grows into larva, then advances into the pupa phase before finally reaching the adult phase.

The Flea's Egg Phase

The eggs of the flea are pallid in color and are so small that they are tough to find without the use of a magnifying glass. Even though the eggs are originally laid on the pet's skin, many will ultimately fall onto the ground to continue their expedition to an adult. About 50% of the overall flea count is made up of eggs. Depending upon the living conditions, the eggs hatch in anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks. The greater the heat and moisture in the environment, the earlier the eggs will hatch.

The Flea Larvae Phase

As soon as the flea egg hatches, it goes into the larva stage where it enlarges to approximately 1/4 inch long. The flea larvae live on organic waste substances and on the adult flea's feces. They don't like vivid light and are inclined to disappear deep inside the present living space, if possible in a balmy and humid place. Climate controlled houses are the ideal environment for the flea lifecycle to succeed. Outside, larval growth will only take place in moist, shady locations.

The Flea Pupa Phase

When entering the pupa stage, the flea pupa grow a velvety and sticky protecting layer. This cocoon swiftly configures a useful hiding place as it gets encased by debris and soil. If stimulated by temperature, carbon dioxide or by physical pressure, like that in a balmy and sultry location, an adult flea might appear from the cocoon in as fast as five to ten days. As soon as the adult flea surfaces from the cocoon, it could subsist for only a few days unless it is able to feed. Pre-emerged adult fleas are able to live inside the cocoon for as many as 9 months. This is important because adult fleas that still exist within the cocoon are resistant to insecticides sprayed in the environment and can surface a significant time after you apply insecticides in your residence.

The Flea's Adult Phase

Once the adult flea comes out from the cocoon, it must immediately locate a host as it has to have blood if it is to survive. Two days subsequent to obtaining an acceptable host, the female flea will begin to lay approximately forty eggs every day. Adult fleas usually live up to three weeks. The complete lifecycle of a flea may perhaps be finished in as little as 2 to 4 weeks, or as long as ten months conditional to its surrounding conditions.

How to Treat A Dog For Fleas

There are numerous powders, shampoos, sprays and spot on measures available for dog flea control on your pet. Be sure to consult with a veterinarian to opt for the most successful and reliable flea insecticides for your house and dog.

Indoor Canine Flea Control Methods

The majority of canine flea control products are merely useful against the adult flea, but environmental preparations are becoming more complex. A vet can offer you with flea products that are comprised of insect growth regulators that will help destroy the flea eggs and larvae. Before using any environmental pesticide, it's a good idea vacuum your rugs and carpeting to persuade the pre-adult fleas to surface from their protective cocoon. Be sure to toss away the vacuum bag after using it. You must also wash the bedding the pet has lied on.

Outdoor Canine Flea Control Methods

Pay particular attention to dim, shaded areas. Spray a pesticide containing an insect growth regulator and duplicate it every 14-21 days for three to five treatments.

The newer oral and skin flea products should considerably help you resolve your flea problems. With perseverance and patience, you and your best friend ought to be rid of fleas in short order!

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Friday, July 29, 2011

Natural Remedies for Skin Allergies in Dogs

Have you began to notice your dog itching and scratching more than usual? Is the itching creating wide open cuts and disappearance of hair on your dog? If so, this is a possible indication that your canine friend might be stricken with dog allergies. Dogs don't develop the standard reddened eyes and a runny nose like humans do when we have an allergy. Additional indications could consist of unordinary itching of a specific area, or biting their paws causing them to bleed. When determining what allergies in dogs remedy to use, it is first necessary to find the cause of the allergies.

What Causes Dog Allergies?

An allergic reaction occurs when a dog's immune system overreacts to given substances. The body will then create antibodies as a type of protection when the trigger of an allergy comes into the body. The antibodies will then attach to immune cells in the skin and various tissues. Therefore, as the allergens progressively seep into tissue surfaces, the antibodies stimulate the immune cells to discharge strong chemicals (named histamines) into the neighboring tissue. This will then cause inflammation and dog itching.

There are various things to think about when trying to locate the source of cause of skin allergies in dogs. An allergy which affects a canine's skin is commonly brought on by at least one of these: food, airborne particles, and fleas.

  • Flea Allergy also referred to as Flea Dermatitis is generally brought about by saliva from a flea. This is why it's very imperative to liberate your dog of fleas on a regular basis.
  • The atopic allergy is incited by the the breathing of airborne allergens in the environment, such as mold spores, cigarette smoke, pollen and dust, instigate atopic allergies. If a pet has pollen allergies, the dog will display warning signs, even if kept in the house as the allergens will migrate inside. Coughing, sneezing and wheezing frequently go along with this sort of allergy.
  • Food allergies are the third most frequent sort of allergy in dogs. The most probable causes for food allergies in dogs are: chicken, corn, soy, milk, eggs, beef and wheat. Diarrhea and Queasiness often are symptoms of this sort of allergy.
  • Contact allergies are the least seen sort of allergy in dogs and is brought about by coming into contact with something. Triggers may include grass, wool and plastic. Some pets might develop allergic reactions to certain chemicals in the household, but this is not very common.
How to Diagnose Skin Allergies in Dogs

A vet might be able to detect the cause, but it might involve a system of elimination to identify the cause of the dog’s skin allergy and may possibly refer the dog to a veterinarian dermatologist. If fleas are ruled out, the dog may be put on an elimination food regimen for 10 weeks. Your pet is given food he or she has not eaten before, for instance, turkey, mutton, and potatoes, with the past food being introduced slowly until the allergy reappears.

The allergen is deemed to be at least one ingredient if the dogs scratching is reduced by about half of what it was beforehand. To check for contact and atopic dog allergies, dermatology specialists employ an intradermal allergy test that works by mildly tranquilizing the animal with small quantities of probable allergens which are injected into the skin on the shaved region. If your dog is allergic to a specific substance, the skin will become inflamed in the area of injection.

Treating Skin Allergies in Dogs

Keeping your pet away from allergens and taking care of the symptoms of dog allergies are the top methods of treatment. Medicines like antihistamines and steroids could be advocated to alleviate the symptoms of itching and inflammation in pets, although like all drugs they might be accompanied by unwanted side effects and the lasting effects are not known. Long term treatment using steroids is discouraged since these drugs work by suppressing the immune system. Extensive steroid use over time could leave your pet defenseless against diabetes, infections and further ailments.

Natural Remedies for Skin Allergies in Dogs

Fortunately for dog lovers, there are numerous safe and all natural herbal and homeopathic cures for skin allergies in dogs. Melaleuca alternifolia commonly put on as a topical to stimulate skin health and keeping the animal’s skin sterile while Althaea officinalis root is an excellent and well known treatment for reinvigorating the skin. Homeopathic treatments such as Apis and Ledum have excellent healing properties and are notably beneficial in soothing inflamed and itchy skin, or small bites and abrasions.

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