Tag: dog

Is Kibble the Healthiest Option for Dogs and Cats?

22 August, 2025

Many pet carers are told that kibble is the healthiest option for dogs and cats, and that it even helps keep teeth clean. While kibble is convenient and widely available, it’s worth taking a closer look at what goes into it and how it affects your pet’s health. From dehydration to processed ingredients, and even its impact on dental health, there are several important factors to consider when deciding what’s best for your furry friends. Kibble and Dehydration Kibble is made by cooking and drying ingredients to create a shelf-stable product. This process removes most of the natural moisture, so…

What’s the Best Type of Pet Bowls?

27 May, 2025

Julie’s Picks – Stainless Steel, Ceramic & Glass When it comes to something as simple as a bowl, the choices might surprise you! From plastic to bamboo to elevated sets, the options can get overwhelming. But when it comes to health, hygiene, and durability, we like to keep it simple and natural. Here’s a quick breakdown of the best materials for your pet’s food and water bowls – and why we love them. Stainless Steel Bowls Stainless steel bowls are a favourite for a reason – * Super Hygienic – easy to clean and doesn’t retain bacteria. * Non-Porous –…

Travel Anxiety – Avoid the stress.. and the mess!

16 September, 2024

Travel Anxiety – Avoid the stress and the mess! It’s a warm, sunny day so you’ve hopped in the car with your dog to head to the park. Suddenly, Fido doesn’t look so good. Before you’ve had time to pull over, his breakfast has been decanted unceremoniously all over your back seat. Pet motion sickness and travel anxiety is all too familiar. In extreme cases, it can severely limit the experiences that we can enjoy with our pets. No more hiking weekends away with your four-legged friend. No more trips to the beach (unless you’re lucky enough to be within…

Flea Control – Natural Alternatives

11 April, 2024

Flea Control – Natural alternatives are available so you don’t need to poison your animals with chemicals or drugs. Did you know? Choose Natural Alternatives Flea Control using natural alternatives can work equally effectively as the chemical products but will require more frequent use than the artificial treatments. It’s concerning when anthing topical has a warning to avoid contact with human skin yet is supposedly okay to apply to your animal’s skin? (Why is this supposedly okay… I wonder?) Personally, anything that is not safe for human skin contact should not be used on an animal. Regular grooming and running a flea comb…

Does your pet eat weird things?

19 March, 2024

Why is my pet eating weird things? Eating strange items like dirt, sand, poop, clay, paper, chalk, plastic, metal or fabric is referred to as pica. Pica can lead to gastric upset including intestinal obstructions from ingesting indigestible objects, so it is important to try and stop this behaviour to avoid serious complications. If your dog is eating poop, then read our blog – Why does my dog eat poop. What is the cause of pica? It can be difficult to find the cause of pica as it can be due to a range of health issues such as gastrointestinal…

The Importance of Offal

19 January, 2024

The Importance of Offal: A natural and nutritionally balanced raw food diet is extremely important in maintaining optimum health for all animals and one of the foundations of Animal Naturopathy. Within the realm of raw feeding, one component stands out for its unparalleled nutritional value – offal, or organ meats. Carnivores instinctively consume the organs of their prey, along with meat, bones, stomach contents, along with skin, fur and feathers. Since domestic pets do not consume whole prey, it falls upon us to provide a balanced diet to meet their nutritional requirements adequately. Nutrient Density Offal serves as a nutrient…

Tempting Fussy Eaters

17 October, 2023

Do you have a fussy pet that will not eat anything but a particular brand of pet food or only one type of meat or fish and nothing else?

Leaky Gut in Dogs & Cats

11 August, 2023

Leaky gut syndrome, also known as intestinal permeability, is a condition that affects both dogs and cats. It occurs when the lining of the gastrointestinal tract becomes damaged, allowing toxins, undigested food particles, and bacteria to leak into the bloodstream. This can trigger a cascade of health issues, ranging from digestive problems to immune system disorders and food sensitivities. The most common causes of leaky gut in dogs & cats is chronic low-grade inflammation which may occur as a result of toxicity, poor diet, overuse of medications, bacterial imbalance (dysbiosis), parasites, food allergies & autoimmune diseases. Diet and Nutrition One…

Why does my dog eat Poop?

11 November, 2021

We may find this habit ‘gross’ but for dogs it’s actually quite common. The technical term is coprophagia. Eating poop can be due to an underlying health issue, but some dogs just enjoy the taste! Below are some of the possible reasons your dog may fancy snacking on poop A common cause is nutrient deficiencies from poor quality foods or parasite infections which can leach nutrients from the body. Digestive issues such as gut malabsorption or enzyme deficiencies. Many dogs enjoy feasting on cow pats and manure from other livestock. Cow manure is rich in enzymes and partially digested proteins…

Inflammation in Cats & Dogs

14 July, 2021

Inflammation in cats and dogs is a common physiological response, typically triggered by injury or illness. It serves as the body’s mechanism for protection and self-healing by expanding blood vessels and dispatching white blood cells to the affected area. While this immune response is essential for survival, it can at times spiral out of control. When this happens, the healthy inflammatory response doesn’t switch off when it is meant to, which causes chronic, low-grade inflammation. While acute inflammation helps the body heal, chronic inflammation can be harmful and is associated with various health problems and increases the risk for disease….

