One of the most common diseases in cats, especially seniors, is feline kidney disease. Medically known as chronic renal failure (CRF), there is no cure for cats suffering from this disease. However, cats can survive for several years if the disease is caught and treated early.
Making your own natural pet food and treats is worth the effort, but I’m always looking for ways to make the process easier. A time-consuming aspect of the homemade pet diet is measuring out individual supplements. While some require precise doses, most of the food-based supplements do not. This makes them perfect for mixing up…
Supplements derived from whole foods offer benefits that synthetic supplements do not. Synthetic vitamins and minerals are fractions. They’re one part of a group of compounds that make up a whole nutrient. These compounds may influence each other or work together in ways we don’t yet understand. Nutrients derived from fresh, whole foods offer a…
This is a time of year when fresh, organic vegetables are plentiful and often on sale. There is an abundance of green, leafy vegetables at our disposal and their benefits to dogs and horses are many. They’re packed with nutrients, including Vitamins A, C and K, iron, folic acid, manganese, magnesium, calcium, glucosinolates and phytochemicals.
The beneficial gastrointestinal tract microorganisms referred to as probiotics offer health benefits outside the realm of nutrition. The benefits of probiotics for pets are becoming well known for a variety of conditions and holistic wellness, including immunity, digestion and the treatment of digestive upset, vitamin synthesis, allergy prevention, parasite control, inhibiting harmful bacteria, and supporting…
Ionic solutions called electrolytes are essential for nerve and muscle function, and to maintain fluid and acid-base balance. Electrolytes can conduct electrical impulses when dissolved in body fluids. The electrolytes sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride, calcium, and phosphates are at risk of depletion when animals and humans are dehydrated.
Robert Monk is here to tell us why horses need salt and how to make sure they get enough. If you’re looking for a natural source of sodium, consider supplementing your horse’s diet with wondrous seaweed.
We received the following e-mail from Josette Amirault in Quebec, Canada. She has graciously agreed to allow us to publish her question and our answer here. Since Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient in natural pet nutrition, we have provided additional information about its role, natural sources and symptoms of deficiency.
Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) is caused by a highly contagious organism in the Morbillivirus genus, Paramyxoviridae family. It can infect a broad range of animals, including ferrets and aquatic carnivores. While cats do not show clinical symptoms of Canine Distemper virus, they can sustain the virus when experimentally infected (suggesting they could be carriers). Symptoms…
Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s Disease, Cushing’s Syndrome) is a condition resulting in excess production of adrenal gland hormones, usually glucocorticoids. It can cause a wide array of symptoms and secondary conditions.
