Each issue Dr Clare Middle comes up with natural solutions to your troublesome pet problems.
Dr Clare Middle BVMS CVA DipHom is a Perth-based veterinarian who primarily uses acupuncture, herbs, reiki, classical homeopathy, kinesiology and flower essences to treat animals.
In this edition – Dr Clare answers some common questions from the pet owners here at Golden Glow Natural Health Products (we love our pets). I’m sure there are answers to questions here that relate to many pet owners.
My cat continues to jump up on the kitchen bench and table even after I have attempted to train her by giving her a quick squirt of water. She is very interested in whatever I’m doing and I think feels she needs to be up watching what I’m doing. How can I curb this kind of behaviour?
It is natural for cats to feel happier up off the ground, as they are naturally predated preyed on by animals which may be bigger or faster than themselves. Instead of trying to STOP her jumping up on your bench (which you still can if needed at first), encourage her with food rewards eg dried liver treat bits, to jump onto a carpet covered cat tree/scratching post which you can buy at pet shops etc. They generally have a couple of ledges for the cats to ‘safely’ sleep.
My cat is only 5 months old and is an indoors cat. She is very persistent in trying to escape out doors and I would like to let her out occasionally. What kinds of things can I do to ensure she stays within the yard and is willing to come back inside?
If she has not been spayed, DON’T let her out, and take her straight to your vet and get her done, as she is probably due to come on heat. If she has been sterilised, then let her out before mealtimes so she gets used to not straying a long way.
My cat has a habit of using her litter as normal but then goes to her food bowl/area and begins scratching the floor like she is trying to cover something. Her food bowl is not near her litter so I’m unsure of why she does this - any ideas?
It is natural and clean instinct for cats to cover toilet and old unwanted food, so she is very conscientiously and efficiently doing her house work, good on her!
My dog suffers from a red rash on his tummy - it is not flea related - so I was wondering if you have any suggestions of creams or cures and also he tends to scratch it a lot so wondering if there is anything that would distract him from this activity.
This sounds like a contact allergy or an inhalant pollen allergy. So many skin allergies have been shown from research to be due to omega 3 fatty acid deficiency, and respond well to a natural diet with plenty of fish oil (see shampoo question below).
What can you do to overcome doggy breath?
Feeding a natural diet, including raw bones on most days, will clean teeth wonderfully. If still smelly after 6-8 weeks of raw bone chewing, get your vet to check the teeth in case one is infected.
What is a good shampoo a) for fleas b) for winter rashes and itchiness.
Dogs with healthy skin hardly ever need shampooing, and then the type of shampoo is not really an issue. The way to have a dog with a healthy skin is to feed a natural diet (raw meat, bones, veges) plus fish oil (1 to 6 g daily for a small to large dog) and kelp powder (a pinch to a teaspoon from small to large dog). At least start by adding the fish oil daily, as this is the most important way to skin health, as dogs need omega 3 fatty acids which are not always present in commercial food, or in natural diets either unless you include it.
Sometimes my dog vomits when he eats a very fatty bone, why?
Either he is not used to eating raw fat daily, or has too much carbohydrate in his diet to allow low stomach pH for optimal bone/fat digestion (in which case feed no dried food and just a raw meat bone diet – see my website for diet), or he is genuinely allergic to that type of meat (beef, chicken) which is not very likely.
Are there any foods my dog shouldn’t eat apart from Chocolate and onions?
Do NOT feed dogs chocolate, onion, cooked bone, stone fruit pips, avocado pips, flower bulbs, lilies, cooked fat (raw is good for them), corn cobs to chew on (they get stuck in the gut).
Are fats good for dogs?
Raw fat is the natural energy fuel for a dog, and is good. Too much will cause fat dogs to gain too much weight, but some is needed. Fatten thin dogs with more raw fat, not with carbohydrate, as carbohydrate causes liver inefficiency and maybe health problems with the immune system, skin and others.
Essential oils for dogs are fish and/or coconut oil, as they contain the omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA which are necessary for full health, so must be in the diet in some form. Raw fat, meat and offal all contain some essential omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which are destroyed by cooking, which is why raw fat/meat are correct for dogs. Cooked fat can be dangerous and cause acute pancreatitis.
Does eating a raw egg make my dogs fur soft - if not is there anything either internal or external that is good for his fur?
Raw egg yolk contains choline which is needed to process the omega fatty acids in fish oil and raw meat/fat. All of these plus egg yolk or liver or kidney supply the fatty nutrients for good coat health. Water soluble nutrients for coat health are zinc, selenium and others which are in veges, herbs, kelp, alfalfa or spirulina. Kelp is the easiest and cheapest way of adding these to a dog’s diet. They are not always fully digestible from processed dog food.
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