As an owner of an elderly dog, we are very interested in keeping him around as long as possible. Right now, he's fit and healthy, and we treasure every day we have with him. But I believe we could have lost him, if it wasn't for a quick change in diet.
If you have an older dog with floppy ears, chances are you've already had experience with an ear infection. Certain breeds, such as Cocker Spaniels, are at high risk for developing this problem, simply because of their body type. Their ear canal is not exposed to air and light, conditions that allow bad organisms to flourish.
Dog ear care is big business. One commonly prescribed drug for infection and inflammation is called Otomax. Made by Merck, it's a combination antibacterial, anti-fungal and steroid cream. It sells for about $30 for a small tube, or about $44 dollars for the larger 30 mg. size. Then there are the vet bills.
It's disheartening to read reports of perfectly healthy dogs being taken to the vet. Then, they are vaccinated. Hours later, they have a serious reaction and die. Although this is unlikely, statistics mean nothing if something bad happens to your pet. It's a horrible thing for any pet owner to experience.
Steroids are often prescribed for dogs. Sometimes this is unavoidable and in the best interest of the pet. Other times it's not, according to various holistic animal experts. Unfortunately, vets don't always advise you on best practice or steroids. Nor do most clients hear about alternatives.
Some dogs are more difficult to train. They may be aggressive toward dogs, or towards people. Oftentimes, it's a combination of both. By one estimate, approximately 6 million animals end up in shelters each year in the United States alone. The number one reason owners relinquish their dogs is due to behavior that's not brought under control.
Only recently have more people begun to use essential oils, on themselves. A newer development has been using them on animals. These aromatics have been popular throughout history, with the exception of the 20th century. This is when pharmaceuticals began to replace time-tested natural remedies.
Dementia in dogs is surprisingly common. It's usually more difficult to spot than human senility, because your dog cannot hold a conversation. So there are none of the same giveaways, such as forgetting names, or other important details, which you'd see in a person with cognitive problems. There is an advantage to knowing your dog has dementia.
The animal vaccination industry bears striking similarities to the human vaccine industry. Through the years, shot schedules have become more aggressive. However, with dogs, it became hard to ignore the problems. Healthy pups were dying, or developing disabling seizure disorders, shortly after their "well puppy" visits.
Those of us who use homeopathy for ourselves and our families believe that this healing method also has the potential to also help dogs. But these very powerful remedies must be used with care. For best results, you should work with a professional homeopath who has experience with animals.