9 Easy Ways To Keep Your Dogs & Cats Healthy

• Posted on 13 October 2022
• By Dr. Jill Tack, Board Certified Naturopathic Doctor
• Posted in cats, Common Dog & Cat Health Issues, Dog & Cat Nutrition Tips, Dog & Cat Supplements, Dog & Cat Wellness, dogs, Earth Friendly & Sustainable Pet Products
• 0

Pet Wellness Month is celebrated every October. Wellness means a lot of things to different people. And it’s not much different when it comes to including our pets. At The Pet Beastro, we believe that Pet Wellness is all-encompassing using different holistic modalities to keep the body in balance. Using a head-to-tail approach, we seek both internal and external resources for proper health. 

Pet Wellness Month is celebrated every October. Wellness means a lot of things to different people. And it’s not much different when it comes to including our pets. We can look at wellness from a physical standpoint, but mental and emotional wellness plays a role in the physical being as well as everyday mood enhancement. Oftentimes, we need to take a look at the humans in the house and see how they may play a role in the environment for others living with us... which may happen to be your cats and dogs. As cliche as Body, Mind, and Soul sounds, it really does make up the perfect harmony for our well-being.

Your Pet’s Health Is Our Highest Priority

At The Pet Beastro, we believe that Pet Wellness is all-encompassing using different holistic modalities to keep the body in balance. Using a head-to-tail approach, we seek both internal and external resources for proper health. 

You can start small by reducing toxins in the environment and using remedies to help support your pet's immune system and gut function. Just these few items alone go a long way (even for human caregivers)!

External influences that can reduce the health of your pet may include toxins (such as plants, poisons, car chemicals & exhaust, etc), allergens, scents (plug-ins, scented cleaners, detergents, etc.), cigarette smoke, cleaning chemicals, lawn fertilizers, tap water, chemical flea treatments, and electromagnetic pollution (wifi, modems, etc.) to name a few. Can you think of one item in your home that you can remove or reduce?

Internal influences that can reduce the health of your pet include ingestion of poisonous mushrooms or plants such as lilies, poor quality food, carcinogenic food additives, overly processed foods high in corn, wheat, or soy, inedible objects (socks, rocks, crayons, etc.), long term use of pharmaceuticals, over-vaccination, alcohol, raw yeast, xylitol (often found in gum and peanut butter), and cooked bones are a good start to the avoidance list. Is there an item on this list that you can remove or reduce?

Signs Of Pain Or Discomfort In Dogs & Cats

We can all relate to what physical wellness may feel or look like. Sometimes, it takes just getting out of bed in the morning for us to feel physical ailments that creep up on us in life. Pets on occasion show the same slowness to getting up in the morning. The simplicity of just being able to physically move our body free from pain or stiffness could be part of your pet’s wellness journey. We often see the ease of movement get interrupted in our life journey from age or disease diagnosis. This may include moderate to severe arthritis, physical injuries, surgery of any kind, genetics, or chronic ailments. There may be:

• stiffness to walking 
• not being able to run or walk the same distances
• panting 
• pacing
• unable to get comfortable 
• and shyness towards walking on tile or wood floors 

All of these signs may lead you to discover that your pet may be showing signs of pain or discomfort in the physical form. 

Symptoms of Stress In Pets

The mental and emotional component is just as important as we have seen more animals have anxiety stressors that affect their overall wellness. 

Some symptoms to look out for in your dog could be: 

• panting 
• pacing 
• whining
• cries out 
• acts destructive
• or exhibits other symptoms of stress

This may just be the start of what they are trying to tell you about their emotional state. If you feel your dog may be experiencing a higher level of anxiety or stress, keep a tab on the type of behavior they are exhibiting. This can give you greater insight into their emotional state and reach out for help accordingly. 

Signs to look out for if your cat acts: 

• destructive
• aggressive
• cries often with distress
• hide's excessively
• or avoids the use of their litter box 

These symptoms should not be ignored. It's always a good idea to do a self-evaluation as well. Our pets are oftentimes energetic sponges of the household environment or taking on the human energy in the house. If one of the humans in the house is stressed your pet may be mimicking your behavior.

Tips to Improve Your Pet's Overall Wellness

If you don’t know where to start, the list below may help give you the boost to start your pet's wellness improvement journey.

Our team is here and willing to support you in improving your pet’s health and overall wellness with natural options. If your fur kids are ever exhibiting signs of physical pain or discomfort, after consulting your veterinarian, give our wellness services a try.

Stop by our retail location in Madison Heights, Michigan, just north of Detroit, which is open Monday through Saturday 10:00 am - 8:00 pm, and Sundays from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, and check out our gut-supporting supplements, as well as mental stimulation products for your pets.  Also, visit our 24/7 natural pet food, treats, toys, and supplies store online If you feel like you need help with a meal plan for your cat or dog. We offer one-on-one Nutrition Consultations to find the right food for your pet.  Message us on Facebook for any inquiries! We’d love to help you find some healthy tips to improve your pet's health and wellness!