Natural Dog Care

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2007 was a bad year for dogs. Despite spending more on pets than any other country in the world, many Americans watched the news in horror as more and more dogs died from eating commercial pet food. A large number of name brand dog foods, snacks and treats were recalled due to potential dangers. The list was so long in fact, that many people wondered if it would be easier to see the list of known safe dog foods. So now we know—regardless of brand most dog food is manufactured in the same place.

The pet food scare exploded a growing trend towards more natural pet foods and snacks. Pet owners across the nation started looking online for home made dog food recipes, along with natural and organic products to feed their beloved pets. Combine this recent pet food crisis with the onset of flea and tick season, and you have a recipe for hungry humans. We’re all now searching high and low for more safe products to use for our pets—whether it be food, snacks and treats, flea sprays and repellents, or even bathing supplies.

Since our pets generally live inside with us, taking care of them is safeguarding our health as well. A good basic recipe for dog food is chicken and brown rice. Of course you can add vegetables and supplements based on your pet’s needs. Feeding dogs raw meat and bone meal is one way to help boost the amount of protein they get in their diet. Dogs need so much protein because their bodies are made up of almost pure muscle, and muscles need protein to maintain. Protein is also essential for out of shape and over weight dogs too though, because it helps build the muscle mass that’s more normal for them, and that increased muscle mass helps shed the extra fat.

Like humans, dogs can benefit drastically from increased protein and essential fatty acids in their diet. In fact, dogs need these nutritional elements even more than humans do, because their bodies burn fat at much faster rates than human bodies do. Essential fatty acids and omega 3 oils are also extremely important for dogs though, because it helps add the additional fat they need to burn for energy. It also however, helps heal skin dryness, flakiness and irritations. It makes the dog’s coat very glossy, soft and shiny too, and it can help repair calluses and dried skin on the bottom of their paws.

Thankfully there are many healthy, alternative and herbal options that can be used in place of the dangerous chemicals commonly used on most pets and animals. For ticks, make a spray of 20 drops of geranium oil, 3 drops citronella oil, and a splash of bay leaf tincture in 10 ounces of water. Spray this on yourself, your clothes, and your dog or anything else that needs protection.

Just like people, if a dog is not getting enough nutrition for its needs, it can be more susceptible to diseases, sicknesses, and even bugs such as fleas and ticks. The healthier a dog is, the less problems they have regardless of what time of year it might be.

Reference: Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats