Extra, Extra!

I enjoy writing about the things near and dear to my heart; such as our off-grid ranch life, animals, travel, cooking and real food, to name but a few. Natural animal health care through Animal Naturopathy holds a very special place.

I am delighted to announce the release of my first written creation - an ebook entitled “The Eight Laws of Health in Animal Naturopathy”!

                                         

Do you try to eat right and take care of your own health naturally? Ever wonder how to do the same for your pets? My new eBook will help you give your beloved pets a healthier life naturally!

In it you will find a brief overview of Animal Naturopathy as each of the Eight Laws is discussed in light of our personal experiences and how we deal naturally with issues in our animals on the Ranch.

                                                       

There are two ways to obtain your personal copy of “The Eight Laws of Health in Animal Naturopathy”- 1) purchase it at Lulu, OR 2) be one of the first 3 people to subscribe as a Follower on any of our Blogs and I’ll email you a FREE copy.

Our Blogs are:  Journey Into the Country, Highland Glenn English Shepherds, and Letters From the Ranch.

This book combines my love of animals and natural health to help support my Blogs and the Ranch.

So, thank you for your support!

Good Health to You,

Krystal

About Trust

We’ve come to the eighth Law of Health in Animal Naturopathy- TRUST. Language fascinates me. The meaning and nuances of words add such depth of understanding. The definition of the word trust according to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary is “someone or something in which confidence is placed; to rely on the truthfulness or accuracy of."

Most people like the idea of trust, want to be trusting, and feel they are, even think they may be too trusting. However, there is also an element of hesitation or fear in regard to trust, and justifiably so. One needs to discover who or what is trustworthy? We are surrounded by both educated and self-proclaimed “experts” in many fields, the care of animals being one. Just who can we put confidence in when it comes to caring for our pets?

As avid students of the Bible we have learned there is no better one to unequivocally rely on than our Creator, Almighty God. This applies in the case of trusting that the way God created animals to eat according to each species is truly best for them. The truth is canines are carnivores; end of story. Look at how carnivores in the wild eat and simulate that as best you can. Trust that by feeding your dogs this way it will give them a solid foundation of health. And happiness! The pure enjoyment visible while a dog is eating its raw meat meal brings heartfelt delight to its Master as well! We agree with Animal Naturopaths and trust a species appropriate diet also.

When a person adopts a species appropriate raw diet for their carnivore, which is one of the elements of Natural Rearing, the body will purge itself of toxins down to a cellular level. Some symptoms of this detoxification are fever, cough, hotspots, yeasty ears, etc. One needs to trust the body’s innate ability to heal itself. Rather than suppress the symptoms, seek to support the body through natural modalities. In our mind this also involves respect for the animal as a whole- mind, body, and spirit.

                                                                          

Animals also trust us to care for and respect them. As a youngster it was my assignment and pleasure to look after the wild horses in an adjoining pasture. By treating them with gentleness, kindness, and respect they quickly came to trust me. Livestock reciprocate trust in turn by allowing us to basically harvest from them. A dairy animal displays one of the sweetest forms of trust, in essence adopting you and allowing milk to be collected by a human instead of or in addition to its offspring. That is really special when you stop to think about it! When an animal is injured or ill it requires a trusting relationship for them to allow us to tend to them.

Is Animal Naturopathy or Natural Rearing a panacea, meaning your pet will never get ill? Far from it; there are too many variables over which we have no absolute control. However, animals are vastly healthier when raised in this manner than ones reared conventionally. In the end, Animal Naturopathy is definitely worth putting Your confidence in!

Everyone needs a hand to hold onto when on a new path. As Natural Rearing breeders we are happy to mentor You!

Stop to Smell the Roses

The seventh of the 8 Laws of Health is… REST. In our hectic society rest is not something we usually get enough of. Aside from sleep (which most are deprived of anyway), we don’t even think of regular rest as a necessary activity. 

Yes, an activity which we must plan for. If we over-do, our body will unequivocally tell us there’s no choice in the matter for a spell! Isn’t it wonderfully relaxing to sit before the warm glow of a fire on a cold day sipping a hot beverage, maybe reading a favorite book? Or outside on a summer day listening to the birds sing with a glass of iced herbal tea in hand? Regularly allowing time to engage in rest will help a person keep healthy!

The same applies to our dogs. Although they may get more rest than they is good for them because of their family’s busy lifestyle, here I am specifically thinking of resting the digestive system. Believe it or not, digestion for any being is the hardest work it does. The canine carnivore has the wonderful ability to gently detoxify when allowed to rest from digestion. We may Naturally Rear our dogs and live in a rural setting, but there are many negative influences we have no control over – various air pollutants, radiation, EMF’s, etc. – and these are increased many-fold for those living in urban areas.

