Your dog is itching...all night long! You've been to the vet...too many times! The diagnosis? Allergies. The treatment? Steroids, antibiotics, creams, sprays, drops, baths. There are corn-free diets, chicken-free diets...even the vegetarian diet. There's bottled water, allergy shots, antihistamines. Still, no real results. Thousands of dollars later, your dog is no better off. And, the cycle continues!
What you may be dealing with is a simple nutritional deficiency. Over time, this deficiency shows up as itchy skin, hot spots, excessive shedding, stinky skin and ears.
Now is the time to stop the cycle, naturally and with a bit of common sense.
1. Feed a Meat Based Diet: Whether you are using a commercial pet food, making homemade food or feeding a raw diet, the main foundation of your pet's diet should be meat. Check the ingredients in the commercial food and make sure the first ingredient is meat and that meat is listed again in the next 2 or 3 ingredients.
2. Eliminate Carbohydrates/Grains: Dogs and cats are mainly carnivores. They do not actually have a requirement for grains in their diet. However, most commercial foods and treats are loaded with carbs/grains. Once you have minimized the carbs in your pet's food, check your pet's treats. You know those meat and bone shaped biscuits? Most of them are simply meat-flavored corn! Feed a meaty treat instead!
3. Stop using Skin Irritating Products: Have you looked closely at the shampoo you use on your pet? What about those "pet wipes" that claim they keep your pet "fresh" between baths? Most pet shampoos and wipes are loaded up with chemicals that actually irritate your pet's skin! Even those "medicated" shampoos contain chemicals, fragrances and dyes that only add to your pet's itching problems! Opt for an all-natural, organic shampoo that contains ingredients you can actually pronounce! Therapeutic grade Essential Oils direct from medicinal plants contain natural soothing and healing properties and can actually help heal your pet's skin without leaving chemical residue behind. And, the smell of these oils lingers long enough that you won't need to "freshen" your pet between baths!
4. Build on the Meaty Diet using Natural Supplements: You may be feeding the best, meaty diet but still may be leaving nutritional gaps in your pet's diet. The pet food industry's definition of "complete" and the true definition of "complete" for your pet may be two very different things. And pet food is highly processed and with heat. Giving your pet a quality, all natural supplement to compliment their meaty diet is a great way to assure your pet is getting all those required and delicate nutrients that he may be lacking. Just like in our diets, it's a hard task to make sure all the nutritional bases are covered every single day...so adding that quality supplement is the simple solution!
5. Implement Exercise and Play Time: Fresh air and sunshine are two ingredients that just can't be bottled and sold! Walking, running, romping or just getting outside and moving, benefits both you and your pet! Take a few minutes every day to let your pet know that he's important to you!
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