Flower Essences for Dogs

20 April, 2021

Flowers Essences for Dogs work on their mind, body and spirit. Physical health conditions often manifest from deeper emotional imbalances. For example: a dog may start leaving surprises (defecating) on your bed or urinating indoors when they are unhappy about something. This may be due to you spending less time at home or the arrival of a new baby.   Anxiety, jealousy, anger, loneliness, resentment and other stresses can affect pets just as they affect people, causing a number of health related conditions. In cases such as this, it is necessary to work on the pet’s emotional well-being, rather than…

Toxic Foods

16 December, 2020

Toxic Foods: It often comes naturally, the more we love our four legged friends, the more we want to pamper them. However, when we sometimes instinctively go to ‘treat’ them with some of our leftovers or share a portion of food we can sometimes be doing more harm than good. Animals digest differently, and there are a number of regular human foods that can unknowingly be toxic to your animals. Some of the more dangerous human foods for animals, and their potential effects, are as follows: Macadamia Nuts Can cause vomiting, lethargy, hyperthermia, abdominal pain, stiff joints, lameness, tremors or…

Travel Anxiety – Avoid the stress.. and the mess!

16 December, 2020

Travel Anxiety – Avoid the stress.. and the mess! It’s a warm, sunny day so you and your dog have hopped in the car and are heading to the park. Suddenly, Fido doesn’t look so good and before you have time to pull in, his breakfast has been decanted unceremoniously all over your back seat. Pet motion sickness and travel anxiety is an all too familiar story and in extreme cases it can severely limit the experiences that we can enjoy with our dogs. No more hiking weekends away with your four legged friend. No more trips to the beach…

Fussy eater no more!

8 July, 2020

Fussy eater no more! I would just like to let you know how well my dog is doing since starting on your supplement, she was a very on and off eater, she is fed natural food, no dry dog food and eats all of her food raw, including vegetables. I put the Essentials in with her vegetable mix and she does not miss one meal now, she is a working dog, doing walking twice a day, backpacking in which she has achieved her Qld title, she also goes gig racing in the winter and this season starts weight pull, she also swims…

Qld Itch Natural Alternatives

7 February, 2020

Qld Itch is due to hypersensitivity to insect bites, causing extreme itching. It is usually worse during the humid summer months, but may affect some horses or dogs all year long. Itching is usually intense and can cause the animal to scratch constantly causing mild to severe hair loss and open sores. The skin eventually may become thickened and wrinkled. There are natural products that can help to soothe the dreaded “itch”. Internal Remedies for horses Internal treatment is highly recommended for long term relief of Qld Itch. Qld Itch or Summer itch is one of the most distressing conditions…

Itchy Skin – Natural Support for Pets

7 February, 2020

Itchy Skin is one of the most common questions we get asked is – My dog or cat has itchy skin and its not fleas: What can you do to help?ORMy horse is scratching on everything until he or she is bleeding and causing injury. Is there anything that can help?   For Itchy Horses – Click here Well, the answer is YES, natural therapies can greatly assist dogs, cats and horses with itchy skin conditions. Skin problems and allergies are becoming increasingly prevalent among domestic animals today and using drugs to relieve the itch is not the answer for long term relief from…

Anal Gland Problems in Dogs

19 February, 2019

Anal Gland Problems in Dogs can affect all ages and breeds leading to blocked or infected anal glands.  These two small glands are located on either side of the anus, and are scent glands used for marking territory and recognition. They would normally empty naturally when the dog has a bowel movement, but when stools are too thin or soft, then they may not express fully and can become impacted, which may lead to an infection if left untreated. Blocked or impacted anal glands may be caused by Natural treatment recommendations Increase exercise, and reduce weight, if overweight. Feed natural…

Why do dogs eat grass?

