Thoughts, Tips & Tricks On Caring For Your Animals, Naturally

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Hot Spots In Dogs!

Over the last few months I have seen an increase in skin issues not only in dogs but also cats. Skin symptoms are usually caused by an under-lying issue that has been building for a long time. In some cases it can be due to diet, allergies such as fleas or environmental issues. Over the Christmas period I had quite a few clients seek homeopathic support for hot spots in their dogs. This skin condition tends to raise its ugly head in the warmer months. Usually it is in response to some kind of al...

Grass Seeds and Dogs

I love the warmer months as it means spending time at the lake, nice long walks in the forest and lazy afternoons. Unfortunately for our pets, especially our dogs, summer does come with some challenges. We are heading into the grass seed season which is a very common problem for dogs in the summer months. Speaking from experience grass seeds can be very nasty and can also do a lot of damage. The seeds have pointy ends which enables them to burrow into the skin and travel their way around the do...

Fireworks Support For Animals

With fireworks just around the corner it's time to start thinking about how we can support our animals through this stressful and fearful time. I love fireworks and when I got Koda my first pup, he used to sit on the deck and watch the fireworks with me. Then for some reason it all changed. When our animals are exposed to repeated, unexpected and unpredictable loud noises it can easily cause their fear to turn into a phobia; which over time worsens.  This is what happened in Koda's situatio...

Homeopathy for Mama Bear

Homeopathy can be a huge support for our mama bears. For some mama bears mothering comes instinctively and naturally. I have recently had the pleasure of watching a mama bear and her new born kittens. She is such a proud mama. The pride and love in her eyes is beautiful, I don't think I have ever seen anything so beautiful. She is also fiercely protective of her babies and rightly so. I respect her and her babies space and will only do the bare necessities as she has it under control.  &nb...

The Joys of Puppyhood!

Recently I had the opportunity to work with some puppies. I forgot how much hard work they were. They're speedsters on 4 legs. They chew everything in sight. They hoover their food before the bowl even touches the ground. They run through their own poop and then climb all over you, spreading the joy. They play in their water bowl and then slip and slide everywhere, banging and crashing into everything. And guess what? You are their favorite shiny new toy. Oh and I forgot to mention that when th...

Poisoning - Act Fast!

Recently I have had 3 cases come through the clinic with suspected or confirmed poisonings. The care that you give your pet in the first few minutes in any emergency can make all the difference. Be prepared! Our homes contain dozens of chemicals that can be harmful to our pets. Most poisonings occur when our pets: drink a tainted substanceclean a toxic substance from their fureat a pest that has been poisonedeat a toxic substance (e.g. chocolate) More often than not we are unaware if our pet has...

A Smelly Situation

Anal gland issues can be a smelly and unpleasant situation for everyone. In fact 12% of dogs will experience anal gland issues. If your dog's anal glands aren't working correctly, they can cause discomfort, pain and even infection.Dogs have 2 anal glands (sacs). Both are near their anal openings (four o'clock and eight o'clock positions). The fluid stored in these sacs acts like the dog's "calling card". The smell is unique to that dog and is released when your dog poops or when they are stress...

Leaky Gut In Dogs

Did you know that nearly 80% of your dog's immune system is in their gut? Leaky gut is an increasingly widespread condition seen in both animals and humans. Leaky gut occurs when the good bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract is out-numbered by the bad bacteria. This leads to inflammation of the intestinal lining in the gut. This causes the gut to become permeable allowing toxins, allergens, bacteria and yeast to leak through into the blood stream and lymphatics. The body starts to perceive fo...

I wanted to give up many many times.

Taking on a foster animal or adopting an animal from a shelter can be a really daunting process. Not only are you bringing a new family member into the pack but you are also potentially bringing in an animal that has suffered from trauma; mentally and/or physically. Libi was my first adopted dog. I was Libi's fourth home in less than two years. Libi's behaviour was so excessive people in the sled dog racing community had running bets on how long it would take before I would re-homed her. It too...

The Tip of the Iceberg.

Itching.  Every pet owner can relate to this as it is pretty hard to ignore the constant itching. Watching our pets consistently scratch themselves is really painful to watch. It's frustrating and disheartening for both the owner and the pet especially when there doesn't seem to be any reason for it! So let's break it down, why is your pet itching? I'll apologize to you all now, the list is endless: Food allergiesGrass allergiesEnvironmental allergiesStress/anxiousnessFleasMitesEczemaHot sp...

Belladonna - The "Wild" Side

I find this remedy fascinating. Belladonna is so rich in folklore, witch-craft and history I could get lost for hours reading about it! Historically Belladonna means "beautiful lady" in Italian. Women used to apply Belladonna to their cheeks to give them a dusky/rose appearance. They also went one step further and used to put drops of Belladonna in their eyes. This enlarged their pupils and back then the effect was considered to be sultry and attractive. Boy have we come a long way since then i...

