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Dog Detox - How to Detoxify Your DogRegular dog detox is essential for your dog's health and vitality.
Dog detox? Is it necessary? Some dog parents may wonder. And the answer is a big YES!
These days, more and more dogs are suffering from an array of chronic diseases, ranging from such common conditions as
odor, bad breath, oily fur, to something more serious such as
yeast infections,
allergies, digestive problems, or even tumors. These ailments are actually signs that the dogs'
bodies are working hard to push out all the toxins that have found their ways into the dogs' bodies. In other words, the bodies' are undergoing the process of
detoxification. The reason why more dogs are showing such signs these days is simply because there are more toxins in our environments now than in the past.
Where are the Toxins? How do They Get into Our Dogs?If you take a look at your environment, it is not difficult to identify toxins. For example:
Effects of Toxins on Our Dogs' Bodies
In a healthy dog, the body's complex and sophisticated detoxification system can eliminate toxins and wastes efficiently through its waste removal organs (e.g. the kidneys,
liver, skin, as well as the lymphatic and immune systems).
However, if these systems are overburdened with too much waste or toxic overloads, or have been compromised or dysfunctional due to injury or disease, the body may have
to use other ways to get rid of the toxins. If the body tries to eliminate the excess toxins through the skin, this may result in various skin conditions such as dry skin,
dandruff, itch, etc.
If the body trys to eliminate the toxins through mucous membranes, the dog may have teary eyes, runny nose, or mucus discharge at the rectum or urethra.
When even the above elimination efforts fail and the body is overwhelmed with too many toxins, it is forced to store them until there is an opportunity to eliminate them
at a better time (which unfortunately may never arrive), and toxins can accumulate indefinitely. These harmful substances eventually can cause numerous serious health
problems, such as arthritis, chronic allergy and inflammation, yeast infections, to even
cancer.
Sounds scary?
Fortunately, with our help, most dogs can handle a lot of health problems, eliminate a reasonable amount of toxins, and restore their own organs and body systems back to health.
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Dog Detox - Eliminating Toxins Using HerbsThere are a good number of herbs that we can use to help our dog detox. In particular, herbs that support and strengthen toxin-removal organs (the liver, kidneys, lymphatic and immune systems) are beneficial. Herbs that strengthen the liver include burdock root, dandelion root, milk thistle, licorice, Oregon grape, and yellow dock. They not only strengthen the liver but may also help improve digestion. As well, these herbs act as "blood-cleansers" - they improve the body's abilities to remove toxins from the blood. Herbs that support kidney functions include marshmallow, corn silk, and cranberry. The diuretic as well as antibacterial properties of these herbs greatly help the kidneys to remove toxins from the body. Herbs beneficial to the lymphatic system include red clover and cleavers. They help support the lymphatic system clear toxins from the tissues. Toxins also accumulate in intestines; to help with the removal of intestinal mucus and the toxins it collects, ground flax seed is effective. Immune-support herbs such as garlic, echinacea, or astragalus are also essential as one component of the dog detox herbal remedy.
Dog Detox - SupplementsSupplements are also essential to detoxify the dog's body. In particular, nutrient supplements that contain "greens" can help detoxify your pet tremendously. Greens supplements add a wide variety of nutrients commonly missing from a lot of pet foods, including full spectrum amino acids, chlorophyll, antioxidants, trace minerals, and essential fatty acids. Chlorophyll that makes the "greens" green is a natural cleanser. Research has shown that chlorophyll helps reverse a wide array of health disorders affecting many organs, such as the skin, intestines, and liver.
Dog Detox - Good Food, Fresh Water, Regular ExerciseBesides using herbs and supplements for dog detox, we should also provide our dogs with good food, fresh water, and the opportunity to exercise daily. Feed Our Dog Natural, Quality Food and Treats Perhaps this one of the most important yet simple thing for us to do to help improve our dog's well-being. If you are still giving your dog commercial pet food bought at suppermarkets, you are in essence feeding your dog a dose of chemical additives, artificial colors and flavors with every bite. These chemicals are toxic indigestible ingredients that will pile up in your dog's body, causing loads of health problem down the road. Switch to a natural, organic diet and give your dog only all natural dog treats. You will soon notice a big change in your dog's overall health if you do so. To help expedite elimination of waste, regular fasting may be indicated as well. Consult with a holistic vet to find out what type of fasting may be appropriate for your dog. Provide Fresh Water Besides good food, clean, fresh drinking water is also important since water is essential in the process of detoxification. Encourage your dog to drink lots of clean, filtered water. Avoid water that contains chlorine, fluoride, chemical residues, harmful bacteria, or parasites (i.e., avoid ditch or stream water).
Dog Detox - Eliminating Toxins from the OutsideMinimize Exposure to Pollutants and Chemicals As mentioned above, your dog can get in contact with a lot of chemicals and pollutants even in his living environment. For example, lawn chemicals, household cleaners, secondhand cigarette smoke, and so on. It is necessary, therefore, that we take a hard look at our environment and remove, whenever possible, things that present the potential of causing toxic excess in the body. Use natural products as much as possible. Use Natural Pet Products We should also try to use natural pet products whenever possible. Conventional tick and flea control products contain tons of toxic compounds, so do many conventional drugs, including vaccines. While chemical treatments and conventional medications may be needed, it pays to be mindful of the frequency of dosing, and to look for natural alternatives if available. (Access this page for some ways to control fleas naturally and this page for natural tick and flea products.) TopDog Detox - Things to Keep in MindAs your dog's body is going through the process of detoxification, you may notice some physical changes in your dog, for example, he may develop symptoms like a runny nose or changes in bowel function or appetite. Such symptoms are "healthy signs" and are temporary. They should subside in a few days. If you administer some remedies to help your dog detox, observe him closely. Stop any remedy if you notice any symptoms that concern you, and consult with a holistic veterinarian for appropriate guidance.References R. Kidd, Dr. Kidd's Guide to Herbal Dog Care (Storey Publishing, 2000). Pitcairn and Pitcairn, Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Rodale, 2005). M.L. Wulff-Tilford and G.L. Tilford, Herbs for Pets (Bowtie Press, 1999). Whole Dog Journal, July 2006. TOP of Dog Detox |
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