Saturday, July 10, 2010

Natural Pain Relief for Pets

Pharmaceutical drugs may not be your pets only path to pain relief. Below you will find a list of homeopathic remedies to help you manage your pets pain at home. These remedies can be safely used without running the risk of unwanted side effects, allergic reactions, and undesirable interactions with other medications.
ARNICA - For all physical trauma, use Arnica. After an injury or surgery, Arnica will reduce pain, reduce inflammation and help control bleeding. It is a good idea to pretreat with Arnica before surgery. Dental extractions will benefit tremendously from Arnica. Spinal injuries - arnica 30c, can be given every 5 minutes (STOP dosing as soon as the animal shows marked improvement) for up to ten doses.

HYPERICUM - a great remedy for injuries to nerves, or parts of the body rich in nerves. Use Hypericum for injuries to feet, toes, claws, tongue, etc, especially crushed toe tips. Helps relieve surgical pain and may be used intermittently with Arnica. Relieves pain from lacerated wounds. Prolonged sensitivity in an amputated digit and painful lacerated wounds are relieved by Hypericum. Use for nerve pain, shooting pains. After dental or oral surgery, rinse with a strong tea solution of Hypericum and Calendula. Or herbal tinctures of both herbs diluted in water can be used to irrigate the mouth (mix 1 part Hypericum tincture, 1 part Calendula tincture and 9 parts distilled water). Calendula will help to heal and rapidly close the wound. Spinal injuries: after treating with Arnica, Hypericum 30c, can be used every 4 hours for up to 3 days.

LEDUM - can be given for pain from puncture wounds. Injuries from nails, barbed wire, fish hooks, talons, liver biopsy, or animal bites will benefit from Ledum. Ledum is also known to help prevent tetanus.


NUX VOMICA - for spinal injuries, 1m, one dose every other day for two doses if there is disc involvement.



SYMPHYTUM - for wounds penetrating to the perineum and bones. Symphytum stimulates callus formation in fractures and helps with bones that will not fuse. Should not be used until the bone is set. For pain in the eye after a blow from a blunt object and for all traumatic injuries of the eye, no remedy equals Symphytum.

RHUS TOXICODENDRON - for pain and injuries to joints, tendons, ligaments and fibrous tissue. If movement relieves some of the stiffness and pain, Rhus Tox is the correct remedy.



STAPHYSAGRIA - Think penetration and laceration. This remedy will reduce pain and sensitivity from torn or deeply cut tissue, especially severe pain following abdominal surgery, pain and nervousness after extraction of teeth (connective tissue enveloping the bone and socket enveloping the upper teeth). Another symptom calling for this homeopathic remedy would be any sphincter (ring of muscle) that has been torn, lacerated or stretched (anal lacerations or surgery). To reduce pain after a surgical removal of calculus (stone) from the bladder, kidney, or urinary tract. To reduce pain and inflammation from insertion or removal of a catheter through the urethra into the bladder. In humans this remedy is often prescribed after rape. In veterinary cases it could be used for animals who have been over-bred, urinary tract sensitivity and painful, irritable bladder, burning in the urethra when not urinating, urging and pain after urinating, prolapse, pain in pelvic region.

DOSE AND POTENCY

CHRONIC PAIN: A potency like 6C can be given three times a day, 9C twice a day, 12C once or twice a day; but, if at any time you see a striking improvement, stop the remedy and observe; resume when the improvement stops. If at any time the animal seems to be getting worse, stop the remedy and wait, an improvement may follow. If it doesn't, you probably need to change to a different remedy.

ACUTE PAIN: In acute cases, you'll want to match the potency to the power of the complaint. A severe acute should be met with a 200C or possibly with a 1M if it's very severe. Here's where you need your high potencies! (but if all you have on hand is a 30c by all means use it).

If it is pain that is minor or it is chronic and of long standing the lower potencies should always be used.

Dosing Suggestions:

1. Put 1 or 2 pills of the remedy in 8 ounces of distilled or purified water and *succuss the bottle five to eight times before each dose.

2. The dose for any size animal is 1 teaspoon of the liquid remedy. However, if the animal is very small, mouse, tiny bird, etc. you can adjust the amount to what will comfortably fit in the subject's mouth, or into a treat that will be eaten right away.

* Succuss means to strike the bottom of the bottle on a hard padded surface (book or a folded towel).