Dog's First Mantra

Paw care is an imperative part of caring for sled dogs. If there is an injury to their pads or nails or they are generally in poor condition they can't run in the team. In fact one of the traits we look for in a good sled dog is great feet! One of the first things you learn in sled dog care is that dogs come first. Now, this is a bit left field compared to what we are usually told. But with racing the dogs always came first. The dogs slept first, ate first and the care they received was second ...

Everything You Need To Know About Dog Separation Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common behavioural challenges that dog owners face. Anxiety can be triggered by various factors however the most common form we see in our dogs today is separation anxiety. Some dog breeds are more susceptible to separation anxiety than others. A lack of socialisation during the pups first few months can also contribute to separation anxiety. Some of the symptoms you may see if your dog is suffering from separation anxiety is: Constant barking and howlingPacing and re...

Transitioning To Raw Food

A gradual transition to raw food is recommended especially for older pets. To start the transition it is a good idea to make their food 75% current food to 25% new raw food. A sign that your pet is ready to move on to the next stage is that their stools will be solid. Once their stools have been consistent for a few days, increase the % of raw food again by another 25% and so on. Some pets can transition very easily and quickly on to raw food, others; especially older pets can take a bit more ti...

Back to Grass Roots - Our Pet's Diet

Choosing what to feed our dogs and cats has become quite the challenge. There are many books and hundreds of ideas out there about what we should be feeding our pets. So how do you know what is right and what isn't right for your pet? Everyone has their own beliefs about their pet’s diet but one key point that seems to be missing from a lot of the literature is INDIVIDUALITY. Your pet is an individual. What one pet likes another one will not like. Willow hates carrots, my other dogs loved them...

Top 3 Homeopathic Remedies for Teething!

This time can be quite stressful for both the owner and the animal. I can recall going through the teething stage with Willow. In fact I am still traumatised by it as it seemed to go on forever! Depending on the breed teething can take place as early as 5-6 weeks until about 8-9 weeks of age. As chewing can ease the discomfort that is associated with teething, nothing is off limits. People, furniture and pretty much any object that is within reach can be at risk of those sharp little teeth. Out...

Mouth Hygiene - Food for Thought

A lot of animals have terrible mouth hygiene....... but why? Animals move, hunt, and then rest. They are designed to work for their food. They go on a walk or "hunt" before they are fed. This is something that I have always implemented with my dogs, they must earn their food. If the body is not moving, it is not cleansing nor utilising the food's energy. When we constantly feed our animals we are over-feeding a system that is not moving enough. This leads to an overabundance of food which sits ...

Ignatia - Ignited By Love

I immediately think of Romeo and Juliet with this remedy. Those who have loved and lost. Although there are many remedies that can help restore a sense of calmness and well being, Ignatia is considered to be the "grief" remedy. Ignatia is very useful in situations where the animal is suffering from the ill effects of grief, anger, worry or fright. It is also one of the first remedies that I think of in cases of homesickness or when a pet has lost a loved one such as their owner, a litter mate ...

Motion Sickness in Animals

For some animals a ride in the car is the best experience. There is nothing like feeling the wind on your face and blowing through your fur.  Smelling all of those new and marvellous smells and seeing all of those wonderful new sights... it's pure heaven. Unfortunately not all animals experience this joy.  For some it is a nightmare. The motion of the car can cause them to become sick and even the sound of the car can make them anxious and fearful. In dogs, you may ...

How Do I Administer Homeopathic Remedies to My Pet?

I remember the battles I used to have when I had to administer medication or worming treatments to my dogs. I still cringe.  The battle of wills had begun and on more than one occasion I was the loser.More often than not I would get the medication or worm treatment spat back out at me, followed by a dirty look.  It was a stressful and unpleasant experience not only for me but for my dogs as well. Thanks to homeopathy, the stress, anxiety and battles are over! One of the ...

Homeopathy and Arthritis in Dogs

Arthritis is a condition seen in dogs that causes joint pain and one that will affect most dogs as they age. Below are some of the signs and symptoms of arthritis in dogs:Stiffness, lameness, limpingDifficulty getting up from a sitting or lying down positionLethargyReluctance to run, jump, or playIrritability or behavioural changesPain when petted or touchedLicking or chewing sore areasAlthough arthritis is a painful and incurable condition, it can be managed.  This can be achieved thr...

My little Pulsatilla

The universe gives you the dog that you NEED not the dog that you want.  Libi was 2 years old when she came to live with Koda and I.  In that short space of time we were her fourth home. She was a sled-dog. Born to run and born to be free.  Her whole face would light up when she was in full flight.  She wasn't a natural leader but she was the cheer-leader and motivator of the team. As Libi got older she became prone to ear infections and the heat aggravated this. &n...