NATURAL PERSONAL CARE FOR PETS

-Diana S. Bokhari

The long awaited warmth of summer is finally here. Leisurely walks with our beloved pets through parks and wilderness trails are so soothing and healing after a long, harsh winter. Our furry darlings relish every chance they get to dive right into bushes, ponds, and virtually anything else that will thrill their blessed little hearts. With this in mind, the responsible pet owner will remember that its protégé’s personal hygiene is imperative to its overall good health. The following is some useful information to help you keep your pets clean, healthy and happy. An ounce of prevention is worth ten pounds of cure!

FLEAS, TICKS AND OTHER PARASITES

“Parasite prevention should be considered only if your animal is at risk,” says Animal Health Technician and Biologist, Chantale Robinson, who works at a holistic veterinary clinic in Montreal. “If you have a Chihuahua that spends most of its day on the couch and has an occasional pounce outside, it is at a lower risk of coming in contact with parasites than a hunting dog that will spend most of its days outdoors. Low risk animals should not receive preventative parasite control.” Pharmaceutical companies are now marketing potent medication for flea control that anyone can order without veterinary prescription. Pet shops also sell strong chemical agents that permit the average layperson to self-medicate their pet. Although laboratory tests have been done to prove these drugs ‘safe’ for animals, one must remember that reactions will always vary for each individual cat or dog. “Even if chemicals are rendered safe, you can be wise and selective about those that you choose. Very young, old and sick animals are at higher risk of toxicity to such drugs. Read labels and avoid buying over the counter products; often these products don’t list the chemical ingredients used, nor do they provide instructions for first aid should a reaction occur. Consult your holistic veterinarian to decide which product is safe and necessary for your pet”. If used needlessly, toxicity can occur by accumulative effect, and may surface as liver, kidney and skin disease. There is even speculation that overuse of these drugs is contributing to the rise of incidents in epilepsy. “Unfortunately, no natural miracle remedy has been discovered to kill internal and external parasites; they are complex organisms that have the ability to mutate and withstand chemical aggression, hence their survival for millions of years,” says Chantale. “Prevention through natural approach will help to chase external parasites away. Put a few drops of Geranium and Lemon essential oils in the palm of your hand, rub together, and lightly apply on top of your dog’s coat before your stroll in the woods. Garlic and Brewer’s yeast given in your pet’s food within 24 hours of the outing, will leave the insects with an unappealing blood meal, and spur them to find another host”.

NATURAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS; LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS

While researching this topic, I made a dire attempt to uncover the ingredients in the most common brands of pet hygiene products that can be found in pet shops, and large chain retail stores. To my amazement, these products do not list most of their ingredients, if any at all. Interestingly enough, they tend to market the few natural ingredients that they may contain. One of these leading national brands actually claims that it is ‘mild with an organic formulation.’ Having brought the bottle home, I decided to investigate the ingredients a little further, since there where none listed on the bottle itself. I contacted the manufacturer’s web site, and found these shampoos in a section for product safety information, warning about hazardous ingredients. The following three are some of the substances that appear on the list: Formaldehyde, Methyl Paraben, and Sodium Laurel Ether Sulphate. Most people are aware that Formaldehyde is a severely toxic, cancer-causing agent, which is used as a preservative for embalming corpses. Methyl Paraben, well known for its high toxicity having caused severe allergic reactions, is used as a microbial inhibitor to prolong shelf life. Sodium Laurel Ether Sulphate is a foaming agent used in shampoos and detergents, and is known to cause eye irritation, hair loss, rashes, dandruff, and other allergic reactions. An average shopper would be easily mislead by the fancy label claming ‘organic formulation, a luxurious sheen, and prevention of damage to your pet’s skin and hair’ along with the sales person’s declaration that ‘this is the safest product equivalent to a baby’s shampoo.’ Shop at a health food store. Ask questions. Read labels. Look for natural, complete ingredient lists that include terms like Aloe, Oatmeal, Lavandula Angustifolia (True Lavender), and Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree). When diluted and formulated properly, essential oils are a wonderful, natural way to deodorize and condition your dog’s skin and coat. Even greater precautions must be applied when dealing with cats, as their skin is extremely sensitive, therefore, only natural products formulated for cats should be used.

IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR GROOMING

According to certified groomer, Kimberly Howie, your groomer is your pet’s second best friend. “Your groomer sees your pet more often than your veterinarian, and keeps records about its general conditions. Because of the close contact that is involved in the grooming process, any abnormalities such as lumps, hot spots, rashes, parasites, ear infections and weight fluctuation are often detected.” Once these conditions are found, they are always brought to owner’s attention, and a veterinarian can then be contacted. “As well, for longer haired breeds, without regular combing out of the coat, mats will develop. If left unattended, they will retain moisture, cut off airflow to the skin and cause numerous skin conditions and dandruff. Mats will also prevent you from access to check for fleas and ticks. Regular grooming not only makes your pet look better, it makes him feel better too.”

Diana Saakian Bokhari

Diana, in partnership, owns and operates Quebec’s first Naturalanimal & Pawtisserie Holistic Pet Center located in Montreal.