Symptoms & Solutions

This is probably a food-related issue. It can occur either because of a low-quality food (see How to read pet food labels) or because of food allergies. We would suggest switching to a high-quality and all-natural food. Try to avoid chicken as a protein source; it can frequently cause reactions in dogs since it has been fed for generations of dogs in the past decades. Any food fed for a long enough time can cause an allergy to develop to that protein source. We feel that it is a good idea to switch every so often between non-reaction causing protein sources to avoid this situation with your pet.

Hot Spots

Frequently, food can be the culprit with hot spots. Make sure to be feeding a high-quality food (see How to read pet food labels) and eliminate chicken from the diet completely. In Eastern medicine, chicken is considered to be a "heating" food and can often raise the body temperature of dogs, resulting in hot spots. This can be seen most dramatically in more active breeds such as working and herding dogs as well as sight hounds.

Also try adding a digestive enzyme such as our Animal Essentials Probiotics. It adds the appropriate bacteria and enzymes that will process the food and assimilate nutrition on a greater level, as well as reducing the "heat" in their system. This in turn should reduce the hot spots.

Constipation, Diarrhea and Excessive Gas

We cannot stress enough how this can be cause by food. If you are already on a good diet (see How to read pet food labels) then there are some other options you should pursue.

Add a digestive enzyme such as Animal Essentials Probiotics or Solid Gold Seameal. These enzymes help the digestive process by adding natural digestive bacteria and enzymes that help break down the food and allow it to pass into the system more readily.

Dandruff, Dry Coat and Shedding

Be sure that you are feeding a high-quality food (see How to read pet food labels) with good oils in the ingredient list. Adding Everyone's Best Friend Skin and Coat Supplement can GREATLY reduce shedding and give a beautiful luster and shine to your pet's coat. We also sell Timberwolf Organic's Wild Salmon Oil which is several of our customers' favorite supplements. Finally, we offer Solid Gold's Flaxseed Oil as another option. Important to note, feed only animal-grade flaxseed oil to your pet. Human-grade flaxseed oil is processed in a way that can cause severe health problems to you pet, but is harmless to us humans. All three of these options are high in Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids. By adding one ore more of these items to your pet's diet on a regular basis, you should see dramatic results in their skin and coat, with a reduction of shedding too!

Excessive Licking

This is another symptom of allergies. If you have not tried switching to a high-quality food, (see How to read pet food labels) please consider changing proteins and grains. The more rare the protein in the food, the better chance that your pet has not yet developed an allergy to the protein source. There may be a chance that this is a behavioral issue and could be dealt with in other ways; however the diet should be the first place to look for clues.

Joint Stiffness, Arthritis and Hip Problems

We sell an excellent product called Sea Jerky. It is natural sea chondroitin made from sea cucumbers, glucosamine made from sea crabs, kelp, MSM, natural vitamin E and beef. The natural ingredients allow your pet's body to absorb the supplement and put it to good use. Any extra is eliminated so there is no chemical buildup in their body. We have had tremendous results with Sea Jerky, and our clients are thrilled. We recommend double-dosing for the first two to three weeks to get a build-up in the system of the nutrients. We also have several other supplement treats that can be layered on in addition to the Sea Jerky.

Tear-stained Eyes and Face

When a dog whose fur is a light color and there are tear stains around the eyes, almost no amount of cleaning can remove the stains. The spots are caused by the tears being too alkaline. By adding Solid Gold's Scorbate to your pet's diet, you can balance the PH of their tears, and over time, the stains will disappear. It generally takes about 3-4 weeks of supplementation to diminish the stains.

Yellow Teeth and Gum Issues

Got Plaque? Try Dentatreat! Your pet will think it's a treat, you'll think it's a miracle! Sprinkle this powdered cheese on every meal you pet gets and the special blend of enzymatic cheeses will work on contact to clean off tartar and prevent future tartar growth. In a couple of weeks you'll see their front teeth start to whiten. In a month you'll have pets with clean, white teeth. You'll be amazed.

Sensitive Stomach, Vomiting and Digestive Tract Issues

Many times, digestive issues such as these can be relieved by using Animals' Apawthecary's Phytomucil Powder. For dogs and cats, add this blend of certified organic marshmallow root, licorice root, slippery elm bark and plantain leaf. It soothes the inner digestive tract walls naturally and effectively. It works best when the powder dosage is mixed with a small amount of water and added to the food.

At HEALTHY TAILS we strive to provide the finest products and nutritional information for you. Should you have any concerns or your pet suffers from any serious health conditions, it is always a good idea to review dietary changes or supplementation with your Vet.