Living Responsibly …It’s only Natural!

Sheryl Eaglewoman

Welcome! This week we will be addressing Natural Pet Care. Spring is quickly approaching and we want our pets ready for the forthcoming seasonal challenges. After the long winter, I’m sure most of us can agree, our pets are ready to be groomed. There are many natural ingredient shampoos and conditioners on the market to choose from. Before bathing, it is very important to brush the animal thoroughly to prevent matting and loosen dirt. Carefully trim any mats away by cutting along the growth not across it. This will prevent that "hacked up" look. It is also a good time to trim nails and hooves as well. Give them a good visual once over as well.

If your dog or cat, after being inactive for the winter, is feeling stiff, slow to get going, you might consider giving them glucosamine to help strengthen their cartilage and encourage flexibility. You could also give them fish oil to aid in the relief of inflammation. Be sure to always purchase fish oil from a company that tests for mercury, PCB’s, and other contaminants. Homeopathic Rhus Toxicodendron is another good choice for those who are slow to get started but loosen up after moving around a bit. Arnica Montana is a good choice for those who have just overdone it with a result of sore muscles. For horses and other work animals, a good chiropractic adjustment would be an excellent choice.

This is a good time to get pets on nutrients that will ward off summertime pests such as ticks, mosquitoes, etc. For dogs and cats I recommend Brewers Yeast, garlic and Vitamin B1. Dosage is according to weight. I also suggest seaweed supplements. The increased minerals provided are excellent for your pet’s health. Using insect repellents made from natural ingredients on pet’s coats, especially when pets have increased exposure, will aid in preventing bites from mosquitoes, flies, etc. This is a good time to worm our pets. There are several herbal products available for this. I prefer doing two sessions one month apart to ensure ridding the body of any larvae, etc possibly left behind after the first course. Feeding your pets pungent herbs like rosemary and basil, garlic and mint will increase their immune protection and aid in resisting parasites.

As for the home and yard, one can use essential oil of sweet orange to help control pests. Be sure to make a mix of water and orange essential oil to spray down pet housing and bedding to aid in preventing flea and tick infestation. You can make an effective flea and tick shampoo by adding orange essential oil to your own favorite shampoo. For cats you can use up to 4% orange oil; for dogs, up to 10% is safe to use. Also effective is diatomaceous earth, also known as DE. When purchasing DE make sure it is the garden type and not the kind refined for swimming pool use. Use judiciously as this will kill good insects as well. Very small amounts can be fed to your dog or cat to help prevent intestinal parasites as well. A tiny bit of table salt sprinkled and brushed into your carpet will break the lifecycle of fleas and aid in the prevention of a flea problem. Bat houses and Martin houses are an excellent way to reduce mosquito populations.

For the unexpected, I keep the following homeopathics on hand to promote the healing process until I can get further veterinary aid if deemed necessary. Homeopathics can be purchased at your local natural foods store. Nosodes are available from licensed professionals only.

Brown recluse spider bite – Lachesis mutus

Rattlesnake bite – Crotalus horridus

Bee sting – Apis mellifica

Sprains & muscular trauma – Arnica montana

Parvo – Nux vomica & Parvo nosode

Distemper - Distemper nosode

For Everything – Bach Rescue Remedy

Pets. We love them…Naturally. Have a great week!

Question of the week: How do you know the right dose for dogs when using natural remedies?

Answer: Generally speaking, one can give dogs the same remedies a person can take. You judge the dosage by the weight of the animal. An adult dose on a label for humans is for an adult of 120-150 pounds. You will need to divide out the dose. For example, a 50 pound dog would get 1/3 the adult dose.

Have a question you’d like to see addressed by Sheryl Eaglewoman? E-mail your question to sheryleaglewoman@livingresponsibly.com for "The Question of the Week".

Natural Health Consultant, Sheryl Eaglewoman, offers Private Consulting, Lectures and Education, specializing in all areas of natural health, including herbal, homeopathic and an organic lifestyle. Contact her at www.livingresponsibly.com or 406-892-1116.