EDITOR'S MESSAGE
SAVE THE DATE - WONDERFUL PROGRAM
Join us on Wednesday September 11, 2019 at the Red Lobster to hear our speaker, Dr. Alicia Moon, DVM CVA of Moon Mobile Veterinary Services speak on the benefits of laser therapy, acupuncture and also discuss supplements and food therapy. More information on Dr. Moon can be found on her website www.moonmobilevet.com The September meeting will commence at 6pm in order to order off the menu and Dr. Moon will join us for dinner. The actual discussion and topics led by Dr. Moon will commence at 7pm. Please join us for these interesting topics which can help our cavalier's health.
INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT OF THE MONTH
SUMMER SPECIALTY
ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM
NATURAL REMEDIES
What are Natural and Herbal Arthritis Remedies?
Arthritis causes bone and joint pain and discomfort and can be debilitating for dogs. Dogs who suffer from arthritis lose quality of life and can become depressed or anxious. Some dogs are susceptible to arthritis by breed and size, but others develop arthritis as they age. The thinning of fluids which lubricate and protect joints occurs as dogs age, causing bone to bone contact and painful friction. Arthritis also causes swelling in your dog’s joints. There are natural, homeopathic and herbal remedies to treat arthritis in dogs. You can improve your dog’s quality of life and treat the pain and inflammation caused by arthritis at home.
Natural and Herbal Arthritis Remedies Procedure in Dogs
There are many herbal remedies to tackle inflammation and pain, however approaching the overall health and lifestyle of your dog can do more to improve their battle with arthritis.
Inflammation and Pain Remedies
Comfrey - Comfrey has pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties. You can add ½ to 1 teaspoon to your dog’s food. If you can find the dried herb in natural food stores, comfrey can be added to a warm compress for localized pain relief.
Frankincense - Frankincense is an all-around perfect herbal remedy. With anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant properties. Frankincense is used around the world for many ailments. Essential oils or a dried Frankincense herb can be added to your dog’s food.
Yucca - Yucca is often used in arthritis medications for humans as well as animals. Yucca is easy to find in health food stores. Adding Yucca to your dog’s diet is easy to do with capsules or the dried herb.
Alfalfa - Alfalfa is another widely-used herb for pain management and inflammation. Much alfalfa is genetically modified, so look for organic alfalfa in your local health food store or grow your own. Add the dried herb before flowering directly to your dog’s food or provide capsules inside a treat.
Turmeric - Turmeric is another commonly used herb. Turmeric is easy to add to your dog’s food and can help with pain as well as inflammation. Turmeric also has incredible antioxidant properties to help fight disease. The above herbs can be mixed together for added benefits. You may also find tinctures available with these herbs in your local health food store.
Overall Health and Diet - Your dog’s overall health, including joint pain, will improve with a natural, whole food, healthy diet. Dogs are not picky and will eat just about anything you offer. Their diet, however, should consist of meats for high protein, and a healthy balance of carbohydrates and healthy fats. You can add bone broth and fresh or steamed vegetables to your dog’s diet as well. Foods like blueberries can be added to each meal to add antioxidants into your dog’s diet. Improving your dog’s overall diet will improve their health and tackle pain you may have a hard time controlling such as inflammatory arthritis pain. Though arthritis is common among some breeds, diet controls so much of your dog’s overall health. You can help your dog maintain or reach a healthy weight, taking stress off these painful joints and control inflammation and pain if you are being true to a whole food healthy diet.
Exercise - Exercise is imperative for overall health. With diet and exercise, you can help your dog reach his ideal weight. Exercise will also keep those joints in use, preventing them from getting stiff from disuse.
