NATURAL PET CARE BLOG

When it comes to our beloved pet companions, their health and well-being are of utmost importance. As responsible pet parents, we want to make informed decisions about their healthcare, including the prescribed medications. One commonly used drug for treating various gastrointestinal issues in dogs is metronidazole. In this article, we'll dive deeper into metronidazole, its uses, potential side effects, and natural alternatives that might be safer for your dogs and cats.

Understanding Metronidazole:

Metronidazole, commonly known as Flagyl, is an antibiotic that is often prescribed to dogs to treat conditions like diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and certain bacterial infections. While it can provide relief from these issues, it's essential to be aware of its potential side effects and consider safer alternatives to ensure your dog and cat's long-term health.

The Effectiveness of Metronidazole:

Metronidazole works by targeting anaerobic bacteria and parasites, making i...

Did you know that there are numerous natural supplements for senior dogs to help them slow down the aging process?

Watching your pet slow down as they age is frustrating and can be overwhelming.  You want the best for them and to keep them feeling healthy and happy for as long as possible.

There are many areas that can be affected as your dog ages, from their cognitive function to pain and inflammation in their joints.

Fortunately, there are a lot of natural senior dog supplements and vitamins you can use to help your furry friend feel their best as they get older.  Keep reading to learn about some of the best supplements for your senior dogs.

When does your dog become a “senior”?

Let’s start with how to know if your dog is actually a senior.  

This will depend on their body size because smaller dogs tend to have longer lifespans than larger dogs.

But typically a large breed dog is a senior at 7 years of age, a medium-sized dog is a senior at around 8-10 years, and your sm...

Cats with urinary tract infections are no fun and can even turn into an emergency.  However, there are many natural home remedies for cat UTIs (urinary tract infections) that you can use to prevent and even help treat your cat’s urine problems.

What is a cat urinary tract infection?

A urinary tract infection can affect any part of the cat’s urinary system.

This can include the bladder, the urethra (where urine comes out of the body), or even the kidneys.

An important fact to know about cat UTIs is that it’s not always a bacterial infection.  Your cat may have inflammation in their bladder without an infection which is called cat cystitis or sterile urinary tract inflammation.

How does a cat get a urinary tract infection (bladder infection)?

There are a variety of conditions that cats can get that affect the urinary tract that is labeled a feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).

A bacterial UTI occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract, usually by ascending up the ure...

Dog leg sprain and strains are some of the most common dog injuries.

From soft tissue injuries, like dog leg sprains, to torn ligaments in your dog's knee, these types of injuries can be expensive, frustrating, and hard to watch your dog be in pain.

However, there are ways to avoid these common dog leg sprains, strains, and injuries using natural remedies to treat them if they happen to your dog.

How does a dog leg strain or sprain happen? 

Strains and sprains can happen commonly when your dog overworks itself.

Think about your own self getting out of winter without much activity and you try to run a marathon for the first time without working up to it.

These dog leg strains and sprains come from our dog’s not being ready and can affect the muscles or the ligaments or traumatic injuries.  For example, one of the most common injuries is a torn cruciate knee ligament which is like an ACL tear in people.

These types of injuries are painful and can lead to surgeries that are thou...

If your pet has diarrhea right now, this Emergency Diarrhea Guide for Dogs & Cats walks you through exactly what to do in the first 24–48 hours—including safe foods and natural remedies—so you can support healing without panic or guesswork.  

As pet owners, diarrhea is one of the most common health concerns we may face with our furry friends. While it is not unusual for dogs and cats to have an occasional loose stool, bloody diarrhea can be alarming and may indicate a more serious health problem. Fortunately, several natural home remedies can help treat this condition and improve your pet's overall health.

Causes of Bloody Diarrhea in Dogs and Cats

There are many reasons why dogs and cats may develop bloody diarrhea. Some of the most common causes include:

1. Food Changes: Abrupt changes in your pet's diet can cause digestive upset, including diarrhea.
2. Eating Foreign Objects: Dogs and cats may swallow objects such as bones, toys, or even hairballs, which can cause intestinal blo
...

NATURAL HEARTWORM PREVENTION FOR PETS SUMMARY

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can affect dogs and cats. While natural remedies may help manage heartworm infections, prevention is still the best approach to avoiding the disease.

It is important to assess the risk of heartworm disease in the region where you live before considering any treatment options. If heartworm disease is prevalent in your area, it is recommended to seek veterinary advice for the best preventative options, but make sure to watch the video for natural remedies that can also be utilized.

Herbal supplements such as garlic, ginger, and black walnut hulls have been shown to have anti-parasitic properties that may help fight heartworm infections. It is important to note that while these herbs may have some benefits, their effectiveness as a sole preventative method for heartworm disease has not been proven, but can be part of an integrative approach in a high-risk area...

Understanding the Mysterious Canine Respiratory Illness

Recent reports from the Cornell Animal Health Diagnostics Center and other veterinary institutions have highlighted a mysterious canine respiratory illness. This illness, showing symptoms similar to canine influenza and kennel cough, has been observed across various U.S. regions. However, its exact cause remains unknown.

What We Know So Far

Symptoms of this illness include:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Labored breathing
• Nose or eye discharge
• Lethargy
• Decreased appetite

Precautions to Take

• Avoid high-risk areas like kennels, dog parks, and daycare facilities.
• Do not share bowls, toys, or chews between dogs.
• We recommend checking out Trusted Housesitters if you need to travel instead of boarding your dog if possible.

Because the infectious cause of this disease is not known, vaccines will not protect your pet against this, and we do not recommend them.  What we do recommend is protecting your pet's immune system and st...

Essential oils can be safe for your dog’s skin as a natural home remedy for wounds or to soothe your dog’s irritated skin.

It’s going to happen at some point.  Your dog could be running around outside and comes in and you notice blood.

Or maybe you have a dog that’s prone to itchy, red, hotspots.

These are all frustrating problems, and many times the conventional drugs only treat the symptom and not the actual cause of the problem.

But you can use natural remedies, like essential oils, to help resolve these problems to keep vet visits down and reduce the risk of side effects from occurring.

Having a first aid kit at home for when things like this happen is important.

In this short video, I’m going to cover what my top 5 essential oils are to have in your first aid kit and how to safely use them with your pets.

 When should you take your pet to the vet:

Now here’s my disclaimer.

If you’re ever questioning whether you need to go to the ER, just do it.

It’s always better to b...

Dogs can be affected by many different types of lower urinary tract problems. Fortunately, there are many home natural remedies to treat your dog's UTI.

First, it's important to know when your dog may have a UTI and what are dog UTI signs you want to be monitoring for before we start using natural home remedies for an infection.

What are common dog UTI signs and symptoms? 

It can be hard to tell if your dog is in pain, because they may not show any signs at all.  However, if you’re seeing bloody, cloudy or their urine has a strong smell, you dog may have a UTI.

You may also notice straining or crying during urination, accidents in the house, needing to urinate more frequently, increased water consumption, or licking around their back end excessively after urinating, you’ll need to get them checked out by your veterinarian to rule out a UTI.

Also, if you have a dog that's all of a sudden not house-broken, especially puppies, it's important to get them checked out for a bacterial...