This is because of (not in spite of) my love for all things scientific. Let me explain.

Lets say that your dog has arthritis (just an example). You take the dog to the vet, who prescribes medicine. The dose of this medicine will be precisely calculated and it will be a large dose (by my standards – more on this later).

The drug has one method of stopping the arthritis – for example, it blocks the pain receptors, resulting in less pain for your dog. Great news.

The disadvantage of this large dose of a single drug is that, inevitably, there are side effects. Perhaps your dog gets a bit shaky. Or his immune system is compromised. Sometimes, his body will become accustomed to the drug and the drug stops working so well (called tolerance). So the vet is forced to up the dose. Which results in more side effects. And more tolerance. You get the picture, I am sure.

This is where The Herbal Pet’s philosophy is different. Our products are formulated with these two points in mind:

1. A lot of different natural substances are used together.  To continue with my example, Joint Formula consists of 6 different plants and natural substances, all of which have been scientifically proven to help with arthritis. But each one does so in its own unique way. In this way, the problem is being tackled using several different methods, but with a common purpose – making your dog feel less stiff and sore.
2. The ingredients of Joint Formula (and all of the other products) are present in low doses. Because there are so many ingredients, working together with a common purpose, the efficacy of the product is not affected. But, the tolerance is less. And the side effects are less. No vicious cycle of dose vs effect.

This is what I call “The Herbal Pet philosophy”. And this is what I want to know from you – does it make as much sense to you as it makes to me?

Working Formula contains:

• Spirulina
• Amino Acids
• Vitamins
• Joint nutrients
• Ginseng

Spirulina

Spirulina is the name for blue green algae and contains high levels of various B vitamins, beta-carotene, other carotenoids, and minerals, including calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and zinc. It is also a source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, an essential Omega 6 oil). Giving your dog or cat spirulina ensures a daily dose of all of the above – how easy is that? In addition, spirulina boosts the immune system and helps to prevent several diseases.

Amino Acids

Amino acids are the ‘building blocks’ of proteins. Proteins are used in your pet’s body for a number of different functions. (For example, muscles are made up of proteins.)

Essential amino acids are those that your pet MUST consume in his or her diet, because they cannot be manufactured internally. If, during protein synthesis, one of these amino acids are missing, the synthesis of that protein simply stops. Which results in: no muscle. Not good!

Vitamins

The vitamins in the Working Formula are provided by the spirulina and the Kelp. Kelp is a seaweed, which contains a wide range of vitamins and minerals.

Joint Nutrients

All dogs and cats, of any age, benefit from the supplementation of Glucoseamine and MSM. These two substances keep the joints healthy and supple and help to prevent diseases such as arthritis and hip dysplasia.

Ginseng

Siberian Ginseng is what is known in the sporting world as an ‘adaptogen’. It has been shown to have various benefits – from boosting the immune system to helping the body cope with stress.

All of the above are ingredients which will help a sporting dog improve performance or a stud dog keep his energy levels up. But it will also help your dog or cat at home be a healthier pet.

Dr Martin Zucker, a veterinarian in the USA, describes a very alarming situation – a gradual decline in the general health and well-being of our pets. Vets are noticing:

• More serious diseases in ever younger animals
• More allergies
• Weaker immune systems
• Increased skin problems
• More behavioural problem

Why is this happening? Amongst other things, Dr Zucker believes that the factors contributing to this alarming trend are:

• Bad breeding practices
• Low quality, unnatural pet food
• Pollution
• Stress

To a very large extent, we can help this situation in our own pets’ lives, by changing the way we feed. Vets comment on how even a small change in the way we feed our animals can ‘cure’ a lot of diseases.

Not many of us have hours spare in which to formulate and feed elaborate diets to our pets. What is the best we can do with limited time?

Option 1 – for very busy people

You want to feed your dog or cat a good diet, but really don’t have time to do more than fill the bowl with kibble. If this is you, then buy the best kibble you can afford. In most cases, you get what you pay for. Do the best you can.

Option 2 – busy, but can spare a bit of time

Feed the best quality food that you can afford as a base. To this base, add broth, table scraps, oils, meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits. Keep it varied, keep it fresh, keep it natural and unprocessed.

Option 3 – deluxe diet

There are various theories about the best way to do this. Here is one option that Dr Blakely recommends:

• One half of the diet – cooked whole grains (eg. Brown rice, oatmeal)
• One quarter to a third – high quality protein (eg. Raw or cooked meat)
• Up to a quarter –lightly steamed vegetables and grated fruits

Add a good relevant supplement.

By changing to any of these three options, you are going to see a real difference in your pet’s health. Give it a try, then let me know your opinion.