Natural Remedies
Natural Flea spray
To make a natural flea spray that will deter fleas but is safe for you and your pet, simply mix 2 Tablespoons of concentrated lemon juice and 10-12 drops of lavender essential oil in a medium sized ( ) spray bottle. Fill the remainder of the bottle with water, shake well and spray this on your pet before your pet goes outside. Make up a fresh solution when the mixture loses its smell, or twice a month. The spray should not be applied daily, but every 2-3 days as needed. If ticks are a problem, add 10 drops of almond essential oil to the mix to deter ticks.
Lice Control
Mix 2 tsp. of Lavender essential oil into ½ cup coconut oil. Massage this well into the fur. Repeat this twice to three times a week. This will help to kill the adult lice, and some of the nits. However, it’s important to remove as many nits as possible by frequently combing the pet with a flea comb, as well as washing all bedding with hot water. Spraying the pet’s fur lightly with the Natural Flea spray afterwards is also a great idea.
Salmon Oil
Essential Fatty Acids such as Omega 3’s are extremely important in the maintenance of health. These EFA’s serve several purposes including potent anti-oxidants, decreasing inflammation, improving skin and coat quality, increasing joint lubrication and aiding digestive health. Animals with allergies, arthritis, ear infections, cancer, auto-immune diseases, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease etc. can benefit from EFA supplementation. For animals, the most digestible source of EFA’s is Salmon Oil. If your pet is allergic to fish, then the next best source is flax seed oil or ground flax seeds.
Glucosamine HCL
This nutrient is found naturally in the body and serves to increase joint lubrication and decrease pain. Supplementation is extremely important in arthritis, hip dysplasia, scoliosis, ligament damage such as ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligaments (ACL) etc.. There are two forms of Glucosamine available, Glucosamine S (Sulphate) and HCL (Hydrochloride), however, Glucosamine HCL is far better absorbed in the body and thus has better benefit to the body. Warning: Glucosamine is a Heparin analague, therefore recommended levels should not be exceeded, as haemorrhaging/bleeding can occur. In addition, it should not be given with other products that can cause bleeding such as Aspirin (ASA), Blood thinners etc. As a precaution, Glucosamine supplementation should be stopped 2 weeks prior to any surgery, to decrease the possibility of excess bleeding during surgery.
Flax Seed
Flax seeds are an important nutritional supplement, especially for animals suffering from constipation. Adding a small quantity of ground flax seeds to your pet’s diet can increase stool bulk and assist with elimination. In addition, flax is an important source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids which decrease inflammation in the body and help to prevent disease.
Bach Flower Remedies
These are herbal remedies made from plants which can be used on people and animals. Of special note is Rescue Remedy, which is a combination useful for anxiety, and stress or in patients that are prone to anxiety. For animals, the Bach Flower Remedies can be administered in a variety of ways. The normal dose is 2-4 drops at, and it can be repeated when the effect is wearing off. It can be put directly in the pets mouth, but it does have a very strong taste, which many pets do not like. Alternatively, the drops can be put in your pet’s water dish, or rubbed on the inside of your pet’s ears. To do this, take a few drops in your fingers, and gently massage the remedy on the inside of your pet’s ears. The remedy will absorb across the ear membrane, and have an effect.