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​​1. Reduce vaccines once your dog has had its first year of vaccines. Every state in the U.S. now has a 3-year rabies law, however, depending on what city or municipality you live in, the laws may be more restrictive, requiring every-year or every two-year rabies vaccines. Find a vet willing to give you a 3-year Thimerosal Free rabies vaccine. Do not combine vaccines. Give each in single doses and several weeks apart (a month is best). Distemper and Rabies given together have been known to cause aggression in dogs. Do not give Canine Hepatitis to puppies. Wait a little later on. Flu vaccines will not keep your dog from getting the flu, just like human flu vaccines. They are also loaded with heavy metals and toxins. Avoid! Bordetella is a vaccine I wouldn't recommend either. If you must, use the nasal or oral medication. Do not use the injectable. For dogs under 12 lbs, give only half the vaccine. For Rabies you have to use full vaccine due to laws but the others you should use only half. It also has been said that in white dogs, vaccines can be more harmful. You can also use Lyssin for Rabies and/or Thuja for other vaccine reactions. Reactions can show up, up until approximately 45 days after the vaccine. Also add a tad of Zinc (depending on size of dog-no need to overdose) for the three days prior to vaccines along with an hour before to help protect the immune system.
Make sure your pet is healthy and/or not going in for surgery on the same day.
​I recommend titers!

2. Look into alternative heartworm preventatives, like Nosodes. Heartworm medications have been known to cause cancer and other illnesses. IF YOU MUST give these medications, they are to be given only when the weather is above 57 degrees for 2 weeks or more. Also the actual prescribed time for giving is every 45 days. It was set to 30 days because us humans can remember that easier, but this is not good for our pets. So mark your calendar every 45 days or go all natural.
​FYI- nothing PREVENTS heartworms. NOTHING! No medications no natural products. It only helps to kill off any that the dog may obtain from an infected mosquito.  So this is why you need to do heartworm tests every 6-12 months, no matter what you are giving. So why not give something safe to ease your mind and let it work naturally while you keep an eye on any heartworms by testing.
​3. Do not just jump on the bandwagon and give medications prescribed by your vet until you do your research. Find out the risks involved. Like NSAIDs for example. Vets are required by law to give you a pamphlet/insert from these medications when prescribing them but I have yet to see or hear of any vet ever doing this. Nor have I heard them give you a verbal warning to these medications. Same applies for Steroids. Limit your medications as much as possible. And find a vet that works WITH you and not against you. If your vet is against raw diets and pushes pet foods on you, FIND A NEW VET! A holistic vet is your best bet in most cases.
​​4. Feed your pet a healthy species appropriate diet. You can learn in detail in my  book. Learn about how horrible kibble is for pets. Feed raw or home cooked with added supplements for the healthiest diet. (Organic foods are best but costly) Kibble causes many many illnesses and disease. Pet foods are not your healthiest foods overall and kibble is made with the worst ingredients. I know, you read the label and it looks good right? It has to go through a cooking process and a lot of hidden ingredients are not on the label. This is a very important step in your pets life to keeping him/her healthy. Don't skimp here. And don't ask your vet on what to feed. They are not trained in nutrition. Veterinarians received a one day course from the pet food companies. That's it!
​5. Filtered water is just as important as the diet or anything else your pet may need. Water contains very toxic chemicals including pesticides, medications, fluoride, chlorine etc. All of which can cause serious problems on a long term basis. It is extremely important that you use filtered water for your pets and you. (Don't forget what you bathe in too.) Clean water is safe water and the only way to clean it is using a good filter. Well water and bottled water may contain harmful chemicals as well. There are so many unknowns in our water systems that it is safer to filter. Many of these chemicals have caused cancer in humans as well as pets. You can invest in a good filter for as little as $100. Check out some of these.
​6. Do 6-12 month wellness visits having blood work and urine tests done along with heartworm testing if your pet is not on heartworm meds. It takes 6 months for the little boogers to show up on tests so if you test every 6 months or so, you are on top of it. They do make all natural heartworm treatments (see several options here) to use for just in case. It takes a long time for the heartworms mature and kill your pet so, if you test for them every 6-12 months, they will never be far enough along to do any damage. DO NOT EVER use the deadly injections that the vets want to use for heartworm treatment. It is for the money ONLY! Nothing more. It is VERY hard on your pets system and can possibly kill them. And you have to crate them for months. You do not have any of those worries on natural treatments. If you have never had your dog x-rayed and is a large breed or a breed predisposed to hip dysplasia, have the hip area x-rayed at age of 3+. Your pup should be on a good joint supplement at 6+ months. This will help to PREVENT other diseases in the future.
​7. Avoid household chemicals. Avoid air fresheners, glass cleaners, furniture polishes, oven cleaners, bleach, laundry soaps loaded with chemicals, dishwashing soaps for hand and dishwasher. Avoid lotions for you and don't touch your pet. Do not put anything on your body and touch your pets without thoroughly cleansing your hands and arms etc. Do not bathe your pets in dishwashing soaps. Use ONLY safe non-chemical type shampoos. Fleas get washed off no matter what you use. Ticks aren't coming off so you will need to pluck these out carefully. Even if you use a dip or shampoo to kill ticks, they will still be implanted in your dog. Here is an article to read on how to remove. Use safe laundry soaps and look for the best liquid dishwashing soap you can find. I am still looking for the best and safest. Right now I am using Seventh Generation although it still contains some unwanted ingredients, but it isn't anything like Dawn or those other regular liquid products. Wash your bedding and dogs bedding with it. For glass and surface cleaner, mix 1 part filtered water, 1 part white vinegar, 1 part rubbing alcohol. Great for windows and cleaning countertops or pretty much anything. Even kills ants on contact. Carpet cleaning solutions, avoid at all costs. Same for upholstery cleaners. Use Vinegar and water. For absorbing odors and spot cleaning, pour a little vinegar on spot, then sprinkle baking soda on it. Watch to foam and do its work..then steam clean or vacuum it up. For hard floors, use water only or water and a little vinegar. Dishwasher pods here. I have been using these and love them. They smell really nice too. Dryer sheets here. OR better yet, add some WOOL dryer balls. 