How does one give their dog a break from digestion? As usual, take a lesson from their wild cousins. They do not eat every single day. When a large kill is made they eat to their hearts content for a few days and then nothing while hunting for the next meal. A wolf sanctuary in western Washington practices a fasting time with their resident carnivores. For us at home this is accomplished by giving a Fast Day once each week.

Some dogs may seem too hungry for a complete Fast, or their active lifestyle may burn a lot of calories. So on Fast Days we give whole raw eggs with raw milk, or just one of those items. In any case, when we first put this into practice we saw some interesting results - their coats became shinier and there was less gunk in the corner of their eyes. Rather than suppress the elimination of toxins, we want to support the body’s innate healing ability.

Take a rest from the ‘noise’ of modern appliances and electronics. These can interfere with biorhythms and the ability to get deep rest. Some people and animals are highly sensitive to them, experiencing any number of health issues that seriously affect quality of life. 

One caution: cats are “obligate” carnivores which in part means they need to eat meat every day, so do not fast your cat. It could lead to organ damage.

We hope you will experiment with offering a Fast Day to see how resting the digestive system may help your dog!

Green Hills of Home

Our highland mountain home is taking on the quintessential fresh green hue of spring with the leafing out of trees and shrubs, to the new shoots of native grasses and sweeping hay fields. Wildlife and livestock have already begun nibbling on the sweet, succulent grass. By my observation, a few of the Eight Laws of Health can be applied to lowly grass: NUTRITION, WATER, SUN, AIR, and REST.

Nutrition: this is obvious is relation to herbivores and omnivores. Even carnivores periodically imbibe for digestion and self-medication, seeking out certain grasses and plants to fill their needs… instinctively. Water: the fresh morning dew or new fallen raindrops collected on each blade of grass clean a dogs coat while rolling on it as they often do; Sun: chlorophyll provided by photosynthesis thanks to the sun may provide benefits to skin and coat as it does when taken internally; Air: the characteristic scent of cut or crushed grass may stir “life-is-good” feelings;  Rest: oh, how delightful it is on a warm day to snooze in the shade on a soft cushion of cool grass! And what about the grounding influence of simply being outside in direct contact with the earth?

Who would’ve thought humble little blades of grass could offer so many healthful benefits! Low in stature and often overlooked, perhaps, but lowly in importance, never.

On the Breeze

This time we’ll focus on the sixth naturopathic Law of Health… AIR. It’s a given that every living creature needs fresh air daily, even though air pollution is a problem. Even the air quality within our homes, especially during winter, is a health hazard due to the off-gassing of chemical products used daily or just sitting in the cupboard. Now that gives one pause for thought!

Taking your dog to the park is a fine way to get both exercise and fresh air in a mentally stimulating environment. A favorite place of ours is a beach-front park on the Puget Sound – fresh salt air, clean rocky beach, cool waves lapping at the shore, and not too much chemically-treated grass to avoid walking on (we are mindful to avoid such exposure). Hiking trails are another option to enjoy fresh air together.

What does one do about the air inside the home? Go natural, of course! First, opening your windows briefly even on mild winter days is important. Next, kick the chemicals out of your house! Here is my personal list of non-toxic items for cleaning: distilled white vinegar, baking soda, salt, borax, and various organic essential oils like lemon, lavender, and juniper. With these basic inexpensive ingredients one can safely clean just about anything, and very effectively I might add.

Candles add charm and atmosphere yet are serious indoor health hazards. Paraffin is a petroleum by-product that releases carcinogens when burned. Vegetable based waxes like soy would be a better choice if not for the fact that they are most often laden with chemical fragrances and colorants. Instead opt for 100% pure beeswax candles, dye and fragrance-free (except for if scented with essential oils.) I adore the natural sweet honey scent of a beeswax candle! Burning beeswax actually cleans the air through the action of ions binding with dirt, allergens, and pollution, dropping them to the floor to be whisked away, no other natural wax can make that claim.

And for goodness sake, leave those “air fresheners” on the market shelf where they belong! An ultrasonic air diffuser used with therapeutic grade essential oils is a healthy, safe alternative. I also like to put a couple drops of lavender essential oil on a cotton ball and place in the vacuum cleaner bag while vacuuming. It makes the whole house smell as fresh as a summers’ day! Wave goodbye to caustic dryer sheets by a simple switch to dryer balls made from recycled woolen garments. Or better yet hang your laundry on the line to dry by the sun, for free!

These ideas barely scratch the surface, but show how easy it is to take in and provide fresh air for your pets and family!