Naturally Healthy Dogs
Things To Do To Keep Your Dog Healthy

January, 2012

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In this issue:

• New Year's Resolutions - Things to Do to Keep Your Dog Healthy
• Product Pick - Immunity and Liver Support
• Recipe - Oils for a Shiny Haircoat

Happy New Year!

Every year, as I usher in the New Year, I can't help but think that my dog Hana is getting another year older - that's another 6-7 human years older :(

I strongly feel that I need to do all I can to keep my dog healthy as she is approaching old age (She will be 10 this August - time flies!)

What can we do to keep our dogs healthy? Here are several good suggestions from a number of holistic vets:

• Feed Your Dog a Healthy Diet

  Perhaps the most important thing that you can do to keep your dog healthy is to feed her a natural well-balanced diet.

  If you are feeding your dog a low-quality commercial kibble diet, try to switch to a better-quality one. Learn how to read the food label.

  Supplement your dog appropriately - in accordance with her age, specific needs, and lifestyle.

• Keep Your Dog Slim

  You will no doubt agree that obesity (whether in people or pets) can cause a lot of health problems. Dogs who are overweight can easily develop joint problems, diabetes, heart disease, liver problems, to name just a few.

  Feeding a dog an inappropriate diet and not giving the dog enough exercise are two major reasons that cause canine obesity.

• Avoid Unnecessary Vaccinations

  Does your vet still insist on giving annual booster shots to your dog? If so, ask him if he has read the 2011 revised vaccination guidelines by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). In the guideline, yearly re-vaccination of the core vaccines is no longer recommended. As a matter of fact, the AVMA has acknowledged immunity lasts at least five years for distemper and parvo, and at least seven years for adenovirus.

  Before considering re-vaccinating your dog, ask your vet to give the dog titer tests.

  More and more evidence has shown that over-vaccination puts extra burden on a dog's liver and immune system and can cause a number of short- and long-term health problems to the dog, including cancer.

• Brush Your Dog's Teeth Regularly

  Dental health is extremely important to dogs, because poor dental hygiene can cause not only gum diseases, but more importantly and seriously, systemic (whole body) health problems.

  Start caring for your dog's teeth and brushing your dog's teeth today! It's not too late even if your dog is no longer a puppy. With patience, older dogs can be trained to have their teeth brushed too.

• Give Your Dog Regular At-Home Exams

  Dogs can't tell you when they are not feeling well, and by the time any symptoms start to show, it may be that the disease has advanced to a rather serious stage.

  That's why it is important to give your dog regular at-home exams. Put it down on your calendar to give your dog a careful look-over from head to tail once a month.

  Check her eyes, nose, ears, teeth and gums, and paws. Look at her skin and palpate her belly to check for lumps.

  If you examine your dog regularly, you will begin to know what is normal and when there are changes you will notice them quite quickly.

  Get your dog to the vet to have a medical check-up at least once a year (twice yearly is recommended for older dogs). If you have an older dog, you may also want to consider giving her a blood test to screen for cancer.

This natural herbal supplement is ideal for strengthening your dog's liver and immune system.

It contains Echinacea (an immune-boosting herb), Milk Thistle (an herb that supports the liver), Dandelion (an herb that supports the liver and digestive system), and Ashwagandha (one of the most important Ayurvedic tonic herbs; it assists with growth, health and vigor.)

Together, these herbs work synergistically to cleanse and purify the system, support immune functioning, and maintain liver health.

Use it as a general health tonic for your dog.

This recipe (by A. Brown, author of The Whole Pet Diet: Eight Weeks to Great Health for Dogs and Coats) is easy to make and is great for your dog's haircoat.

Ingredients:

• 5 ounces olive oil
• 1 ounce cod liver oil
• 1 ounce wheat germ oil
• 1 ounce flaxseed oil
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary

Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse for 30 seconds.
• Pour into a dark glass jar/bottle and seal tightly.
• Store in the refrigerator for freshness (it will keep for about 2 months).

Feeding Directions:

• 2-11 pounds - 1/2 teaspoon
• 12-25 pounds - 1 teaspoon
• 26-50 pounds - 2 teaspoons
• 51-100 pounds - 1 tablespoon

Mix thoroughly into your dog's food.