Serving your dog the same dry kibble "is like me telling you to eat saltine crackers every day," says Randy Klein, owner of Whiskers Holistic Pet Care in New York City. Add fresh beef or chicken to a quality dry food like Innova (innovapet.com), made from human-grade chicken free of hormones and antibiotics.
Don't Over-Bathe
"Animals don't need to be bathed as often as you'd think," says Roger W. Valentine, D.V.M., a holistic veterinarian in Santa Monica, Calif. Once a month is plenty (unless he has fleas. See next page). Go for a gentle alcohol-free shampoo to preserve fur's natural oils.
Fight Fleas Naturally
"While chemical flea preventatives can be helpful, in most cases, they’re not needed,” says Shawn Messonnier, D.V.M. Before reaching for a spot-on pesticide, try this three-part natural prevention approach.
1. Bathe your pet at least once a week using an herbal flea control shampoo containing citrus oil, which is a natural repellent, says Messonnier. After lathering, keep the suds on for at least 10 minutes before rinsing. In between baths, repel fleas with an herbal flea spray, an herbal collar containing citronella or an herbal powder containing natural pyrethrum from chrysanthemum flowers.
2. Regularly vacuum your floors and furniture and wash your dog’s bedding in hot, soapy water to eliminate any flea eggs or larvae. “This is the most important part of flea control because 95 percent of the fleas you’re battling are in the environment, not on your pet,” says Messonnier. Apply citrus oil sprays to baseboards or sprinkle diatomaceous earth (available at garden centers) on carpets. Outside, spray your lawn with beneficial nematodes; these microscopic worms eat flea larvae and can be purchased online or from garden centers.
3. Fight fleas from the inside out. Sprinkle Earth Animal Internal Powder (earthanimal.com) on your pet's food. This blend of dark brewer's yeast, garlic, and B vitamins makes pets unappealing to fleas, ticks, and mosquitos.
Ease Anxiety
Does Fido suffer from separation anxiety? Take the edge off with Whiskers Own Gentle Nerve (1800whiskers.com). This herbal liquid is made with extracts of valerian, catnip, and hops that won't "zombify your pet." Or try Rainbow Light GreenDog Naturals Complete Calm. The real-chicken- flavored chewables help relax and calm with organic chamomile, valerian and lavender, plus pumpkin and ginger to soothe nervous stomachs. Bonus: They’re certified organic by Quality Assurance International and reviewed by a board-certified holistic vet. (rainbowlight.com)
Try a Multivitamin
Boost your pet's diet with a daily multivitamin like The Missing Link (onlynaturalpet.com), a vitamin powder loaded with probiotics, essential fatty acids, enzymes, and phytonutrients.
If your dog has bad breath, make sure he has had a thorough physical to rule out dental problems, such as periodontal or gum disease, which affect 80 percent of dogs over the age of three. In older dogs, an ammonia-like smell on the breath can indicate kidney disease. There's also a slight chance your dog has a mouth tumor or an infection that you can't see. Once you've ruled out any medical reason as the cause of bad breath, you can proceed with the following:
1. Brush your dog's teeth. Brush the front and back of your dog's teeth as you would your own for about 30 seconds on each side. If you start doing this early and regularly, before disease sets in, you'll save his or her teeth. For large breeds, try Benedent or Top Performance brushes. For small dogs, try Petrodex or Drs. Foster & Smith finger brushes. All four are widely available in pet stores or online.
2. If you can't get your dog to enjoy having his teeth brushed, give him a large hemp rope or rope toy to chew on—it acts as a sort of toothbrush, rubbing away food. (First soak the rope in beef broth.) Raw knucklebones are great for big dogs. Don't use them with small dogs who are not able to get their back teeth around the bone.
3. Cut your dog's facial hair. Keep your animal's hair trimmed and washed. Facial hair collects saliva and bacteria-causing odor around the mouth.
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