All Pet Naturals Blog

Natural Treatment for Dog Allergies over Thanksgiving

by William Greenbaum, aka love ya woof

FERNDALE, WA – Well its the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and people need to spend time with family so thinking too much is definitely not in the cards nor is a long-winded article that goes into tedious detail about dog allergies. Just Google ‘allergies’ on the net and thousands of references will come up that you can pursue, but in this article lets just go over the basics and cut to the chase. So if your pooch is suffering from allergies this Thanksgiving, what can you do? How can you use natural treatments and cut down on the symptoms? Easy.

FOOD

Change it. Many commercial pet foods are loaded with highly processes, inferior quality ingredients that appear because of the manufacturing process, as well as chemicals that may contribute to overall ill health or trigger allergic sensitivities. Switch to higher quality, more natural  food with few allergic offenders.

Eliminate processed treats (e.g. S’  nausage). Get rid of treats that contain gluten (e.g bread or biscuits made from wheat, barley or rye). You can serve food from the table as long as its not grapes or onions. Sauces, gravy made from mixes, processed food (i.e deli meat, processed cheese) should not be given to you dog. Fat or gristle from meat is not appropriate as a dog treat.

OMEGA -3s

Give ‘em. We have the top fish oil in the world, Nordic Naturals, that is loaded with Omega-3’s. Gel or Caps, your choice.  Nordic Naturals Fish oils have been shown to help  reduce the allergic inflammation affecting both the skin and the intestines by promoting the production of natural anti-inflammatory substances in the body.

HOTSPOTS

To help stop the scratch-itch cycle and soothe skin irritations,  apply a wet, warm black tea bag on the affected spot. The tannic acid in the tea bag has a soothing effect relieving the itch. Hold the bag to the skin for 4 – 5 minutes. Do this twice a day for a least 3 days. Following the tea bag treatment, apply  Aloe Vera either from an opened leaf or from a a purchased gel/ Aloe speeds the healing process. See our article on this uses of this herb.

Another get product that we carry that does double duty as both an anti-inflammatory and a Hotspot healer is our ViraFungal Fighter. Its wildly popular because it does such a great job on both problems. In case you want to check it out, visit this hyperlink. ViraFungal Fighter sells for $25.95 in our store.

EARS

Keep your dog’s allergies in check, clean their ears with water + vinegar (a 50:50 combination) or rubbing alcohol + vinegar (50:50). AllPetNaturals also carries a great product that can make your life much easier and cheaper too. Its called Animals’ Apawthecary Herbal Ear Rinse. Click this link, and the hyperlink will take you right to the page where you can order.  The cost is only $11. Its got great reviews and is used by many Holistic Veterinarians.

IN THE HOME

To keep pesky allergens in check. Do the following:

1. Don’t use scented laundry detergent when washing dogie blankets. Wash in hot water. Also don’t use fabric softener sheets when drying blankets.

2. Use glass or ceramic dog dishes, n ot plastic which gives of toxins that stimulate allergic reactions.

3. Dilute dog shampoos. Dilute Conditioners. Use about a squirt of each but dilute with one cup of water.

DIGESTIVE ENZYMES

Digestive Enzymes improve nutritional absorption, and reduce the allergenic load on the intestines and you dog. These should contain:  Protease (to break down protein), Lipase (to break down fats),  Amylase 9to break down carbohydrates), Cellulase (to break down plant fiber). A great example of this is our Organic Green Alternative product in our store,

or also Udo’s-Choice Pet Essentials for Dogs. These are super star products that work brilliantly to provide the body with a a full suite of digestive enzymes.

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References: Dr. Lea Stogdale, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM

Our parent company

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FERNDALE, WA – Nordic Naturals (www.nordicnaturals.com) was founded by Norwegian-born, Joar Opheim, MBA, who recognized the lack of high quality fish oils in the US when he first arrived here 20 years ago. “Having been born and raised in Arctic Norway, where the fishing industry is a crucial part of both commerce and academia, I was aware of the importance of pure Omega-3 in the diet.”

Over the last decade, Nordic Naturals has set the standard for quality in Omega-3 supplements. Today, the company is the leading supplier of fish oils to retailers, consumers and medical facilities.

Nordic Naturals products are crafted from the highest quality raw materials and processed with its innovative, patented technology. This allows them to deliver levels of freshness, taste and purity unheard of only a few decades ago. In the competitive Norwegian market, leading medical doctors describe Nordic Naturals as “simply the best in the world.”

Pet Products from Nordic Naturals

Upon the success of their products for humans, Nordic Naturals started a vet/pet division a few years ago making high quality products for dogs and cats. The company uses the same oils and quality standards to manufacture both the human and pet products, offering pets the purest, freshest Omega-3 fish oils from Norway.

Some pet diets may include Omega-3 fatty acids. However, virtually none include satisfactory amounts of the most important Omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. In line with pet recommendations in Scandinavia, the company feels it is crucial to give pets quality fish oil every day.

