Holistic dog care involves feeding your dog a healthy diet of fresh, natural foods, using natural herbs and remedies, and can include taking your dog to a holistic vet. Though the holistic approach takes time and effort, many dogs respond extremely well to the method. The goal of the holistic approach is to help your dog live a long and healthy life, something that every dedicated pet owner wants for his or her animal.
-
Diet
-
A balanced, healthy diet composed of natural and unprocessed foods is one of the keys to successful holistic dog care. According to dog-care author Alfred Plechner, natural diets are much better for dogs because, "many commercial foods are woefully deficient in key nutrients." Often the meat in commercial dog food ends up there because it was already deemed unfit for human consumption. It can contain by-products and diseased or cancerous tissue.
Petsynergy.com recommends a diet that is 50 percent whole grains, 25 percent vegetables, and 25 percent meat and high-protein foods. Quality whole grains include barley, oatmeal, millet, and brown rice. Try different vegetables like carrots, yellow squash, zucchini, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli. Meat can be served raw if it is organic and fresh. Beef, turkey, chicken, and rabbit are all excellent sources of protein. Organ meats, such as kidney, liver and heart, are also good as supplements once or twice a week. Find a diet with a healthy balance of foods that your dog enjoys and stick to it.
Herbs and Supplements
-
Natural herbs and supplements are gaining popularity among dog owners who are distrustful of commercially manufactured dog products. Though natural supplements should not be used as a replacement for conventional empirical vet care, they can still do wonders for a dog's overall health or for specific ailments. Fish oil, for example, contains properties that are known to prevent cancer in dogs. Consult your vet for appropriate herbs and supplements and be aware that many are ineffectual, can provoke allergies, or even become toxic to some dogs.
Exercise
-
Even with all the natural, multi-vitamin foods and supplements in the world your dog will never be healthy without proper exercise. Daily exercise is extremely important for both the physical and emotional well being of your dog. Many behavioral problems are simply the result of the dog not getting enough exercise. Dogs evolved as migratory pack animals that once roamed the plains for many miles a day. Regular exercise, in conjunction with a balanced natural diet and carefully chosen supplements, will result in a healthy dog that is less likely to develop obesity, heart disease, and bone disorders.
-