As a homeopath, I understand what we call ‘maintaining causes’ of disease. In other words health problems can not only be caused by an event such as an accident or be hereditary in origin, but it can also be caused by something you’re doing every day.

Let me give you some examples. If you smoke regularly, it’s widely known that you’ll probably eventually get lung problems. If you’ve had a job which entails handling and cutting asbestos, you’ll probably have lung problems later on. If you regularly drink a lot of alcohol, you know your liver will eventually be affected.

Diet plays a crucial part in health. Most people realise that they need to look to healthy food to keep them in the peak of condition.

You are what you eat.

It’s not the only factor which can contribute to ill health, but by virtue of its daily consumption, food plays an enormous role in your overall health.

And it’s no less true for dogs.

What you feed your dog will reflect how healthy he is and how healthy he remains.

I have found, in my practise, that an enormous number of common dog health questions can be answered, simply by taking the dog off commercial dog food.

When I was feeding my pets commercial pet food, many years ago, I read of a remarkable life changing experience for a young dog.

She was only about three years old, but had developed such severe arthritis, that the vet recommended euthanasia.

The dog’s people were not happy with this recommendation and decided to look elsewhere. They searched extensively and eventually come across the notion that the food they were feeding her could be the problem.

So they stopped feeding her commercial pet food.

One day, a friend dropped by. One who knew the dog and the prognosis. As he crossed the yard to the house, he noticed an agile dog playing and frolicking about, as only young dogs can.

Assuming the worse, he started to give his condolences.

He was gobsmacked when he was told that this was the very same dog.

That’s when I decided to stop feeding my pets commercial pet food.

It really doesn’t matter what dog health questions you have. It could be anything. The first thing you really need to try is stopping the commercial dog food.

If you’re a bit unsure, try it for a month. After an initial worsening of symptoms (signally a clearing), especially in older dogs, your dog will start to bloom.

What have you got to lose?

It’s really pointless going for a medication or other form of treatment if the food your dog is given is the problem.

So lets have a look at some common dog health questions, which may all be addressed by stopping the commercial pet food.

My dog

has a terrible skin or an itchy skin has arthritis is overweight has heart problems has spinal myelopathy is infertile regularly gives birth to dead puppies, or the puppies die soon after birth has kidney stones has hip dysplasia has tumours has cystitis

Holistic veterinarians has all been able to address the above dog health questions with a change of diet off commercial pet food.

Senior dog health is something that you should be concerned about, especially if you own an older dog. A senior dog’s needs are different from that of younger dogs, and its energy level is much lower, too. As a dog owner, you’re going to have to be more careful about handling senior dog health.

A dog is considered senior at different ages, depending on the breed. Smaller dogs may reach their senior years at the age of 10, and bigger breeds can be considered senior as early as five years old.

To be sure, consult your veterinarian about this matter. If your dog does indeed fall under the category of senior, then you should start being more aware of its needs and taking note of any developments. You may notice that your dog may be moving more slowly than it used to, and it is less resistant to diseases and may be having frequent bowel movements and urination.

As your pet grows older, you should look into a different kind of food for him, one that is specially formulated for older dogs. This kind of dog food can help maintain your dog’s weight, keeping it from tipping the scales, unlike those containing lesser nutrients that may make your pet vulnerable to diseases.

Even though your dog is aging, this doesn’t mean that you should just leave it alone and keep it from moving. Exercise is especially important for senior dog health, because simply having your dog do nothing but lie around will not help it in any way, and may even accelerate its body’s deterioration.

As part of being aware of senior dog health, you should also bear in mind that your dog will be susceptible to certain diseases.

If your dog suffers from arthritis, you will notice that its movements are stiff, and it may even have difficulty keeping up with you during walks. You can help ease this condition by helping your dog lose weight or through recommended medication.

If your dog’s hearing and vision are deteriorating, you should consult the veterinarian to find out what causes these changes. In the meantime, make sure you pet is kept out of harm’s way.

Periodontal disease is another sign that better attention must be given to senior dog health. Its symptoms include the buildup of plaque and even gingivitis. In this case, you should have your dog’s teeth cleaned regularly and don’t forget to give it chew toys as well.

You should remember to stay on top of senior dog health and always be alert when it comes to any changes taking place in your older dog. Schedule regular checkups with the vet and make sure that your senior dog still gets enough exercise. Your dog may be getting on in years, but this is no reason for you to stop enjoying its company and making sure it stays in good condition.