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Monthly Article Newsletter - February 2009 |
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Top Ten
Reasons Why Your Pet May Be Itching
by Cynthia Holley-Connolly,
ONP Staff Writer
Itching is one of the most unpleasant sensations imaginable - and a cat's or
dog's never-ending scratching, biting, and licking can seem nearly as aggravating.
Watching your pet suffer with a chronic itch is an all-too-common experience facing pet parents these days. If your pet is constantly shaking their head,
or scratching, rubbing, chewing or licking some area of skin, you can
bet that
there's likely some agonizing itching going on.
Left untreated, areas of itchy skin
become vulnerable to damage from your pet's scratching or licking, to hot spots (areas of oozing, dry or inflamed
skin), and even to secondary infections from bacteria. What may be causing the itch, and what
can you do about it?
We've compiled a list of the top ten itch-causing factors and some
suggestions on what you can do to help your pet escape from that irritating
itch. Before your pet is tearing up their skin, pulling out their fur, or forced
to wear a cone-shaped (Elizabethan) collar, consider these common causes of
itchiness in pets and work with your vet to get your pet some relief:
1. Poor Quality Diet - We're not talking about food allergies here (more
on that shortly). A surprising factor underlying a vast number
of allergic itch reactions is simply a poor quality diet that
inadequately nourishes a cat or dog. As we always say, a good
diet is the foundation of good health. Even the best medication won't
eliminate allergic skin reactions when your pet's
immune system is unable to function properly due to lack of
nutrients.
Click here
to continue reading and check out our Top Ten Itch-Causing
Factors in Pets....
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In this issue:
Our Monthly Article: Read our online article,
Top Ten Reasons Why Your Pet May Be Itching.
Questions from Readers: Find out what
to do if your pet has a chronic itch problem with our tips to
investigate and manage the itch!
Itchy Skin
Soothers - Check out our top product picks to help relieve
your pet's itchy skin. Our Only Natural Pet skin products are
all 10% off!
Herbal
Profile: Aloe Vera - You probably know this herb is helpful
for human skin, but it's also easy to use for pets' itches and
bug bites.
FOR YOUR FEEDBACK: Tell us about your pet's
Experience with Raw Food Diets.
Let us know what you've tried, your opinion on raw (love it
or hate it), and what
more you'd like to know
about raw diets!
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"My Companion
Is Itching - What Should I Do About It?"
When any new skin issue arises with your pet, it's best to
see your vet to rule out serious problems like glandular
disease, infection, or parasites. You can gather information before you go that
may help your vet determine what's wrong. We suggest:
- Checking your pet's skin where itching occurs. Look for
fleas and flea dirt (tiny brown specks of dried blood),
mites (often found in the ears), or any bumpy, red or
oozing spots; also give the area a sniff to check for bad
odor.
- Observing your companion and noting when itching is worst.
Paw chewing or licking after meals points toward food
sensitivity, while the same behavior after being
outdoors suggests an airborne allergy to something like
grass or pollen.
If you notice anything unusual, or detect any pattern
with the itching, see your vet. A note of caution: Be
wary of vets who only want to treat itching with
steroids (like hydrocortisone) or antihistamines and who
don't offer suggestions for getting to the root of
the problem. Pets that develop severe allergies often
have a history of extended use of allergy medications
without attempt to find the cause of the
irritation.
Holistic veterinarians generally agree that
most pets
with allergy symptoms could use improvement to their
diet. Animals eating real food (raw food in particular)
get the needed enzymes and other nutrients that keep
their immune systems healthy so that allergies don't
develop. Key steps you can take for pets with
allergic symptoms include:
- Evaluating food and treats - Eliminate known irritants
like wheat, corn, soy, animal by-products, and
artificial ingredients, including preservatives.
Feed the best quality, freshest
natural food you can afford,
even if it's only part of the diet.
- Rotating foods - Remember that pets can become sensitive
to any food that they eat every day. A rotation diet is
best to keep food sensitivities from developing.
- Supplementing with essential fatty acids - a quality
fish
oil supplement helps support body tissues that "flare
up" when irritants are present, including the skin and
linings of the digestive and respiratory systems.