Pet Cod Liver Oil is derived from 100% wild Arctic cod, providing your pet with the benefits of high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids with all natural vitamins A and D. No flavor added.

Omega-3 Pet is derived from 100% wild anchovies and sardines and is an exclusive Omega-3 fatty acid formula that is encapsulated in soft gels. For pet owner convenience, Nordic Naturals offers Omega-3 Pet for ease of use and travel with pets. No flavor added.

Benefits for Pets

Fish oil supports exceptional brain and eye development and promotes heart and joint health while nourishing skin and coat for cats and dogs. For more information, see www.nordicnaturals.com. Scientific studies can be found at www.omega-research.com. Products are available at health food stores, pet stores and from many veterinarians as well as online at -

allpetnaturals.com

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by William Greenbaum, aka love ya woof

If your pet develops cancer, what should be your treatment goals?

IN THIS ARTICLE I’d like to share with you what cancer is and then discuss the different therapy options available, and then conclude with what your treatment goals should be.

Lets begin with a description of this insidious disease. Cancer is essentially cells going wild. It is the unrestrained growth of cells that destroy healthy tissues and body organs. There are many forms of cancer and each of them have different outcomes.

Your vet can choose to surgically remove the tumor or begin radiation therapy — which are two common treatments, and expensive. Other therapy options include: chemotherapy, pain relief, complementary therapies including vitamins and nutritional supplements, homeopathics, biologicals, acupuncture, herbal remedies or a combination of therapies. Each case is different and there are stress factors (on both people and pets) as well as costs that often determine a course of action. The course of the disease is often unpredictable so essentially the goal of treatment is to:

1. Slow down the illness
2. Prolong life
3. Make your pet as comfortable and happy as possible

Conventional treatment options

1. Surgery – recommended only if there is a good chance of removing enough of the tumor to boost quality of life.

2. Radiation – can work for certain types of tumors. Not without risks and complications. Speak to your vet.

3. Chemotherapy – has a good success rate with lymphoma in dogs and cats, and with some other cancers. For many cancers, it has little or no benefit.

4. Appetite Stimulants – Weight loss is a huge issue. No food, no nutrition, and the immune system goes south faster than a duck in winter. There are a number of different medications on the market that help increase your pet’s appetite.  Use these medications at the first sign of decreased appetite rather than delaying until significant weight loss has occurred. It is much easier to maintain weight then it is to gain it back after it’s been lost.

5. Pain Medication – as quality of life is the top priority, seek advice from your veterinarian and likely you will have to buy prescriptions.

6. Acupuncture – this holistic treatment is increasingly popular in cancer treatment. Acupuncture for pets is now recognized as a specialists degree from the American Holistic Veterinarian’s Association. About 300 vets graduate each year with an advanced degree, but be that as it may, acupuncture does have a downside. It will stimulate the body’s systems and may backfire and cause tumor growth.

Holistic pet treatments

1. Supplements - should be a part of everyday pet health and life-long therapy. Refined pet foods most often lack the vital nutrients required and the reason for this is that they are leached out during the manufacturing process — much like our foods have been for decades and now look at the huge incidences of cancer in society! Okay back to supplements. One more thing, if your pet is difficult to pill or won’t accept a supplement mixed with food, these many not be practical.

2. Digestive Enzymes – anything that will help your pet get the most out of its food is a requirement whilst your pet is suffering from cancer. Digestive enzymes breakdown carbs, fats, proteins and make the food and its nutrients more bio-available to the body. This is good. It is in fact, vital.

3. Pet Vitamins – he or she needs pet vitamins! Specifically pet vitamins A, C and E – of which are all antioxidants and have a number of anti-cancer effects, including the inhibition of blood vessel growth in tumors, the promotion of healthy collagen, and free radical scavengers.

4. Herbal Remedies – at AllPetNaturals we carry a number of natural herbal tinctures that are potent antioxidants that also serve to stabilize cells, as well as detox the liver and boost the immune system.  They have proven themselves to be effective as they have been in use by over 200 holistic veterinarians for over 10 years.

5. Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oils for Pets – this product is rich in EFA’s (essential fatty acids) specifically EPA and DHA — which have been shown clinically to reduce inflammation by promoting the production of natural anti-inflammatory substances in the body. They also help your pet with energy and can slow tumor growth.

6. Marijuana oil (a legal form) for pets – is a good source of Omega-3s and has the additional advantage of improving appetite.

7. Essiac Formula – this herbal remedy (known in our store as Constitutional Blend) is an immune booster and an antioxidant. The formula has a taste the some pets find weird and don’t like. Homeopathic Essiac (called Constitutional Blend) is available from AllPetNaturals.com.

