Six Essential Needs of Every Canine

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This post was written by: Gailstrail

My good friend recently said her canine companion had a coughing and breathing problem. She asked if I could do some research to help find relief. We believe it is an allergy problem and her veterinarian has not been able to diagnose what is causing the problem. Veterinarians do not always think to look at nutrition as a possible treatment for illness.

Information Overload

I immediately went to the web and did a search for ‘holistic canine health care’. I came up with about 100 sites and immediately felt overwhelmed and decided to approach this in a more simplistic way.

If it is an allergy problem, the first thing that comes to my mind; what is she eating and how long has she been eating what she’s eating? Is corn, wheat, rice, other fillers and animal- bi-products in the food? Corn, wheat, rice, other fillers and animal-bi-products are commonly used in pet food. They are difficult to digest and can create allergic reactions and other health problems. The reality is that most commercial based pet food contains this stuff; the worst is animal-by-products, which are the parts that are cut away from deceased, dying and dead animals.

The ‘Natural’ in Dog Food does Not mean ‘Healthy’ Dog Food

Just because a food says ‘Natural’ does not mean the food is healthy and good for your dog. Most ‘Natural’ food contains corn, wheat, rice, other fillers and animal-bi-products. You need to read the label; if it has wheat, corn, rice and animal bi-products, look elsewhere. You may think a quality food is too expensive; however, when your dog is getting good nutrition that he/she needs, he/she will eat less = less money, less poop, fewer health problems and fewer visits to the veterinary.

A Simple First Step 

Addressing the ‘food’ issue is the first step I would recommend if your dog or cat is experiencing a health issue. Not to say you should not seek treatment from a veterinary; but also look to what you can do on the home front. A simple first step is changing to a more healthful food. Food and nutrition is the building block to good health and achieving a more holistic cure.

After a period of time, maybe 90 days, if the diet has not made a difference in the condition, I would be surprised if it doesn’t, I would also give homeopathy, flower essence or essential oils a try. I have had great success with essential oils on my canine and feline with fleas and itching.

Six Essential Needs of Every Canine:

1. Nutrition; human grade food
2. Water; filtered or spring water is best, however, please, please, check your pets water dish daily and make sure they have clean fresh water and a CLEAN water dish.
3. Daily Exercise; the length of time for exercise depends on breed; walking, hiking, running and games to keep them from becoming bored is essential.
4. Grooming; all canines love to be clean, brushed and combed. After you have brushed your friend; if you can’t bath them, use a warm and wet cloth to rub them down. Have a bucket filled with warm water and just a small (about a teaspoon) amount of shampoo and a clean cotton cloth. After you have rubbed her/him down. Fill the bucket with clean warm water and several drops of lemon or lavender essential oils. Rub him/her down again. She/he will love it and you will love having him/her near you!
5. Affection; keeping your furry friend clean makes it possible to love on them more. Who wants to love on a stinky girl or boy? I rub and hug Pieper more than she probably wants… and tell her I love her at least once a day.
6. Training; I use ‘The Tao of Bow Wow’, by: Deborah Wood, as my philosophy on training; “kind, gentle principles of Taoism to forge a relationship with your dog that is loving, profound, and joyful. No force, no violence, no unnatural behavioral techniques—just the extraordinarily effective way of Tao”.

Integrating the Tao Into Your Lives

What is the Tao? Defining the ‘Tao’ with words is like trying to define ‘Heaven’. This is why I keep reading and re-reading ‘The Tao of Bow Wow’: Understanding the nature of the life force that binds all of us together is imperative if we are to live lives that are happy and healthy. Bringing the Tao method of training into the life of my canine companion is enriching our lives together.

The Tao is an important thread that connects the ‘natural order’ of life and can help in unlocking the secrets of how to maximize our health and gain a greater appreciation and respect for nature.

Happy Trails!