You want to improve your dog’s health, but it can be hard to know where to begin. There are so many factors to be considered. Taking a holistic approach by looking at all aspects of his care and lifestyle is a good starting point. This checklist of ten tips will help enhance his health and lengthen his life.
As conscientious consumers, we review ingredient lists on our own food. We need to do the same for our animals.
1.) Nurture with Nutrition-We need to do the same for our animals. Look for labels that state whole meat ingredients like chicken, beef, lamb, venison, duck-not poultry or meat by products, etc. Choose superior brands of pet food that promise healthier ingredients. When your in the mood, you can do some good old home cookin for your best friend. Its easy and fun to make delicious treats at home.
2.) Security with Supplements-I like to think of vitamins and minerals as a form of supplemental health insurance for animals, providing the nutrients needed to maintain health. A quality daily supplement is the most valuable contribution you can make to your dogs longevity.
To be truly effective, vitamins and minerals need to be balanced, complete and able to be absorbed by the body. For example, powdered dry bone meal, often used in pet supplements, can’t be absorbed, so there’s no nutritional value. Read and compare labels carefully. Choose vitamins that state the milligrams or international units on the label, and that contain high quality ingredients.
3.) Vaccinate Carefully-A new puppy may be stressed, Particularly if he just came from a shelter or rescue. Take him for vaccinations when his immune system is strong and balanced. Never vaccinate an animal compromised by an infection or illness. Previously vaccinated dogs can get blood tests that register titers or immune system memory in lieu of certain vaccinations. research has shown that after their one year boosters, many dogs are protected for 5 to 7 years or longer, depending on the vaccine.
4.) Heal Holistically-Holistic treatments and therapies are powerful tools that compliment and enhance the body’s innate ability to rebalance and restore itself, thus helping your animal overcome illness and disease.
Holistic medicine provides gentle but effective guidance that can remedy many diseases and health problems without the side effects so often associated with more conventional forms of medicine.
Many holistic modalities and techniques are available. It helps to know which treatment is best for your companion’s specific problem. Chinese herbs work wonderfully with diabetes. Acupuncture and spinal manipulation effectively treat back problems. Allergy elimination techniques like NAET work well for dogs, while homeopathic remedies treat a wide spectrum of medical problems.
5.) Consider the Cells-Thinking small has a big effect on your longevity. Your animals body has trillions of cells organized into specialized tissues and organs. Every cell is in the business of living, and if they all succeed, your dog will live a longer, happier, healthy life.
We typically evaluate food in terms of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. But the real value is in the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that food contains; these are the tools that cells need to maintain and prolong life. We couldn’t maintain our homes without hammers, mops and nails. Just so, our cells can’t clean out wastes like carcinogens and toxins without the vitamins and minerals that cells need to do their important jobs.
6.) Secrets of Superfoods-Italian researchers have found that eating as little as one cup of raw vegetables daily can add two years to your life. Today, scientific research is proving what Hippocrates said hundreds of years ago:”Let food be thy medicine”.
Phytochemicals, contained in what are now aptly dubbed superfoods, have well documented health benefits. The beautiful colors of many fruits and vegetables are doing alot more than just looking pretty. Dark, vibrant green kale leaves are rich in compounds with long names like glucosinolates and sulforaphanes. These help cells “clean up after the party” and clear carcinogenic substances more quickly.
7.) Go Green-Adding a bit of green to your companions diet can do as much good for the planet as it can for him. Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables has many health benefits, including reducing the risk of cancer. Canine friends love everything from a piece of apple to a broccoli stem.
Create a dog friendly outdoor environment by using natural fertilizers and pest control. In 2004, the Purdue University of Veterinary Medicine linked bladder cancer in Scottish terriers to exposure to lawn chemicals. Rain creates a mist of these chemicals that lingers at the body height of dogs-and many of these animals enjoy chewing occasional blades of grass.
“Green” toys accomplish the same goals as more traditional toys, but impact the environment less. Non organic cotton uses more insecticides than other other major crop. Many companies now offer toys, collars and leashes made from organic cotton, hemp or recycled materials.
Believe it or not, eight billion pounds of cat litter winds up in landfills each year. Consider litters made from recycled materials such as wood, pine, bark or natural flushable litters from corn and wheat. Your cats don’t need to digest chemical laden scented litter particles as they clean their furry feet.
8.) Extra Exercise-Regular exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle for all of us-humans and dogs. All dogs need exercise, even notorious couch potato breeds. Taking your dog for a long, brisk walk is the perfect excuse for you to get some exercise too.
9.) Routine Medical Exams-A yearly health check helps detect problems before they become serious. Older animals should get yearly blood panels to monitor their health. Those that live in tick infested regions of the country need yearly blood tests so any tick borne diseases can be treated promptly, avoiding long term complications.
10.) Quality Time-Dogs are social animals. Social animals don’t want to be alone-they want company and interesting interactions.
Relationships are an important part of health. Strong bonds with others means protection from loneliness and depression. It works both ways. Healthier animals are happier and happier animals are healthier. Just as important is that both humans and animals benefit from quality time spent together.
We enjoy walks more if we can take a dog along and watch him sniff and explore. Our hearts sing in a special way as we stroke our dogs. Animals and people create a special winning combination.
If our animals could tell us one thing, it might be, take time to stop and smell the roses and enjoy life with me.
Animal Wellness
