| In recent years there has been an amazing rise in the | | | | cost nothing. |
| number of dog | | | | Then, if you have to go to a conventional vet, you |
| owners interested in holistic dog care. They share a | | | | can be forearmed |
| concern about | | | | and say what type of treatment you'd prefer for |
| the amount of chemicals used in conventional | | | | your dog's health.There are many outlets supplying |
| treatments. Many believe | | | | natural dog foods, and again if you |
| that an over-dependence on conventional medicine | | | | can't find one in your area there are excellent online |
| can even be harmful, | | | | suppliers. |
| leading to different types of dog allergy and nasty | | | | Even if this does cost slightly more (and it won't |
| conditions'Holistic dog care' is a term that we hear | | | | always!) you'll |
| often, but many people | | | | save time and money by not having to drive to the |
| admit to being unsure about what it really | | | | store.Online you'll also find lots of advice on natural |
| means.Okay, let's put that right!'Holistic' comes from | | | | health supplements |
| the Greek-based word 'holism', and when applied | | | | to maintain peak health, or to combat illness and |
| to medicine (for animals as well as humans!) it means | | | | boost fitness if and |
| treating the | | | | when necessary.However, we've found that with a |
| whole 'entity' (body and mind) and not just the | | | | regular combination of healthy food |
| symptoms of disease.Your dog - like you! - has an | | | | and exercise, Ben never needs anything other than |
| amazing ability to heal itself. The | | | | a check-up at the |
| only problem is that over the years this ability can | | | | vet.Apart from giving natural dog food and |
| be dampened down | | | | supplements, the other |
| by an over-reliance on chemical 'cures'. Wouldn't it be | | | | requisites for holistic dog care are so obvious they |
| better to | | | | are no-brainers!Normal cleanliness is one. Groom your |
| help your pet re-activate his natural dog health, and | | | | dog regularly and check his |
| enable him to | | | | coat for unwanted guests. Grooming will also |
| ward off harmful diseases and conditions before | | | | promote a healthy skin. |
| they take hold?I became interested in holistic dog | | | | Take care of basic things, such as cleaning and |
| care over ten years ago when our | | | | drying his ears after |
| Border Collie pup, Ben, contracted a near fatal | | | | a swim. See that he gets exercise every day and |
| condition, Demodectic | | | | interact with him as |
| Mange. Conventional medicine actually prolonged the | | | | much as possible by playing with him, stroking him |
| illness and | | | | and so on. Holistic |
| several types of unpleasant treatments had to be | | | | dog care, remember, deals with the mind as well as |
| tried.Since we moved to a more holistic and natural | | | | the body. |
| approach Ben has never | | | | Interaction has enormous psychological and |
| looked back!Let me stress again, all humans and | | | | emotional benefits for both |
| animals have a natural tendency to | | | | dog and human companion. Learn basic first-aid for |
| heal and cure themselves of most illnesses, so the | | | | dogs, just in case |
| secret lies in | | | | you have to act in an emergency: the least suffering |
| boosting the immune system which our modern | | | | involved, the |
| ways have encouraged to | | | | less depleted your dog's natural resources will be.So |
| become slack or 'lazy'.Once it's stimulated and | | | | let's sum up:* Give your dog exercise and |
| functioning well, a healthy immune system can | | | | companionship* Feed him a healthy diet of natural |
| help your dog remain fit and active for longer than | | | | dog food* Give him natural supplements* See to |
| you might expect. | | | | basic hygiene* Learn some first-aid* Take him to a |
| Now, that's great news, isn't it?Yes, but I'm sure it's | | | | vet who is in sympathy with your requirements. . . |
| all very complicated.Relax, it's not. In fact it's simple. | | | | and you will be pleasantly surprised to find your dog |
| Nature's ways often are, since | | | | avoids |
| they're the best.So what do I have to do?First of all, | | | | lots of common ailments and conditions. This is |
| seek out a vet who either practices or is interested | | | | because his immune |
| in | | | | system will have been strengthened and he will have |
| holistic or natural treatments. If such a vet isn't close | | | | regained the |
| at hand, | | | | natural immunity Nature intended him to have.Easy, |
| you can register online with many holistic veterinary | | | | isn't it? And isn't your dog worth it?Interested in |
| practices and | | | | learning more about natural care for your dog? |
| receive advice and counseling - and often this will | | | | |