Easy Steps for Dog Care by Tawnya Ann Bobst ***
I have outlined some basic tips that I think are important for the health, well being and longevity of your pet. I am happy to answer any questions or concerns that are not covered in this blog post.
Before bringing your new dog home, consider having all your food, toys, crate, x-pen and essential oils on hand.
Nutrition: I encourage you to pay the extra money for a good quality dog food from a reputable company. Good food will nourish the dog on a cellular level and help them to live many years longer. If you want to change the food that I am using, give half of the current food mixed with half of the new food. Gradually increase the new food proportions until you have made the transition. I add probiotics to support gut health (Life 5) along with enzymes to aid in digestion (mighty-zyme). Normal gut health has been linked to the immune system so it is vital. I feed dry food in the AM (with chicken bone broth) and nature’s logic raw in the PM. Primal freeze dried raw food is grated over the dry if I run out of raw. Against the Grain and Evanger’s canned foods are sometimes added to the dry kibble if I run out of the cooked chicken broth. I give organic raw green beans and carrots for a treat. Avoid the prescription diets from the Veterinarian if possible. Most commercial foods are full of allergens like corn, soy, wheat and dyes. Feeding nothing but dry food is hard on the kidneys. Some diets high in processed carbohydrates can lead to the formation of diabetes. Modern wheat has been linked to leaky gut in humans (Wheat Belly by Dr William Davis MD) so avoid feeding it to your dog. For more information on nutrition see http://www.kymythy.com/
Water: Pure clean fluoride free water should be available at all times. Fluoride can affect the thyroid so best to avoid it. Distilled or reverse osmosis is a good choice. Wash your dog bowls with soap each time. Rinsing alone won’t remove the biofilm that can cause UTI.
Supplements: Enzymes and probiotics are important. I like Dr Miller’s Nutra Drops for times of stress. Pro-pectallin (kaopectate and probiotics) for times of loose stools. Solid Gold’s Berry Balance powder discourages bacteria from adhering to the lining of the bladder for dogs that are prone to UTI. Add to food 3X a week.
Foods and Plants Toxic to dogs:
- Alcoholic beverages, apple seeds,apricot pits, avocados,cherry pits, candy (particularly chocolate—which is toxic to dogs),coffee (grounds, beans, and chocolate-covered espresso beans),garlic,grapes, chewing gum (can cause blockages and sugar free gums may contain the toxic sweetener Xylitol), Hops (used in home beer brewing), Macadamia nuts, moldy foods,mushroom plants,mustard seeds,onions and onion powder,peach pits,potato leaves and stems (green parts),raisins,rhubarb leaves,excess salt, tomato leaves and stems (green parts),walnuts,xylitol,yeast dough, jimson weed, pointsettia, lantana,oleander
Poops: Dog bowel movements give clues on the dog’s digestion. Diet changes can have an effect. Tiny white grains in the stool are often tape worms caused by ingesting a flea. Tapes need to be treated so that the dog’s nutrients aren’t stolen by the parasite. Giardia is a problem as it doesn’t always show up in fecal exams. It can be caused by drinking feces tainted water or eating feces. Wild animals carry it. http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2015/07/15/assessing-dog-poop.aspx
Dog toys and chews should be of a good quality that is free of chemicals and toxic residue. I would avoid products made in China. I love the Red Barn or Merrick grass fed beef tendons as chew toys. I don’t like bully sticks due to the hormones from the organ. Pig ears are not recommended. Avoid raw hide as they are dipped in bleach and chemicals. Avoid plush toys stuffed with beads or materials that they can ingest. I would wash new stuffed toys before giving them to the puppy to remove any chemicals. I use Young Living’s Thieves chemical free laundry detergent.
Grooming: Grooming is not just coat care. Consider the importance of ears, teeth, anal glands, and toenails. I do most grooming in my lap until they get used to the process. Ear problems can sometimes be a reflection of food allergies so pay attention to this. Gently remove excess ear canal hair by placing dog ear powder in the ear and slowly plucking the hairs. Toenails should be kept trimmed. Quik-stop should always be on hand for any bleeding that might occur during the nail trim. I like the Resco nail trimmers. Gum disease can affect the heart and lead to bacteria in the blood so keep the teeth clean. Get a baby soft toothbrush and gently brush the teeth at least weekly and look for signs of tarter buildup. Remove it before it causes inflammation of the gums. I love the hair brushes from Chris Christensen brushes. They are soft and gentle for the skin. If you want to do your own grooming, consider a cordless clipper with less noise and vibration. I like the Bravura by Wahl. Frequent grooming is important to check for signs of skin problems. Washing weekly with a blow dry will keep the coat from matting and the skin healthy. I learned using the Shirlee Kalstone’s “Complete Poodle Clipping and Grooming Guide”. Anita Bax has DVD’s on grooming that are excellent. http://www.caninecoatcare.com
Leash Training: I would start with a soft harness and graduate to a resco leash. Extend-a-leash can be scary for the dog at first. A harness is a more secure device to prevent them “slipping” the leash. Never leave collars (except a break away cat collar) on unattended dogs. They can hang themselves and choke.
