Applying Nature To Pet Care

Who said alternative medicine could only help humans. Sameera Moledina finds ayurvedic concoctions that could cure your pet too

ONE of the basic concepts in ayurveda is that people and animals are composed of a mixture of three different energy types known as 'doshas', which describe their physical and psychological make-up. For anybody, the important thing is to maintain a balance of these three 'doshas'. Vets are now increasingly looking towards nutritional and alternative ways of supporting animals so that their bodies can heal themselves naturally.

The key to this is the immune system and the body's natural ability to maintain its own balance and health homeostasis. When the 'doshas' go out of balance, the immune system weakens, leaving the body more prone to illness.

Herbal medicines treat the underlying cause of the problem rather than just the symptoms. So, these herbal drugs help restore the balance of the body and enable it to mobilise its own healing power without harming vital organs. Here are our top 10 wonder ayurvedica formulae that will help cure your pet's most oft-occurring troubles!

EctoZee
Ectoparasitic infestations by lice, ticks, fleas and mites are very common in pets. EctoZee is a liquid concentrate of selected medicinal plants in a spray form, which safely eradicates these. It is non-toxic and a potent fungicide that cures fungal infections. Its anti-microbial properties help in simultaneous healing of skin lesions caused by the ectoparasites.

SplenDerm
Skin is the mirror of the pet's body condition. Pets are more vulnerable to dandruff and ectoparasites in the summer and during the rains. Ectoparasites and skin troubles lead to foul body odour, itching, loss of hair, less alertness, poor growth, uneasiness and rough coat. SplenDerm, a herbal remedy, helps reduce itching, uneasiness and irritability caused by dust, dirt and pollen grains, leaving your pet more active, alert, lively and playful. It also keeps your dog's or cat's skin clean and vitalises her/his hair coat with a lustrous and glossy look.

Dermanol
Skin lesions are caused by a variety of agents including external irritants, burns, allergens, bacteria, virus, parasites or fungus. Dermanol consists extracts and oils of natural plants such as Cedrus Deodara and is a broad-spectrum skin cream that can be used in a wide variety of skin troubles. Its antiseptic properties help minor skin grazes and wounds to heal quickly and control the effects of mange mites and skin conditions. It's fly-repellent and lick-proof, so the flies stay away and your dog or cat doesn't lick the area.

MobiFree
Arthritis is a condition that is characterised by inflammation of the joint. In dogs, the hip joint is the most commonly affected joint, which becomes extremely disabling. As your dog grows older, the situation worsens. Eventually the joints are distorted and deformed. MobiFree is a herbal food supplement that allows the body to rebuild, repair and recover from the debilitating effects of arthritis.

StressEaze
Stress in pets might induce fever, infections, fatigue and whelping. StressEaze, another herbal remedy, optimises the adaptability of the body against stress. It keeps your pet's heamoglobin count up. By being able to cope better, the pet suffers less, maintains metabolism and behaviour and resists pathogenic challenges. StressEaze also has antioxidants, Vitamin C and E, Niacinamide, keeping your dog fit, alert and active.

NephTone
Kidneys are vital organs and play a very important role in flushing the body of wastes and maintaining the body's fluid level. They also play a major part in regulating the acid-base balance. NephTone has extracts of herbs that are known for their beneficial actions on kidney functions and is a safe and effective kidney tonic.

BronSyp
Allergens like airborne pollen, moulds, dust, mites, smoke are known to cause breathing problems in dogs. Hay fever, kennel cough and secondary bacterial respiratory infections may adversely affect the health of a dog. BronSyp helps to establish normal breathing and build your dog's resistance to allergens.

MagaCal
MagaCal helps your dog absorb and use calcium, phosphorous and magnesium from its food. It's great for pups of sporting and hunting breed as it helps them to grow strong and healthy bones. It also helps process carbohydrates, proteins and fatty acids right.

MeboLiv
MeboLiv, as the name suggests, is for the liver. It helps your pet to recover quickly from liver dysfunction and protects her from potential damage from rickets, arthritis, worm infestation, canine distemper, infectious hepatitis and leptospirosis. It also increases the production of digestive enzymes.

ImmuPlus
ImmuPlus builds your pet's immunity to diseases and parasitic attacks and fortifies your pet's natural healing processes.