10 Steps to greater wellbeing for your dog

Barbara Fougere

BSc BVMS (Hons) BHSc (Comp med) MODT MHSc (Herb Med) CVA CVCP CVBM CMAVA NHAA

1. Reduce stress

Chronic stress, we know, can harm health. So consider life from your dog’s point of

view. Is there tension in the household? Are you stressed? Are they left alone all

day? How do they cope with other animals around? Is there harmony between the

animals in the household? Stress can be difficult to see. But behaviour changes

like anxiety can indicate a lack of balance in an animal’s life. Seek the help of your

vet or animal behaviour therapist who can put you on the right path!

2. Improve the environment

Is your dog exposed to cigarette smoke? Are there grasses and pollens that

aggravate your dog’s skin? Has your home been renovated in the last 6 months?

What floor cleaners do you use? Do you have new carpet or furniture? Put yourself

in your dog’s paws and think about what they might come into contact with on a

regular basis. They live close to the floor and their coats are washed by their

tongues! So environmental chemicals and poisons are ingested easily. If you walk

your dog through traffic bear in mind your pet’s nose is going to pick up exhaust

fumes. Verges can be sprayed with chemicals. Find a different path if necessary.

3. Reduce chemical load

Your dog has monthly worming for heart worm, monthly or three monthly for

intestinal worms, de-fleeing, regular shampooing, tick control, medicines, think

about everything you are giving your dog and you can quickly see how much of a

load all these things are. All of these chemicals are strangers to the body and need

to be processed by the liver and other organs. Talk to your vet or holistic

practitioner to see if you can down size the chemical load and strategically manage

parasites and drugs. Our practice does not recommend annual heartworm

vaccination.

4. Reduce vaccination frequency

Annual vaccination is unnecessary and at worst potentially dangerous. Protocols

are changing in light of research that shows that vaccination protection lasts longer

than 12 months. Instead of vaccinating, talk to your vet about testing for antibody

titers. These tests tell you the status of your pet and whether vaccination is

needed. Vet Path in WA (available via Symbion in Sydney) provides the only

testing that is validated and tested in Australia.

5. Improve the diet

Nutrition is one of the most important foundations for supporting good health. Many

pets are overweight and obesity is the most common nutritional disease in

Australian pets. Natural diets offer a potent means to address health issues and to

help lose weight and gain vitality. If you take just one step this month, then this is

the most important to take! Talk to use about a tailored nutritional plan that suits

you and your dog.

6. Seek out options for health

If your pet does have a health issue, then make sure you have all your options

before deciding on what’s best for your pet. Taking a natural path is an amazing

way of working with the body’s own healing capacity to restore normal functioning

and wellness. A natural approach to health care can also go a long way towards

preventing common diseases.

7. Grooming

Just about all animals love to be groomed. Brushing stimulates the skin and glands

in the skin. It helps remove surface allergens, dust and pollution that lands on your

pet daily. Grooming also affords an opportunity to connect with your dog, spend

some quality time together and enhance the bond. Consider using natural products

that have been tested for safety on your pet. Remember that just about anything

you put on can be absorbed through the skin.

8. Dental health

Raw meaty bones, toothbrushes, raw hides, special veterinary chews, prescription

biscuits, and prophylactic cleaning at the vets are all ways of improving dental

health. What suits your dog best will depend on a number of things so your

veterinarian is the best person to advise you. It’s most important though to

recognize dental problems sooner rather than later and keep the mouth and teeth

as healthy as you can. Bad breath, red gums and stained teeth are late signs! So

get them checked at least 6 monthly.

9. Increase exercise and play

Exercise is vital for health. For dogs, it stimulates circulation, improves heart

function and oxygenation and it’s the time to check out the pee-mails and other

scents. Exercise is important especially for elderly dogs. Even a short trip around

the block can be therapeutic. If walking is not an option, consider swimming. Even

animals that are convalescing can benefit from short walks. Remember if you don’t

use it, you lose it! And that goes for the two legged animals as well!

10. Connect with your pet on a daily basis

In our busy days it’s sometimes hard to find our own balance let alone time for our

animals. Walks, play, grooming and feeding times are opportunities to spend time

together. But sometimes a quiet ten minutes together to appreciate your

connection can do wonders for your pet, but also for yourself. Communicating with

animals doesn’t require special psychic powers. It requires quiet time, some space

and simply listening with your heart to what comes through from your pet. Most

times your intuition will guide you. When your pet looks at you and you feel love, be

assured that’s what is being said! One of the most underrated opportunities for our

own health is spending time with our four legged friends.

Dr Barbara Fougere is the Past President of the Australian Veterinary Acupuncture

Association and Past President of the International Veterinary Botanical Medical

Association. Author of healthy Dogs, a Manual of Natural Therapies and Pet lovers

Guide to Natural Therapies and two veterinary texts Veterinary Herbal Medicine

and Integrating Complementary Medicine into Veterinary Practice.

To discuss further please call us on 02 9712 5844 or make an appointment to start you loved ones wellness journey

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