Crate training can be an important part of housebreaking. Use a crate that is small enough that they won’t want to eliminate in it. If you are gone for long periods of time, I like the x-pens from pet edge. Place a crate with the door open in the pen along with food, water, toys and papers for them to potty. http://tinyurl.com/oceugb6
Resources books: “How to Housebreak Your Dog in Seven Days” by Shirlee Kalstone, SpOil Your Pet by Dr Frezzo, ADR by Dr Melissa Shelton, and Cesar Milan’s “How to Raise the Perfect Dog through Puppyhood and Beyond”. The Puppy Culture Videos are wonderful for socialization training.
Essential oils (Lavender and Peace & Calm) may help the puppy’s emotional state on the ride home. Rub a drop or two on your hands and pet the puppy. A dog’s sense of smell is so much greater than ours which makes the use of essential oils for pets so amazing. Ginger oil may help with motion sickness. Remember that less is more with essential oils so use them very sparingly. I only use and recommend Young Living oils as they are steam distilled and free of chemicals. Distilling oils is always a good delivery method.
Environment: Little dogs absorb many toxins from the environment. Chemicals that we place on our dogs or around them become absorbed through their skin and end up in the blood stream. We are hearing of more skin conditions in our dogs. Dr Shelton spoke of the dangers of the home fragrance plug ins. The chemically derived artificial ingredients are associated with elevated liver enzymes in cats. Young Living essential oils offers over 400 products that can be used as alternatives to chemical products. Cleaning your house and floors with chemicals can be toxic to you and your pet. Febreeze should be avoided. Thieves household cleaner is a great product for cleaning as well as an additive to the dog’s shampoo. Monthly flea prevention becomes less necessary when your dog’s immune system is strong. Parasites are less attracted to healthy dogs. Mix up a blend of Purification and Lavender essential oils and distilled water in a glass bottle. Spray the dog’s legs before going outside. Orange oil diluted in distilled water has been used effectively as a spray for bedding for fleas. Washing the dogs in a mild shampoo (Dr Bronner’s baby mild) with essential oils added to it can be a great way to support your dog’s skin and immune system. The skin is the biggest organ so it makes sense to pay attention to what you are applying to it. Commercial shampoos have sodium laurel sulfate that drive chemicals into the skin so it should be avoided. See the top ten personal care product chemicals to avoid according to Brenda Watson (www.brendawatson.com) : methyl, propyl, butyl, ethyl parabens, DEA, TEA, Diazolidinyl and imidazolidinyl urea, sodium laurel, laureth sulfate, petrolatum, propylene glycol (PEG), PVP/VA, synthetic fragrances and colors, and stearalkonium chloride.
http://www.cedarcide.com offers a wonderful natural product for spraying the yard and home for flea/ tick control.
Diffusing: If you want to enjoy the benefits of negative (like the ocean) ions from plant based fragrances, consider using an essential oils diffuser. You can obtain one free by purchasing a premium kit from Young Living or purchase an individual diffuser from http://www.plantextractsinc.com. Diffusing essential oils delivers microfine particles of plant oils in a very safe way. Many benefits can be realized by using this method. http://tawnyasessentialoils.weebly.com
Vaccinations: Please don’t over vaccinate. See Dr Jean Dodd’s vaccination protocol: http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/109120251541/dodds-vaccine-protocol-2015#.Vn1mmsztaL4 Yearly vaccinations are not boosting immunity and in many cases causing harm. Titers (blood draws) can test immunity to see if your pet needs boosting in a particular area. 3 year rabies shots should be considered when available. Consider a vaccination “detox” after the shots. Homeopathic Veterinarians can advise you on what to use.
Energy Medicine: Reiki, acupuncture, lasers (zero point global), doggie massage, sound therapy, T touch, essential oils. Since we are all “energy”, it makes sense that energy work could benefit your pet. Essential oils have a mega hertz that has been used to raise vibrations. Low vibrations have been linked to illness. http://www.biospiritual-energy-healing.com/vibrational-frequency.html
Heartworms: I use heartguard (ivermectin) every six weeks for heart worm prevention. Simply start them at 4 months. It is very safe and leaves the system rapidly. I don’t like combination pills like sentinel.
Spay/neuter: Don’t be in a hurry to accomplish this as studies are showing it is better for the dog to be closer to one year of age.
Alternative treatments: Dr Shelton and Dr Morgan are holistic Vets that use alternative therapies. To view Dr Shelton’s interview, go to https://tawnyasessentialoils.wordpress.com/?s=natural+pet
If you must use some spot treatments, please view Dr Judy Morgan DVM video on this topic: https://youtu.be/VMu9oXTKPq0
Please refer to the Animal Desk Reference written by Dr Melissa Shelton for many uses of essential oils in supporting your dogs wellness. If we use good quality food, supplements and topical products on our dogs, it is possible to minimize illness visits to the Veterinarian.
See Young Living’s blog on Pet care: https://www.youngliving.com/blog/?p=8137
To find a holistic Veterinarian go to http://www.ahvma.org/
Reference book by DVM: SpOil Your Pet: A Practical Guide to Using Essential Oils in Dogs and Cats by DVM Dr Mia Frezzo and MSc Jan Jeremias
To get Young Living products for up to 44% off, obtain a wholesale account from my website, go to http://www.youngliving.com or call 1 800 371 3515 and use member # 1034089.
Need more help:? Call 1 321 254 0375 or email Tantalite3@aol.com
*** This article is not intended for medical advise and has not been evaluated by the FDA. Please consult your Veterinarian for medical advise and treatment.
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