Pets Care

This recipe calls for pennyroyal. Believe it or not, Wal-Mart had some lovely pennyroyal plants this year and mine are growing and spreading beautifully. You can also buy dried pennyroyal leaf which would work as well.

Cut a large handful of pennyroyal (leaves and stems) and put them in a pint of water. Boil for 5 minutes. Strain the mixture and mix the liquid with an equal amount of mineral oil (I have used baby oil instead and it worked fine).

Pour it into a spray bottle and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid (I happen to use Dawn but I don’t think it matters). Then shake it up really well and spray it on the animals. Mine are in a field but you can also spray the stalls and the doorways of the barn.

Whenever you use eggs, save shells. Wash shells out right after using the eggs and save them up for about a week or so until you have a “batch” worth processing.

Bake shells at 350F for about 8-10 minutes to remove the mineral oil coating and make them brittle enough to grind. Grind to a fine powder in a food processor, blender or coffee grinder (I use a coffee grinder). Make sure there are no sharp, gritty pieces.

1 tsp. of powder supplies about 1800mg – 2000mg of calcium.

Planning a trip with your precious kitty can be a bit tricky. A yowling cat can make you nervous in heavy traffic.

Instead of a using vet prescribed seditives, give your cat some catnip to calm them down. Keep some loose catnip and catnip in a tied up sock in thier carrier to help sooth them. I refresh the supply every 3 to 4 hours. Cats will be frisky at first and then calm down.

Also, before you travel, sleep with a towel or select a T-shirt you recently wore to place in thier carrier helps to comfort them. Fresh water and a clean litter pan are a must. Never let kitty run loose in the car when you have to stop or open a window.

A cat can escape through a window that is only down three inches! Opening your window to pay a toll fees can be kittys escape route.

Like other holistic health care approaches, we need to try to look at the flea issue differently. It’s not holistic to just switch to an herb from a chemical to attempt to kill all the fleas. We do not just address the symptoms that the fleas cause (itching), but to get to the cause of the allergic reaction that the flea bite stimulates in a vulnerable pet.

Fleas, like all parasites, prey on the weak, sick, and malnourished. An animal infested with fleas is an unhealthy animal and we must ask ourselves why are the fleas bothering the them in the first place, rather than solely focusing on the elimination of the fleas.

Holistic therapy does not begin with shampoos, coat dips, rinses, or sprays; it begins by strengthening the animal and making their home less hospitable to the fleas.

It means getting your pet healthy enough, with a healthy coat and properly functioning immune defenses, so that fleas will cause no allergic reaction in him (itching) and ultimately the fleas will have no interest in him. The real key is a good, nutritional diet.

To a your pet’s nutritional diet, you can add garlic and brewers yeast with Vit B. These exude odors or tastes that discourage fleas. Add a clove of garlic or 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic to your pets meal. Add 1 tablespoon of brewer’s yeast (1/2 Tbls. for small dogs and cats) to your pets daily meals.

Every two days, sprinkle brewer’s yeast on their coats and work it in with your hands. This dose not kill the fleas, it just makes them want to leave, so make sure to let your dog outside and give the house a good vacuum.

Other additions to your pet’s diet that could be burdock root, dandelion, and red clover. These serve as useful dietary adjuncts by helping the body eliminate waste and allowing natural defense systems to work more freely in coping with fleabites.

Nettle may be sprinkled onto your pet’s food to lend nutritive support and a mild antihistamine action that may reduce the severity of an allergic reaction. Giving 1/2 -1 teaspoon of dried herb for each pound of food fed is a good starting dose.

To address fleas by external methods, your pet’s living quarters can be sprinkled with diatomaceous earth (also called DE).

You can look for herbal flea powders that contain garlic as well as various flea deterring herbs such as wormwood and pennyroyal. I make an herbal pillow stuffing for our dog and cats’ beds, which helps discourage fleas (Note: The FDA does not allow the use of the word “repellant” on any natural insect “deterrents.”). You can find the recipe for the pillows below.

If your pet has a real infestation that needs to be taken care of right away, or if some of the nontoxic products you have tried just aren’t working for you, there are some over-the-counter chemical treatments you can safely try. Look for products containing citrus based d-limonene, and herbal insecticide.

If you have a real sevier problem, I recommended Front Line. I do not recommend any other the other products that come in the small plastic vials, they are not all the same and some are down right dangerous. Frontline is a different chemical and the only one I recommenced (and it really works). If you look around on the Internet, you can find this product at a fairly low price (much lower than buying it from a vet).

