Feline Asthma-Miss Muffet

Pets are a wonderful addition to our lives, until they become ill. This week Miss Muffet my five year long hair kitty started coughing and choking. We rushed her to the emergency vet, (it was after hours of course). The vet diagnosed her as having asthma and pulmonary hypertension.

I did a lot of searching on the internet to see what I could find out. I learned that both conditions are potentially life threatening. This is a little, well a lot scary for us. We began following the vets protocol, despite my aversion to using drugs. The results, while somewhat slow, are measurable in a positive direction.

I am still very much interested in holistic health care for my kitty, but sometimes you have to use traditional medicine in emergency situations. That is where balance is needed with complimentary therapies.

Here are the natural steps I am doing.

• Change cat litter to low dust and fragrance free.
• Avoid feeding foods with fish in them
• Feed only unproccessed food
• Use a HEPA style vacuum
• Support immune system function
• Try Feline Acupuncture from a qualified vet

I have put all of these into practice as of today and I am hoping to see good results from these positive changes.

Check back to see Miss Muffets progress.

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Feline Asthma

The last two days and nights I have sat up with my kitty Miss Muffet who was having difficulty breathing. We originally thought that she was having a hairball incident, since she is a long haired kitty.

Much to our dismay we now find she has asthma and pulmonary hypertension. The vet sent us home with an inhaler, just like people use and also told us that the hypertension is not treatable.

You probably don't know this about me but I am a never say never kind of person.

I looked for some natural and safe remedies that I could try on her. Here are the things I will doing for my kitty.

• Clean the house very well to eliminate any allergens
• Use a portable HEPA filter to clean the air
• Homeopathic remedies designed for pets
• Brush kitty every day
• Avoid feeding processed foods, especially fish
• vacuum and dust daily

I know these steps seem time consuming and many people will opt for the medication. These are effective in the short term, but I am looking for long term benefits. Also the medication needs to be given daily, sometimes more than once a day, limiting any out of town trips. I mean it is really hard to find a pet lover who is going to give the kitty the right care.

What homeopathic remedy will I be using?

Visit my website www.naturalforu.com and look for the page on Holisitc Pet Care and look for the link to PetAlive. They have great information on all natural remedies for your pets. I will be using the AmazaPet remedy.

Stay tuned for further updates.

Peppermint Usage and Profile

Peppermint Usage and Profile

Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

• Data: Reputed to be  a digestive stimulant. Jean Valnet, M.D., used peppermint to treat liver and respiratory diseases.
• Medical Properties: Anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antiparasitic (worms), antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, gallbladder/ digestive stimulant, pain-relieving, pain-reliever, curbs appetite.
• USES: Rheumatism/arthritis, respiratory infections (pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc), obesity, viral infections (Herpes simplex, herpes zoster, cold sores, human papilloma virus etc.), fungal infections/Candida, digestive problems, headaches, nausea, skin conditions (itchy skin, varicose veins, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis), scoliosis/lumbago/back problems.
• Fragrant Influence: Purifying and stimulating to the conscious mind. When inhaled, it improves/restores sense of taste by stimulating the trigeminal nerve. University of Kiel researchers found that peppermint blocked headache pain in a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study.
• Usage: Dilute 1 part EO with 2 parts carrier oil; (1) apply 1-2 drops on location, abdomen, temples (2) chakras, (3) directly inhale, (4) diffuse, or (5) take as dietary supplement).

To improve concentration, alertness, and memory, place 1-2 drops on the tongue. Inhale 5-10 times a day to curb appetite.

My favorite recipe for headache is to mix 3 drops of peppermint and 3 drops of lavender add to 1 Tablespoon carrier oil and massage temples.

Cautions: Avoid contact with eyes, mucus membranes, sensitive skin, or fresh wounds or burns. You should wash hands immediately after touching peppermint. If you forget and get peppermint in your eyes, rinse eyes with milk or carrier oil, never use water to rinse eyes. Do not apply to infants younger than 18 months of age.