Celebrate National Holistic Pet Day

• Posted on 22 August 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, Mental Stimulation Tips For Dogs & Cats
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A holistic approach to well-being is nothing new for humans, but applying this type of lifestyle to household pets is still a growing trend. Holistic healing has been a practice for thousands of years dating back to Traditional Chinese Medicine over 2,000 years ago. Those who practiced were in tune with the body, mind, and spiritual components of holistic healing. Celebrate National Holistic Pet Day with us and learn more about traditional, natural ways of healing and caring for your pets.

August 30th, 2022, is National Holistic Pet Day. We want to take a moment to share valuable insights to help our pets have more healthy and fulfilling lives.

What Does Holistic Mean?

A holistic approach to well-being is nothing new for humans, but applying the lifestyle to household pets is still a growing trend. It starts with the basics of good nutrition, lots of physical exercise, and even mental stimulation. Holistic healing has been a practice for thousands of years, dating back to Traditional Chinese Medicine over 2,000 years ago. Those who practiced were in tune with the body, mind, and spiritual components of holistic healing. 

Before modern medicine existed, our family doctors used herbology and homeopathy to heal our ailments. Many current drugs are derived from healing isolated chemical constituents from plants worldwide. Treating the body as a whole is a better way to think of health, not just masking symptoms to fix what ails us. Looking at diet, lifestyle, mood, and more gives us a glimpse into our health and our pet's overall wellness. 

Eastern & Western Medicine For Cats & Dogs

At The Pet Beastro, we think both eastern and western medicines have a place in our world. Skilled surgeons and specialists can help on our healing journey when diagnostic testing is needed, or broken bones need resetting. We often don't give enough credit to our medical doctors in their specialty, just as herbal medicine often doesn't get its time to shine. 

Why Natural Pet Health

Often, we should consider plant medicine as our first option of healing. It is an inexpensive medicine to support the body's immune system, digestive system, urinary health, mental health, and so much more! Plants are complicated structures with trace minerals, vitamins, nutrients, and ways to support the body with different qualities. If you are starting your journey with using medicinal plants, I recommend three to five herbal books to cross-reference for your learning. Many well-known herbalists have books full of recipes, herbal preparations, when and how to pick or choose herbs, guides, and information.

Real Food For Cats & Dogs 

We see herbs with different classifications based on the amount you can consume, as some herbal remedies are more potent than others. We offer high-quality, pet-safe herbal supplements for many typical cat and dog ailments. Think about how you use spices and herbs to cook. You can typically consume more significant portions of fresh culinary herbs than when you use a dried or powdered form, and fresh food always has more nutrients and health benefits. We also can't forget about nutrition! "real food" is often considered holistic or alternative when historically that was our main staple for supporting our health. We strive only to offer biologically appropriate, sustainable, non-GMO, and healthy dog and cat food and treat options. We encourage raw pet food options to get the most nutrients possible from the Earth. 

Pets Need Mental Stimulation

Challenging your pet's mind can be as exhausting as long, intense physical activity. Bored dogs tend to be naughty dogs. When trouble breeds, this could also lead to other emotionally connected behaviors such as anxiety, panic, fear, trembling, or destructive behaviors. Cats can exhibit some of the same behaviors but may be displayed differently than our dog friends. Cats tend to hide, hair pull, excessively groom, and potty outside the litter box when showing emotional imbalances.

Before our cats and dogs were domesticated, they roamed the wild. They hunted, played, and encountered life with great curiosity. As they spend more time in our homes, we still need to provide mental stimulation, which is excellent for when the weather is extreme and outdoor play isn't an option. Any opportunity we can give our cats and dogs to root around in a toy or enrichment mat allows them to use their brain and figure out challenges. At The Pet Beastro, we offer many interactive options, from puzzle feeders to safe toys made out of recyclable materials and more. 

Exercising Your Cat or Dog

Our bodies need to move. Just like humans, our pets feel better if they are given opportunities to stretch their legs and play. Jumping, running, walking, and other play help move the lymphatic system in our pets (and the human owners too!), carry oxygen and nutrients into cells, and support the cardiovascular system and lungs. When adding in exercise, it can also help your pet maintain or lose weight. Keeping your pet at its optimal weight is ideal. If you have an indoor cat, you may want to include vertical spaces or an exercise wheel to help increase physical activity. Exercise can be a great bonding time with your pet if you make time to exercise and play at the same time, and it often helps our cats and dogs feel content and tends to reduce unwanted behaviors due to boredom and anxiety. 

*If you feel your dog or cat is exhibiting unwanted behaviors, it would be worth chatting with one of our team members for a supplement recommendation or a nutrition consult. 

Alternative Pet Health

Health and wellness are continuous throughout your lifetime. Your health and your pet's health are worthy of clean water, non-GMO food, natural treats, safe toys, balanced mental health, and daily exercise. Sometimes, life gets the best of us, and we get off track. When that happens, rebalance and refocus to continue your dog or cat's health and wellness journey!

If you have further questions, any of our staff members can help you find the right option for your pets! Stop by our retail location in Madison Heights, Michigan, just north of Detroit, or visit our 24/7 natural pet food, treats, toys, and supplies store online, or message us on Facebook for any inquiries!