Herbal Anti-Flea Pillows

Use this Anti-Flea Herb Mix in these various ways:
1) Make/Sew little pillows (8 “X 8″ or so) stuffed with the following mix and place in the animals bed or sleeping area. The little pillow cannot be washed and you will have to replace it every couple of months.

2) If your pet has a cedar stuffed bed (cedar is a great flea deterrent). Stuff the bed with cedar chips and throw this herb mix in with the chips as you fill the bag. Change the entire filling of the bag every couple of months.

Herbal Flea Deterrent Pillow Filling Recipe:

* mix together: 2 cups Pennyroyal*
* 1 cup Rosemary
* 1 cup Feverfew
* 1 cup Southernwood (if you can’t find this, use Wormwood)

* Do not let the animal eat this herbal mix. Pennyroyal should not be consumed. If there is a chance the animal will tear up the pillow, use peppermint instead of Pennyroyal, it will not be quite as effective, but will be safer.

I will begin by stating that you should not attempt herbal healing for your pet unless you have a good understanding of what is ailing your pet. And a good understanding of the healing herbs. Don’t guess…..check with a veterinarian first!

There are now a lot of holistic/natural vets out there – call around and see who you can find. This advice is not meant to replace the diagnosis and advice of a licensed veterinarian. That said, I will share with you the herbal treatments that we use on my ranch. Most are simple, safe, and effective.

Remember first and always that cats and dogs and other small creatures have much shorter digestive systems than us human caretakers. Fresh herbs are not digested as they are in humans. Therefore, the tincture form of an herb will work better for them. An acceptable alternative would be a stronger herbal tea than you would use for yourself. Doses need to be compatible with your pet’s weight – small amounts for small animals, larger amounts for large animals.

When in doubt, consult a holistic or natural healing veterinarian. Administering several doses throughout the day, rather than one big dose once a day will speed the herbs into your pet’s system and boost the immune system much faster. And as with ourselves, no herb should be given to any animal on a continuous basis. Like us, their bodies will begin to build an immunity, and once that happens, that herb becomes useless medicinally.

A good rule of thumb for any herbal remedy for your pet is two weeks on, one week off. That gives the body time to work on its own, and gives you time to determine if the herbal treatment needs to be continued. There are exceptions to this rule, as with all rules, as in herbs that take a while to build up in the body to be effective.

Don’t give herbs you wouldn’t take yourself, internally or externally. Just about any herbal remedy that you use for yourself can be adapted for use for your pet – just remember to use tinctures whenever possible, stronger teas when necessary.

For overall general good health, as with ourselves, you should of course look to diet. There are many natural diets being recommended today for all sorts of pets. Do a little research, or preferably a lot, into the natural dietary needs of your pet. Raw meat added to the diet of a cat or dog, natural carnivores, can often clear up a lot of mysterious ailments, as can the addition of fruits and vegetables. If you feed a commercial diet, feed the best you can afford, and add to it when you can. For pet birds, there is a lot of debate about diets these days – seed vs. pellets.

Neither is a complete diet in itself. Fresh fruits and vegetables are necessary for the overall good health and nutrition of a pet bird. For many finch species, live food in the form of various insects is a requirement. This is where your research into proper diet for each animal is so important. Years of healthy life can be added to your pet when diet is properly looked after!

When you are changing your pet’s diet, do so gradually. Add one new item at a time, and space out those additions. That way if there is a negative reaction, you can quickly pinpoint the culprit. Not every food agrees with every animal.

Sunlight is also necessary for the health of your pet. Sunlight helps the body convert the nutrients in the foods you feed into the necessities for their systems. In place of sunlight, use full-spectrum lighting, like Vita-Lites, or an equivalent. These are ideal for your indoor pets, such as birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Here are some herbal remedies for those common problems:

Eyes:
A strong tea of eyebright, used as a wash, is perfect for irritated eyes on all pets. Also administer orally to boost the internal mechanisms to fight infection from the inside. Alternatively, you can make a saline solution. Dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt in 1/2 cup boiling water. Add 1 drop of goldenseal extract to 1 tablespoon of the saline solution, once cooled, when you are going to use it….it shrinks swollen tissues and disinfects.

Itching:
The common cause of itching is due to fleas and flea bites – some animals are actually allergic to the flea bites, compounding the problem. Brewer’s yeast is often recommended, 1 teaspoon or tablet per day, as a deterrent. A word of caution here – some animals are allergic to the brewer’s yeast, or react to it with dry patches of skin that itch just as bad as the fleas do. If you use brewer’s yeast, keep an eye out for these sorts of skin problems to develop, and discontinue the brewer’s yeast if necessary as soon as one of these symptoms appear.

