I recommend (and probably your own veterinarian will as well) the only substance you use at home to make your pet throw up is hydrogen peroxide.

I’m talking about three percent hydrogen peroxide – the kind you purchase at any pharmacy. Do not use the stronger, concentrated peroxide found in hair color, use only the three percent kind.

The dose is one teaspoon (five milliliters, or cc’s) for every 10 pounds of body weight.

The hydrogen peroxide must be given orally to your pet. At my clinic, especially if the patient is a dog, we mix it with a little vanilla ice cream to make it palatable. I don’t advocate feeding ice cream to dogs, of course, but in a situation where it’s necessary to make a pet vomit, hydrogen peroxide hidden in sugary ice cream usually gets gobbled up with no argument.

You can also try using a little bit of honey if there’s no ice cream on hand.

Sometimes, however, we just syringe the stuff down an animal’s throat. With kitty patients, it’s usually easier and more effective to syringe it.

If your pet is a dog, after you get the hydrogen peroxide down, you should walk her around for a few minutes to get her moving, which will help the hydrogen peroxide do its work.

Cats, of course, are a little harder to get moving, but getting them in motion will encourage absorption of the hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide is an irritant to the gastrointestinal tract, so it typically induces vomiting of stomach contents within 15 minutes of use. If your pet doesn’t vomit within 15 minutes, you can give him a second dose. However, if another 15 minutes pass and he still hasn’t vomited, don’t give him a third dose of the hydrogen peroxide. It’s time to call your veterinarian.

Veterinarians use specific drugs to induce vomiting in pets – apomorphine is used for dogs, and xylazine is used for kitties.

These medications are by prescription only and can only be administered by a veterinarian. They can be much more effective at inducing vomiting than hydrogen peroxide. So if your pet isn’t throwing up from your at-home hydrogen peroxide treatment, you should seek veterinary care immediately.

When Should You NOT Induce Vomiting?

Circumstances in which you should not make your pet throw up include:

• When he’s already throwing up. Don’t induce more vomiting in an already vomiting animal, because you can incite a worse vomition response.
• If your pet has lost consciousness and/or if she’s very weak or has trouble standing. Do not induce vomiting in this situation because aspiration pneumonia, which can result when an animal inhales vomit into its lungs, can become a secondary problem.
• If your pet has swallowed bleach, a drain cleaner, or a petroleum distillate. These chemicals can cause burning as they are swallowed, and secondary additional burns as they come back up. Don’t induce vomiting if your pet has swallowed a caustic substance.
• If it has been over two hours since your pet ingested a potential toxin. Once a substance enters your pet’s small intestine, vomiting will not clear the stomach of that toxin. Inducing vomiting in a dog or cat that has already digested a potential toxin won’t be effective in ridding her body of the substance.

When Should You Absolutely Induce Vomiting?

• When your pet has consumed antifreeze within the last two hours.
• When you’ve called your veterinarian, discussed the specific circumstances around your pet’s swallowing a potential toxin, and your vet instructs you to induce vomiting.

Dr. Karen Becker-healthypets.mercola.com

Lets first start with the medicinal properties

Oregano oil is a powerful Antimicrobial. Numerous scientific sttudies and human experience have confirmed its ability to destro many infection-causing “germs” from all 5 classes of pathogens:viruses,bacteria,fungi,parasites and protozoa.When you consider how many health conditions are cuased by these invading organisms , it becomes apparent why Oil of Oregano is such a useful remedy.These days it is best known as an effective cold and flu remedy.Its powerful action against drug-resistant bacterial and viral infections makes it a suitable alternative to prescription antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs.Oil of oregano also has Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic properties , which makes it useful for many conditions where inflammation and pain are present

It is important to select a brand of Oil of Oregano that has been prepared specifically for dogs ,with dosages by weight.

Oil of Oregano can be used both internally and topically to help with the following issues.

