April | 2009 | Holistic Pet Food Blog

I don’t very often write about myself but I have to tell you, I’m really excited to be attending the Trilogy HealthyPetNet convention in Tampa, Florida, this weekend.   I’ve been an independent rep for over three years but this is the first chance I’ve had to actually attend the convention.

My goal for this blog is to be as factual and objective as possible.   It’s about educating you on the many healthy pet foods out there, telling you about the good and bad ingredients, keeping you up to date on the pet food recalls. 

But as you know, outside of my very busy day job (I am an IT project manager in “real life”), I do animal rescue.  That’s how I discovered HealthyPetNet. 

I’m excited about this convention  for a couple of reasons.  First, I get to finally meet Judy Bishop, who is the amazing person who has shepherded and mentored me in this business.  She is a former dog groomer who became one of the top reps in the company.  She has become a close personal friend and the whole trip will be worth it to meet her.

Second, on Friday evening, I am meeting with several others in my group to have dinner with Dr. Jane Bicks.  She is the holistic veterinarian who formulates the pet foods and supplements for HealthyPetNet.  I’ve gained so much from the education we get from her on weekly veterinary conference calls, can’t wait to meet her in person.   

Saturday and Monday are a half-day of general sessions, while Sunday is a full day of workshops, plus an evening reception and dinner.

It will be a fairly small convention, I think I heard maybe about 60-75 reps?  So it will be individual and personal, something you don’t get very much of these days.

We are going to learn more about the products but also about the business.  As you know, HealthyPetNet is one of the top 15 network marketing companies out there.  They’ve been around for 10 years and have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau in Southeast Florida, no small feat.    They have never had a pet food recall, again, no small feat.    So I’m quite proud of my association with this company.

This has been a really fun business for me.  Of all the home-based things people have wanted to drag me into, THIS one WORKS for me.  I can do exactly what I want with it.  I am a BUSY lady.  I work long hours and in my spare time, I train for marathons and raise money to fight blood cancers.  I also have a home and garden and many rescue kitties to take care of.  PLUS I’m the organist for my church and am active in volunteer work.

I’m passionate about my pets and their health and nutrition, you can see that written all over my lifestyle.    So I’m really excited to sort of land right in the lap of HealthyPetNet, enjoy meeting some really great and great-hearted people, and get a bit of a vacation out of it, to boot.

Watch for some fun articles that I’m sure will come out of the convention.

 

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Dog Scratching, Dog Constantly Itching, Dog Hot Spots-- Holistic Care Can Help!!

Stop Endless Scratching and Itching!

Most people think that when their pet is scratching and itching, it must be fleas. But most concerned pet owners are routinely using preventative flea products and yet their pets continue to scratch and itch. If a pet owner is using flea preventative products and the itching still continues, then further investigation is warranted.

The hot weather seems to be the worst of times for our poor pets. They chew, lick, scratch, scoot and tear their hair out. Their paws turn red and they get ear infections as well as hot spots. While it could be fleas, mites, parasites or mange, most of the time, it is allergies! Just as many of us experience hay fever and develop respiratory symptoms, our pets with allergies often develop skin issues. Allergies can be both environmental and food related.

Conventional veterinary treatment for allergies involves treatment with cortisone, antibiotics, allergy shots, antihistamines, shampoos and topical treatments. All of these can be very helpful for our pets and give them much needed immediate relief. But many of our pets have much more chronic problems and the symptoms return as soon as the medicines wear off. This is where holistic veterinary care can become especially valuable. Holistic veterinary care involves the use of a hypoallergenic diet and supplements to address the pet’s underlying condition. Many times pets have a chronic yeast condition which weakens their immune system. Pets with allergy problems typically have digestive disorders and since a great deal of our immune system is located in the GI tract, there is a direct correlation. Minimizing allergy symptoms is often directly related to quieting the inflammation in the GI tract.

Here are some general points about allergies you should be aware of:

1) Allergies are cumulative. In other words, a pet may have both food and environmental allergies but the symptoms only become noticeable during certain times of the year. This doesn’t mean your pet doesn’t have allergic reactions all the time. It just means that the situation builds up similar to a balloon that fills up with air until it pops. In your pet’s case, it may mean that all of a sudden your pet has hot spots or starts chewing on its paws or rear end during the hot summer months but most likely has underlying digestive issues all year round.

2) Cats and dogs may display allergy symptoms differently. Cats may have respiratory symptoms, vomiting and other digestive disorders due to allergies as well as skin reactions. Dogs may have scratching, itching, chewing on fur, ear infections, scooting on their rear end and weepy eyes.

3) Most of the time, pets have BOTH food and environmental allergies. There is no one medication or supplement that will cure your pet’s symptoms. Skin problems are tough and require a comprehensive effort. Using the following protocol for your pet can be helpful:

Topical treatment in the form of therapeutic baths (available from your veterinarian) and natural sprays (If your pet is allergic to grass, try washing paws after going outside).

Special hypoallergenic diet—Keep the following ingredients out of your pet’s diet. There is no “one” allergy diet that works for everyone. Each pet is different. You will need to try a few diets and/or learn how to prepare a homemade diet. We offer consultations via telephone or in-person at VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital and can assist you with this.

Common Allergens in Pet Food:
-Corn
-Soy
-Gluten (found in wheat, barley, spelt and other grains)
-Milk Products
-Casein (found in cheese)
-Beef (problem for some dogs)
-Chicken (problem for some cats and dogs)
-Fish (cats can often be allergic)
-Peanut Butter (big allergen!)

Air purifier—an air purifier can greatly help with environmental allergies. Try to get one that either has a hepa filter or ozone purifier. You and your pets can still benefit from an air purifier even if doors and windows are frequently left open.

4) Use supplements to help your pet cope with allergy season to reduce inflammation and overall discomfort. Be sure to include a generous amount of Omega 3s from fish and flax oil, bioflavanoids such as quercetin, digestive enzymes and an effective probiotic. There are also some homeopathic and Chinese remedies that are very helpful for controlling allergy symptoms. AskAriel has a full spectrum of products available to assist pets with allergies.

5) Finally, if your pet is suffering from allergies, please be advised that there is usually no “quick fix”. Medications such as prednisone, antibiotics and antihistamines can provide short-term relief but a comprehensive holistic protocol can help heal your pet for the long-term. Before using any holistic protocol, an initial visit to your veterinarian is warranted. This is because skin issues can be a sign of an underlying endocrine condition such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease and/or your pet may have some serious infections that need to be addressed as well. A veterinarian exam, blood test and doctor’s diagnoses regarding the type of infections your pet has are critical to help your pet get well. Using a combination of both conventional and holistic veterinary medicine seems to deliver the best results for dogs and cats with allergies and skin problems.

Click here for more information and products available at Ask Ariel