A good remedy for those dry itchy skin patches is tea tree oil, rubbed over the patch. The bitter taste will discourage the animal from digging at his skin, and the oil works well to heal the dryness. Do not use it near the eyes or genitals, however. Aloe is also good for those dry patches. Another method is to put a slice of raw cucumber over the “hot” spot, holding it there for a few minutes, and then rub aloe or tea tree oil over the area.

The shampoo you use, or the flea collar you use, may actually be causing the itching. Bathe the animal in an all natural shampoo, preferably something that has aloe in it, and find an alternative to that flea collar!! Would you wear chemicals around your neck? Neither should they!

You can make an herbal dip for your pet as follows: 2 cups packed fresh peppermint, pennyroyal, or rosemary; 1 quart boiling water; 4 quarts warm water – - Prepare an infusion by pouring the boiling water over the herbs and allow it to steep for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid and dilute it with the warm water. Saturate the animal’s coat thoroughly with the solution, allowing it to air dry. Use at the first sign of flea activity. This remedy will need to be repeated everthree to four days, but it is totally safe.

If the itching persists, and fleas or poor diet are not the culprit, use a mixture of Licorice Root, Dandelion Root, and Cat’s Claw in equal drops of each tincture for two weeks. The licorice is a natural cortisone, and will help to jumpstart the immune system.

To get rid of fleas in your carpet, after removing pets from the room, sprinkle Borax over the carpet and rub it in. Wait a while, then vacuum as usual. This is a safe, non-chemical method of flea control. Reapply the Borax once a week until the problem is gone.

Cuts:
Fresh aloe is an excellent application for those strange cuts and scrapes we can never figure out how our pet got. It is a natural antiseptic, and will keep the area moist until the cut can heal. Another good product is Bag Balm, available at feed stores everywhere. It keeps the skin moist and pliable, so that the skin can repair itself, and new hair can grow back. It prevents scarring when the area can be kept moist, but not wet.

(Hint: Bag Balm, when rubbed into your cuticles, can also help you grow strong fingernails! It is also excellent for those very chapped lips we get in the wintertime). Alternatively, you can clean the wound with a wash of goldenseal, and apply aloe or other herbal treatments that are your favorites.

Abscesses:
First you must lance the abscess. I mix a betadine solution with water until it looks like tea, and then fill an eyedropper with the solution and squirt it into the hole. Do this several times per day, at least three. The important thing is to clip the fur away from the abscess and don’t cover it with any bandage, or it can’t drain properly. It has to heal from the inside out. If it is extremely deep, you may need a vet to put a drain in it.

I also begin to administer antibiotic herbs orally, to help fight any infection that may occur. Another course of action is to use chamomile in the wound to prevent infection. I have had a lot of success with these methods, which my vet recommends. However, I also know that if it doesn’t begin to clear up within a week, I need professional help to combat the infection.

Motion Sickness:
Does your pet get carsick when you take him for trips? Try giving a few drops of ginger root extract prior to the trip to settle his tummy. If it is a long trip, you may want to administer the ginger again halfway through the trip.

Flatulence:
Does your pet clear the room without barking? Two courses of action can be taken to give relief on that front (or should I say “behind”?!). One is to give a tablespoon of plain yogurt mixed into their food once per day. Another method is to give a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar on the food daily. Try one method, and give it time. If it doesn’t work, then try the other. If the problem persists, look into his diet.

Infections:
Give a tincture of equal drops of echinacea and goldenseal. If the illness persists after two weeks, try a combination of different herbal antibiotics after careful diagnosis by your vet. If the animal recovers quickly, continue giving the herbs for a few days after, to aid in healing completely.

I generally give a capsule of garlic oil in the food once per week. It helps keep the biting insect critters away, and helps keep the immune system healthy.

Dehydration:
When a pet is dehydrated, due to illness or injury, you can give them Pedialyte, available in the baby food section of any grocery store. Alternatively, you can substitute Gatorade. However, the sugar content in Gatorade is rather high, which is not good for long term use with our pets. If using it, cut it in half with plain water. There are also powdered electrolyte solutions available in most feed stores that work just as well, and are less expensive. Electrolyte solutions given in place of water for the first 24 hours will also help new pets that were shipped to deal with the stress of shipping. This is especially important with reptiles, amphibians, and birds of all types.

