Treating Pet Allergies Naturally

As pet owners, watching our furry friends suffer from allergies can be heart-wrenching. Whether it’s from seasonal changes, food sensitivities, or environmental factors, allergies can lead to persistent itching, digestive issues, and overall discomfort!

While conventional veterinary medicine often relies on medications (like Apoquel or the infamous Cytopoint injections) and steroid treatments (like prednisone and dexamethasone injections), holistic veterinary medicine offers a comprehensive approach to managing allergies by addressing the root causes and treating the body as a whole.

Understanding Allergies in Pets

Allergies in pets typically manifest in several ways:

1. REPEATED Skin irritations or infections or hot spots or rashes – this is seen in pets who are SUPER ITCHY and constantly scratching or licking themselves.
2. REPEATED Ear infections
3. Gastrointestinal upset. – Think about it – 90% of our immune system IS in our gut! So it makes sense that any type of immune response could result in diarrhea or any other GI sign!
4. Much, much more!

The Holistic Approach to Pet Allergies

Holistic veterinary medicine integrates various practices that aim to treat the whole animal rather than just the symptoms.

Here is a brief list of the holistic practices that we currently utilize:

1. Diet and Nutrition

Nutrition plays a crucial role in managing allergies!  We often recommend a holistic diet tailored to a pet’s specific needs. This might include:

• SPECIFIC PROTEINS: Identifying and removing allergenic ingredients from the diet to pinpoint food sensitivities.
• HIGH-QUALITY INGREDIENTS: Ensuring the diet is free from fillers, artificial additives, and preservatives that might exacerbate allergies.
• ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS : Incorporating ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties!

2. Supplements

Supplements can support the immune system and reduce inflammation. Some commonly recommended supplements used in holistic medicine include:

• Probiotics: To support gut health, which is linked to immune function and allergic responses.
• Herbal Remedies: These can naturally soothe skin irritations and support overall wellness.
• Fish Oils: To reduce inflammation and improve skin health.

3. Veterinary Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body to promote healing and balance.

For pets with allergies, acupuncture can:

• Reduce Inflammation: By improving circulation and promoting the body’s natural healing processes.
• Enhance Immune Function: By stimulating the body’s regulatory systems.

4. Homeopathy

Homeopathic remedies are based on the principle of “like cures like,” using highly diluted substances to trigger the body’s healing responses. A holistic vet might use remedies to:

• Address Specific Allergy Symptoms: Such as itching or diarrhea.
• Support Overall Health: By boosting the pet’s resilience and reducing sensitivity to allergens.

5. Environmental Modifications

Holistic care often includes recommendations for reducing environmental allergens.   Individual recommendations always depend on the environment that the pet is exposed to on a daily basis – from daycare, to carpet, to grassy areas! 

6. Veterinary Ozone Therapy

Ozone therapy involves administering ozone (O₃), a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms, into the body. The therapy utilizes the unique properties of ozone to promote healing and boost overall health.  

Ozone therapy:

• Targeting underlying inflammation: A BIG component of ANY allergies is the immune system in overdrive!
• Boosting the immune system: Ozone therapy stimulates the immune system to reduce the severity of allergic reactions. Ozone therapy could be administered subcutaneously, rectally, or topically depending on what is going on with the pet.
• Enhancing Skin Health: Ozone has anti-microbial properties that can eliminate infections and promote healthy skin recovery.

Conclusion

Managing pet allergies doesn’t have to be a one-dimensional process. Holistic veterinary medicine offers a rich array of tools and strategies to support your pet’s health in a comprehensive way. By focusing on diet, supplements, acupuncture, homeopathy, environmental changes, and ozone therapy, you can help your furry friend find relief and improve their overall quality of life.

If allergies are causing your pet distress, call us! We can help!

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Did you know that gut health of your pet affects your pet’s mental and physical health?  You are what you eat as they say!

Just like humans, pets benefit from nutritional supplements and a balanced, healthy diet.  For example, fish oils are beneficial for your pet’s coat, cognitive function, kidney, heart, and joint health.  They also help to reduce overall inflammation in the body.  A balanced diet made for your pet’s individual needs may help your pet that has a sensitive stomach or to meet the needs of your pet athlete.

OK, so what great nutritional supplements should my pet be on, and where do I find them?

As a veterinarian trained in holistic animal medicine, I select products that are specifically formulated according to the highest research-based standards, AND held to strict quality control standards.  It is very important that ANY supplement you give your pet follows strict quality control and go through rigorous testing to make sure what they say on the label is true to what is in the bottle!  We should hold our pet’s supplements to the same standard as our own supplements!

Additionally, I create an individualized pet supplement based on the pet’s health requirements and overall physical examination.  Here at Healing Paws Center, I recommend investing in the research-based products we select – each product is specially vetted, and chosen with your pet in mind.

Products we recommend include:

• Nordic Naturals Omega-3 fatty acids (fish based Omega-3-fatty acids with high dose of EPA and DHA)
• Yunnan Baiyo (Chinese Herbal Therapy)

Concentrated fish oil is a GREAT source of omega-3-fatty acids for pets. These lower inflammation in the body.

Yunnan Baiyo is a powerful anti-cancer herb.

How do I make a balanced diet?  I’m interested in home-cooking for my dog or cat, or creating a top dressing but I don’t know where to start. 

Home-cooking for your pet is an opportunity to improve your pet’s overall health!  However, I strongly recommend consulting with us before starting your pet’s diet.  We work with a Board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist to create an individualized, BALANCED home-cooked recipe.  This means that the diet is balanced for micronutrients and vitamins – including Vitamin D, phosphorus, and calcium.

Your 10-month old Golden retriever puppy has different vitamin and micronutrient needs than your 10-year-old Boxer!  A lack of the appropriate micronutrients and vitamins can result in serious health conditions and problems.

If you are interested in making a balanced homemade diet and/or interested in beneficial nutritional supplements for your pet, call Healing Paws Center today to book an appointment with one of our holistic veterinarians!

Works Cited

EPA and DHA for Dogs: What are they and what are the benefits? (2012, December 20). Retrieved from https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/epa-and-dha-for-dogs/

Linder, D. E., Linder, D. E., & Dacvn. (2018, October 25). Should I give fish oil to my pet? Retrieved from http://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2018/06/should-i-give-fish-oil-to-my-pet/

Heinze, C. R., Heinze, C. R., & Dacvn. (2018, October 26). Should you make your own pet food at home? Retrieved from http://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/07/should-you-make-your-own-pet-food-at-home/

Images

https://www.vetrxdirect.com/product/view/nordic-naturals-omega-3-pet-for-dogs-and-cats-otc

The post What Should I Feed My Pet – Pets Are What They Eat! appeared first on Healing Paws Center.