4 April, 2018

If you’ve ever wondered…. Why do dogs eat grass? Well, there are a few reasons and we have outlined some of the common reasons below: Dogs will occasionally eat large amounts of grass to make themselves throw up. If they seek out any type of grass or weeds frantically then this is most often due to – 2.. Dogs may eat grass because they want to If your dog is very selectively picking out certain grasses and uses his front teeth to nibble and eat them. If they are not frantic and doing it almost with intention selecting a few…

Urinary Incontinence – Help with ‘puddle problems’

21 March, 2018

Does your dog or cat need help with ‘puddle problems’ Urinary incontinence ? A damp and smelly pet, or a pet who doesn’t quite make it to the litter box or garden can become a frustration, and the constant washing and deodorising can become a burden for the household dealing with the issue. What Is Urinary Incontinence? This “leaky” problem is basically the loss of bladder control in your pet. The severity can range from occasional light leakage and dampness, to the point where they can’t hold on to alleviate themselves in the right spot – outside for dogs or…

Tips on Giving Herbal Remedies to Your Dog or Cat

15 March, 2018

Tips on Giving Herbal Remedies to Your Dog or Cat: We have listed some of our tips on giving herbal remedies or supplements to your dog or cat. The easiest way to give herbs or supplements to your pets is by mixing them into your dog or cats food. However, some cats or fussy dogs can smell anything added to their food and will refuse to eat it. So if you need to administer remedies regularly, this can become very distressing for both the animal and yourself. Once they see you with the bottle, they run a mile and hide!…

Homeopathic stress relief for animals

10 February, 2017

Your animal’s behaviour is the best indicator if they are suffering from anxiety and stress. They tell us a lot by their actions, their physiological responses, and sometimes by the “evidence” they’ve left while you’ve been at work. Some dogs howl all day long when left home alone. Dogs or cats that feel threatened may show aggressive behaviour towards other animals as a way of protecting themselves. Loud noises from fireworks, storms and thunder may cause some pets to become totally panic stricken. Some animals will destroy furniture, scratch up the place or relieve themselves when experiencing extreme anxiety. Panting,…

Raw Feeding Dogs & Cats – A Vet’s Perspective

28 July, 2016

Raw Feeding Dogs & Cats has been a much debated topic due to the potential risks of food poisoning, salmonella infection and the dangers of feeding bones to dogs. So it may be of interest to note that much of this information (or mis-information) relates back to the very nature of the gastric environment of the dog and cat, which in turn, is directly related to diet. Gastric Acidity, Digesting Bones, Gut Transit Time and Salmonella The gastric acidity (gastric pH) of the stomach of a dog or cat eating a diet predominantly made up of raw meat is very…

Chocolate and Dogs

24 March, 2016

Chocolate and dogs don’t mix. Most people are aware that chocolate is toxic to dogs. Here’s everything you need to know if your dog ingests chocolate by accident and when to call the vet. Why is chocolate poisonous to dogs? The culprit is a compound called theobromine, which is absorbed in the bloodstream and causes cardiac, kidney and neurological dysfunction in dogs. Chocolate consumption symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting and hyperactivity will reveal themselves between 4 and 24 hours. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning: Did you know? Due to the concentration of Theobromine in dark chocolate, toxicity is up to four…

Gluten Intolerance in Dogs

20 October, 2015

Gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity in dogs is a well-recognized condition in humans. There are shelves full of products designed to help sufferers manage the condition and avoid unpleasant symptoms. But did you know some dogs suffer gluten intolerance as well? What causes gluten intolerance? In general the canine digestive system has no issues digesting grains such as wheat, rye, barley and oats but, as with humans, some dogs can’t tolerate gluten. If a dog is gluten intolerant/sensitive their small intestine becomes inflamed when they consume gluten as a result of abnormal protein reactions in the small intestine. This allergic…

The Link Between Behaviour and Nutrition

20 October, 2015

The links between nutrition and animal behaviour have been poorly researched, and still to this day, are quite unclear. It is quite apparent in the human population that what we feed ourselves and particularly our children, will have quite a dramatic impact on behaviour – modern food colourings, preservatives, and flavourings have all been demonstrated to have close links to certain behavioural syndromes like ADD (attention deficit disorder). I personally have seen many dogs respond in an extremely favourable way to the removal of processed dog food from their diet. Whether this is due to the removal of chemical colourings…

Dog Diet – Feeding Naturally

8 September, 2015

Providing dogs with a natural diet consisting of raw, natural food is recommended for optimum health and longevity. For optimum health, we recommend avoiding highly processed pet food including processed rolls, canned or dry kibble with added fillers, salt, preservatives, meat/poultry meal and artificial flavours or colours. RAW MEAT & BONES should make up approximately 85% of the DAILY RATION: VEGETABLES should make up approximately 10% of the DAILY RATION: Avoid starchy (high carb) vegetables for dogs with fungal/yeast issues. Avoid feeding any onions or chives. NON-ESSENTIAL EXTRAS can make up 5% of the DAILY RATION: The following foods are great…

Healthy Fast Food For Your Pets

8 September, 2015

You can provide Healthy Fast Food For Your Pets with little fuss to ensure they stay healthy and happy. We all know the old saying ‘you are what you eat’, and if this is the case, then it is no wonder that our loyal companions are suffering from such a variety of acute and chronic health complaints. Can you imagine living on take away food your whole life? Some animals have never eaten any fresh food, living on processed foods totally. It is certainly possible to do, but you could not expect to be feeling fantastic all the time on this…