Taking care of a pet is a lifetime commitment and a huge responsibility. If your furry friend gets ill or injured, it can make the weight of that responsibility even greater.
But you’ve made a commitment to your buddy, and you have to help them through this tough time. So, what can you do if your pet’s health isn’t a ten, you’re out of sick days at work, and your bank account is dwindling?
Fortunately, there are ways you can help your pet get healthier at home, without dipping into your retirement fund.
1) Get Cooking
If you aren’t already making your pet’s food yourself, now is the time to start. Many health problems stem from an inflammatory diet and lack of proper nutrition. Commercial pet foods are made with sub-par ingredients that not only create inflammation, but put your pet at risk for illness and injury (the frequency of pet food recalls just keeps growing).
Making your furball’s food with a balanced recipe like The Original CrockPet Diet ensures they’re eating only wholesome foods, getting all the nutrition they need and none of the junk they don’t.
2) Add a Multivitamin
Even if your pet’s food contains lots of healthy ingredients, giving them a daily multivitamin is still a good idea. A quality multivitamin will fill in any holes that your current batch of food may leave, and provides extra building blocks for your pet’s body to stay strong.
If you can, supplement your pet’s diet with a glandular multivitamin, like Holistic Total Body Support. Glandular supplements directly support vital organs and the endocrine system, supporting healthy function of each and every part of your pet’s body.
3) Reduce Inflammation
So, you’ve already started tackling this one when you made the switch to home cooked food. Inflammation is the root of many illnesses and diseases, including kidney disease and arthritis (two of my clients biggest complaints). Nabbing inflammation can ease the symptoms of these illnesses, and allows the body to begin healing and functioning as it should.
Once you’ve switch Fido’s diet to one that is hydrating and fighting inflammation, consider adding a high quality fish oil to their daily routine. The Omega 3 fatty acids packed into fish oil will help reduce inflammation, and are useful in fighting many inflammatory diseases, illness and cancers. Make sure the one you choose contains both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
4) Focus on Gut Health
Believe it or not, your pet’s health begins in their gut (and, by default, in their bowl). If the gut isn’t functioning well, the rest of your pet’s body is going to go haywire.
One of the biggest gut issues I’ve faced through my many years of practice is leaky gut syndrome, which is one of the strongest examples of why gut health matters so much.
A leaky gut is one in which the lining of the small intestines has become damaged, usually by inflammation and/or a poor diet. This causes undigested food particles, bacteria and toxic waste products to leak through the intestines and right into the bloodstream. Yuck and YIKES.
Once you’ve started an anti-inflammatory diet, consider also adding a high potency probiotic. A quality probiotic will help maintain an ideal balance of good flora in your pet’s GI tract, and support healthy gut function and efficient digestion.
This means your pet will get more of the nutrients in their food, and none of the bugs that will make them feel crummy. If your pet has an especially sensitive tummy or struggles with chronic GI issues, consider adding more of the recommended supplements in my GI Support Protocol.
5 Keep Moving
Regular movement and activity is SO important to keeping your pet healthy and mobile for years to come. Daily exercise will keep your pet’s joints moving and their blood pumping. This helps to avoid stagnation, and keeps blood flowing to all of your pet’s muscles and vital organs.
Even if your pet already has severe arthritis, consider taking them for very slow, short walks. Finish out your evenings with passive stretching or a pleasant massage for your four-legged friend (watch videos on how to execute those techniques here).
Prevention is the Best Medicine
Always remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure. Preventing illness and disease, and nipping it in the bud is your best bet for keeping your pet healthy. It’s much easier to prevent a problem than to solve one, and it’s even easier to do if you know what you’re up against.
Feeding a wholesome diet, keeping inflammation low and focusing on gut health will help keep your pet in the clear. And even if a few health issues begin to crop up, keeping this base for health strong will help your pet fight disease and recover from injury more readily.
Issues like kidney disease, anxiety, liver disease and even cancer can be well-managed right from the comfort of your own home. If you want to avoid toxic treatments and medications (and a hefty vet bill), consider trying some of the recommendations from my Holistic Pet Health Protocols. And remember, I am always here to help through one-on-one consultation, as Your Pet’s Ally, if you need more support.