Ear Infections

Dental Disease

Speeds wound healing

For fungal,bacterial and parasitic infections

Ringworm,mites and insect bites

Rashes,burns,hotspots,abscesses,boils

Minor cuts,scratches,stings

MRSA

Salmonella Poisoning

Remember to always consult your veterinarian before starting any new health regime and to get a proper diagnosis for your pet.

Excerpts taken from “Your guide to Oil of Oergano Better Health for People and Pets”  by Tracy K.Gibbs,Ph.D.

We carry  the Honest Kitchen line of dehydrated raw.

Please visit their website at www.thehonestkitchen.com

March 13, 2014 by Dr Loridawn Gordon

Dogs are unable to detoxify the body in the same way that humans can. They’re also far more susceptible to damage from everyday toxins in the environment and in their diet because their bodies are smaller than ours (most of the time).

To keep your dog as healthy as possible, you need to not only limit exposure to toxins but also help the body detoxify itself in the most efficient manner, and the best way to do so is by providing natural supportive therapies.

1. Milk Thistle

Milk thistle is the go-to herb for regenerating and protecting the liver, the organ responsible for detoxifying the body. The herb works by protecting liver cells against toxins. It can be given after an animal has been exposed to a toxin in order to reduce the negative effects.

2. Vitamin E

This is a powerful antioxidant that will seek out damaging free radicals and eliminate them. It’s prescribed for a variety of conditions, including cancer, infectious illnesses, skin problems, and even old age because it has the ability to boost the body’s defenses and clear toxicity.

3. Vitamin C

This is yet another potent antioxidant that provides the body with many benefits. Because it can give the immune system a boost, it’s a great option when it comes to detoxification. It can also be used for everything from bowel problems to cancer, gum disease, skin disorders, and more.

4. Green Tea

Green tea is high in antioxidants that protect the body against damaging free radicals and cancer. Green tea leaf extract is a great supplement to add to your pet’s diet in order to strengthen his health right down to the cellular level by removing carcinogens from the body.

5. Zinc

This mineral is great for reducing inflammation and speeding healing of wounds. It also supports the production of detoxification enzymes that are made by the liver.

6. SAMe

S-adenosylmethionine, known as SAMe for short, is another supplement that helps to clear the liver of toxins while protecting it from further damage. SAMe is actually a component of the detoxifier, milk thistle. When the liver is healthy, it is better able to filter and remove toxins from the body, before they can do harm.

7. Dandelion

In addition to being highly nutritious, dandelion can help strengthen the liver and clear out toxins.

8. Support the Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system is a part of the circulatory system that carries liquid called lymph to the heart. Lymph contains white blood cells, and helps get rid of toxins in the body. Red clover can help support the lymphatic system.

9. Support the Kidneys

The kidneys are also important organs when it comes to detoxification. Support them with marshmallow, corn silk, and cranberry.

10. Support the Immune System

A strong immune system is also important when detoxifying. Keep your dog’s immune system strong with:

– Echinacea when needed

– Astragalus

– Garlic

– See more at: http://moderndogmagazine.com/blogs/loridaw

Naturally Keep Your Cat’s Teeth and Gums Healthy

Many people don’t realize that the offensive breath coming from their cat isn’t normal. In fact, it could be a sign that there are dental issues brewing. Maintaining the health of your cat’s teeth and gums are important to his overall health, especially since infections of the mouth can spread to other systems and lead to more serious conditions.

There are plenty of natural ways to keep your pet’s mouth healthy. The key, though, is to follow these steps every day, just as you brush your teeth daily to ensure your oral health.

The Right Diet

Nutrition is a key component to keeping your cat healthy, right down to the teeth and gums. Raw diets tend to work best because they mimic the natural tearing and pulling action that animals use in the wild in order to rip flesh away from bone, and this stimulates the gums and cleans the teeth.

Providing raw bones, no matter what type of food you feed, is also a great way to allow your cat to not only clean the teeth but get some natural calcium as well. Never cook bones because they’ll become brittle and can cause serious injuries when ingested. Stick with chicken necks for cats.

Kibble won’t keep your cat’s teeth clean. The carbohydrates within the kibble will actually do more harm than good, and while many think that the abrasiveness of kibble will clean the mouth, this simply isn’t true.

Brush Daily

Brushing is another key component to naturally maintaining your pet’s oral health. Purchase a natural enzymatic toothpaste made specifically for cats. These are great because the enzymes will work on breaking down plaque without the need for actual brushing action.

To make the process of getting your furry friend used to having his teeth brushed easier, start at a young age, go slow, and be patient. A little bit every day will go a long way, especially if you’re gently using your finger or a species-appropriate toothbrush. You can even use a small piece of gauze or a washcloth, both of which have an abrasive texture, if your pet simply won’t tolerate a toothbrush.

Natural Supplements

Natural supplements can be used to keep your pet’s mouth healthy. For example, apply calendula (a homeopathic remedy) onto the gums to prevent gum disease. Vitamin C helps boost the immune system and fortify the ligaments and connective tissues of the gums that hold teeth in place. And CoQ10 is great for reducing inflammation and swelling of the gums.

Regular Check-Ups at the Vet

No matter how well you keep track of your cat’s oral health at home, it’s always recommended that you bring your pet to the vet to have a thorough examination of the mouth. Your vet can also provide cleanings to eliminate any plaque and tartar you were unable to remove and prevent.

– See more at: http://moderncat.com/blogs/loridawn/naturally-keep-your-cats-teeth-and-gums-healthy#sthash.zdgfYJMi.dpuf

Naturally Keep Your Dog’s Teeth and Gums Health

March 21, 2014 by Dr Loridawn Gordon

Many people don’t realize that the offensive breath coming from their dog isn’t normal. In fact, it could be a sign that there are dental issues brewing. Maintaining the health of your dog’s teeth and gums are important to his overall health, especially since infections of the mouth can spread to other systems and lead to more serious conditions.

There are plenty of natural ways to keep your pet’s mouth healthy. The key, though, is to follow these steps every day, just as you brush your teeth daily to ensure your oral health.

The Right Diet

Nutrition is a key component to keeping your dog healthy, right down to the teeth and gums. Raw diets tend to work best because they mimic the natural tearing and pulling action that animals use in the wild in order to rip flesh away from bone, and this stimulates the gums and cleans the teeth.

Providing raw bones, no matter what type of food you feed, is also a great way to allow your dog to not only clean the teeth but get some natural calcium as well. Never cook bones because they’ll become brittle and can cause serious injuries when ingested. Stick with chicken necks for small dogs, and give knucklebones and marrowbones to larger breeds of dogs.

Kibble won’t keep your dog’s teeth clean. The carbohydrates within the kibble will actually do more harm than good, and while many think that the abrasiveness of kibble will clean the mouth, this simply isn’t true.

Brush Daily

Brushing is another key component to naturally maintaining your pet’s oral health. Purchase a natural enzymatic toothpaste made specifically for dogs. These are great because the enzymes will work on breaking down plaque without the need for actual brushing action.

To make the process of getting your furry friend used to having his teeth brushed easier, start at a young age, go slow, and be patient. A little bit every day will go a long way, especially if you’re gently using your finger or a species-appropriate toothbrush. You can even use a small piece of gauze or a washcloth, both of which have an abrasive texture, if your pet simply won’t tolerate a toothbrush.

Natural Supplements

Natural supplements can be used to keep your pet’s mouth healthy. For example, apply calendula (a homeopathic remedy) onto the gums to prevent gum disease. Vitamin C helps boost the immune system and fortify the ligaments and connective tissues of the gums that hold teeth in place. And CoQ10 is great for reducing inflammation and swelling of the gums.

Regular Check-Ups at the Vet

No matter how well you keep track of your dog’s oral health at home, it’s always recommended that you bring your pet to the vet to have a thorough examination of the mouth. Your vet can also provide cleanings to eliminate any plaque and tartar you were unable to remove and prevent.

