NATURAL PET CARE BLOG

How BPC-157 Helps Heal Your Pet's Gut (and More)

Top Natural Antihistamine for Pet Itchy Skin & Gut Health

If you’re a pet parent, you know the helplessness of watching your furry friend suffer from constant itching and discomfort. Despite trying various medications and dietary changes, finding a lasting solution can seem elusive. But what if there was a natural alternative that not only eases the itch but also supports overall gut health? Enter Quercetin—a powerful, plant-based compound that’s gaining attention in the holistic pet care community for its impressive anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties.

In this blog post, inspired by our latest YouTube video, we’ll delve deeper into how Quercetin can transform your pet’s health. Led by Dr. Katie Woodley, an experienced holistic veterinarian, we explore the benefits of this natural antihistamine, how it can be safely integrated into your pet’s regimen, and why it might just be the solution you’ve been searching for. Whether your pet is struggling with allergies or gut he...

Holistic veterinarians use natural therapies to treat pets and help prevent disease ranging from food therapy to acupuncture to numerous other modalities. They often focus on treating the whole animal rather than just focusing on one area of the body or only treating symptoms. Holistic vets also look at the pet’s lifestyle, emotions, and the environment when making treatment decisions and how to help your pets feel their best.

How Do I Know Which Holistic Veterinarian is Right For Me?

There are several things to consider when choosing a holistic veterinarian to make sure a partnership is a good fit for both you, your pets and the veterinarian.

First, make sure the practitioner has been trained in veterinary medicine and has further training in a holistic modality.

This means he or she has completed four years of veterinary school and passed an exam before becoming licensed.  Most veterinarian schools are only teaching conventional medicine.  If you want a holistic veterinarian that...

As a holistic veterinarian deeply committed to natural pet care, I've encountered numerous cases where pet parents are unaware of the critical connection between their furry friends' dental health and their overall gut well-being. Did you know that up to 80% of pets suffer from dental disease by the age of three? This staggering statistic underlines a widespread issue that, surprisingly, has a profound impact not just on the mouth but on the gut health of our pets.

Understanding the Connection: Pet Gut Health & Oral Microbiome

The mouth is the gateway to the gut, and the health of one significantly influences the other. During our latest Coffee Talk with the Doc, we delved into this intricate relationship, highlighting the often-missed link between dental health and gut health in pets. This connection, overlooked even by some veterinary professionals, plays a pivotal role in the overall health and well-being of our pets.

The Role of Dysbiosis in Dental and Gut Health

Dysbiosis, ...

NATURAL HEARTWORM PREVENTION FOR PETS SUMMARY

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can affect dogs and cats. While natural remedies may help manage heartworm infections, prevention is still the best approach to avoiding the disease.

It is important to assess the risk of heartworm disease in the region where you live before considering any treatment options. If heartworm disease is prevalent in your area, it is recommended to seek veterinary advice for the best preventative options, but make sure to watch the video for natural remedies that can also be utilized.

Herbal supplements such as garlic, ginger, and black walnut hulls have been shown to have anti-parasitic properties that may help fight heartworm infections. It is important to note that while these herbs may have some benefits, their effectiveness as a sole preventative method for heartworm disease has not been proven, but can be part of an integrative approach in a high-risk area...

Did you know that there are many natural homemade remedies for your dog’s ear infection?

You may be feeling frustrated with going back and forth to the vet clinic for the same problem and the infection keeps coming back?

Unfortunately, ear infections are too common for our dogs and cats, but especially dogs.

Common Ear Infection Signs

So what are dog ear infections signs?

• Ear pain
• Your pet shaking their head excessively
• Scratching and digging at their ear with their paw
• Black waxy discharge or even pus coming from their ear
• Head tilt with ear down
• Bad smell coming from the ear
• Redness on the inside of the ear flap

There are many different causes for ear infections, and they are not always the same, even if your pet has had an ear infection before.

Thus, if you’re noticing any of these signs, make sure you book an appointment with your veterinarian to figure out what is causing the irritation in your dog’s ear.

Common Causes Of Dog Ear Infections

What causes dog ea...

Essential oils can be safe for your dog’s skin as a natural home remedy for wounds or to soothe your dog’s irritated skin.

It’s going to happen at some point.  Your dog could be running around outside and comes in and you notice blood.

Or maybe you have a dog that’s prone to itchy, red, hotspots.

These are all frustrating problems, and many times the conventional drugs only treat the symptom and not the actual cause of the problem.

But you can use natural remedies, like essential oils, to help resolve these problems to keep vet visits down and reduce the risk of side effects from occurring.

Having a first aid kit at home for when things like this happen is important.

In this short video, I’m going to cover what my top 5 essential oils are to have in your first aid kit and how to safely use them with your pets.

 When should you take your pet to the vet:

Now here’s my disclaimer.

If you’re ever questioning whether you need to go to the ER, just do it.

It’s always better to b...

As a holistic veterinarian, I often encounter pets with skin issues, from minor wounds to persistent itchy hotspots. While conventional treatments focus on symptoms, I advocate for addressing the root causes and treating the symptoms with natural remedies like essential oils while you are figuring out why the itchiness is there in the first place.

Gut health is commonly a main reason for skin issues, like hot spots, allergies and ear infections.  Make sure that you don't end up missing the root cause for why the symptom is there since many pet parents end up in a vicious cycle of only treating the symptoms.  Make sure to check out our blog post on healing allergies naturally at the root cause level.

In this post, I'll share my top 5 essential oils for dog skin health and how to use them effectively and safely.

When to Seek Veterinary Care:

Before we dive into essential oils, let's address when it's crucial to take your pet to the vet:

1. Injuries that penetrate the skin (e.g.
...

Understanding the Mysterious Canine Respiratory Illness

Recent reports from the Cornell Animal Health Diagnostics Center and other veterinary institutions have highlighted a mysterious canine respiratory illness. This illness, showing symptoms similar to canine influenza and kennel cough, has been observed across various U.S. regions. However, its exact cause remains unknown.

What We Know So Far

Symptoms of this illness include:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Labored breathing
• Nose or eye discharge
• Lethargy
• Decreased appetite

Precautions to Take

• Avoid high-risk areas like kennels, dog parks, and daycare facilities.
• Do not share bowls, toys, or chews between dogs.
• We recommend checking out Trusted Housesitters if you need to travel instead of boarding your dog if possible.

Because the infectious cause of this disease is not known, vaccines will not protect your pet against this, and we do not recommend them.  What we do recommend is protecting your pet's immune system and st...