Over recent years there has been rising public concern about the amount of chemicals and toxic substances present in our daily surroundings. There are ever present amounts of chemicals in our houses, food and clothing and virtually everything in our surrounding environment. Recent studies have shown that preservatives, flavor enhancers and artificial colors may be the reason behind many illnesses, allergies and behavioral changes and health conscious people have started to turn to organic products in an effort to avoid harmful substances. This trend has also influenced pet owners who are concerned about the health of their pets.
Keeping Your Dog Naturally Clean
Most dogs don’t enjoy having a bath, and who can blame them – being drenching in strong smelling shampoo that is full of chemicals isn’t a particularly pleasant experience, especially if you have a keen sense of smell like dogs do. The good news is that there are safe alternatives that you can use to keep your dog clean. Many toxin free products contain aloe, jojoba oils and citrus that can thoroughly clean and deodorize your dog without irritating his skin and coat. If your dog suffers from hot spots or dry, flaky skin you can use some apple cider vinegar as a soothing antibacterial rinse. One part apple cider vinegar to one part water will clean, deodorize and give your dog’s coat a healthy sheen.
Dealing With External Parasites Safely
Tick and flea infestations are not only troublesome to dogs and their owners, they also spread nasty disease. They can cause worms, skin infections, ear infections and a myriad of health problems and this makes it crucial that you keep your dog free of these unpleasant parasites. Spot on flea treatments have been very popular due to their ease of use and effectiveness but the EPA has been stressing that caution should be exercised with these products as they can be carcinogenic and cases of allergic reactions in pets have been reported. These products can also cause neurological damage and even death in some animals. You can use a fine toothed flea comb to keep your pet free of fleas and this is a safe and cost effective alternative. You will have to do this on a daily basis though. Try to choose an organic dog shampoo that contains lavender or citronella as these ingredients will control flea infestations. When bathing your pet with this type of shampoo, be sure to lather the dog well and leave the shampoo on for about 5 minutes to make sure you’ve killed all the fleas.
Dental Care and Your Dog’s Health
Some people don’t know how important dental care is for dogs, and although dogs don’t get cavities as frequently as we do, they are especially prone to gum disease. Gum disease can cause bad mouth odor and tooth loss, it is also very painful for the dog. Infected gums allow bacteria to enter the system which can cause organ failure and even death. Herbs and natural gels and pastes provide a safe and effective way to reduce tartar and plaque buildup in your dog’s teeth and there are pastes that contain peppermint, neem oils and grapefruit seed extract that can greatly reduce the risk of infection and keep your dog’s mouth smelling clean. Enzymatic toothpastes specially formulated for dogs can be easily found in most pet shops.
The Internet is full of information about how to naturally keep your dog healthy and clean and your veterinarian should also be able to provide you with natural ways to keep your dog healthy.
