Are Canine Supplements a Doggy Do or a Doggy Don’t?

Popping a multivitamin every morning can help you to maintain your wellness, but what about man’s best friend? Should you look after your dog’s wellbeing with a canine supplement as well?

Just like in humans, vitamins and minerals are essential components of a doggy diet. In your pooch’s body, vitamins and minerals help to regulate his heartbeat, boost the ability of the circulatory system to deliver nutrients to his body, and govern his neural activity. But, if high-quality dog foods are specifically formulated to deliver all the nutrients dogs need to stay healthy, why do manufacturers produce so many different dog dietary supplements?

Some tail-waggers have special needs, such as a weakened immune system, and so supplementation can be a smart choice. Various people attest to the fact that their dogs have overcome chronic diseases, or experienced relief from certain symptoms, with the help of canine supplements. Supplementation can also be used as a preventive measure against future health problems, but you should consult your little mongrel’s vet beforehand because some advise against supplementation if your dog’s diet is nutritionally complete. This is due to the face that certain vitamins, minerals, and herbs given in large doses may be harmful to some dogs.

However, processed commercial dog food has lost much of the nutrition present in the original ingredients, and so some vets do advise supplementation as an important safeguard against deficiencies. This is because some deficiencies are too minor to detect, but could still eventually lead to chronic health problems. As long as you administer the supplements according to the directions on the label, these vets argue that supplementation is a safety net and will not hurt dogs.

At present, dog supplements are not closely regulated, and so you should inform your vet before starting your mutt on a supplementation programme, as he or she will have more access to the latest doggy news and advice. Make sure you buy your supplements from reputable manufacturers, and adhere to animal specifications. This means never giving your dog a supplement packaged for a human or for a different type of animal, or vice versa, because when it comes to small animals, accurate dosage matters. Finally, remember to treat herbs and supplements like any other medication or dietary change: if your dog experiences any sudden change in health or behaviour, consult your vet immediately.

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Are Canine Supplements a Doggy Do or a Doggy Don’t?

Categories: disease prevention, Dogs, vitamin deficiency

Kiddie Chiropractics: More Children Getting Backs Cracked

More and more parents are turning to complementary wellness to improve their children’s wellbeing, but if you’re thinking it’s something as gentle as natural herbs or fish oil supplements, think again. These days, children are increasingly having their necks, backs and ankles cracked by a chiropractor, and this is even the case for newborns.

According to a 2010 study from the International Chiropractic Paediatric Association, chiropractics are the most common type of complementary and alternative care for children, with an estimated 86 million paediatric visits being made to chiropractors throughout the United States, Canada and Europe in 2007, the most recent data available. Dr Sean Curry, East Bank Chiropractic, commented, ‘My most rewarding visits are with kids, because they don’t have a lot of scar tissue build up – they respond to care the quickest and the fastest.’

A number of wellness concerns lead parents to bring their children to a chiropractor. The most prevalent reason is an ear infection, but others include cold, flu, asthma, colic, sleep disorders, reflux, ADHD and autism. Dr Jeanne Ohm, CEO of the International Chiropractic Paediatric Association, explained, ‘These kids have gone through the medical protocol and have plateaued. They are not functioning at a level the parents would like – that’s when they go see a chiropractor.’

Dr Tim Erickson, owner of Symmetry Chiropractic and Acupuncture, said that as the number of paediatric chiropractors increases, the number of parents wanting their child to see one does, too. According to Erickson, some parents believe that chiropractics have made their own lifestyle better, and so want the same for their children. Erickson explained that this is known as the “wellness factor,” in which people pursue health enhancement and disease prevention.

However, if you’re worried that the amount of force placed on adults is the same amount placed on children, and are concerned for how safe it is for that small a body, Curry noted that whilst the technique is the same, the approach is different. Sometimes you’re not using more than a finger-touch’s worth of pressure, Curry clarified; ‘It’s a lot less forceful. You don’t have to deliver a lot of force into the spine to get it to react.’

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Kiddie Chiropractics: More Children Getting Backs Cracked

Categories: Children, chiropractice, disease prevention