A recently aired Dr. Oz episode deepened my appreciation for Dr. Oz’s philosophies and approach to life. This particular episode addressed in part the contents of the typical American family’s home medicine cabinet. He compared this to what his family kept in theirs.

Dr. Oz’s medicine cabinet includes things like an aloe vera leaf, apple cider vinegar, various homeopathics, honey, and so forth. If you’ve watched his show much, this should be no surprise. Although he is a Western-trained cardiologist, Dr. Oz has a deep appreciation for the power of “holistic” healing, which, if chosen well, is all upside and no downside.

Why do I bring up Dr. Oz in an article directed to those in the professional pet care industry, primarily boarding and daycare? Because many of these same items are fantastically beneficial to have in your facility’s medicine cabinet. Many issues can be resolved without using traditional approaches. If a trip to the veterinarian is in order, holistic approaches can typically buy you time and usually improve the animal’s recovery.

Diarrhea, as we all know, is usually caused by the stress of boarding, even in an amazingly calm facility. Boarding is boarding. The animal is still away from home and all too often exhibits its stress in part by a bit of runny (hopefully not explosive!) stool. The same thing happens for kids at summer camp. Naturally the odds of this happening increase if their very loving owners have “wound them up” with lots of hugs and “we’ll miss you” kisses at drop-off, but that’s another article isn’t it?

Many facilities immediately give the dog an over-the-counter or a veterinary-prescribed product. Those will indeed typically solve the immediate issue fairly quickly. However, here are some alternatives to try first:

• Fast – If the situation is caused by stress or a minor bug, fasting the dog until you get a normal stool, which usually happens within 12 to 24 hours, can typically resolve the issue. If you keep putting food into a stressed digestive system, you will continue exacerbating the problem. Diarrhea is also the body’s way of getting rid of toxins. If it is stopped before it is done, the toxins are still there and will resurface in some different manner.
• Homeopathic options (Arsenicum Album, Bellis Perennis, Carbo Vegetabilis, Chamomilla, Cinchona, Natrum Sulphuricum, Sulphur, Veratrum) – To be most effective with homeopathics, you want to get the best match between remedy and pet. For best results, review all of them and choose the one that fits the pet’s complete health and personality picture.
• Food options – canned pumpkin (not the pie mix but straight pumpkin), acidophilus, yogurt, kefir
• Herbal options – slippery elm powder

Hot spots and lick granulomas are also frequently started by stress. Nip it in the bud, or begin working on an existing case with the following:

• Apple cider vinegar (raw, organic, and unfiltered) – Malic acid gives apple cider vinegar the properties of being anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. Applied topically, it can clear the outward symptoms of many, many skin issues. Adding it to the dog’s food is also beneficial. Like everything, though, the cause of the symptoms needs to be addressed to affect a cure versus simply palliating existing symptoms.
• Chiropractic care can help tremendously. If the stress is coming from being out of alignment, a treatment can start the road to recovery.
• Homeopathic options – Calcarea Carbonica, Calendula, Hepar Sulphuris, Hypericum Perforatum (St. John’s wort), Rhus Toxicodendron, Sulphur, Urtica Urens
• Catalyst-altered water, like Willard Water, is stunningly helpful when applied topically as well as added to the food or water. I call this my “magic water,” especially when local raw honey is dissolved into it. It can be used for oral hydration of a pet weakened from vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Bloat is a horrible condition that occurs all too frequently, especially in deep-chested dogs such as Dobermans, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Weimaraners, and Great Danes. It is rare for a dog that is fed a balanced, fresh food diet to get bloat. Encourage customers who own breeds prone to bloat to consider switching to a non-kibble diet if possible.

Homeopathics are incredibly helpful. At the onset of rumbling in the stomach or gas, think “Carbo Vegetabilis.” Many times this will quickly stop these early precursors. If a case of bloat does present, immediately give Arsenicum Album followed by Carbo Vegetabilis as you head to the veterinarian. This will reduce symptoms and sometimes will stop the bloat all together. Note that this is not a replacement for going to the veterinarian; it is a support for the dog while you are getting to the vet!

The following are some great resource books to have on your shelves. The information in them will give you great ideas to begin building a stock of ready supplies to be available when needed.

• Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats by Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD and Susan Hubble Pitcairn
• A Veterinary Materia Medica and Clinical Repertory by George Macleod MRCVS, DVSM, Vet. FF Hom
• The Complete Herbal Handbook for the Dog and Cat by Juliette de Bairacli Levy
• The Homoeopathic Treatment of Small Animals by Christopher Day, MA, VetMB, VetFFHom, MRCVS
• Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs by Don Hamilton, DVM
• Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog by Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown, DVM
• The Nature of Animal Healing by Martin Goldstein, DVM
• The Veterinarians’ Guide to Natural Remedies for Dogs by Martin Zucker
• Four Paws Five Seasons by Cheryl Schwartz, DVM
• The New Natural Cat by Anitra Frazier with Norma Eckroate
• Emergency Use of Homeopathic Remedies for Pets by Wendy Volhard

For Crista Meyer, three years of living with her pets in a Third World country necessitated learning all she could about pet health and nutrition. She co-owns Urban Tails, a pet care facility in Houston, Texas, and was chairman of the Pet Care Services Association’s Holistic and Green Committee. Urban Tails incorporates natural approaches in daily management of pets in their care.

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