To learn more about using homeopathic remedies, herbal medicine, flower essences and acupressure for dogs, cats, horses and birds, be sure to visit Pet Remedy Charts the professional guide to using natural healing methods to treat your pet at home.
If you would like to learn Veterinary Homeopathy please visit Fast Forward to the Cure

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Human Products Can Be Unsafe for Dogs

Our culture has come to accept that some foods and products not intended for dogs are nonetheless safe, and in adopting this way of thinking we expose our four legged family members to more consumer goodies that have the potential to cause great harm (whether accidentally or on purpose).

Despite the outcry of the ASPCA’s poison control unit, more and more manufacturers continue to accept Xylitol’s (a so called natural sweetener) luring charms. Recently two companies changed their formulations to include Xylitol in several of their products. Flintstones in some of their kids’ vitamins and Starbucks in some of their mints. Neither company went out of its way to warn its unsuspecting customers of their addition of Xylitol.

This is a major concern because for years many breeders and pet owners have given or recommended Flintstones as an inexpensive multivitamin alternative for canines. Many have relied on children's chewable vitamins as a safe and effective product for their pets.

The problem with Xylitol is not merely its existence in products (gums, candies, Jello, cupcakes, cookies, muffins, toothpaste, mouthwash etc.). The predicament it causes also lies in the cunning nature of its exposure when pet owners don’t realize that human products they used to use safely for their pets (or exposed their pets to accidentally) are no longer safe.

Awhile back if Rover scarfed up a couple of Tic-Tacs that dropped on the rug, who'd care, right? You certainly didn’t call a veterinary emergency clinic to determine the lethal dose of Tic-Tacs and whether immediate medical treatment was impending. But now that Tic-Tacs harbor Xylitol, would you even know to worry? Here's a fact you should know, the ASPCA’s poison control reports that Tic-Tacs poison more dogs than any other product, partly as a consequence of their extra-high Xylitol levels and partly the result of manufactures adding it to almost everything on the market.

Who's the newest loser to adopt Xylitol -
Bach's Rescue Remedy, yep, ya heard that right. The highly recommended flower remedy product that calms our dogs’ hyper anxiety comes from a company who can't seem to resist the temptation to add to the Xylitol dog-pile.

Rescue Remedy 'pastilles' product contains this deadly-for-dogs ingredient. However, the good news is that its other products are safe and have not been tainted by this sweetener’s potential canine-toxic effects. Bach advocates its flower essences safe for veterinary use and even has a pamphlet for pets. I am inclined to think Bach should halt its use of Xylitol or at least apply appropriate information on their website and product warning labels (ones you can read without a magnifying glass). Store owners who sell their products should also be educated and informed so they can give reliable product recommendations. Or at least warn the unsuspecting public that Rescue Remedy 'pastilles' have the potential to seriously harm or cause death to dogs.

Beware And Be Informed
The real responsibility lies with the people who own the pets. It is our duty to keep informed so that we can protect them and keep them safe. The best way to do this is to read the labels (even if it says ALL NATURAL) on EVERYTHING. Not just once, but EVERY TIME you purchase ANY product. The product or food that is safe today could change it formula and become deadly tomorrow!

What other names is Xylitol known by?
Birch Sugar, E967, Xylit, Meso-Xylitol, Xylite, and xylo-pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol. Today, using corn sources, most world supplies of Xylitol reportedly come primarily from China.

How Much Xylitol Is Dangerous for Dogs?
The hypoglycemic dose of xylitol for dogs is considered to be approximately 0.1 grams per kilogram of body weight (about 0.045 grams per pound). A typical stick of gum contains 0.3 to 0.4 grams of xylitol, which means that a 10 lb dog could be poisoned by as little as a stick and a half of gum.

The dose to cause hepatic necrosis (liver failure) is 1 gram per kilogram of body weight, about ten times more than the above dose. In the example above, the 10 lb dog would have to find an unopened package of gum and eat it for liver destruction to occur.

Visit our website Pet Remedy Charts

Monday, July 5, 2010

Organic Gardening Tips and Tricks


A Safe Non-Toxic Repellent for Snails and Slugs
Organic gardening uses no poisonous insecticides or pesticides - Agra-Homeopathy is an inexpensive and totally safe way to get rid of garden pests on your favorite plants without drenching your kids, pets, wildlife and the environment with harmful chemicals. That means no trips to the emergency room if your child or pet eats or comes in contact with it. It also means that the plant is healthier, stronger and safer to eat.

Slugs and Snails


These relentless munchers are hard to get rid of and can destroy a garden or flowering plant in nothing flat. Homeopathic Helix tosta in a 6c potency can and will send them packing. Think about how popular you'll be when you share you're gardening secret with your neighbors!

