Doggie Detox? Kittie Colonics?
Spring is almost upon us, and it’s a good time to think about a detox program for your pets. (And yourself too!)
Eastern Medicine Detox Philosophy
Why spring? While detoxification is an ongoing essential process in all living beings, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, spring is the season associated with the Wood/Liver Element. This represents a new growth and elimination phase – a clearing out of the old stuff stored over the winter to get ready for something new. In nature, wild animals (even carnivores) seek out the new spring growth of various plants that have a cleansing effect on their bodies.
Western Medicine Detox Philosophy
In Western medicine, the liver is the most important organ in the body responsible for capturing and breaking down toxins in the body, which eventually get eliminated primarily in the urine and stools. These toxins accumulate in the body from the processes of normal metabolism, and also from exposure to industrial chemicals in the environment including our food and water sources. (Toxins in commercial pet foods is a whole other huge topic.)
The Benefits of Detox
Studies have shown that our pets often have significantly higher levels of these harmful toxins than we do – see the recent report by Environmental Working Group. Increased levels of these toxins have been linked to many health problems including allergies, arthritis, organ dysfunction, immune diseases and even cancer. So the spring, when the body is in its most active elimination phase, is the most efficient time to support and enhance the body’s natural detoxification processes.
Helping Your Pet Detox Naturally
So how do we help our pets detox? Don’t worry – we don’t recommend colonics or extended fasting for your pet. There are some very simple, gentle and effective treatments available that don’t cause any significant adverse side effects. Herbs such as dandelion root and burdock promote the elimination of toxins into the bile, which then pass into the intestinal tract. Fiber supplements can then be used to help bind these toxins and eliminate them from the body. The veterinarians at Hawthorne Veterinary Clinic can design a detoxification program for your special canine or feline companion. Call for an appointment or consultation.
