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Today is World Homeopathy Day. So let us look at a approach towards dog care.

Homeopathy is a gentle, effective and holistic treatment that has proved beneficial in treating many ailments in dogs including skin problems, allergies, and digestive irregularities.

Alternative medicine, especially homeopathy, has a distinct advantage over orthodox medicine because of the small doses in which it is administered and a minimised probability of side effects.

When homeopathy complements traditional medicine, it enhances the efficacy of the treatment, or prevents the onset of an illness and almost always reduces adverse reactions.

Dog food and dog care products now have homeopathic components, that enhance their quality and goodness.There are five important homeopathy components that are administered to dogs. They are

1. St. John’s Wort oil
2. slippery elm
3. comfrey
4. kelp
5. tea tree oil

ST. JOHN’S WORT OIL

St. John’s Wort (Hyperatum perforatum), a dried herb is used extensively in pet medication for a wide range of problems. For dogs, the oil is used to treat neural disorders and viral infections. The oil is also known to have antibacterial and astringent properties.

SLIPPERY ELM

Slippery elm is a native plant of North America ( Ulmus rubra). Pets with a weak digestion, upset stomach or constipation are given an edible form of the bark extract of this tree.

COMFREY

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is also known as comphrey. It has a turnip like root, hairy leaves and flowers of purple, pink, white or cream colors. Comfrey has versatile curing properties and is extensively used in alternative medicine for treatment and/or prevention of many disorders. It is a very rich source of Vitamin B12.

For dogs, comfrey is given as a restorative medication after hip dysplasia. This is so because the herb extract is believed to help grow a healthy bone tissue, and to heal bone fractures. It also minimises the scars after treatment. The herb is used in medication to treat rickets, arthritis and rheumatism in dogs.

KELP

Kelp (Laminania Digitata) is actually an algae. It is a sea weed found in shallow water parts of oceans, growing in water that is cooler than 38 degrees F and is rich in nutritious material. Kelp is used to treat and maintain the dog’s coat, keeping it shining healthily.

It is also useful for maintaining a supple skin, and helps treat glandular and pigmentation problems. The weed is known to help strengthen the immune system.

TEA TREE OIL

Tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia) is made by steam distilling of melaleuca leaves. Earlier these leaves were used instead of tea leaves to brew the drink, hence the name. The oil contains a component called terpenoid that is anti bacterial, anti microbial and also has antiseptic properties.

Tea tree oil helps treat many disorders like gum problems, bad breath, dermatitis, ringworm, rashes, mange, and fleas. However, only dilute solutions of the compound are used for dogs. Take care to see that the oil does not come in contact with the dog’s eyes.

Please remember that all the above should be administered only after you have sought the vet’s advice.

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Importance of Regular Home Dog Ear Care

Routine home dog ear care is very important to the health of your dog. Performed between your regular checkups with the veterinarian, it will help keep your dog’s ears healthy and pain free. If you see signs of trouble you may be able to head them off before they require an extra visit to the vet. Excessive wax, foul odor, redness, constant scratching, excessive matting of hair in the external ear, rubbing the ears against other objects, head shaking, and disorientation can all be signs of ear problems.

Inspect Your Dog’s Ears Regularly By Using Your Eyes & Your Nose!

By performing a home dog ear care inspection; you will be able to detect problems early. Use both your eyes and your nose. If you need help seeing inside your dog’s ears you may want to invest in a pet scope. A tool very similar to the kind your doctor uses to check your ears. Check for redness, excessive wax build up or any other foreign matter.

Sniffing your dog’s ears is another way to detect problems early. Normally a dog’s ears shouldn’t smell foul in any way. If you see a dark waxy discharge this may be a sign of ear mites. On the other hand, if you see a pus-like discharge along with a foul smell this may be a sign of a bacterial infection. Allergies are also known to cause some dogs to have smelly ears. If you’re new to this and are unsure have the vet check your dog’s ears. Right after the vet gives your dog a clean bill of health make sure you inspect your dog’s ears. This way you will learn how your pet’s ears should normally look and smell.

Is Your Breed of Dog More Susceptible To Dog Ear Care Problems?