8. Protein Rich Diet – a good quality protein in the diet is tasty and the easiest for the body to process. High quality proteins include real meat, poultry and fish, and better quality canned food. Simple carbohydrates should be eliminated from the diet if possible – or reduced. Simple carbohydrates include sugar, milk, fruit and kibble (dry pet food). Complex carbohydrates (starchy vegetables) should be reduced in quantity.

When is veterinary attention required?

Please contact your veterinarian if you notice any of the following:

• decrease in appetite
• weight loss
• increase or decrease in drinking or in urinating
• urinating or defecating in an inappropriate location
• straining when passing stool or urine
• stool that is dry or hard or constipation
• vomiting
• change in behaviour (ie. withdrawing, becoming aggressive)
• decrease in energy
• a sore that does not heal
• an unusual odor

Same day veterinary attention is required if you notice any of the following:

• if your pet stops drinking and urinating
• if your pet hasn’t eaten for 24 hours
• if your pet is extremely lethargic or is having difficulty walking
• if your pet is in pain
• if your pet vomits more than 3 times in a 24 hour period.

In summary

As mentioned earlier the primary goal of a pet with cancer is ‘quality and dignity of life.’ To be honest, quality of life is difficult to measure in animals, however some of the factors to consider are appetite, activity and energy levels, grooming habits and finally sociability around other animals. When your pet’s quality of life is no longer adequate and treatment options have been exhausted, humane euthanasia is recommended.

References: Dr. Lea Stogdale, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM

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SEEMS rather odd doesn’t it? Did you know that the brain is approximately 60% fat — 30% of which is the omega-3 fatty acid, DHA. Since fish oil naturally contains more DHA than EPA, it’s an ideal brain food for young and old animals.

But here’s the kicker. Getting enough Omega-3 from a pet diet is the difficult part. Even though you maybe buying the best pet food possible it still may not provide all the nutrition your pet needs.

For centuries, canine and feline diets consisted of natural and unprocessed foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish, plants and algae.

The health-promoting omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are EPA and DHA. They are important for supporting healthy skin, coat, joints, brain, heart, eyes and your pet’s energy levels. Yet many pet foods contain primarily omega-6 fatty acids which comes from vegetable oils, so its not ideal. This is why supplementing your pet’s diet with a quality fish oil infused with the right amounts of Omega-3’s is important to overall health.

At All Pet Naturals, we carry the Nordic Naturals line of quality fish oils for pets. There are two products: Cod Liver Oil which comes in liquid form and  the Omega-3 Pet which is the soft gel caps in the bottle in two sizes 90 or 180’s per.

PRODUCT PROFILE

NORDIC GOLD PET COD LIVER OIL

♦ Fish liver oil ♦ Omega-3 fatty acid, and all natural vitamins A & D  ♦ Oil derived from 100% Arctic Cod   ♦ Easy to dose  ♦ Available in 8 and 16 fluid ounce. One teaspoon contains:  ♦ 625 mg DHA  ♦ 410 mg EPA  ♦ 225 mg other omega-3 fatty acids ♦ 7 I.U. vitamin E

Guaranteed Analysis

1 teaspoon = 5ml (5000 mg) contains:

• Crude fat (min.) – 99.9%
• Moisture (max.) – 0.01%
• Vitamin A (min.) – 450 I.U./tsp
• Vitamin D (min.) – 2 I.U./tsp
• Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids – 28 %
• Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) – 14%
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) – 9 %

Ingredients: cod liver oil (source of vitamins A and D), mixed tocopherols (a preservative)

♦ Natural triglyceride form ♦ 100% natural vitamin E ♦ No artificial colours or flavors

Suggested Daily Use:

Cats…..1/4 teaspoon ♦ Dogs….. 0 – 20 lbs. 1/4 teaspoon….. 20 – 55 lbs 1/4 teaspoon…..over 55 lbs 1 teaspoon. Apply oil onto food, or serve by itself. Refrigerate after opening.

OMEGA -3 PET

♦ Fish body oil ♦ Omega-3 fatty acid ♦ Oil derived from 100% wild anchovies & sardines   ♦ Encapsulated for convenient use and travel ♦ Available in 90 and 180 soft gels. One soft gel contains:  ♦ 110 mg DHA  ♦ 165 mg EPA  ♦ 70 mg other omega-3 fatty acids ♦ 15 I.U. vitamin E.

Guaranteed Analysis

1 soft gel = 1500 mg

1 soft gel contains 1000 mg fish oil

• Crude fat (min.) – 67%
• Moisture (max.) – 3%
• Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids – 22 %
• Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) -11%
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) – 7 %

♦ Natural triglyceride form ♦ 100% natural vitamin E ♦ No artificial colours or flavors

Suggested Daily Use:

Use one soft gel for every 20 lbs of body weight. For larger dogs, add soft gel to food. Smaller dogs and cats: puncture soft gel (s) and apply oil directly onto food, or serve by itself.