In case your dog gets skunked, use this SAFE product. 
​From a purchaser of the product linked above for getting skunked:

Several nights ago I was violently thrust into the seventh circle of hell when my two enormous Great Pyrenees were thoroughly sprayed by what I can only assume to be some vicious marauding gang of soul-sucking skunks. After the initial shock to my respiratory system wore off, and the horror subsided, I turned to google in search of remedies. I went to Walmart and purchased a shopping cart full of supplies ranging from de skunk shampoo to tomato juice, peroxide, dawn dish detergent and many more. Over the next three days I lathered, slathered, sprayed, soaked, doused, sprinkled, and poured these items onto my very furry, very disgruntled 100 plus pound beasts. Yet, to all of our despair the skunk stench ensued. On the third day, I jumped on Amazon and found the MIRACLE I was searching for! After promptly receiving Nature's Miracle in the mail, I crossed myself, and spread the contents of two bottles on my distraught dogs. Waited 5-10 mins, shampooed them, rinsed, and VOILA! Skunk stank COMPLETELY GONE! I give this glorious product a hundred star rating.... plus a hundred more! I thank you Nature's Miracle. And my dogs send their slobbery kisses to whomever concocted this phenomenal product.
​8. Keep your pet as an indoor pet. Yes they can go out and enjoy the sunshine and play together, but night time they belong indoors with you. Doesn't matter what the weather is like. I do not believe in any pet being outdoors sleeping at night. Do not tether them in the backyard (against the law) or unsupervised in the front yard while tethered. A dog chained or tied up without socialization will become an aggressive dog.

9. Invest in good dog beds as well as pet food bowls. High Quality stainless steel bowls, ceramic or glass is your best and is less likely to having bacteria grow in it. A nice comfy orthopedic pet bed is your best to buy. They need cushion too for their little bodies. Don't forget to look for made and sourced USA toys and treats. Hard to find but are out there.
​10. Neuter/spay your pets at around 2 years of age. Do not let your pets have babies. The world is overpopulated with dogs and cats and we need to slow down the production. Adopt a shelter pet when you are ready for a pet. So many are in need of homes and are being euthanized daily due to overpopulation in shelters. And believe it or not, some of these cats and dogs are being added into pet foods. Yep they are. 

11. Flea and tick medications are DEADLY period. Here is a list of ALL NATURAL  products you can use. Also add plants around your yard that are fragrant. Like lemon grass, peppermint, lavender. Bugs hate these plants. Mosquito's included.
​​12. Train your pets. Dogs can be unruly, jump on people, bark constantly, chew up things and be a little mischievous. Teach them what they can and can't do. Do not allow them to jump on people. I consider that rude. And neighbors don't like a constantly barking dog. If you have a dog with separation anxiety, there are several things you can do to help. Try some CBD oil as well. Do not allow your dog to get in another dogs face. Teach them to be respectful of others space. A hyper dog needs to be walked daily. Spend time with your pets and they will do everything in the world they can to please you and do what you ask of them. Time and patience is key in raising a healthy social pet. If you have issues you just can't seem to deal with, hire a trainer. And/or find a training class near you to get the basics. When walking your dog, do not use a retractable leash. You cannot control your dog if you meet up with another animal. Retractables are only good to use when you are not walking but enjoying outdoor activities like in your front yard or out at a park and make sure you don't have a wild child that will dart off. Only a well controlled and trained dog can handle this type of leash or severe damage can be done to all parties.
​​13. Do not stick your dog in a crate all day and go to work. Your dog cannot handle being crated all day. Find a friend or if you are able, come home at lunch and let them out to go potty and see you. There are also doggie daycare centers. If you feel you MUST crate your dog, when you get home, take the dog out, sit down and play with them and take them for a walk. They are going to need it. They have missed you and have not burned energy like you have. They need your undivided attention. Give it to them. You do your kids right? These are kids with 4 feet.
​14. No matter how healthy you help to make your pet, there is always something that will arise, just like humans. We all get sick at times or injured. Be prepared financially. Either have a savings fund, a credit card stashed just for medical emergencies or invest in pet insurance. You can apply for Carecredit but it has a high interest rate and you must be approved. If you can, get a descent lower interest credit card and save it for emergencies only.
​15. If you are unable to commit to giving your pet the time it needs to be apart of your family, then don't have a pet or find a better home for them. This is a blunt statement but I would rather see the pet have a good home than end up later in a shelter or aggressive from being unsocialized or dead outside from freezing to death or heatstroke. It's like having children, if you can't care for them or have the time to spend with them, you shouldn't have them. Leave that job to the people that want to and can. Pets come with a lot of work just like children. It is a daily thing to care for the one's you love. Be ready to commit to that for the life of that pet. And remember, some pets get sick or become lame with like hip dysplasia; so if that should happen, be ready to spend much more time caring for a special needs pet. Consider everything before you decide on a new furry family member. It's a lifetime commitment. They depend on us to care for them just like our children do. 

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