As a Naturopath, people consult with me about the health of their pets. When necessary I refer to holistic veterinarians. Your job is to give proper diet and daily home care. If you follow the recommendations below, I feel that you will be doing a great deal to help your pet live longer and avoid expensive and heartbreaking chronic ailments.

Coat Care
Brush skin daily with a wire slicker brush – stimulates circulation and skin gland secretions; strengthens hair follicles; detoxifies body; keeps the coat clean.
Dental Care
Brush teeth and gums daily.

“Thump the Thymus”
Tap the sternum over the thymus gland (between the front legs) every day 5-10 times once during the day to help stimulate the immune system.

Vaccinate Conservatively
At the time of any vaccination and 2 weeks later, give protective homeopathic remedies.

Parasite Control
To repel fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes and avoid harsh chemical repellents and drugs, use garlic in the animal food.

Minimize Stress
Provide exercise, love, and comfort. Use Lavender and/or Calming Essence® (Rescue Remedy) if necessary. Talk to your animal lovingly. Use lots of acknowledgment, appreciation, and validation when your animal behaves the way you wish.

Veterinary Care
Margo Roman, DVM at her MASH clinic in Hopkinton MASS is a gifted and talented vet.

Diet
I strongly recommend feeding your pet a diet of raw meat and vegetables . You can make your own food or buy good organic frozen raw food at your pet store. SOLID GOLD is sometimes an excellent dry food substitute.

For dogs:

• 70% raw beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, or fish, 25% of which is made up of organ meats (liver, kidneys, heart, spleen, skins/intestines/stomach, brain, and glands such as thymus (sweet breads), thyroid, and pancreas).
• 30% raw vegetables, 50% of which is made up of “carbohydrate vegetables” such as sweet potatoes and squash. The other 50% should be spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, and any other non-salad vegetable.

Also, only give filtered or distilled water to drink. Never feed cats food without adding water. It should be the consistency of chili. Other than the occasional weekend getaway, never feed food dry.

Don’t give dogs biscuits, rawhide, pigs’ ears, or cows’ hooves. Instead give crunchy vegetables (carrots, celery, jicama) or fruits (apples, pears). Also I encourage offering “rope bones” and Nylabones®.

Did you know? A quarter of cat owners blow dry their cats after bathing them.