– See more at: http://moderndogmagazine.com/blogs/loridawn/naturally-keep-your-dogs-teeth-and-gums-health#sthash.3ChFB7Qr.dpuf

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FEEDING YOUR PET RAW

Raw Food Diet Guidelines:

The diet should be: 75% meat and 25% vegetables. Feed at least 100mg of meat per 10lbs of body weight. Increase this amount by 50% if the animal is young (less than 2 years) or has high metabolic requirements (high energy, cancer etc). If cooked meat is being fed for a transition period, the amount fed on a weight basis should be the total weight after cooking. If fish is the meat option chosen, increase the meat portion of the meal by 25%.

Meat Options:

1. Chicken (organic if possible), Turkey, Beef, Buffalo, Ostrich, Salmon, Kangaroo, Venison. Never give raw pork/Ham as this contains too many parasites.
2. For dogs with allergies, the red meats (Beef/Buffalo/Venison) may be too “hot” and should be avoided at the beginning. Ostrich and Turkey are nice alternatives in this case.
3. Organ Meat: Some organ meat is required for proper vitamin supplementation. This can be in the form of hearts, liver, kidney etc. Organ meat should be given _____x/week.

Vegetables:

These must be easy to digest. Hard vegetables (squash, zucchini, yarns etc.) may need to be steamed first. Other veggies need to be minced or pureed to be digestible.

1. Good veggies:

Parsley, Cilantro, Green Beans, Squash, Zucchini, Snap peas, Bok Choy, Kelp.

Canned Pumpkin (small amounts, 1 teaspoon/tablespoon in food)

2. Possible veggies:

Yarns, Sweet Potatoes.

3. Not recommended: Potatoes, corn, carrots, tomatoes, eggplants,  peas. Avoid broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale and cabbage as these are from the “goitrogenic” family and block Iodine uptake, especially when thyroid function is already low.

4. Poisonous food:

Onions, grapes, raisins, chocolate, avocadoes.

Foods to Avoid:

Wheat, pasta, flour as well as other forms of starch like polenta, kamut, couscous etc.

Switching to Raw Diet:

A pet digesting a raw food diet requires a different stomach environment than a pet eating dry pet food. A high level of acid in the stomach is required to digest raw food, but a pet eating dry dog food has very has very low levels of stomach acid. Because of this, if the pet’s diet is switched too suddenly, the pet will be unable to digest the raw diet and may become ill. So the pet must be switched very gradually to a raw food diet, allowing enough time for the stomach acid to adjust. Pets should ideally be fed twice per day.

Dogs:

Converting From Dry Pet Food

Option 1:

Feed dry food in the morning, and then cooked food (cooked meat and veggies) in the evening for 2 days. Cooked meat should be cooked without added oils, either bake or grill the meat, or sear in pan. Add veggies (see veggie instructions above) then go to cooked for both morning and evening meals for 2-3 days. After that add ¼ raw to each meal decreasing the cooked by ¼ for ___ days, then by the end of that time your pet is completely on raw meat (without bone) and veggies.

Option 2:

Initially change the diet from dry kibble to cooked food (cooked meat and veggies) and vegetables over a ___ day period. The meat should be cooked without added oils. Either bake or grill the meat, or sear in pan. Add veggies (see veggie instructions above). Gradually add more of the cooked meat/ veggies to the dry kibble over a few days, so that on day ___, the pet’s meal is completely cooked meat and veggies. Keep the pet on this cooked food for another ___ days. After this, slowly add raw meat to the cooked meat/veggies. Begin with small amounts (1 teaspoon/tablespoon), and gradually increase the amount over ___ days, so that by the end of ___ days, your pet is completely on raw meat (without bone) and veggies.

From Wet Pet Food

Change the diet from wet canned food to raw meat (chicken/lean meat) and vegetables (see list above) over a ___ day period. Do this by slowly adding raw meat (without bone) to the canned pet food. Begin with small amounts, ___ teaspoon/tablespoon per day, and gradually increase the amount over ___ days, so that by the end of ___ days, your pet is completely on boneless raw food (meat and veggies)

Cats:

From Dry Pet Food:

Start to introduce canned food and decrease the dry kibble by ¼ as soon as the cat is eating the required amount of canned. After this put a very small amount of dry into the bowl for a week, then stop adding dry. After a month, add ___ tsp of raw meat ( do not add veggies or cooked meat) to the canned every day, so over ___ days, add more raw and decrease the amount of canned until the pet is completely on raw meat.

