Page 3 - Supplements

Over my more than forty years in veterinary practice there are certain conditions that I have seen far more commonly than others. In the 'top ten' of health problems are definitely itchy skins, recurrent digestive upsets, and persistent ear infections. Also in the unwanted hit parade of dog (and cat) disorders is joint disease.

Many, if not all, of the conditions in the hit list are treatable and often preventable by attention to diet and to natural supplements. This certainly applies to joint disease.

When you take on the responsibility of a new puppy, there are many decisions to make and much to learn – decisions about what to feed, whether to neuter, when to vaccinate, how best to socialise and so on. Generally not much thought is given to joint health, because it's not a problem you expect to happen until much later in a dog's life. But now is exactly the right time to think of encouraging healthy bone and joint development – after all, these joints will have to last a lifetime and

Are you thinking of purchasing the Adored Beast Yeasty Beast Protocol? If you are, have a read of this blog to see if this kit may be suitable.

The Adored Beast Yeasty Beast Protocol has been developed to help get rid of yeast. It’s a safe and effective program of gentle herbs and homeopathic remedies. The Kit has been designed to help get rid of yeast without dangerous yeast die-off - there is more on this further down. 

What is in the Yeasty Beast Protocol?

The kit comprises of three supplements:

Liver Support Spray: to support a strong liver and to help regenerate healthy liver cells and supports the organ’s ability to filter toxins from the blood. The liver regulates histamine which is associated with allergies, protein synthesis and biochemical production for digestion

Yeasty Beast 1 Spray: A homeopathic combination of Sulphur, Berberis, Nux Vomica, Echinacea, and Graphites prepared in a 13% alcohol base. This combination is specifically designed to target the skin. Yeasty Beast I

Even Four Leaf Rovers desiccant packs found inside their tubs are sustainable! While most companies use silica packs to keep moisture out of their products, Four Leaf Rover use bentonite clay. 

Why do we use bentonite clay?

• It's environmentally friendly - 100% natural bentonite clay requires no water or chemicals, and little energy to make. This is far more sustainable than the energy-intensive production of synthetic silica gel, which requires chemical feedstocks and significant fresh water, while also producing pollutants, effluents, and discharges. 
• Performs better - Bentonite clay outperforms silica gel, reducing humidity faster and to lower levels. 
• Non-toxic - Four Leaf would never put anything in their jars that could harm your dog. Bentonite clay is completely natural and presents no risk to your dog. In fact, bentonite clay helps bind to harmful heavy metals.
• Reusable - Don't just throw that pack away when your jar is empty. Recycle your jar and use the desiccant pack for a

How to add supplements to your pets food?

This is a question we frequently get asked as some dogs and cats may be fussier than others. Whilst some canine companions will dutifully eat their food with supplements added to their dinner, some may need more encouragement! 

So here are some suggestions to hopefully make the process more pleasant for everyone involved!

Adding Powdered Supplements to Food

The easiest way to add powdered supplements is to mix them into your dog's wet food. Sometimes, however, you may need to add some extra moisture. This could include simply adding some water, or adding a nutritious bone broth (learn how to make homemade bone broth for your pets here) for the gut-healing and joint-supporting benefits. 

Don't have time to cook your own bone broth? We sell a range of pre-prepared broths, so you can nourish your dog from within, without the hours of cooking time.

• Karnlea created the UK and Ireland's first 100% natural, packed from fresh bone broth that can be

Proflax are a number 1 award winning, vet approved, UK herbal supplement brand. Their two oil based ranges consist of salmon oil or flaxseed oil, both of which are human food grade and expertly formulated with active herbal blends to provide optimal support for the individual needs of dogs and cats. Lets look into these oils in more detail. 

Understanding Oils and Essential Fatty Acids

Proflax's innovative approach lies in the unique formulation of their supplements - so using oils and herbs mixed together - with the main focus being on essential fatty acids (EFAs) from the oils. The primary difference between the fish oil and flaxseed oil lies in the types of EFAs they contain.

The fish oil used in Proflax's Omega range is rich in two EFA’s: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in supporting cardiovascular and brain health, promoting a shiny coat, and boosting the immune system. Fish oils are suitable for both dogs and

Hints and Tips for Itchy Skin - Richard Allport

As the weather warms up and summer is approaching, every veterinary practice will soon be seeing increasing numbers of dogs and cats with itchy skin. This is partly because fleas and other parasites begin to abound but also because skin allergic reactions become more intense. 

