Humidty and Your Pet’s Health.

Increasing or decreasing the moisture in the air is a KEY natural remedy for many dog and cat diseases.

Here are ones you should be aware of.

Coughing

Your dog coughs because his airway is irritated by something- it could be inflammation, fluid, or infection. Kennel cough usually shows up as a sudden ‘goose honking’ cough; it is very loud, and usually continuous. Heart disease will produce a cough that often starts at night, when your dog is lying down, and may be ‘wet’ with fluid. Tracheal collapse will produce a cough when the trachea, (main airway) is compressed together- it more often sounds like gagging and that you dog is trying to throw up a hairball.

Remember having your mother put a ‘steamer’ in your room when you had a cough as a child? Well this also works well for dogs. Adding humidity to the air will calm an irritated airway. Put on a humidifier or put your pet in the bathroom and turn on the shower.

Cat Flu

Signs is a cat with a runny nose, often accompanied by swollen and runny eyes. Most cats will also be sneezing. Your cat may be lethargic, and unwilling to eat or drink. The cat flu is recurring in most cats, with repeated bouts of sneezing, runny eyes, and runny nose. There are two feline viruses are responsible for most cases of cat flu, a Feline Herpes virus ( Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis ) and Feline Calicivirus. Some cats can be infected as kittens and constantly harbor the virus, making them prone to repeated infections. In most cases, the virus will run its course in 7-10 days, so supportive care is needed.

In veterinary practice, many a client was able to find relief with increasing moisture.Humidity is fabulous for easing congestion and improving breathing. Use a humidifier or put your cat in the bathroom and turn up the shower.

Fleas

Fleas are one of THE most common reasons that dog and cat owners seek out a Veterinary clinic, yet unfortunately all that the Veterinarian can offer is a variety of potentially toxic insecticides. Dog and Cat owners are becoming increasingly concerned about the high number of side effects from conventional flea medication, and many are seeking some of the safer, holistic options of natural flea control.

DEHUMIDIFY. Humidity is vital for flea survival. Flea eggs need humidity of 75% to hatch, flea larvae need 50% humidity to survive. For example in places with adequate humidity, 20% of the eggs survive. In dry areas with LOW humidity, less than 5% of the eggs survive. Using a dehumidifier in your home will go a long way in stopping the flea cycle.

Allergies.

Allergies in our dogs primarily show up as chronic itching, hair loss, recurring ear infections, recurring skin infections, thickened skin, blackened skin, excessive paw licking. Unfortunately conventional allergy treatments are limited and may harm your dog.

Humidifiers can also reduce asthma symptoms by clearing mucous out of the airways. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) recommends humidifiers for the treatment of sinusitis, because the steamed air helps relieve nasal congestion.

If your dog or cat has problems with Allergies, Coughing, Cat Flu or Fleas, you should consider a simple, safe and inexpensive home remedy of modifying humidity in your home.

Heal Your Pet At Home!

Best Wishes,

DrAndrew Jones, DVM