Ulcers:
If your pet is suffering from ulcers, give him two drops each of Calendula, Comfrey, Knotgrass, and Nettle twice per day. Couple this with a bland, easy to digest diet until the ulcer has healed.

Anxiety, Stress:
When your pet suffers from stress or anxiety, try a combination of the extracts of Oats, Valerian, and Chamomile. Rub a little lavendar oil near the animal’s muzzle, or place some on a cotton pad in the pet’s bed or in his sleeping area. And remember that if you are stressed, the animal will be too, so sniff a little of that calming lavendar for yourself as well.

Orphans:
To raise an orphan, first find some goat milk – the fresher the better – to use as the replacement for mother’s milk. Goat milk is high in butterfat content, and is infinitely better to use than those powdered replacements found in stores, and miles ahead of cow’s milk. This applies for human babies, as well. Many a colicky baby has had their stomach soothed with goat milk…..and goat milk is usually easily used by those considered lactose-intolerant.

Goat milk can be found in your health food store, and often in your grocery store, but the very best source is of course directly from the goat. Find a dairy goat farmer in your area. The prices will be better, too! We have raised everything from puppies and kittens to colts and calves on goat’s milk, and have observed or experienced none of the weight-gain problems or vitamin deficiency or immune deficiencies that occur often when using substitutes. Remember to feed the milk warmed. For puppies and kittens, it is often helpful to rub the face and anal area with a warm swab, to stimulate their system, much as the mother does after the baby feeds from her. Once per day, add a little spirulina (powdered) to the milk. It boosts the immune system, so needed in orphaned babies, and provides many necessary vitamins and nutrients.

Pregnancy:
Raspberry leaf administered daily throughout a pet’s pregnancy (mammals) will help tone the uterus and aid in the healing of the uterus after birth, as well as help to stimulate milk production in the mammaries.

Hepatitis:
Milk thistle and turmeric is the preferred treatment for this disease, and most liver ailments, in most pets.

Diarrhea, vomiting:
Powdered slippery elm bark is useful for treating diarrhea, vomiting, and sensitive stomachs for pets.

Shiny Coats:
One teaspoon (less for very small animals, such as ferrets) of cod liver oil dribbled over the pet’s food once or twice per week will give a thick, shiny coat, as well as provide many nutrients needed by your pet’s body.

Bee Pollen:
1/4 teaspoon for every 15 pounds of animal, given two to three times weekly, helps to slow the aging process. It will also restore hormone balances, regulate the digestive tract, and calm the symptoms of common allergies. Give bee pollen daily during times of stress, illness, or disease to give a boost to the body.

Vitamin C:
Giving 1000 mg to 2000 mg per day for three months to puppies from large breeds can help prevent hip dysplacia. Give 500 mg to 1000 mg daily to ease arthritis in dogs and cats. 500 mg each day can prevent urinary tract symptoms and problems for cats.

A WORD OF CAUTION:
Do not give white willow to cats or kittens. Many felines are allergic to salycin, the active ingredient in both white willow and the drug that is derived from it, aspirin. Substitute meadowsweet as a pain reliever instead.

1 cup of spring water,
1 rounded teaspoon of yellow dock (dried)

Steep 15 minutes and then strain thru a sieve. Cool to lukewarm and wash out cats ears once every three days for up to three to four weeks.

Mix the following:

1/2 tsp vodka or gin
4 drops garlic oil (or 4 garlic capsules, broken)
1 drop cedarwood
1 drop citronella
1 drop thyme

Saturate a soft cloth type collar with the above mixture and allow to dry completely before putting it on your pet.

1 ounce each alfalfa; marshmallow root; comfrey; mullein leaves; dandelion root; nettles; parsley
2 ounces each: burdock root or seed; chamomile; horsetail; oatstraw; red clover; rose hips; rosemary; slippery elm bark; thyme
1/4 ounce each catnip; fennel seeds; garlic powder
1 dash cayenne pepper

If using cut and sifted herbs, blenderize to a coarse powder. Mix with already-powdered herbs, and store in a dark jar in refrigerator or cool place.

To use for cats: give 1 to 3 teaspoons per day.

To use for dogs: give 1 tablespoon to 1 cup per day, depending on the size of the dog.

Mix herb powder with food or sprinkle it on top. This is only a mineral and preventive medicinal supplement. For pregnant or nursing pets, add to the above:

1/2 ounce each: chickweed; comfrey; milk thistle; raspberry leaf

The Comfrey is in addition to the amount used in the basic recipe.

