Commonly Found Health Concerns In Older Dogs: Part 1

Abrasions are usually caused by biting and scratching an itch on the surface of the skin. A good herbal treatment to be applied directly to the abrasions is an infusion of rosemary leaves, blackberry leaves, or elder flowers and leaves with a little added witch hazel. It is advisable not to use greasy preparations as they will retain moisture on the skin surface which will slow down the healing process.

Abscesses are the body's attempt to discard toxins from impure blood, through the skin. Excessively toxic blood is unable to carry away waste matter of cell metabolism via its normal channels. The white blood cells then surround disease-producing bacteria and toxic waste and they are carried out of the body though the skin in the form of mucus.

If your dog is affected by many abscesses at any given time, or by frequent growths, he should not be fed for several days and only given distilled water and raw honey, two to four teaspoonfuls per day as an energy preserver depending on the size of your dog.

When the dog starts to get rid of more and more of the toxins, give him a few garlic cloves each day along with his food as garlic helps detoxification even further. Hot packs of blackberry leaves or elderberry, may be put directly onto the abscesses. As an alternative you could use chopped-up garlic or onion or both, heated in castor oil.

Heat the ingredients in a pan of water until comfortably hot, and then apply to the abscess in the hot pack form. Vitamins A, C, and E, and B complex, red clover, cayenne pepper, golden seal, and grated carrots or potatoes are all helpful nutrients in the treatment of abscesses.

Anaemia is the result of an insufficient amount of haemoglobin and oxygen in the bloodstream and is often caused by unhealthy diet, lack of exposure to sunlight, and a constipation of the entire system, including the lower bowel. The dog suffering from anaemia is likely to become faint and weak, have no energy or stamina and the white part of his eyes may show excessive brightness.

Internal parasites may weaken a dog, and in turn cause severe anaemia. You can check for anaemia by applying gentle pressure to your dog's gums to see how quickly the gum returns to a healthy pink colour when the pressure is released, the quicker the better.

Toxins produced by disease can cause anaemia and it may be necessary to supplement your dog's diet with a form of iron such as brewers' yeast and desiccated liver. Berries or fruits of the black variety such as bilberries, elderberries, grapes and blackberries, are all good when iron is lacking in the diet as are kelp, eggs, and parsley. It is worth remembering that a chemical form of iron will aggravate the anemia and result in constipation.

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