So Barney had quite a few toys that he loves to play with - he has his plague rat, and a rattle mouse and his jingle bear. Today I wanted to show three of his very favorites.
First, there is this toy, which is a fuzzy knit square that was made specially for him by the daughter of Kelly, the nurse at our vets office. He loved it immediately and I use it sometimes to distract him from biting. He plays with it a lot and I cant always find it. He has a brown one somewhere in the house but it seems to be hidden at the moment. 
Next is a new toy that he just got yesterday and immediately fell in love with. This is a manatee toy that we bought from Melvin's mom's Etsy Shop. He grabbed it and was playing with it in the carrier, then in his tent - you can see he is in the tent with both toys, and he just goes crazy playing in it with his toys - the whole tent literally goes flying around the floor (the other cats do this too).
Finally, we have another favorite toy, although the owner of that toy isn't real happy about it - it is Floyd's tail! Barney loves to chase the other cat's tails (so does Virgil) but he prefers Floyds, because it is the longest and floofy-est.
Alternative/Natural Remedies for Pets
Yes, for pets! the use of Aromatherapy, Homeopathy, Herbs & Energy Work are all effective on animals.
I have recently had people contact me that have been using alternative health care products and a proper diet for themselves and their family for quite some time but were just not aware that natural remedies could be used on their pets. I get a myriad of questions such as which natural remedies can be used on dogs, cats, horses, birds, and rodents? Is it true that essential oils really kill cats?
Can I use these essential oils on my budgie? My dog has an infection – is there a natural remedy that can help?
First of all, I want to make it clear that while natural remedies and alternative health care are effective and safe for animals that they should never been seen as the “magic bullet” and cure alls but rather should be always be used in conjunction with a species appropriate diet/proper nutrition which is really the corner stone of health. Natural remedies should be seen and used as support for the immune system, aiding in balancing and enhancing the body’s own innate healing means.
Success Stories Abound
I have seen first hand and have received stories about animals that have been successfully treated with natural remedies:
Birds dosed with homeopathic remedies who survived debilitating viruses; dogs who bounce back from digestive injuries with the use of energy work and liver cleansing; horses with colic that a veterinarian said would have to be put down, but who pulled through after intensive treatment with essential oils;
puppies with Parvo who live to old age and many more.
Alternative medicine can be just as effective for animals as for humans. However, it’s important to remember that natural modalities are potent medicine. We must exercise due caution in using herbs, homeopathic remedies, essential oils and other natural remedies on our pets, just as we would on ourselves or other people. If you don’t have training or experience in the modality you choose to use, please, have a consultation with a holistic veterinarian, homeopathic veterinarian or veterinary naturopath, don’t try to guess and dose on your own.
Sensitive to Smells – and to Energy
Our dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rats, mice, birds, and horses all have a much more acute sense of smell then we humans do. This means they may react especially strongly to remedies like ,essential oils that have a potent aroma. Don’t let this discourage you from using your preferred healing techniques on your pets – but do be aware that you should use less of an essential oil or herb on a cat, mouse, bird or even a dog than you would on yourself.
*Please note: I do not personally use nor recommend any essential oils except Young Living Essential Oils.
In many cases you will want to dilute the essential oils or only diffuse them. I have found that with smaller animals, the bottoms of the feet/paws are the safest place to apply essential oils (pets have reflexology points, too!) and that just diffusing for animals like cats and birds works very well.
The stories about cats dying from exposure to essential oils are a myth. Anecdotal evidence and personal experience have shown that if you use oils from pure, organic sources (Young Living Essential Oils) that have been distilled at only low temperatures, without solvents, from organically grown plants; they are safe to use on cats in small measure. However, please use extreme caution if you are uncertain of the source of an essential oil or how they have been pressed. Adulterated oils are not safe! Please consult with an expert in the use of Essential Oils to make sure you are using the correct oil for the problem.
This sensitivity often extends to hands-on healing and energy work. Our animals are highly attuned to energies. Be gentle with them, and explain what you’re doing and that your intent is only to help. If they react negatively to energy work, pay attention and back off. Most animals will respond very positively to energy work if we pay attention to their reactions.
Tips and Suggestions
Everyday pet problems tend to respond well to simple natural remedies.
Even a beginner can use homeopathic or flower essences of “Rescue Remedy” to treat stress and anxiety their pets, or use essential oils like Thieves to clean up pet odors and bacteria in the home.
Some of the best natural modalities are preventative:
Use a natural pet shampoo without toxic chemicals and made with essential oils;
Give them an herbal supplement that boosts the immune system instead of using poisonous flea & tick products (which have been known to kill both dogs and cats);
Feed them a raw species appropriate raw diet or at the very least, cook for them and avoid processed pet foods.
Incorporating natural products and remedies into your dog’s life and your home can be a great way to respect their health and everyday wellness as you do our own.
© Dr Jeannie Thomason The Whole Dog
