Natural Pet Health:

If you are not a first time pet owner, you probably know how expensive it is to keep pets and care for them. Till the time your pet is healthy, everything goes well, but as soon as your pet falls ill, the medical bills begin to start piling up. It doesn’t have to be so. It is not always necessary to rush your pet to the hospital for every little ailment that it may suffer from. While getting a medical opinion about your pet’s health is absolutely necessary, it is not always mandatory. In most cases, you can treat minor ailments at home, using natural remedies. Take for example mild skin infections. Now these are not something that you need to go to the doctor for. The ointments that you use for skin infections can be used on your pets too, in case the infection is only minor. Alternatively, you can also use natural remedies that you otherwise use for yourself. Keep in mind however, that many products and natural ingredients that are beneficial for us could be toxic for your pet. So always make sure you do some research and are sure about what you’re doing before doing any home treatment for pet care. There are many complementary care methods that can be used in order to maintain the health of pets. Here are some natural pet health care tips to keep them healthy:

Natural Diet for Pet:

There are many ways of giving your pet a natural diet. While most people go for home cooked meals, it is recommended that raw foods should be given to your pet instead. Though your pets may eat anything you give them, there nutritional requirements are slightly different than ours. Raw foods like carrots and greens are great for both cats and dogs because they contain lots of nutrients and are a potentially rich source of both vitamins and minerals. Raw bone and raw meats are preferred by most pets. However, be careful about the kind of bones you are giving to your pet. If the bones are fragile or splinter easily, your pet may get hurt trying to eat them. Bones of chicken should therefore be avoided.

Natural Pet Treatment:

The saliva of your pets, especially dogs, has enzymes that help wounds heal faster. If your pet has hurt itself, try putting some honey on the area. The pet will lick excessively on that area, allowing the wound to heal completely. Small pets like cats, rabbits and small dogs can often be treated using herbal and homeopathic medications. In fact, natural remedies like aromatherapy and acupressure are gaining popularity when it comes to small animals. Maintaining a good diet, exercise and regular play activities can help make sure that your pet is happy and stays well naturally.

Pet Ear Problems:

Unlike humans, pets’ ears are extremely sensitive. There are several ear infections that your pet could suffer from. These infections are extremely painful to the pet and may cause damage to their inner ears.
Apart from fungal and bacterial infections in the ears, your pet may also suffer from parasitic infections in the ears.  All animals have three parts in their ears. The outer ear is known as the pinna. This is made up of soft tissues. Second is the middle ear where sounds are processed, and third, the inner year where sensitive organs are present. Any of these three parts of the ear could get infected. Here are some of the common ear problems that occur in pets:

• Inflammation: Any kind of skin infection in the ear can cause inflammation. There are several microorganisms like bacteria and fungi that may cause inflammation in the ear. Parasitic infestation, especially by parasites known as ear mites, can cause inflammation in the outer ear.
• Yeast infections: Yeast infections may occur anywhere in the ear. The inner and the middle portions of the ears, however, offer the right kind of environment for yeast to grow and therefore, yeast is most often found in the inner or middle ear.
• Bacterial infections: There are several types of bacteria which can invade the ears. Bacteria such as staphylococci, E. coli, streptococci, etc. can cause bacterial infections in the ear. If the bacterial infection persists, it can cause various different types of discharge, inflammation, and pain.
• Allergies: Pets could also get affected by various different allergies. Allergy is the most common cause of problems in the ears of your pet.  A problem in pet’s ears can also be caused due to foreign bodies lodged in the ears. If your pet has accidentally lodged something in their ear, it may cause irritation due to its movement and the scratching that it may cause.
• Hormones: Though pets may not often suffer from hormonal problems, changes in hormones still continue to be one of the major causes of ear problems in animals. Thyroid hormones are especially responsible for problems in pets.
• Ear mites: These are dark coffee-colored small organisms which may appear like coffee grounds deposited on the outer ear. The ear may need to be cleaned thoroughly to get rid of ear mites. In some cases, putting in a medicated cleaning solution may help to kill the mites in the ear.