Favorite Holistic Books 

 

The Good Food Cookbook for Dogs

Belvoir Media Group, LLC The Whole Dog Journal Subscription for Dogs

 

Nature's Variety Raw Food Diets Chicken & Turkey Patties 6 lbs.

Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Dog Food Preference 3 lb. Box


Pinnacle Canine Holistic Dry Dog Food Chicken & Oats 30 lb. Bag

Eating Well:

They say you are what you eat, and the same holds true with our four legged friends. The good news is that with all the information about dog food available these days, people can make more informed decisions about what to feed their pets. Gone are the days of just feeding dry kibble.

I am extremely passionate and concerned about what my dogs eat. There are so many choices it is mind boggling. The bottom line is that you want to give your dog a nutritious diet. You want to stay away from cheaper grocery store variety brands because they use corn and wheat as a filler. You need to keep them healthy and their immune systems strong with a good diet.

Learn to read the food labels for your dog just as you would for yourself. When you read a label understand that the first item has the greatest importance and on down the line. i.e. organic chicken, chicken broth,carrots,peas, quinoa - This label example shows that the organic chicken is the primary ingredient in the food. In many of the lesser quality foods, the first ingredient might be corn meal followed by chicken parts. Just be sure you read your labels.

Food Choices - Kibble, canned, home cooked, raw, frozen raw, freeze dried raw - the options have become endless. There are pros and cons to each type of food for your dog. I believe the best is to do your research and conclude what you are most comfortable feeding. I highly recommend  Belvoir Media Group, LLC The Whole Dog Journal Subscription for Dogs for tips on approved foods, supplements, and all around health of your dog. It is a journal packed with great information.

Rotation - In my opinion a healthy diet consists of a good rotation of the protein source and type of food. I feed my dogs a variety of the most healthy (in my opinion) dog foods available. In addition, I give them fresh fruits, vegetables, and cottage cheese. There are many foods that dogs can not tolerate and could even possibly lead to death. Please be aware of these that have been designated by the ASPCA as unsafe - Alcoholic Beverages, Avocados, Chocolate, Coffee, Fatty foods, Macadamia Nuts, Moldy or Spoiled Foods, Onions, Onion Powder, Raisins, Grapes, Salt, Unbaked yeast Dough, Garlic, Products Sweetened with Xylitol.

If you are going to serve your a dog a rotation diet, please be sure that they do not have allergies or stomach sensitivities.

Keeping a Strong Immune System:

I've called this section, the "Holistic Dog" because I don't believe in a lot of medications, processed foods, and so forth. An area of controversy are shots and vaccinations. Depending where you live, a rabies vaccine may be mandatory. But as far as other shots and vaccines go, you can have a blood test done called a Titer to see if your dog has enough antibodies without the need for shots. There are many schools of thought on shots, and the latest holistic approach is that our dogs don't need shots every year. Of course it is a personal preference between you and your Vet.

Maintain a Healthy Weight:

Just as we humans should maintain a healthy weight for our size and build, so should our dogs. Monitor what you feed your dog to ensure it does not become overweight. Don't kill it with kindness. Make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise - running, playing fetch, and daily walks are all essential elements in keeping a happy healthy dog.

Supplements:

I'm first in line for anything that will build up an immune system, help the skin, or calm the nerves holistically without the need of Pharmaceuticals. I'm a true believer that a healthy dog on a good diet does not need a lot of supplements. I personally just add a little bit of Alaska Salmon Oil to my dog's food for the Omega Acids. This not only builds up the immune system, it aids in keeping the skin healthy. If your dog suffers from ailments or other conditions, I recommend looking at the Pet Health A-Z Index!

The one other item I recommend are Bach Flowers - Rescue Remedy. A little bit goes a long way to relax a nervous dog. There are human Bach Flower remedies, but the one that is made for dogs does not contain alcohol. So please next time before you give a tranquilizer, think of Rescue Remedy.

Acupuncture / Acupressure / Reiki:

Miracles can happen with these holistic approaches to healing and well being. Acupuncture is the technique of using pin size needles in strategic points of the body for healing and preventative medicine. Acupressure uses the same points as but is performed with your fingers. Reiki is a very loving and healing power done with the warmth of your hands and heart.

Acupuncture has been used to help arthritic dogs, allergic dogs, dogs with cancer, diabetic dogs, and so on. I can personally attest to the miracle properties of this technique. I had a dog with a fatal liver disease, and with a holistic approach to food and acupuncture we extended her life by two years. Not only did we extend her life, but we gave her a wonderful quality of life.

If you are interested in Acupuncture/Acupressure for your dog, there are many Vets that perform these techniques. In addition there are also Human Acupuncturists who have also been educated in the art of acupuncture on animals. You can even do Acupressure yourself. This is an interesting book on the subject - The Well-Connected Dog: A Guide to Canine Acupressure. In many instances a Veterinarian who does Acupuncture may also work with Chinese Herbs. The combination of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs can sometimes eliminate the need of drugs.

Reiki is probably the most spiritual technique of these procedures. A person truly masterful in the art of Reiki can even do it long distance without ever seeing their subject. The best way to explain Reiki is that you transfer your positive energy to your dog. By clearing your mind and releasing your own toxins you can transfer your energy by just placing your hand slightly above the area of concern. The heat transfer (energy) has a mystical healing power. Now I know that this sounds like hocus pocus, but it truly works and it is extremely beneficial for humans and all animals.

I highly recommend The Whole Dog Journal for valuable information on Holistic care.