Luckily we were not terribly effected by the local fires. We didn't have to evacuate, but the air and ash on the ground was terrible for several days.
Vida and I both started taking Y.E.S., or Yarrow Environmental Solution from Flower Essence Services to help with the crap in the air and in the ash. This remedy was originally developed for nuclear fallout and radiation, but I think it's good for any environmental toxin. With the chemicals used in modern life I wouldn't discount anything when it comes to fire air. Just so you know, the taste is very abrupt - one doesn't dilute it for use, and it has both brandy and sea salt - so I don't recommend giving directly in the mouth for pets (eww!). Just spritz their food before mixing it up, and mist them with it.
We'll both start a bit of homeopathic detox too for good measure.
I added a little cooked grain to her breakfast this morning to moisten her a bit, as well as a fingerful of local raw honey to moisten the lungs. Keeping up with the coconut oil and the usual supplements.
She's finally getting a little stir crazy from the lack of exercise (we're both trying to stay inside), but finally today the air in our neighborhood is clearing enough to do some exercise outdoors. This morning I was washing ash off the house and Vida was playing with the spray.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
Autumn Sort of Arrives
Weird weather, still very warm. Wore long sleeves to the dog park for the first time in months today, the breeze was cool.
Feeding changes for Vida? Less fish, a dab of honey every couple of days, the last of this year's poor figs before breakfast this week, turkey, duck, honest kitchen, coconut oil. All these small adjustments.
Autumn is the season of the Lungs and Large Intestines - the Metal Element in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Honey moistens the lungs. Raw local honey of course (local as in within 100 miles). I have some good Alfalfa honey from Orange County. We're both eating more honey. Don't want the dry autumn wind to start any trouble.
Coconut oil - haven't given it since last Fall, seemed a need. not too much.
Oh yeah, giving a Eye remedy, chinese herb spheres designed for animals. A couple weeks in her eyes look more moist, which is good. Not treating an acute problem, just the slight development of cataract mist at an early age.
Feeding changes for Vida? Less fish, a dab of honey every couple of days, the last of this year's poor figs before breakfast this week, turkey, duck, honest kitchen, coconut oil. All these small adjustments.
Autumn is the season of the Lungs and Large Intestines - the Metal Element in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Honey moistens the lungs. Raw local honey of course (local as in within 100 miles). I have some good Alfalfa honey from Orange County. We're both eating more honey. Don't want the dry autumn wind to start any trouble.
Coconut oil - haven't given it since last Fall, seemed a need. not too much.
Oh yeah, giving a Eye remedy, chinese herb spheres designed for animals. A couple weeks in her eyes look more moist, which is good. Not treating an acute problem, just the slight development of cataract mist at an early age.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Flea Free
Ok, let me first state, I don't panic about fleas, even though I live in Coastal Southern California (otherwise known as Flea Central). First of all, my dog rarely has fleas. Second, I'm more afraid of the nerve toxins people are using on fleas than I am of fleas.
It wasn't too long ago that a few fleas were considered normal on a dog. Now if the dog itches the owners reach for the chemicals, even if they haven't found a single flea! So let's run down a list of ways to limit and deter fleas:
First - diet! The healthier the animal the less attractive they are to parasites. This doesn't happen overnight, so start now. Fresh, preferably raw food is #1. Certain foods added to the diet can help to condition the skin to be less attractive: small to moderate amounts of garlic (some people like the ease of garlic and yeast tablets) up to one clove a day for large dogs, a small amount of raw organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar to balance the pH, fish oil for omega-3 fatty acids, and even tonics like nettle, burdock, and dandelion for a round of detox.
Any soap kills fleas!! There is no need for flea dips or anything else. Just plain dog shampoo is fine. If you need to wash frequently get the gentlest you can (labeled hypoallergenic).
The flea comb is your best friend! Even heavily coated dogs can be combed on their belly. Just have a small dish of soapy water and push the fleas from the comb into it (keep the comb dry for ease of use on the next pass).
Treat the environment. If you must have carpet spend an afternoon scrubbing a boric acid product deep into it for longlasting help (buy one designed for this). No matter what kind of floor, when you vacumn suck up a little borax to dry out anything that my sprout in your vacumn bag. Use diatamacious earth under baseboards or other dark nooks. Pyrethrum powder (the real thing, from flowers, not pyrethrine the chemical) is another deterrant, though it is dark orange in color so be careful if that matters. Wash bedding at least every two weeks.
Use topical deterrants that won't harm you or your pet. BIG CAVEAT - essential oils can be dangerous to cats, so if using packaged products only use those that are labeled for cats). Use sprays before walks, they don't last long so daily use is needed. Neem spray is one option (works great for mosquitos too).
Here are a couple recipes you can make yourself, these are from "Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals" by Kristen Leigh Bell.
Dog Flea Spritz
(makes 8 oz, store in dark bottle, shake well before use).
1 tsp vegetable glycerin
1/2 oz grain alcohol or vodka
1 tsp sulfated castor oil
10 drops grapefruit seed extract
7 oz distilled or spring water
4 drops Clary Sage essential oil
1 drop Citronella essential oil
7 drops Peppermint essential oil
3 drops Lemon essential oil
If you want to use just drops rather than a spray, use the essential oils above in 1/2 oz of carrier oil (like sweet almond or hazelnut oil).
Cat Flea Spritz (note: this uses hydrosols, not oils!)
1 oz Lavender hydrosol
1 oz Lemon Verbena hydrosol
1 oz Rosemary hydrosol
1 oz Vodka (or 1/2 oz grain alcohol)
4 oz spring or distilled water.
Notice I didn't get into ticks - that's another story!
