While supplements can be used in times of illness, maintaining a healthy immune system is important in decreasing the incidence and severity of disease. Follow the following tips to keep your pet as healthy as possible.
1. Feed the most natural diet possible. Learn to read a pet food label and avoid foods with chemical preservatives (BHT, BHA, ethoxyquin) and animal and plant by-products that can damage a pet's immune system and do not help maintain health as much as foods with natural preservatives and no by-products. When possible, prepare and feed a homemade diet (using one of the recipes in The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats) to ensure that your pet is eating the healthiest food possible.
2. Minimize vaccines. Most pets do not need annual "shots." A simple blood test called a titer test can determine which vaccines your pet needs.
3. Minimize chemicals. I prefer not to use chemical flea prevention products unless absolutely needed. Monthly heartworm medication is preferred over the 6 month injectable heartworm preventive.
4. Administer whole food vitamin and mineral supplements, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids to maintain a healthy body.
5.Administer choline supplementation to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease (cognitive disorder) in dogs and cats 10 years of age and older.
By following the ideas presented here, you will be able to confidently work with your veterinarian to help your pet maintain a healthy immune system.”
