How To Help Your Pet and Horse Be Healthy This Spring

Each season of the year brings different challenges to our animal's health. (And opportunities too of course!)

As we enter Spring. Many cats, dogs and horses, and other animals too, will be starting to lose their winter coats.

Known as moulting, this natural process, can make your animal itchy. And of course lots of loose hair! It's completely natural. But what can you do to help?

How To Help Your Pet's Moulting Be Less Itchy!

Groom your animal often. This isn't as easy as it may seem though. For instance, choosing the right brush is essential. Different grooming brushes will be more suitable than others for your animals. For your horse, a traditional dandy brush could be perfect. But you can also buy many other types - such as the Striphair Gentle Groomer, which is more multi-purpose. My donkeys love this.

There's many types of brushes for your dog or cat. The type of coat your pet has will make a difference. A shorter coat will often need a different brush to a pet with longer hair. My dog loves the "Groomi" , although your dog may find another better.

Does your animal enjoy grooming? Not all animals like it, especially on certain parts of their body.

My top tip is to take it slow. If your animal needs to get used to the experience, then practice first of all with your hand. Stroking your animal for a few minutes each day, before adding the brush.

Then use the brush for a couple of minutes every day and build the time up slow. This may sound like it's all going to take a long time? Would it be quicker to go to a dog or pet groomer? If your animal dislikes grooming, this would be passing the 'problem' on. Sometimes though a professional may seem to get better results because they're confident.

If you're not confident, this could be for many reasons. But take the pressure off yourself! Grooming should be a chance to increase your bond with your animal.

There's different complementary therapies that you could use to help.

1. Aromatherapy. Or zoopharmacognosy as it's sometimes known. Research suggests that lavender can help to reduce stress in horses and dogs. Appropriate use of lavender as an essential oil, can be worth trying. Read more here. And it can be useful for people too in relieving your stress!
2. Homeopathy. There's dozens of different homeopathic remedies. Including some used to reduce excitability and anxiety. Your veterinary surgeon trained in homeopathy will be able to advise on the best one(s) to use.
3. Bach Flower Remedies. The 38 different remedies in this system (plus the separate Rescue Remedy combination remedy) all help with the emotions. Can be used with animals and with people! The right one(s) can be used to help relieve stress and anxiety. There are trained Bach Flower Remedy practitioners for animals you can contact. Or take a course with the Bach Centre to learn yourself more about this amazing natural system.

How To Stop Ticks Affecting Your Pet's Skin Health This Spring

Don't forget to check for ticks. These small critters, can have a significant impact on skin health. Although they can be found all year around. There sometimes can seem to be more of them about in the spring (and summer).

So don't dismiss itchiness with your pet being due to moulting. Do check for ticks, as these are best identified and sorted sooner rather than later! They not only can cause severe itching. But also skin infections and more severe ailments such as Lyme Disease (and others). Read this post to learn more about helping your pet naturally from the trauma of ticks.

3 Top Tips To Beat Your Pet's Spring Allergies

Allergies from plants as they blossom and bud can cause irritation. Not only to airways, but also laying on your animals coat can create itchiness. This itchiness can be so bad that your animal scratches or rubs so much that hair falls out. Yes really - research shows that animals are as affected as humans by pollen allergies.

Here's 3 tips to naturally help your animal.

1. Bee Pollen - this natural supplement can be used to help the immune system and so improve the immune response to allergens. Read more here.

2. Aromatherapy - different essential oils can be beneficial to alleviate allergies. Including chamomile and peppermint. Read more here.

3. Seabuckthorn - this natural plant has many potential health and wellbeing benefits for your pet or horse. Read more here.

Lastly, if you're concerned that your pet or horse (or other animal), has an allergy. Then don't delay in identifying this and speaking to your vet. Skin irritations not only can make the coat look in poor condition. But also cause distress. Delaying treatment can lead to more health issues developing.

Remember.. With any ailment it's important to get Veterinary advice before using a therapy to help. Consider too that what works with one animal may not necessarily work with another.

Find out more about dozens of natural animal therapies here at Taranet. Or read other articles in this Natural Pet Health Blog. Take a look at the sitemap here to explore!

About the Author

Suzanne Harris is founder of this Taranet website at www.taranet.co.uk, and also provides business coaching to horse and dog care and veterinary professionals.