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reprinted courtesy of Nordic Naturals, 2009.

HIGH

Bluefish, Crab (blue), Grouper, Mackerel, Marlin, Orange Roughy, Salmon (farmed atlantic), Seabass, Shark, Swordfish, Tilefish, Tuna,  (ahi, yellowfin, blue, bigeye, canned albacore)

MEDIUM

Bass, Carp, Cod, Croaker, Halibut, Lobster, Mahi Mahi, Monkfish, Perch, Sablefish, Skate, Snapper, Tuna (chunk light), Sea Trout

LOW

Arctic Cod, Anchovies, Butterfish, Catfish, Crab (domestic), Crawfish, Flounder, Haddock, Hake, Mackerel (north atlantic), Mullet, Plaice, Salmon (wild), Sardine, Shrimp, Squid, Trout, Whitefish, Whiting

All Pet Naturals is committed to the environment, and only works with manufacturers, such as Nordic Naturals, that are proactive in sustainability with a dedication to protect wildlife and other natural resources. Nordic Naturals only sources those fish that are flourishing.

William G. Founder. Namaste

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, September 15, 2009

Healthy New Age: It’s my pleasure to be here today with Bill Greenbaum founder and president of allpetnaturals.com. Let’s start with your background and how you became interested holistic health for pets.

William Greenbaum: Thanks Kirk, let see. I have been in the health industry since 2005, and a pet owner all my life but they didn’t actually cross until March of this year; and how they did so was a bit of luck – opportunity crossing with preparation so to speak.

Long story short or short story long, I essentially, came up through the ranks starting in marketing and sales promotions where I had my own hip boutique agency; and after about ten years, I sold the firm and looked for another opportunity and boom, the universe answered and led me into health.

I was fortunate to be hired as Executive Director of the largest touring exhibition in the world. It’s very famous. Its called Dr. Gunter von Hagens’ BodyWorlds 2 – The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies.

I traveled to Chicago, Denver, Boston, Toronto, Cleveland — all over the U.S. with this fantastic exhibit and learned so much about our complex and fragile bodies, about disease, about anatomy, about our circulatory and nervous systems and the abuse we put our organs through. Not much holds us together only liquid, water and pipes. That’s it. Its weird and awesome at the same time. My experience with health was profound. I realized how gifted we are as human beings.

So when my contract was over, I became the President and CEO of a natural medicine company in Canada and the U.S. We were very successful. We manufactured and distributed 325 professional grade German homeopathic medicines to Naturopathic Doctors, and we got calls from vets and others in the pet world but we had nothing to offer them at the time.

One night I came home from the office, got knocked over by Leonardo my Italian Greyhound, nothing dramatic like hitting my head, but something occurred to me and I thought maybe I should venture out on my own to do this great pet medicine business.

So after a few more months I saw the potential and left to start my own company. We’re not manufacturing at the moment but likely next year we’ll start. However, we do carry the finest grade of natural products in North America for pets.

Healthy New Age: It seems that many people are only now becoming aware of the benefits of whole, healthy, organic food and supplements. Have you run into those who think it’s “over the top” to invest in natural health care for animals? For example, folks who think “it’s just an animal, so whatever food is cheapest is good enough.”

William Greenbaum: Yes I have but fewer and fewer people think like this. Times have changed. We ourselves think differently about the foods we eat and the wave is natural and organic so this translates to our pets.

It used to be that everyone bought low-end pet foods in grocery stores because convenience runs our lives. Now the big pet food manufacturers are up-grading their formulas which means they are responding to huge customer demand – and it is a good thing.

I was at the West End Dog Show in Vancouver recently and Purina was there with six different new high-end pet products – a big step for them. Everyone came to their booth.

Healthy New Age: Are you starting to see mainstream Veterinarians beginning to recommend alternative health products and treatment methods?

William Greenbaum: Yes this is huge. We are seeing this. The demand is coming from the public. More and more pet owners are looking at holistic healing modalities and alternative treatments. The America Holistic Veterinarians Association recently reported that out of 86,000 U.S. veterinarians, about 2,000 practice acupuncture and the number is rising. They also said about 300 vets take postdoctoral courses in acupuncture and its been like that since 2002.

What’s happening is what I call ‘trend  transfer.’ As we in our own lives get older and more concerned about our health we look elsewhere for more natural treatments and then we transfer this belief system to our pets, so its not surprising that popularity for acupuncture, massage, Chinese medicine, herbs and classical homeopathy are all rising.

Healthy New Age: I noticed on your web site a new dog harness that doesn’t restrain the neck area. Why is this important?

William Greenbaum: Its important for two reasons. Most people don’t realize that a dog’s optic nerve runs up the outside of the spine so any hard tug on the collar or a jerk sideways pinches the nerve leading eventually to eye damage.