Homeopathic remedies aren't just being used in people and pet healthcare. Organic farmer's all over the world rely on Agrahomeopathy (a form of homeopathy for farm and garden) to eradicate plant pests as well as botanical diseases. Heavy rain doesn't seem to reduce it's effectiveness either. The repellent properties may last as long as 4 weeks! Some farmers spray the remedy right on the plants (being sure to get the upper and lower sides of the leaves), others find it easier to water it into the soil below the plants (this is our favorite method) with equally good results. A dose of Helix tosta will have the snails moving right along before they can manage to nibble your garden to the ground.


What is Helix Tosta?
It's a homeopathic remedy made from toasted snail shell. Originally this remedy was used by homeopaths to treat respiratory illnesses and tuberculosis, especially if the patient was coughing up blood. Only recently has this remedy found new fame as a snail and slug repellent.

How to Make a Spray or Watering Solution

Step 1. Put 2 pellets/pills of Helix tosta 6c into 1 liter (4 1/2 cups) of distilled or purified water. Succuss this bottle 50 times. That means, strike the bottom of the bottle straight up and down, hitting the bottom of it hard on a padded surface (phone book, towel, etc.). This liter of the liquid remedy will make many bottles (about 15 liters) of spray or watering solution.

Step 2. To make your spray or watering solution put 3 Tablespoons from the remedy bottle you've made into an empty 1 liter bottle, then fill the bottle up with water. This 2nd dilution is what you will use to spray or water the plants.

To make additional bottles just repeat Step 2. above.

Note: Discard any unused liquid solution (it is not harmful so there are no special handling instructions). It will not remain potent for future use. The repellent effects of a spray or watering application should last up to 4 weeks.

Where to Find the Remedy
Helix tosta 6c is not an easy remedy to find. But it can be purchased online from Heilos Homeopathy. Their lab is located in the UK and their shipping is exceptionally quick - the remedy usually arrives in the U.S. in under a week. This is often faster than ordering a remedy locally in the states.

Check Back and Bookmark This Page -
In our up coming articles we'll be telling you how to affordably and safely treat plant diseases, dissuade pests, richen the soil, increase your fruit, vegetable and flower yield, all in an Eco-safe manner, using homeopathy.

Resources

To learn about more plant remedies click here Organic Home & Garden.

Be sure to visit Pet Remedy Charts for dogs, cats, horses and birds. The ultimate guides to help you easily learn to use herbs, homeopathy, flower remedies and acupressure for dogs, cats, horses and birds. Developed to enable anyone to confidently treat their companion animal at home.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Alternative Non-Toxic Treatment for Fleas




The nosode, PSORINUM can be given to a dog to repel those fleas that are so hard to get rid of during the summer. Even better, it also makes attacks by ticks less likely to happen; this helps the dog to fight more effectively against "tick sickness". We often recommend its use in the treatment of intolerance to flea/tick collar insecticides, or ineffectiveness. Hardy fleas will brave a flea collar.

If your dog suffers intollerable itching and skin inflammation due to flea allergies, Psorinum may offer your pet a safe, side effect free solution to corticosteroid shots, toxic sprays, shampoos, dips and drop on chemicals.

Suggested Dosage for Dogs: PSORINUM 30C, dose 1 pellet, once weekly.

What Is A Homeopathic Nosode

Nosodes are homeopathic remedies that are made from the specific products of a particular disease. This can be tissue containing the actual disease agents or tissue affected by those agents. A nosode is prepared in a diluted and potentized form just like any homeopathic medicine. There is no potential for an animal or person to become infected with a given disease agent from a nosode because of the pharmaceutical process that occurs which dilutes and inactivates any viable organisms. Nosodes seem to work most effectively, homeopathically, when they are given near or at the time of exposure.


Where to find the remedy: Psorinum 30c can be purchased here online for under $9.00. Or you can do a google search for the remedy name and you will find additional links to where you can order the nosode.



To learn more about homeopathic remedies for dogs, be sure to visit Pet Remedy Charts Homeopathy to the Rescue, the professional guide to using homeopathy to treat your pet at
home.





Recommended Reading: For professionals or serious students - This is the gold standard in books for Veterinary Homeopathy. 'Fast Forward to the Cure', is a digital publication in PDF format that you can download and start using now. Learn advanced veterinary homeopathy, LM dosing techniques and the methods of 'Dynamic Dosing' for animals which can speed a pets healing time by 1/4 to 1/2 or more! Veterinary Medica, Therapeutic Repertories, printable Case Taking Forms, Observation Sheets and full color Anatomy Charts for dogs, cats horses and birds are included in 14 Chapters and 872 pages. To see complete details and excerpts from the book CLICK HERE.