Gourmet dog treats

Recipe:
500 g liver
1 1/2 cups full grain wheat flour
1 cup corn flour
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon leaven

First, shred the liver in a blender. Add remaining ingredients and mix again. Scratch the dough surface, to break the treats off later more easily. Bake 25 minutes with 200 C. After cooling you can freeze the dog treats.

Narural dog treats

Recipe:
1 spoon butter
1 spoon full grain flour
2 eggs
2 spoon chopped parsley or dandelion sheets
Full grain oats

Mix butter, flour, eggs, and herbs, then add as many oats as necessary to get a mushy dough. Make small flat portions and bake 15 minutes with 180 C. Then turn the dog treats and leave them in the oven until they are dry.

Garlic dog treats

Recipe:
2 cups wheat flour
2 cups full grain flour
1 cup oats
1 cup buttermilk (or yogurt)
3 teaspoon wheat germs
3 chopped garlic cloves
3 tablespoon chopped cheese
2 eggs
1 cup warm water

First, mix the flour, oats, buttermilk, wheat germs, garlic, and cheese. Then add eggs and water. Press it flat and make small portions. Preheat the oven; bake the dog treats approx. 50-60 minutes with 180 C.

Corn dog treats

Recipe:
650g minced meat
300g chopped carrots
150g cornstarch
150g – 200g corn flour
5 chopped garlic cloves
2 eggs
1 tablespoon wheat germ oil

Mix the ingredients and put over night into the refrigerator. Next day press the dough 1,5 cm thick and cut into small shapes. Bake the treats with 250 C, until the dog treats are gold brown. Switch down to 75 C, wedge a wood spoon into the baking-oven door, and bake the dog treats another 6 hours.

Dog treats with cottage cheese

Recipe:
150g cottage cheese
6 spoon milk
6 spoon flaxseed oil
1 egg yolk
200 g grated oats

Mix all ingredients and form small balls. Bake the treats approx. 30 minutes with 200 C until the dog treats are crunchy. As variation, add cheese, liver, bacon, or ham.

Dog treats with honey

Recipe:
150g wheat full grain flour
200g full grain oats
1 spoon honey
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
2 eggs
150ml milk
1 teaspoon herbs

Mix the ingredients, and form round shapes. Bake in the pre-heated oven about 10- 15 minutes with 220 C. Leave the dog treats further 5-10 minutes with 120 C in the oven.

Herbal dog treats

Recipe:
7 cups wheat full grain flour
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup grated cashew nuts
1 teaspoon leaven
1 spoon salt
3 chopped garlic gloves
1 spoon mixed fresh herbs

Mix the ingredients, than add 3 cups of water. Roll the dough and cut slices, about 5mm thick. Bake the treats for 10-15 minutes with 180 C. Leave the dog treats for 10 hours in the oven. This makes the dog treats crunchy.

Carrot dog treats

Recipe:
770g wheat flour
225g oats
1 teaspoon leaven
1 spoon chopped garlic gloves
1 spoon chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 grated carrots
50 ml wheat germ oil

Mix the dry ingredients. Add the oil and 3 cups of water. Roll the dough and form small shapes. Bake the treats 10-15 minutes with 180 C. Switch down to 70 C, and bake the dog treats another 4 hours.

* 2 cups Rolled Oats
* 3 cups Whole Wheat Flour
* 2 cups Corn Masa Harina Flour (corn flour)- Masa Harina is a fortified, fine ground corn flour that has been partially precooked in lime water (which makes it easier to digest). It is usually used for making tortillas and tamales and can be found in the ethnic (Mexican) section of most grocery stores. If you cannot find it, you can substitute regular corn meal.
* 1/2 cup Canola Oil
* 1/2 cup Peanut Butter
* 2 cups water
* 1/2 tsp. salt
* 1 – 2 tsp. garlic powder (optional- Mable liked 2 tsp.)
* 2 tsp. kelp (optional)

Preheat oven to 300 F.

In a heavy duty electric mixer, mix dry ingredients. Add peanut butter & water . Mix well to form a dough (add more water or flour if necessary to make a handlable dough). Knead briefly on a lightly floured surface until smooth.

Roll out to 3/4″ thick while shaping into a rectangle. Cut into “bone” sized biscuits, approximately 1 1/2″ X 3 1/2″ (or whatever size you like- it’s not rocket science) . You could also use a cookie cutter to make fun shaped biscuits if you desired. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 2 hours, then turn off the oven and let the biscuits sit for several hours until the oven is completely cool in order to dry and harden. Can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several months.