Also, a conventional collar actually creates anxiety in an animal. When your dog pulls away its doing so to escape pain. Its counter intuitive I know and it seems weird but it is true. With our new harness, called Walkeez, the lead ring attaches down the back which changes the center of gravity so that the animal becomes more balanced and the dog’s body language is more natural.

Every so often, a simple innovation comes along and I like things like this — simple clever ideas that work. A friend from Vancouver, B.C., Simon Edwards, decided the dog collar needed a fresh look so he reinvented it in a very smart way, and he called his new design Walkeez.

The Walkeez harness is choke-free. It does not restrain the neck at all because it attaches behind the head further back. The harness then incorporates Tellington Touch. This is interesting and beneficial.

Briefly, Tellington Touch (TTouch) was developed by international animal expert Linda Tellington-Jones, PhD (Hons) to calm high performance racehorses in the U.K. The idea was to wrap the horse in a sort of X-pattern around the body, akin to a baby blanket, covering key touch points and this comforting wrap she noticed removed anxiety, and so the methodology was extensively researched and extended to other animals.

Walkeez uses this wrap style holding the animal securely calming the dog. The pet then is more natural allowing him/her to be more sociable around people and other dogs. The animal can then learn more appropriate behaviors.

Prices start at $49.95 USD for the smallest size that fits a Dachshund to $74.95 for the larger breeds such as German Sheppard’s and Mastiffs. Available in Red, black, Purple and Royal Blue. Shipping fees are a Flat Rate. We only charge $10.00 anywhere in North America, and that’s because we send everything by Postal Envelope. The Walkeez Harness fits great inside the envelope. If people are interested in buying one they should checkout our website so they can figure out the correct harness size. Its a very easy measurement to do.

Healthy New Age: How do Omega-3 oil products benefits pets?

William Greenbaum: By making up in vitamins and nutrients what ordinary pet foods fail to deliver. In most cases when manufacturers pump out pet food many key vitamins and nutrients are destroyed in the refining process. It is the same as our human food. Processed foods that we eat are convenient and fast but there is a price to pay. Many key vitamins are missing.  People are simply useless at replacing mother nature.

Omega-3 oils (usually derived from fish) are loaded with EFA’s or essential fatty acids. About 8,000 studies show that Omega-3 oils strengthen the heart, support the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response and nourish the bones and joints.

We should remember that for centuries, dogs and cats were wild and their diets consisted of natural foods that were actually quite rich in Omega-3 fatty acids typically derived from fish, algae, and plants. The two key acids that pets need are EPA and DHA and they are excellent at supporting healthy skin, coat, joints, brain, heart, and eyes, as well as energy levels.

Some pet diets may include Omega-3 fatty acids. However, very few include satisfactory amounts of the most important Omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA.

We carry an exceptional line of Omega-3 oils from Nordic Naturals. The Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet line comes in two sizes 90 or 180 caps, and it is freshest and purest Omega-3 Oil on the market bar none.

Its new for the company to go into pets, people don’t really know about it yet, however, in the natural products industry for humans, Nordic is the market leader – a kind of Rolls Royce of Omega-3 oils. Harvard, Columbia and Georgetown Universities have all chosen Nordic Naturals for clinical studies.

Nordic’s Omega-3 oil contain very high bio-available levels of vitamins A and D. Vitamin A supports: vision, growth, immune function, fetal development. Vitamin D supports skeletal structure, maintenance of mineral status, muscle contraction, nerve conduction, cell signaling, and phosphorous balance.

Healthy New Age: Are there any immune system boosting supplements yet available for pets?

William Greenbaum: Yes. AllPetNaturals carries three top brands, lots of choice:

• Udo’s Choice Pet Essentials for dogs and cats
• Nordic Naturals Cod Liver Oil
• Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Oils
• Animal Essentials’ Plant Enzymes and Probiotics
• Animal Essentials Omega-3 Plus Oil for Pets.
• Animal Essentials Fish Oil Plus

These products are the premier ones on the market because of their quality and effectiveness when used to supplement a pet diet and are excellent immune boosters. They are manufactured under the highest quality standards and that’s something I want to talk a little about.

These days coming onto the market are products quickly formulated with a label thrown on the bottle then touted as effective and something pets love. I’d like to ask your readers to be a tad wary because of quality surrounding the method of manufacture.

At our online store allpetnaturals.com we only work with products that are created using GMP which stands for Good Manufacturing Practice. It’s a little misleading because it seems shallow in that everyone will say they have a good manufacturing policy. So what’s the big deal?

GMP is a very strict manufacturing process whereby every step in the creation of a product from formulation to bottling or encapsulation is checked by an independent 3^rd party, such as the FDA in the U.S. or by Health Canada in Canada. It’s very stringent and expensive. So only top players in the business can afford to do this and adhere to this comprehensive regime. I know because I was President of one such manufacturing company and we gladly went through many hoops to ensure quality.

