Posts Tagged ‘natural flea remedy
Adding Vitamins to Your Pet’s Diet by Bud Stuart DVM
We recently have discussed the importance of vitamins and the benefits they will afford to your pet’s well-being. This week I would like to discuss a number of dietary additives called neutraceuticals. The last few decades have brought about an increasing awareness that even so-called “complete” diets may not afford all the nutrients a pet might need for optimum health. The presence of certain medical problems, age, low intestinal absorption rates and various other factors all play a part in dietary needs.
One of the more popular neutraceuticals in both human and veterinary medicine has to do with maintaining healthy joints. In addition to the use of vitamin C, many humans, as well as many pets, need a product called glucosamine to maintain smooth joint function. Glucosamine is used widely in veterinary medicine and often is combined with chondoltin and/or MSM (methlsulfonylmethane).
At Fairview Pet Clinic we carry a number of products that contain these nutrients. Some of them also contain such things as green lipped mussels, shark cartilage, vitamin E or C, brewer’s yeast and manganese. All these products are intended to maintain healthy cartilage, since this is what lines each joint. They also assist in promoting healthy lubrication inside the joint. Glucosamine is particularly effective in this task since it promotes formation of synovial fluid in the joint.
MSM, which is frequently combined with glucosamine, is an excellent product to give to pets that have had damage to their cartilage, either from age or just hard use. Not long ago I had a small dog come into the clinic with a very badly damaged hip due to an automobile accident. By combining vitamin C with the above products we were able to allow this pet to build a new joint without having to resort to major surgery. It took a number of months and a caring owner, but the results were worth it when we saw this wee patient scamper across my exam room floor.
With flea season fast coming on, allow me to finish up with one last additive that you may find helpful. It has long been know that fishermen and others in mosquito areas could gain protection from these little blood suckers by dosing themselves on high doses of vitamin B complex. At our clinic we furnish a mix of brewer’s yeast (for the vitamin B) and garlic powder. We find it makes a dandy internal bug repellant for fleas and other parasites.
So keep these tips in mind the next time you are shopping. Perhaps you have a pet whose quality of life could be greatly improved by just a few small changes.
Bud Stuart DVM is a local veterinarian and owner of Fairview Pet Clinic (CA). He stresses nutrition and preventative medicine.