Grooming Your Dog by Paula Kephart

Author:Paula Kephart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC
Published: 2000-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

Natural Methods for Combating Allergies

The best treatment for allergies is first to calm the symptoms and remove the allergen, then to strengthen your dog’s immune system. Once his system is up to full strength again, it is possible that reexposure to the culprit substance will no longer cause an allergic reaction.

Figuring out exactly what the dog’s body is reacting to is a slow process. You must first eliminate the suspected villain from the dog’s diet or environment for about 4 weeks to allow enough time for the body to thoroughly cleanse itself of that substance. You must then reintroduce the substance slowly, with close monitoring for a reaction.

If you suspect more than one substance of causing the allergic reaction, remove them all from the dog’s diet or environment. Reintroduce them one at a time, so that you can identify which may be the culprit(s).

There are many herbs and some vitamins that are highly effective in treating a dog’s allergies. In addition to alleviating the aggravating symptoms, these remedies also strengthen the immune system. Here are some natural alternatives to try:

Burdock. Use burdock as a nutritional supplement to help purify your dog’s blood of allergens and other toxins. See the recipe for Burdock Antiallergen Infusion at right.

Lemon. Provides welcome relief to skin irritated by allergies. Use the lemon rinse recipe on page 29.

Nettle. Works as an antihistamine to calm allergic reactions and as a diuretic to flush allergens and toxins out of the system. Nettle also decreases a dog’s sensitivity to allergens.

Oatmeal. Its soothing properties make oatmeal shampoo (available in many natural foods stores and pet shops) an excellent choice for allergy-sensitive skin. Adding cooked oatmeal to your pet’s diet is a good idea, too. It’s filling yet nutritious and easily digested, and it helps to absorb and remove toxins. Oat straw can also be used to make a soothing rinse for the dog’s skin.

Oxeye daisy. This flower works as an antihistamine and diuretic. In addition, it promotes healthy skin by fighting bacteria and fungi.

Yucca. Soothes inflammation of joints and the respiratory system. It also boosts circulation, which nourishes the skin.

See the chart on page 30 for dosage suggestions.

DAILY ANTIALLERGEN SUPPLEMENT

This daily supplement will help clear your dog’s system of allergens and toxins.

1 teaspoon burdock root

2 cups water

1 teaspoon calendula blossoms

1 teaspoon crushed garlic clove

1 teaspoon nettle leaves

To make a tea: Add the burdock root to the water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and let simmer 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the remaining herbs, and steep, covered, 10 minutes. Strain and allow the tea to cool. Administer orally, following the dosage guidelines given on pages 30–31.

To make capsules: Substitute garlic powder for the crushed garlic clove. Finely powder all ingredients and pour into “00”-size capsules. Follow the dosage guidelines given on pages 30–31.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.