The bottom line is that exceptional immune supporting supplements are on the market today, We’ve got six lines of the best and they are all proven performers in supplying essential vitamins and minerals at the molecular level to support the immune systems of your pets.

Healthy New Age: I personally eat and receive a lot of benefit from green superfoods that include various forms of algae, grasses, herbs, vegetables, etc. Are there similar products for pets?

Yes. There are many on the market. AllPetNaturals has one in particular that stands out. Its called Organic Green Alternative for Pets. One of America’s leading animal herbalists, Gregory Tilford, has formulated it for us.

This supplement offers a synergistic blend of nutritive herbs and spirulina in an easy-to-feed formula designed to compliment the natural diets of dogs and cats. $24.95 for 300 grams.

When added to your pet’s homemade or premium natural pet food, this formula provides added measures of systematic support in a food-like form that the body can freely digest and utilize.

Unlike high-potency vitamin supplements that may provide more nutrients than can be used, Organic Green Alternative will not place an undo burden upon the liver, kidneys and digestive system. Vets have found that senior animals do very well on this product.

RECOMMENDED FEEDING

For dogs – 1 teaspoon per 20 lbs. For cats – feed 1/2 teaspoon.

INGREDIENTS

Organic Flax Seed Meal, Organic Burdock Root, Organic Nettle Leaf, Organic Spirulina, Organic Pumpkin Seed, Organic Garlic.

Healthy New Age: Before we conclude today’s interview, is there anything else you would like to share?

William Greenbaum: Yes. The Chinese have a great expression. “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life!”  This is very true for me.

The natural medicine business for pets is poised for huge growth. It’s about fifteen years behind the natural products industry, and so it is an exciting time and place to be in business.

I think our company can do a lot of good. We can educate and bring to the public new ways of looking at therapy, and we can safely and effectively support and help the holistic health and happiness of companion animals.

I also want to say there is definitely a place for traditional veterinary medicine. I must emphasize this. There are many things veterinary medicine does much better like handle serious infections with antibiotics, cancer and emergency problems. I believe natural and alternative medicine should complement each other. They should go hand in hand and I am relieved to see the profession is opening up to new ideas such as acupuncture, Tellington Touch massage therapy, homeopathics even aquatic movement therapy. Namaste, in health,

William Greenbaum

BIO

William Greenbaum (aka love ya woof!) hails from Ferndale, WA and Vancouver, BC. He is an avid outdoor sports guy, entrepreneur, writer, musician, theater producer, poet and competitive tiathlete. He is also a life-long lover of the arts and serves on the board of Ballet British Columbia.

William is the Founder and President of All Pet Naturals — a natural health company dedicated to providing pet owners with the finest holistic lines of all natural homeopathic and herbal medicines on the market today.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information visit allpetnaturals.com or email him directly at bill@allpetnaturals.com or by cell phone at 778.238.7410.

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Homemade Pet Food is the best diet for both dogs and cats – the natural ones, coming as close as possible to the diet they would eat in the wild. Cats are naturally carnivorous and have a high protein requirement, while dogs tend to be more scavenging and eat more of a variety of foods, requiring less protein than cats. It is possible, but not easy, to feed a dog a balanced vegetarian diet, though I do not really recommend it. It is, however, almost impossible to feed cats a purely vegetarian diet. If one looks at the teeth of cats and dogs, and counts the number of grinding teeth, and the number of tearing and shearing teeth a ratio can be worked out of the protein, carbohydrate and fat content that the diet should consist of,  for both species.

Pets today are fed highly processed and artificial foods, composed of unnatural ingredients, such as soymeal, artificial colorings and flavorings, as well as harmful preservatives such as BHA and ethoxyquin. They should really be fed homemade pet food.

The meat content is often composed of by-products, which can be anything from cancerous tissues, to diseased organs and can be anything that is considered not fit for human consumption. If we would not eat these things why should we expect our pets to do so? Even relatively good pet foods, which may not contain harmful additives, with the trend to preservatives such as vitamin E, are still nowhere as good as feeding your pet a natural, preferably organic, balanced diet, similar to what they would eat in the wild. Think of it this way – a fast food hamburger meal may be completely nutritionally balanced, but do you think you would be healthy if you ate it every day of your life?

DOG DIET

A good basic homemade pet food dog diet should be composed of 50% grains, which should ideally be boiled or steamed. This more closely matches semi-digested grains in the stomachs of the animals that dogs consume in the wild, which is an important part of their diet. The staple grain is usually brown rice, but other organic whole grains such as oatmeal, barley, millet, corn or amaranth can also be added for variety. Vegetables should make up about 25% of the complete cooked diet and I also recommend boiling or steaming these lightly, then chopping them finely depending on the preference of the individual pet. Some larger dogs love their vegetables whole or raw and this is fine, while some smaller breeds may enjoy them made into more of a puree in a food processor. It is also fine to finely grate raw vegetables such as carrots or zucchini. Virtually all vegetables are acceptable, although favorites include carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, yellow squash, zucchini and Brussels sprouts.

