Alternative Pet Care Pittsburgh PA

Alternative Pet Care

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By Robert S. Goldstein, V.M.D., and Susan J. Goldstein

It’s no surprise that just as the human members of your family tend to get sick during the winter, so do the dogs and cats of your household.

Wild animals become conditioned to changes in their environments over a period of time. Not true for dogs and cats living in homes and apartments, where they often hang around an open window or heat vent to stay cool or keep warm. Domesticated animals are also more affected than people by variations in the weather. Unlike us, they do not have sweat glands in their skin to help them modulate their temperature. They have to make adjustments via their upper respiratory system—by panting—or by sitting near that window or vent. The stress of these temperature changes can tax dog and cat immune systems, thus making them more susceptible to illness and, in winter specifically, to upper respiratory infections.

While rapid changes in weather may hasten an infection, the underlying cause of sickness is a weak immune system. The immune system is orchestrated by many glands (such as the adrenal and thymus glands) as well as protective cells (white blood cells), proteins (globulin) and antioxidants (vitamins, minerals and enzymes). When these functions are compromised or the body’s nutrients are depleted, the immune system slows down, setting the stage for infection. So it is imperative, especially during winter, to give your dog or cat the necessary nutrients to fuel his defenses.

The respiratory system, besides being responsible for taking in life-giving oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide, also rids the body of toxins and metabolic wastes in the form of mucus and phlegm. Pathogenic bacteria and viruses can invade this open environment and cause respiratory infections. Bronchitis, sinusitis and pneumonia, as well as viral upper respiratory infections in cats and kennel cough (parainfluenza) in dogs, are the most common problems.

Many symptoms of upper respiratory infections initially appear the same. A simple coughing episode or runny eyes may look very similar to the beginnings of a full-blown upper respiratory infection in cats or infectious bronchitis in dogs. So, first and foremost, if your animal is experiencing a persistent cough along with wheezing or runny eyes and nose, visit your family veterinarian and get a diagnosis and the proper treatment immediately. We also recommend that you seek the advice of a veterinarian who practices or is open to alternative methods. In doing so, your animal companion will benefit from a kinder, gentler medical approach to his or her condition with fewer or no side effects. You can get a list of holistic veterinarians from the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA).

One of the best natural prevention and treatment programs for upper respiratory infections is the garlic, echinacea and vitamin C triad. Research suggests that vitamin C can effectively battle conditions ranging from the common col...

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