Some of the most common allergies, especially in dogs, are to grass and tree pollens. Whilst these can cause symptoms similar to hay fever, more often in dogs the allergic reaction is most obvious in the skin. This often causes not just itchy skin, but hot, red, itchy ears; itchy feet which are constantly nibbled and chewed; and itchy nose, face and 'rear end' – base of tail and under the tail. Because the ears and area below the tail are particularly sensitive, these are often the most itchy areas, so dogs are sometimes described as having 'ears and rear syndrome' and so many hapless dogs are brought into the veterinary consulting room shaking their ears, chewing

When it comes to maintaining your dog’s health, a balanced gut is key. Four Leaf Rover's range includes three different probiotic supplements, each formulated to support your dog differently. You're probably thinking "so, which one is right for my dog?"—read on to find out.

PROTECT is a daily probiotic designed to support your dog’s digestive system and immune function, which in turn may support against other symptoms such as itchy skin. Packed with a unique blend of soil-based probiotics, whole food prebiotics, and other nutrient-rich ingredients, Protect is formulated for optimal daily gut health and function.

This is our 'go-to', everyday probiotic from the Four Leaf Rover range, perfect for daily gut support.

• Soil-based Probiotic Strains: Unlike many traditional probiotics, soil-based probiotics are more resilient and better able to survive the acidic environment of the stomach. This makes them incredibly effective at reaching the gut, where they can work to support healthy digestion.

Do you use a quality omega-3 fish oil for dogs and cats?…could this be the missing ingredient to support your pet’s optimum health?

Omega-3’s cannot be produced by the body, so cats and dogs must obtain them through diet or supplementation. Fish and its oils can support the health of your pet’s skin & coat, immune system, kidneys, heart, eyes, joints and many more.

Omega-3 fatty acids can originate from both plant-based and marine sources as follows:

• ALA, a short-chain, plant based omega-3 is found in seeds such as flaxseeds and nuts
• EPA and DHA are long chain omega fatty acids found abundantly in fish.

Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids (EFAs) as they cannot be readily produced by the body. EPA and DHA from fish oil and other marine sources are a better source of omega-3’s for pets than plant based ALA because an enzyme is required to convert ALA to EPA and DHA in the body. Both humans and dogs have a limited ability to convert ALA to EPA and DHA, with cats

Vitality by Vince the Vet is clinically proven to be a life-changing supplement for your pet. Why is it so life changing, we hear you asking... Well, here are 10 reasons why you should give your pet this amazing supplement:

Soil Depletion:

Mass produced food today provides only a fraction of the nutrients it did 100 years ago. This is at a time when pets need a richer supply in their diet than ever before, to combat the ill-effects of environmental pollution and stress.

Vitality provides many of the nutrients the body needs every day, which a pet may not be getting from their diet.

Intensive farming has many disadvantages including the overuse of arable land. It also uses chemical fertilisers that block nutrient absorption and encourages the rapidly growing crops and livestock which are less nutrient dense (known as 'fast food'). This all leads to the fall in the nutrient content of food. None of the ingredients in Vitality come from intensive farming, they all come from the best farmers

Natural therapies, good nutrition, herbs and homeopathy can all keep dogs affected by Hip Dysplasia more mobile and less stiff, with less reliance on potentially harmful pharmaceutical drugs. Let's understand more about Hip Dysplasia in Dogs (by Richard Allport, Diet-Dogs Product Advisor and Vet)

What is Hip Dysplasia and Signs of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs?

Hip Dysplasia is an abnormal growth and development of one or both hip joints leading to pain, stiffness and arthritis in the hips. It is most common in large breeds such as the German Shepherd Dog, Labrador Retriever, Great Dane and Saint Bernard. It seems to be a hereditary condition but can be triggered by such factors as obesity, poor nutrition and over exercise in puppies.

Treatment for Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Treatment is usually by administering anti inflammatory drugs and in severe cases surgery. Drugs can cause adverse effects and surgery is a major procedure and best avoided, especially in older dogs.

Acupuncture and Hydrotherapy