The protein content should be also about 25% although some people prefer to feed higher, especially to young, active, working animals, pregnant females, and growing puppies. If the meat is organic and fresh it can be safely fed raw, which is the ideal.

A healthy dog should have enough acid in the stomach to safely kill pathogenic bacteria. If the source of the meat is suspect it may be lightly steamed or boiled, and you may do this if you are nervous about feeding your dog raw meat, or if your dog is older or sick and tolerates lightly cooked meat better. I would not recommend feeding raw pork, because of parasites, and anyhow prefer beef, chicken turkey or rabbit as a protein source. Organ meats such as heart, liver or kidney can also be fed once or twice a week. Liver is very nutritious and large quantities are not required, or recommended because of the high levels of vitamin A but a small amount once or twice a week is a good addition to the diet. A large raw organic beef leg bone fed once a week is an excellent dietary addition and keeps your dogs teeth free of plaque and gum disease.

An occasional egg is also acceptable, and these can be fed raw or cooked, although some people prefer to remove the egg white when feeding them raw because this contains an enzyme which can denature biotin, an important B vitamin in the body. Personally I feed my dogs an occasional raw egg, just as they might scavenge in the wild, and have seen no problems from this, and they love it. Fish is also acceptable and this is also something that dogs, and other wild carnivores would eat in the wild if they had the opportunity to do so. The best way to measure the diet is to make mix 2 measures (such as a cup) of grains with one measure of vegetables and one measure of meat. It is also essential to add vitamins and minerals to the diet. A useful mixture, which was formulated by Dr. Pitcairn is given below:

2 cups of nutritional yeast with 1 to 1 1/2 cups of bonemeal and 1/2 cup of kelp powder. Mix together and add to the homemade pet food diet daily. See chart below for quantities.

In addition mix separately 1 1/2 cups of olive oil, or safflower oil with 50 to 100 iu of vitamin E. I also like to add 1/4 cup of flaxseed oil, which is good for the coat.

·up to 15 lb dog – 2 tsp of powder and 1 tsp oil mix daily

·15 to 30 lb dog – 4 tsp of powder and 2 tsp oil mix daily

·30 to 50 lb dog – 2 tbs of powder and 1 tbs oil mix daily

·over 80 lb dog – 1/4 cup powder and 2 tbs oil mix daily (tsp = teaspoon, tbs =tablespoon)

HOMEMADE CAT DIET

The basic homemade cat diet should be composed of 60 % protein, which should consist of organic ground beef, raw or cooked organic chicken, eggs once a week if desired as well as some cooked fish or other meats such as turkey, rabbit or organ meats. The same thing applies about feeding organ meats, as it does for dogs, so once or twice a week a small quantity can be fed such as a couple of teaspoons. Again it is fine to lightly steam or boil the meat and some people use the broth from the meat if it is boiled to flavor the rice and vegetables.

Approximately 20% of the cats diet should be composed of vegetables which can be lightly steamed broccoli, carrots, zucchini, caulifower, corn, or any other vegetables that your cat happens to enjoy. Some cats love cucumber for example and others also love fruits such as melon, mango or apple, and if your cat enjoys these healthy treats it is fine to supplement their diet this way.

The grain content of the homemade cat diet should be about 20% once again, and the staple should also be brown rice, steamed or boiled then it is best to puree it down to a finer consistency for the cats shorter digestive tract, though once again this can depend upon the individuals cats’ preference and digestive tract. Other grains that cats enjoy include amaranth, oatmeal, cous-cous, barley, millet and these should be well cooked and mixed in with the brown rice. You may just have to experiment to find out what your cat likes best, some cats can be incredibly picky and be addicted to their unhealthy junk food diet! Other cats, especially when raised this way love nothing more than their raw food diet and are a joy to look at!

Once again a vitamin and mineral supplement is essential and it is important to ensure that cats get enough of the essential amino acid taurine, as a deficiency of this can lead to blindness. The vitamin and mineral mix can once again be prepared in advance and are taken from an excellent book from Anitra Frazier called, The New Natural Cat, The Complete Guide for Finicky Owners.

* Mix 1 to 1 1/2 cups of nutritional yeast, 1/4 cup of kelp powder, 2 cups of wheat bran and 2 cups of bone meal. Feed one teaspoon daily to an average size cat. In addition feed 200 iu of vitamin E once a week and 10,000 iu of vitamin A twice a week. Give up to 250 mg vitamin C daily, which should be gradually introduced to bowel tolerance, since too much added too rapidly to the diet can lead to a mild diarrhea, which soon resolves when the vitamin C is decreased.