Due to the warm, damp, and dark environment, as well as poor air circulation, your dog’s ear canal can be the prefect breeding ground for mites, yeast or bacterial infection. This is why, for certain breeds, home dog ear care is even more important. Some pets may require routine applications of dog ear care products to keep their ears free of mites, yeast or bacterial infections.

Some dog’s ears stand straight up which allows for more air to flow into the ear canal. Dogs with floppy ears, like spaniels and bloodhounds, are very prone to ear infections because very little air flows into their ear canals. There are also breeds, like the Lhasa, that have a heavy growth of hair inside their ears. This hair must be routinely removed as a prevention against chronic ear problems.

If Excess Ear Hair Is A Dog Ear Care Problem Learn How To Remove It

If you suspect that excess ear hair is a problem, you may need to pluck the hair that grows inside your dog’s ears. This is a routine dog ear care task that can be performed at home and is much easier then it sounds. You will want to apply dog ear powder to the inside of both ears. Make sure that the hair is completely covered, especially at the base. Once the powder has dried start plucking a few hairs at a time with your fingers or a tweezers. Plucking just a few hairs at a time will be less irritating for the dog.

You may want to stop a few times to give your dog’s ears a good rub. Make sure you give your dog lots of praise and a few dog treats too. Once all the inside hair has been removed, follow up by cleaning and inspecting the ears. If you are unsure about this dog ear care procedure, have your vet or a professional groomer show you how to do it.

Things You Should Know About Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears

Some vets recommend that owners routinely flush their dog’s ears with warm water at the slightest hint of odor. Other home dog ear care cleaning remedies include mineral oil, hydrogen peroxide, or a combination of equal parts of vinegar and rubbing alcohol. If your dog has open sores it’s best not to use the vinegar and alcohol because it will cause a burning sensation.

If your dog is prone to ear infections you may want to use a pet ear care product that is specifically formulated to clean and dry up excess moisture in the ear canal. A dog ear wash containing Tea Tree Oil, which is also formulated to dry the ear canal is an excellent choice. Tea Tree Oil’s natural antiseptic, antibacterial and fungicidal properties can help keep your dog’s ears problem free.

It’s also a good idea to use a pet ear-drying agent after bathing or swimming especially if your dog’s ears retain moisture and don’t dry promptly. There are many good pet ear care products available for routine ear cleaning that will dissolve wax, remove foreign debris and dry the ear canal. There are also home dog care treatments available that will kill pesky ear mites and ear ticks.

A dog’s ear canal is L-shaped. It descends vertically and it makes a 90-degree horizontal turn before it reaches the eardrum. Even though your dog’s eardrum is better protected than a human’s, you should still proceed with caution when cleaning the ear canal. Many vets urge caution when inserting anything into the ear canal, especially cotton-tipped swabs. They can actually push dirt and foreign matter deeper into the ear if not handled properly. You can even lose the cotton tip in the ear canal.

Start cleaning the external part of the ear by swabbing inside the earflaps and all around the gnarled area at the entrance of the ear canal. If you choose to use a cotton-tipped swab you will need a long type since a dog’s ear canal is much deeper than ours. If your dog will tolerate it, gently and carefully swab the inside of the ear canal. A much safer method is to fill the ear canal with a pet ear cleaning solution and gently massage the outer ear. After a few minutes allow your dog to shake his head to help clear the ear canal. If you’re using a commercial pet ear care product be sure to follow the instructions carefully.

Make Ear Inspections An Important Part Of Your Home Dog Ear Care Routine

Checking your dog’s ears only takes a few minutes so make it a part of your dog grooming routine. And when your dog’s ears need a cleaning don’t put it off. Remember regular cleanings can prevent many common ear problems. If you think a problem may be developing that is beyond the scope of your home dog ear care routine, take your dog to the vet for a check up immediately. An infection, if left untreated, can be very painful for your dog and could even damage your dog’s hearing.
About the Author

Article courtesy of: Dog-Supplies-Advisor.com a website dedicated to providing dog care advice on a broad range of dog-related topics. Includes informative articles, frequently asked questions, recommendations, and Free Ezine.

Copyright 2004 Dog-Supplies-Advisor.com, all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

Written by: Teresa James, Dog-Supplies-Advisor.com