- Supporting digestion -
Enzymes and
probiotics support
healthy digestion and a well functioning immune system.
Both are great for daily use to support overall health
and to help keep allergy symptoms in check.
As always, we encourage you to
find a holistic
veterinarian to help your pet have the best possible
health. |
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Itchy Skin Soothers for
Pets |
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Only Natural
Pet
Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil - Liquid or Capsules
These pure essential
fatty acids provide excellent support for dry, itchy and
flaky skin.
Now 10% Off! |
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HomeoPet
Skin & Itch Relief
A
homeopathic formula that provides relief from allergies
and airborne pollutants that cause skin irritation and
itching in pets. |
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Spirit
Essences
Skin Soother
This safe
flower essence remedy addresses the emotional factors
that come with itchiness - without side effects.
Now 10% Off! |
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Only Natural Pet
Skin Wellness
An herbal
remedy designed to address skin issues related to
allergies, and other skin and coat problems.
Now 10% Off! |
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Only Natural
Pet
Super Daily Vitamins
Skin & Coat Powder
A daily
multi-vitamin with essential fatty acids, flax, biotin &
enzymes for healthy skin & coat.
Now 10% Off! |
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Vetri-Science
Derma-Strength
An effective formula for serious skin allergies and to
improve post-surgery healing, skin health, circulation,
and immune response. |
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Castor &
Pollux
Head to Tail
Aloe Oatmeal Shampoo
All natural
formula for dry skin. This is a great soothing solution
for irritated, sensitive skin, allergies & hot spots. |
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Only Natural Pet
Chinese Herbal Blends
Skin Formula
For healthy skin and coat, use our Skin blend to nourish
the blood and stimulate circulation.
Now 10% Off! |
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Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis): This cactus-like herb
is a member of the Lily family. Native to Africa, aloe
is cultivated and used worldwide for its skin healing
and digestive system supportive properties. It is useful
for soothing irritated skin and it is widely used to
relieve painful burns, including sunburn.
Aloe vera is helpful to stop itching in pets from such
things as insect bites, hot spots or poison ivy. If
using the cut leaves of the plant, the clear gel in the
center of the fleshy leaf is the best part to apply to
pets. Apply with a clean finger or cotton swab, and
allow the area to dry - preferably without your pet
licking the area. The yellow "juice" common at the edges
of the leaves, especially in older aloe plants can be
irritating to some pets, so use with caution in pets
with skin irritation. You can apply 1-2 times daily if
your pet reacts well to it. Aloe can also be used to
assist healing and relieve itching after sutures have
been removed following surgery.
Recent research with aloe has identified an
immune-supportive compound called acemannan that is now
being used in treatment of serious health disorders in
cats, including feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Recent
research has found that acemannan used with FeLV cats
brought many cats back to health from this often fatal
disease. It has also been shown to improve cases of
cancerous tumors in dogs. Other compounds identified in
aloe plants have antioxidant properties.
The leaves of the plant are harvested and the juice from
the fleshy leaf centers is used in gel and liquid forms
in many herbal skin & digestive remedies. Aloe vera is
found in many products we offer, including:
Only Natural Pet
Herbal Defense Shampoo & Conditioner,
Grooming Shampoo & Conditioner,
Hot Spot Skin Relief Oil and
Soothe & Shield Paw Balm;
Pal Dog grooming products and
Pal Kitty Organic Freshen Up Foam, Ark Naturals
Ears All Right and
Eyes So Bright;
Dr. Harvey's Healing Cream;
Earthbath and
Doc Ackerman's bath products;
True Blue grooming products for dogs; and
Kathy Santo Tidy Wipes Natural Cleansing Wipes.
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We're making
your email newsletter experience more interactive, and your
feedback is vital! March's focus is on Raw
Food and Nutrition. If you have general feedback or questions about
raw food as part or all of your pet's diet. Whether you
love it, hate it, are wary about it, or have any
experiences you'd like to share about feeding raw
food to your pet, please
email us at:
feedback@onlynaturalpet.com.
PLEASE NOTE:
For help with your questions on using specific products,
orders, shipping, and other specific pet health questions, please contact
our Customer Care Team by clicking
here, or calling our toll free number listed below.
Thank you!
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