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reprinted with permission,

by Dr. Dr Anna Maria Gardner MA Vet MB MRCVS

Canine Addisons Disease is Serious. Essentially what happens is your dog’s body under produces an adrenal secretion known as corticosteroids. It’s the opposite of Cushings Disease in which the adrenal glands over produce corticosteroids. Addisons Disease requires immediate medical attention. Please get your dog to the vet emergency clinic right away!

Addisons symptoms are tricky to pick up so many dogs may actually be suffering from the disease before its finally diagnosed. Symptoms look too common, such as diarrhea and lethargy plus appetite loss. We’ve all had pets that show these conditions. In list form, here are the typical Addisons  Disease symptoms:

1. Lethargy and Loss of Appetite

2. Diarrhea and/or Constipation and/or dehydration

3. Muscle Weakness

4. Vomiting

Also there is something called “Addisons Crisis” and you need to be mindful of this. In three out of ten situations  (30%), your dog will go into crisis — a sure sign of Addisons — and he or she will collapse in shock because his body is devoid of blood sugar and cannot adapt to the imbalance of electrolytes and metabolism whilst stressed. In addition the heart rate slows and the beat becomes irregular (a condition known as arrhythmia). All troubling and serious signs.  Again, the smart thing to do is rush your pet to the vet.

Conventional veterinary medicine treats Addisons Disease in dogs using drugs, and the most commonly prescribed is Florinef — pharmaceutically known as fludrocortisone. And this drug acts by replacing missing hormones in the body.  Another option is an injectable medication called Percorten-V that is given under the skin once a month.

Natural herbal remedies on the other hand can be fed to your dog to support the immune system and provide added nutrients to the body, and thereby slow down the progress of Addisons Disease. Two herbs that work safely and effectively to support your pet suffering from Addisons (or in recovery) are Dandelion and Nettle. They are both nutritious, being rich in minerals and vitamins. Other immune boosting herbs are Echinacea and Astragalus.

Supplements can also benefit dogs that are suffering from Addisons Disease. Nordic Naturals has a wonderful product that we carry called Omega-3 Pet which is rich in Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) or Animal Essentials’ Multi-Vitamin Herbal Supplements – this one also is top notch and a big seller in our store.

Both of these great products taste great, have extraordinary purity and are rich in vitamins and minerals beneficial for strengthening your dog’s adrenal functions, immune system, and overall general health.

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by William Greenbaum, aka love ya woof!

The answer my friends is purity! Inside NASAs space shuttle, engineers spend exhaustive hours cleaning equipment and consoles to astonishing, almost unimaginable levels of germ free purity because the consequences of a flight crew or passengers getting sick from contaminants or viruses is so severe and dangerous. Similarly fish oil products used in diet supplementation for dogs or cats must also be pure to be safe and effective.

Bonnie Johnson from Nordic Naturals was telling me yesterday about her Cod Liver Oil product and the extraordinary lengths that company goes to to exceed standards to ensure purity and quality.

Essentially, purity is everything. What your ‘person’ or your ‘pet’ adds to their food should be not 100% percent free of contaminants, but like the space shuttle,  over 300% or more free of imperfections or traces of debris or other things.

This explains why Nordic Naturals (which by the way we carry) is the most EXPENSIVE Omega-3 Cod Liver Fish Oil on the market. Now can that be a good or bad thing. It depends on your pocketbook and your approach I suppose. For me I’ve never compromised on quality across a wide-range of consumables that I have bought, and so paying extra for Nordic Naturals makes sense to me because the product really does go through the ‘hoops’ to emerge at the other end of the manufacturing process as the cleanest, purest, most effective, medicinal dietary supplement for pets.

I will to come back to purity in a moment but another thing is taste. If you’re feeding Cod Liver Oil to your pet as part of its normal diet then it should taste good. I have to admit that I haven’t eaten any recently (I probably should one of these days), but my dog and my sister’s dogs really laps it up. Nordic Naturals Omega-3 for pets simply tastes great.

So back to purity. Here’s the thing. Its gotta be there if a product is to work properly and add value and health to your pets diet. To achieve a pure oil (derived from ocean fish) that is free of microscopic trace elements of heavy metals, dioxins, PCB’s or up to 210 other sinister environmental contaminants you have to have a purification and extraction process that is unbelievable, and Nordic Naturals does. Why? Because the Norwegians invented the product and make it in Norway (and ship to us) and their standards are so technically beyond what we do here in the States that they hit the purity mark and exceed it. I am told for example that Nordic Naturals oils show no detectable PCBs when tested down to to 0.5 ppt and the Norwegian Medicinal Standard limit for PCBs is 3 ppt. So with the extraordinary hyper focus on purity, this explains two things, why the product is so good for your pet,and why its more expensive.

And like the space shuttle and our space program, its a cost that I’m happy to bear so that we can reach beyond what we thought possible and hit new levels of health and vitality. Namaste,

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by Wlliam Greenbaum aka love ya woof!