Spring Cleansing

    Spring is at our doorstep and as I begin work in my own garden and yard, I have been thinking about our pets' exposure to pesticides, poisons, and inorganic fertilizers.  While I strive to keep the areas around my home clear from such things, I know that my neighbors and the city grounds crews do not.  Last year while on a daily walk in the woods behind our home my border-aussie, Indie, suffered from indirect poisoning after he ingested a dead mouse that had eaten rodent bait.  I do not wish this experience on anyone and am using it as a catalyst to remind people about unforseen dangers, even within our familiar surroundings, that our dearest companions may encounter.

    Think about everything to which our pets are exposed.  Rolling on the grass at your favorite park or a relaxing on a chemically treated lawn is a good example.  During this seemingly innocuous respite, they are inhaling the fumes, rolling their skin on possibly irritating chemicals, and  if they nibble a few of those tender young shoots, the toxins are now in their bodies.  Laboratory studies show that a build-up of these toxins can be the root of a myriad of conditions and illnesses including rashes, skin and ear infections, nerve damage, birth defects, neurological disorders and some cancers.  The key to minimizing the damage from pesticides and other harmful chemicals is to help detoxify your pets' bodies. 

    The organ chiefly responsible for helping the body rid itself of toxins, is the liver.  The liver also produces proteins, bile which aids the digestion of fats, and glycogen, a starch analogue whose purpose is the storage of energy. 

    Every 6 months, a 4 week long liver detox is a beneficial plan for our canine and feline friends.  Most recommended by vets is the use of milk thistle.  Milk thistle has been used for hundreds of years to safely and effectively cleanse and repair the liver.

    Milk thistle is available in tincture and capsule form.  I find the tincture the easiest to dose and administer.  The dosage is calculated according to the pet's body weight: For cats: 1 drop per 2 pounds. It is recommended that you divide the dose for 2 or more administrations per day. For dogs:  1/4 teaspoon per 20 lbs, again divide the dose into 2 or 3 administrations per day.

*Please note that during this time, it is recommended that you do not feed your pet other supplements.  Continue giving other medications as prescribed.*

    Thoughtful daily liver support for your pets is quite easy.  There are some foods that are known to have a highly positive effect on the liver.  Lettuce, dandelion leaves, chamomile flowers, watercress, basil and tumeric promote bile floe.  The addition of one of more of these foods to your pet's daily diet will increase the effectiveness of this important organ.  The liver can be harmonized by adding raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to their meal once a day (1/4 tsp for cats and small dogs, 1/2 tsp for medium sized dogs, and 1 tsp for large dogs).  A naturopahtic vet that I have spoken with suggests that, provided your pet does not have diabetes, this may be done in 3-4 days intervals each month.  The addition of apple cider vinegar to your pet's diet has many benefits and I will share those in a later bog post.

    While the environmental toxic hazzards our pets encounter are often unavoidable, I believe we should minimize them and take action to support their health whenever possible.  After all, their presence in our lives has numerous benefits for our own health.  By caring for them, we care for ourselves.