Supplements - Adding supplements to your dog’s diet is easy. Glucosamine and antioxidants are necessary supplements for smooth joint movement. Antioxidants are found in colorful fruits and vegetables. They will help clean out toxins and repair damaged cells. Glucosamine occurs naturally in the cartilage of your dog’s joints. As damage is done over years, giving your dog glucosamine can help add this compound back to those joints, helping with pain and friction. You can tackle and help to prevent many diseases along with arthritis by starting your puppy off with a healthy diet which feeds not only their hunger but also their cells. Diet and exercise are key to overall health. Your dog may still end up battling arthritis, but you can help ease their pain and potentially lessen the harmful degeneration with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Efficacy of Natural and Herbal Arthritis Remedies in Dogs
Herbal remedies have been around for thousands of years. These methods and herbs are proven effective for pain relief and inflammation. However, as with any natural remedy, holistic care requires dedication and commitment. Not only a commitment to your dog’s overall health to tackle the root of the problems, but also the commitment to the time it will take to get your dog to a healthy place.
Natural and Herbal Arthritis Remedies Recovery in Dogs
Arthritis is painful. Ease your dog into these natural methods of relief and healing. With so many options, you can try several to get the right fit for your budget, your dog’s likes and dislikes, and the time you can give to care for your dog. Be patient. Your dog is not going to feel better overnight. But with time and lots of love, you will begin to see improvement. As your listless dog begins to exercise more, you can provide muscle massages and ice packs as they get used to increased exercise. If you are changing your dog’s diet, make slow changes and include supplements or herbs in treats when possible. If you are adding new whole foods to your dog’s bowl, add bone broth as well to give the fruits and vegetables a meaty flavor the dog will enjoy.
Cost of Natural and Herbal Arthritis Remedies in Dogs
Natural care can be expensive at times, but adding herbs to improve your dog’s pain levels should cost under $25 a month. Giving your dog a whole food diet can be as simple as the cost of fruits and vegetables. You can use bones from your own chicken or beef meals to make bone broth to add to your dog’s food. If you choose to visit with a holistic or homeopathic veterinarian, you might find their training is different and, therefore, their office visits are more expensive. A typical office visit may be about $75 instead of $50, for example. Before committing to a holistic veterinarian, research the homeopathic veterinarians in your area. Many will do phone consults for a much lower rate. From a phone consultation, you can get advice on where to purchase herbs and how much to give your dog how based on condition, breed, and weight.
Dog Natural and Herbal Arthritis Remedies Considerations
If your dog is a candidate for holistic arthritis treatment, you should consider their overall health as well. Obese and large breed dogs will have more issues with mobility than healthy dogs or smaller breeds. Before treating your dog’s arthritis, create an exercise and healthy meal plan to ensure success. Reducing stress on your dog’s joints will be a huge factor in their mobility.
Natural and Herbal Arthritis Remedies Prevention in Dogs
Some dogs are going to be susceptible to arthritis and joint pain. Large breeds carry heavy weight for years, putting stress on their bones and joints. Active dogs may also develop arthritis as they age because of the incredible activities they participate in when they are young. These things might not be stopped. But you can start your puppy off on the right foot with a proper diet and regular exercise. As your dog ages, keep them active to keep those muscles, bones, and joints from getting stiff. Add supplements as they age to improve mobility. And be sure to visit with your veterinarian on a regular basis for checkups.
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Frozen Banana Dog Treats
This recipe pairs blended watermelon and pineapple with a nice thick banana slice for a healthy, cooling snack that any dog would love to get their paws on. If your dogs loves bananas, they will go crazy for these treats.
Ingredients
- 1 banana*
- 1 1/2 cups watermelon*
- 1 cup pineapple*
* You can substitute the fruit in this recipe with any other dog-safe unsweetened fruit or veggie puree or yogurt.
Equipment
- Silicone mini muffin pan (or use ice cube trays)
- Small cookie sheet or cutting board to help move the silicone mold
- Flat space in the freezer for your mold
- Blender or food processor
Instructions
- First, make sure there's room in the freezer for you to set the silicone mold or ice cube tray down flat.
- Puree a cup and a half of watermelon and set aside.
- Puree a cup of pineapple and set aside.
- Slice the banana into 24 pieces.
- Place silicone mold onto cookie sheet.
- Place one banana slice in each well.
- Top each banana slice with 2 tablespoons of watermelon puree.
- Top off each mold well with a layer of pineapple puree.
- Gently slide mold into the freezer and freeze for 4 hours.
- Leftover pops can be taken out of the mold and put into a more compact container like a plastic bag.
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Mark Fitchpatrick, editor