It wasn't too long ago that a few fleas were considered normal on a dog. Now if the dog itches the owners reach for the chemicals, even if they haven't found a single flea! So let's run down a list of ways to limit and deter fleas:
First - diet! The healthier the animal the less attractive they are to parasites. This doesn't happen overnight, so start now. Fresh, preferably raw food is #1. Certain foods added to the diet can help to condition the skin to be less attractive: small to moderate amounts of garlic (some people like the ease of garlic and yeast tablets) up to one clove a day for large dogs, a small amount of raw organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar to balance the pH, fish oil for omega-3 fatty acids, and even tonics like nettle, burdock, and dandelion for a round of detox.
Any soap kills fleas!! There is no need for flea dips or anything else. Just plain dog shampoo is fine. If you need to wash frequently get the gentlest you can (labeled hypoallergenic).
The flea comb is your best friend! Even heavily coated dogs can be combed on their belly. Just have a small dish of soapy water and push the fleas from the comb into it (keep the comb dry for ease of use on the next pass).
Treat the environment. If you must have carpet spend an afternoon scrubbing a boric acid product deep into it for longlasting help (buy one designed for this). No matter what kind of floor, when you vacumn suck up a little borax to dry out anything that my sprout in your vacumn bag. Use diatamacious earth under baseboards or other dark nooks. Pyrethrum powder (the real thing, from flowers, not pyrethrine the chemical) is another deterrant, though it is dark orange in color so be careful if that matters. Wash bedding at least every two weeks.
Use topical deterrants that won't harm you or your pet. BIG CAVEAT - essential oils can be dangerous to cats, so if using packaged products only use those that are labeled for cats). Use sprays before walks, they don't last long so daily use is needed. Neem spray is one option (works great for mosquitos too).
Here are a couple recipes you can make yourself, these are from "Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals" by Kristen Leigh Bell.
Dog Flea Spritz
(makes 8 oz, store in dark bottle, shake well before use).
1 tsp vegetable glycerin
1/2 oz grain alcohol or vodka
1 tsp sulfated castor oil
10 drops grapefruit seed extract
7 oz distilled or spring water
4 drops Clary Sage essential oil
1 drop Citronella essential oil
7 drops Peppermint essential oil
3 drops Lemon essential oil
If you want to use just drops rather than a spray, use the essential oils above in 1/2 oz of carrier oil (like sweet almond or hazelnut oil).
Cat Flea Spritz (note: this uses hydrosols, not oils!)
1 oz Lavender hydrosol
1 oz Lemon Verbena hydrosol
1 oz Rosemary hydrosol
1 oz Vodka (or 1/2 oz grain alcohol)
4 oz spring or distilled water.
Notice I didn't get into ticks - that's another story!
Monday, April 23, 2007
Shame on them? Shame on you too!
Today I had a shopper wagging her finger at a dog food company, yet buying their kibble. She wagged her finger and said "Shame on them!" but still bought their food!
She doesn't want to read the labels, she doesn't want to feed fresh, but she wants to have an opinion nonetheless.
Too many people still want the easy way out when feeding their pets. That's what started this whole mess in the first place - No one was paying attention!!
Complacency is already on its way back.
She doesn't want to read the labels, she doesn't want to feed fresh, but she wants to have an opinion nonetheless.
Too many people still want the easy way out when feeding their pets. That's what started this whole mess in the first place - No one was paying attention!!
Complacency is already on its way back.
Friday, April 20, 2007
If all this pet food recall business hasn't convinced you yet...
Come on folks! If you still trust these food companies you're crazy! or lazy? There's a whole secret, incestuous world of pet food the world is just now getting a glimpse of.
I've discovered the wonderful Dogster blog to follow along on all the latest news and opinion on this topic.
And it's finally come to haunt me directly at work - one of the foods I sell at the store had a recall. We had a sign out saying "Safe Pet Food Here" with a big arrow. Now we joke about crossing out the arrow and writing in a question mark. Or pointing the arrow directly at our freezers of raw food.
Fresh is best! Of course you need to worry about livestock eating contaminated food too. Funny how this pet food scare has opened people's eyes up to the food chain they use too. Let's see how long they stay open.
I've discovered the wonderful Dogster blog to follow along on all the latest news and opinion on this topic.
And it's finally come to haunt me directly at work - one of the foods I sell at the store had a recall. We had a sign out saying "Safe Pet Food Here" with a big arrow. Now we joke about crossing out the arrow and writing in a question mark. Or pointing the arrow directly at our freezers of raw food.
Fresh is best! Of course you need to worry about livestock eating contaminated food too. Funny how this pet food scare has opened people's eyes up to the food chain they use too. Let's see how long they stay open.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Recent Meal - Just Stir!
Homemade flaked grain mix (quinoa, oat, spelt, maybe something else), poured hot water over it.
Tad of Honest Kitchen Preference (hot water again)
Coconut oil (the white chunk at the top)
Western Supreme Lamb (meat, organs, veg - great mix!)
Wholistic Pet Canine Complete
Animal Essentials Calcium (the other white splotches).
Animal Essentials Omega 3 Oil
-------------------
The homemade grain mix is so easy if you have a health food store that has bulk and boxed grains and cereals. For a few bucks I have a big bag full that will last me a while (since it's a minor portion of a meal when I use it).
It's easy once you have the supplies. If you don't have a local store that carries it you can get most online.
The hard part is the organ meats. I love Western Supreme because, depending on the species, you can get parts like spleen and kidney, which aren't commonly available. You should use more than liver! Heart is excellent - halfway between muscle and organ, high in taurine, among other attributes. Remember, every part of the carcass has it's nutritional benefit.
While the Preference has calcium, I didn't use enough to cover the whole meal, so I included the calcium powder.
I worry less about developing deficiencies because I strive for variety, within which I balance as best I know how.
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