From Wet Pet Food:

Change the diet from wet canned food to raw meat over a ___ day period. Do this by slowly adding raw meat (without bone) to the canned pet food. Begin with small amounts, ___ teaspoons per day, and gradually increase the amount over ___ days, so that by the end of ___ days, your pet is completely on raw meat.

Bones:

Your pet must be completely on a raw meat diet for about a month before bones should be introduced. You can introduce bones in the way of ground bones in the meat (chicken carcasses which are ground), as well as bones to chew on. In order to digest properly, bones should be extremely fresh and raw (NEVER cooked). A bone can be given 2-3x/week and can be given in place of a meal. Initially the bone should be given _____ per week.

For small pets (cat, small dogs): chicken necks for small dogs we recommend holding onto the neck at first to be sure they are chewing it. When it is less than 1’’ long discard bone!

For big dogs: turkey necks, femur bone, knuckle bones. Once they are the size of a golf ball- discard!

When introducing a bone to a pet, always monitor your pet carefully. If your pet tends to be “greedy” and is likely to swallow the bone, or a large piece of bone, then remove the bone before this can happen or do not give bones. Use your judgment. You know your pet and can determine if this can be a problem. Other options for keeping teeth clean are “bully sticks”. We do not recommend raw hide bones or other non-digestible items, like pig ears or greenies!!

Do not let the bone sit outside in the sun for days or dry out indoors as this makes the consistency similar to cooking and means that the bone can splinter, becoming dangerous for your pet.

If your dog or cat has white or very hard stool or is straining – this could be the sign of too much bone!

The first step to fighting fleas we must learn their life cycle. Fleas
can lay about 60 eggs per day. Resulting to about 400 eggs in a life.
The life span of a flea is about 90 days. During its life, a flea can
hibernate as a larva in a cocoon for about a year before hatching.
Fleas prefer to lay their eggs in dark damp places. They are able to
jump up around 9 inches high and 5 feet to the side. Fleas can also
transmit tapeworm. When flea larva feeds on tapeworm eggs, the eggs
start to develop in the flea. Now when your dog or cat eats that flea,
that’s when the tapeworm can continue growing in your dogs intestine.
Which starts a whole different problem. It has been proven that fleas
are becoming more resistant to chemical products. Manufactures are
making them stronger and stronger every year. Garlic is a natural
alternative for our pets to this problem.

Apart from all the great things garlic is good to are health for. It
is also a natural insect repellent which helps to fight off fleas.
They need to survive by eating a blood meal which can cause a great
deal of discomfort and pain to your pet. Itchiness, extreme skin
irritation and infection can all come from a flea infestation on your
pet. Garlic extract is a safe way to add garlic to our pets diet.
Fleas can’t stand the smell of garlic on your pets skin. Once it is
added to your pets diet and they smell his skin, they will jump off
immediately. Some times if garlic is given raw, it can be toxic to our
pets. You should always consult with your veterinarian before using
garlic extract. Their are a number of reasons that it could not be
good for your pets health if they are diabetic, pregnant or before
surgery. It also has anti-coagulant properties and can lead to anemia.
You should always give the appropriate dose of the product depending
on your pets weight. Smaller animals need a smaller dose then larger
ones. You can apply the garlic extract directly into your pets mouth
or onto their food twice a day with the help of a dropper or syringe.
Consult your veterinarian if you notice your pet having
gastrointestinal irritation (i.e. heartburn or gas) which can be a
side effect from using the garlic extract. Unfortunately just like us,
they might have a bit of bad breath.

Garlic has many health benefits and now luckily can also help us win a
few wars on fleas. Also remember to clean your pets toys, bedding and
sleeping area, which might mean your whole house, if faced with an
infestation. If fleas are found on your pet, It’s probably likely they
are in your home as well.

Author : Chantal Christopher