CLEANSING DIET

Before commencing any herbal treatment on an adult dog or cat, it is beneficial to give a 24 hour fast, giving just water with a little honey to drink. Also give the appropriate dosage of Natural Herb Tablets, a gentle herbal laxative. This will cleanse the system, reduce the burden on the digestion and increase the response rate to the treatment given.

After the fast, follow the recommended adult diets, but give only white meat with boiled rice, which is easily digestible, while treatment is being carried out. This regime has proved to be particularly effective when treating skin conditions where the normal supplements should be omitted for the initial treatment period while the treatment dose of herbal medicines are given.

When treating any condition where a fever is present, continue the fast for a further 24 hours or until the temperature has returned normal (101.5ºF) and give Garlic and Fenugreek Tablets at the treatment dose. If the fever persists for longer or the temperature rises above 103.5ºF, consult your vet as a more serious condition may be indicated.

THE PREGNANT BITCH OR QUEEN

All pregnant females require special consideration and treatment, but it is a common mistake to overfeed during this period. No great increase in the quantity of food is required until the sixth week or gestation. However good quality food should be given and to maintain a good calcium level, an extra feed of a little milk, preferably goat’s milk, and honey or natural live yoghurt is recommended. A supply of clean, fresh water should always be available but this is especially important during pregnancy as the female will often drink more during this time because the kidneys take much of the burden as the body’s eliminator or waste matter, so adequate water will help to keep them healthy.

There are a number of additions to the diet which are particularly helpful during pregnancy:

Wheatgerm Oil Capsules or liquid should be given at the regular maintenance amount to bitches and queens from one week before mating and for the first three weeks of pregnancy. Wheatgerm Oil is a good source of Vitamin E and is important for good fertility and to help prevent absorption and abortion.

Raspberry Leaf Tablets should be given at the recommended daily dose from the third week of pregnancy and continued until one week after delivery. These are a wonderfully effective birth aid as they tone the reproductive organs and also help to ensure complete removal of the placentas.

Calcium supplements may be advisable from the sixth week of pregnancy, especially for the large and giant breeds of dog. However to ensure proper assimilation and a correct balance we recommend that a natural source of calcium be given. Your veterinary surgeon will advise on the available forms of this supplement

THE OLDER DOG AND CAT

As animals get older their food requirements change – perhaps they take less exercise or develop problems of mobility associated with old age. Some breeds of dog and neutered cats are prone to putting on excess weight and therefore the amount of food given should be reduced according to all these factors and the individual’s needs. If the digestive system seems more delicate than previously, it may be beneficial to give smaller meals more often and to replace the red meat in the diet with white meat or fish that is easier on the digestion. The fast day for dogs can be reduced to just a half day weekly. There are a number of herbal medicines and supplements which can benefit the older animal and make them more comfortable in their later years.

Tree Barks Powder is a highly digestible food that is very nourishing and soothing, making it ideal for the older dog or cat. It can be sprinkled directly onto food or added to a milky drink.

Sometimes there is a tendency to a touch of stiffness, particularly in the colder damp weather, or bladder control can become weaker, Mixed Vegetable Tablets are a herbal medicine formulated to assist with both these problems very successfully and they are particularly beneficial if given in conjunction with Garlic and Fenugreek Tablets as well as the normal daily supplements such as Keeper's Mix® and Cod Liver Oil Capsules.

Always observe older animals carefully to spot any problems as early as possible. Consider their changing needs regarding diet and general well-being rather than continuing solely with the same regime they received when they were young and more active. Requirements change throughout life and this should be reflected in the foods, exercise and treatment given, so that even the older dog or cat can enjoy the best possible health until the end of their lives. We are all aware nowadays that it is healthier to eat fresh food and that over-processed foods, although more convenient, are not as good for us.