DETOX, DAWG!

 

Why detox?

 

To provide your dog with a healthy, happy and long senior life, detoxification and eliminatory organ support essential. The earlier you introduce a natural detox regime the better!

 

Our modern world is filled with unavoidable pollutants. From the moment a puppy is born, just breathing the air, indoors or out, romping through grass and garden, and lapping up tap water or puddles outside, your pet comes into contact with toxins and chemicals.

 

Even the things we intentionally load our dogs up with to protect them from parasites (worm tablets, flea & tick treatments), viral infection (vaccines), pain and inflammation (pain killers like Tramadol, anti-inflammatories like Rimadyl), and surgical anaesthetics also contain less-than-ideal chemicals that can build up in your dog’s system and effect organ function, overall health and longevity. Stress can also disrupt the function of a dog’s natural detoxification pathways, so for dogs that travel a lot, are by left themselves during the day or night, or suffer from anxiety or OCD behaviour, regular detox support can also be really helpful.

 

There are a number of detox supporting natural herbs, superfoods, antioxidants and amino acids that are easy to supplement and relatively inexpensive. With a little research and just a little extra time out of your to to add some natural detox components to your dog’s daily meal it’s easy to make a significant difference to their quality of life. The changes you make now will have a lasting effect on their senior years – it’s never too late to start!

 

Bull terriers (and other breeds) with skin and allergies problems will significantly benefit from regular detox and eliminatory organ support. If you are in the process of changing your dog’s diet to accomodate sensitivities, including some detox support can shorten the time it takes for your dog’s body to see results from a new hypo-allergenic diet. Without detox support during this process it can sometimes take a few months for the the build up of toxins and systemic inflammation related to the previous diet to subside and health to fully improve.

 

For the detox component of Lulu’s supplementation regime I was initially inspired by Dr Mercola Healthy Pet’s Liver & Kidney Support formula and Bladder Support formula. Australia has unfortunate laws that prohibit the importation of pet supplements from overseas. So, hindered as I was getting hold of Dr Mercola Healthy Pets formulas, I devised to study the ingredients and dose rates as a starting point for creating my own supplement regime from scratch for Lulu. You can read all about Lulu’s detox supplements, dose rates, applications and where to get them HERE.

 

 

Some key points on detox for dogs from Dr Mercola’s proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian, Dr. Karen Becker:

 

Age, stress, injury, and a host of other contributors can result in less-than-optimal detoxification for your pet. Sometimes the build up of toxins simply becomes too great for your pet’s body to handle.

 

If toxins and waste can’t be removed through normal detox processes, several problems can arise, including:

 

• Your pet’s body attempts to remove the excess toxins through his skin, resulting in itchy, scaly, and dry skin.

 

• Your pet’s body tries to shed toxins and waste through mucous membranes, leading to eye discharge, teary eyes, or a runny nose.

 

• Your pet’s body stores the overload of toxins to be handled later.

 

Toxins and unwanted waste that isn’t removed can remain and build up in your pet’s body and can potentially lead to less-than-optimal health.

 

The nutrients that assist the detoxification process can become depleted when your pet is under stress, too, exposing her body to even more potential damage from environmental factors.

 

As threatening as all this sounds, there are natural ways to support your pet’s normal detoxification processes and promote optimal health.

 

(Source: http://products.mercola.com/healthypets/liver-kidney-support-for-pets/)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Lix NorthArtist, Illustrator, Photographer, Designer. Owned by The Lulu Bully.

 

I grew up on a farm in rural New Zealand. Forever fond of my gumboots and jumping in muddy puddles, my childhood best friends were the farm working dogs (huntaways, bearded and border collies) and the family spaniels. Animals have always been an intrinsic part of my life, I spent a lot of my youth caring for farm and domestic animals, hand rearing orphaned animals and watching and assisting farm hands and vets. One of my earliest memories is the feeling of magic and awe as a toddler watching my grandmother help a litter of puppies into the world. As legend has it, my first word was ‘woof’.

 

My passion for holistic health was born from the challenge of living with a bunch of pesky polymorphic gene mutations. 20+ years spent studying holistic principles and gaining a basic understanding of metabolic, enzymatic and genetic processes empowered me to manage my own sensitivities, methylation and immune issues at a level that conventional medical science alone was unable to offer. So, as Lulu’s sensitivities became apparent the most obvious solution seemed simply to apply the very same level of research and holistic care.

Disclaimer:
The content on lulubully.com is a fluid, living collection of notes, personal thoughts and experiences, regularly edited, tweaked and updated as my ideas evolve. All opinions are my own and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, nor prevent any disease. Information provided and products mentioned are not necessarily approved by any governing body or health professional. Discretion, common sense and personal responsibility are advised when applying any of the ideas expressed to your own personal situation.